Full-Time RV Life: Safe Travels with Dogs

Some tips to make traveling with dogs less stressful for all

When my husband and I decided we were ready to take the plunge into full-time RV living, we made a list of all our concerns. At the top of the list were our dogs.

I've read Facebook posts about would-be RVers putting off the traveling life they’ve dreamed and planned for because they didn’t think their dogs would adjust, but I’ve also read many more stories about other dreamers who put off full-timing and regretted it. We don’t know what tomorrow holds so putting the kibosh on our dreams because we knew we would have some dog issues to deal with seemed unwise.

Surprisingly, both dogs have adjusted much better than we anticipated and the concerns we had were mostly unfounded. Have there been challenges? You bet, but we continue to work through them and find solutions. There are also some days I wish we didn’t have them on the road with us because it limits some places we can explore, but for now, we’re learning to work with them and help them adjust.

Dogs have pretty much always been present in our lives and we currently have two females that raise the bar when it comes to “hard to train” and “energetic”. Ginger is a beagle, and if you know anything about beagles, they’re difficult to train to follow the rules. She is reactive and impulsive, a bit of a barker, and lives by only one rule: she follows her nose.

Our other dog is a Border Collie mix, and recently I’ve discovered she is most likely a Border Collie/cattle dog mix called a McNab. She too is high-energy and like other Border Collies can be skittish and fearful. She doesn’t tolerate change well and is extremely attached to my husband, making for some strange dynamics when he’s trying to back up the truck to hitch the trailer or when we’re on the road.

Here are some things we’ve set up to help our doggie road warriors adjust and enjoy life on the road.

Back seat set up. Our Dodge Ram has fold-down leather seats so we put them down all the way, giving the dogs a flat, roomy space for travel days. Bonus: no nails scratching up the leather seats.

On top of that, we layered a Weather-Tech liner to catch any accidents or spilled water. Over that, we placed a few old blankets and their dog beds giving them a comfy space to stretch out and relax, along with a feeling of “home”. We always make sure to provide some bones to gnaw on and distract them with treats when they get stressed.

Pet barrier/dog fence. I wish I could say that preparing the back seat was enough to keep them happy and calm on the road but that’s not the case. Both Bella and Ginger try to climb into the front seat which is not only annoying but can be downright dangerous when pulling a 44 foot 5th wheel down the highway.

After several stressful trips trying to keep them in the backseat, and a sore arm from restraining and pushing them back, I insisted on some type of barrier. Since we installed a pet barrier gate (like this one) that goes across the back seat, car trips have been much more pleasant. The barrier is adjustable and prevents them from squeezing underneath or hopping over into the front.

Potty breaks on the road. On travel days or when we’re out exploring, we’ve found that two hours is about the limit we can push them before they need to get out and stretch their legs. Fortunately for them (unfortunately for us!) we get terrible gas mileage pulling a large rig so we have to stop almost as often for fillups.

We try to stop at fuel stations that usually have a pet area like Love’s or some of the Buc-ee’s but that’s not always possible so we’re always prepared with our own doggie bags attached to each dog’s leash.

I am a bit paranoid so I always make sure both dogs have their harnesses and leashes on before they exit the vehicle. They both have strong prey drives so a dashing bunny or stray cat would send them racing across the parking lot or into traffic. After potty breaks and leg stretching, we make sure they get plenty of water and a treat and then load them back into the truck.

Some dogs are escape artists and ours have figured out how to wiggle and step out of their harnesses if they’re not leashed up properly. A few trips to pet stores to find the harnesses that fit their body type best was well worth the time.

Walks before departure and upon arrival. This one is a must and has been added to our pre-trip checklist. Before we start hitching up the camper, we take a leisurely walk and spend some time at the doggie park (if available). We repeat this process when we arrive at a new site and before leveling and getting set up.

We have learned that it’s best to keep the dogs in the back of the truck during these processes so they are not in the way. They can cause a distraction that might cost us an important step, and also they get anxious when they know it’s travel time. The pet guard/barrier keeps them safely tucked in the back seat and not distracting to the driver who’s trying to hitch up. We’ve found they are much calmer this way.

Treats and calming tricks. Treats are a great motivator and distractor. We buy healthy treats and keep a bag in the truck, along with some chew bones, to use as incentives to pay attention during potty breaks, as rewards for good behavior, and as a distractions when they’re getting a bit whiny.

I also keep some lavender essential oil in the truck and apply liberally and often. That’s for my husband and me, not the dogs!

Make sure your park or campgound is dog-friendly. Almost all campgrounds and RV parks/resorts allow dogs but we’ve learned that “dog-friendly” is a vague term. Does the park have multiple doggie areas where your pet can relieve himself? Do they provide dog stations for poo bags and disposal? Are there certain RV spots that are off limits to campers with dogs? Can you walk your dog anywhere in the park? What is their policy on barking dogs or dogs that get loose? Are their breed restrictions and do they require vaccination records?

No matter how prepared you are as an owner or how well-behaved your dogs are, the unexpected can happen. Once, while we were at the pool, our camper door popped open and the dogs got loose. The neighbors and RV security were kind enough to round them up and put them back inside. We never heard a complaint or warning about the incident, thank goodness!

Other RV resorts are not as gracious and accomodating. One resort we stayed at warned that if your pet is found looose they will turn it over to animal control. That park also did not provide any doggie stations, had only one doggie run at the farthest corner of the park, and had intolerant permanent residents who yelled whenever a dog barked. Some placed ridiculous signs on their rocks and fake grass about dogs not allowed. Although advertised as pet friendly, I would rate that resort as pet tolerant at best.

Doggie Cam. With dogs on the road with us, we rarely go out for more than a few hours without them. If we’re going exploring they go along with us, but occassionally we do leave them for a couple of hours for dinner or shopping. After the open door incident, we bought the Wyze doggie cam to keep an eye on them while we are out.

It’s been a worthwhile investment. We can set the notifications to alert us for movement and sound and can set off an alarm if there is an emergency or simply talk to them through the camera to tell them to calm down or hush if they start barking. It’s provided a great level of comfort to know that we can check on them while we are away.

Keep vet records handy. If you need to visit a local vet while traveling, it’s a good idea to have your pet’s medical records readily available. Ginger incurred a flare up of her disc injury and needed emergency care. I was able to share the previous vet’s diagnosis with them and had a record of what medications she tolerates well and worked for her in the past.

Some RVers consider pets part of their family and wouldn’t even think of traveling without them, others prefer to leave pets at home when taking a trip where pets would cramp their plans for exploring. Full-time RVers find ways to make life on the road work for them and their pets. What furry friends do you travel with and what are your tips on making it enjoyable and safe for them?

Ready to hit the road with or without pets? Here are some things to consider before going full-time and some costly mistakes to avoid!

If you enjoy articles like this, you can use this link to join Medium for unlimited access. A small portion of your membership supports me and many other great writers too.

Simplifying your life? Ready to kick stress to the curb? Click here to learn more and get your free Stress-Free Living Guide.