We are seriously considering delving into the world of touring caravans, we are a couple in our 50’s. The one thing putting us off is our two cocker spaniels!!
I would call them well behaved not boisterous in our home environment, they do not bother with other dogs or people, they come back when told, they do bark when someone comes to or around the house, but do not bark for no reason. We have them in the front garden with us and they will wander around, but as we live at the end of a cul-de-sac that does not really matter. So the question is how do people keep their dogs within the confines of your pitch, as we don’t want to keep them locked up all day. Also we would want an awning to help with the space.
Steve
We use a screw in stake and long tether with special clips either end so that the Jack Russell puppy doesn't get tangled up. You can buy them in pet shops.
Also have a dog crate with warm fleece and cover in the awning, we use it at home, he likes his space when the grandchildren come!
2017
April - New Forest(9)
May - Dorset (9)
August - Camping Le Pin Parasol, Vendee (18)
October - East Mersea (8)
and five nights in the one man tent!
DON'T let the dogs put you off They are part of the family ,we have 5 E springer S but we only take 2 when we go away, we take their cage which they sleep in at home, In the awning In a corner covered over at night, & they love it most sites have dog walking places BUT not all dog walkers clean up after the dogs have been
We take them for a long walk every day on the beach which crackers them for the night , but mine never stray that far away from us, maybe 6yds at most!
Depends on how long your going to stay on site during the day as to how you keep the dogs on your pitch but windbreaks make a good fence or long leads with a pig tail screwed in floor, but then you have problem of them getting tangled up & you tripping over! LOL
Hope this helps
Regards Steve
------------- Jack of all trades master of none !!!!
We also use the screw in spike and use this when we're putting up the awning. Apart from that they are more than happy staying in the awning or caravan. When we put the bbq on they just sit outside with us. They are totally knackered by the evening and just want to curl up and sleep. If it's warm at night we'll leave the caravan door open so they can sleep in the awning or they'll sleep with us and our two teenagers in the caravan if it's cold. They're two big flat coated retrievers so as soon as the tele goes off it's every man for himself in finding a space to sleep and to get comfy!!!
You say they bark when anyone approaches. Given you live at the end of a cul-de-sac, im guessing no-one approaches for no reason.
However - and i've seen this myself, dogs will bark just because someone is innocently passing a caravan. The dogs dont know any different - someone is in their 'space', so they bark, as at home.
If yours are of this persuasion, you will not be popular - particularly after dusk. Luckily, as the dogs owner, you may personally not hear the barking - which is something else i've witnessed in the past.
You say they bark when anyone approaches. Given you live at the end of a cul-de-sac, im guessing no-one approaches for no reason.
Answer
There is a footpath at the end of the cull-de-sac through to the next road, they only bark late at night normally when people are coming home from the pub or parties or car doors banging late at night.
However - and I’ve seen this myself, dogs will bark just because someone is innocently passing a caravan. The dogs don’t know any different - someone is in their 'space', so they bark, as at home.
Answer
This will not be a problem in the day time when outside and we do not intend to leave them on their own, but as you say if it’s the middle of the night a few lively after party revellers pass by they would probably bark but only for a few seconds. They do not bark for the sake of it.
If yours are of this persuasion, you will not be popular - particularly after dusk. Luckily, as the dogs owner, you may personally not hear the barking - which is something else i've witnessed in the past.
Answer
I would think they will not make any more noise than the people passing and it would be a lot shorter time.
Question
So is it unreasonable for the dogs to make a noise for the reasons given and should I give up the idea of a touring caravan?
Quote:
Question
So is it unreasonable for the dogs to make a noise for the reasons given and should I give up the idea of a touring caravan?
Steve
Get a van take the dogs, only dog haters drip about dogs, and if you took a stuffed dog they would still drip.
My dog barked when someone came to the door at the house, he barked if the neds in the street were noisy,they shut up and moved away.
In the van he was a treat never a sound. If he was outside the van and folk passed close to him as I would put it "in our personal space" He would sit up and watch them. He was a big Weimaraner, oh and would cry at the mention of a weekend in the van in case we were going to leave him with the teenager.
Caravanning is a family thing, a dog is family.
Do not give up the idea of caravanning due to dogs barking. We have 2 miniature schnauzers who do bark when someone passes the caravan. We stop them but they are only doing their job. There are always I'm sure someone who will look and possibly shake the head etc but they will probably moan at kids and anything that doesn't suit them.
Go caravanning and enjoy. We use a screw and also a crate if we want to go to the showers etc but like others have said after a day out they just collapse at night and snore away.
Steve
My dog barks at people who approach the van, and sometimes when they are passing.
It is what dogs do.
In answer to your last question no it is not unreasonable for a dog to make a noise, i have had more noise from folk drinking in there awning next door late at night, they try and be quiet but noise travels.
You can't please everyone on site, and someone will always moan about something, kids, dogs, partys, even quiet drinking late at night.
Don't worry they will get better with each trip out. So do not give up on the idea.
Hi we have 3 cavalier king Charles spaniels they bark when other dogs come near the van, we use a tie out stake, but we also use a dog pen set up around the awning door so they can go out but be contained like this one
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/8-Panel-Pet-Play-Indoor-Pen-Puppy-Dog-Animal-Cage-Run-Folding-Garden-Fence/252320946199?_trksid=p2045573.c100506.m3226&_trkparms=aid%3D555014%26algo%3DPL.DEFAULT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20151005190705%26meid%3D03b7ad2cfc544555bf9da136d7883f67%26pid%3D100506%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26
each section is separate and held together by a pin so you can use as much of it as you need, a fabric collapsible crate is useful too.
http://www.snapfish.co.uk/library/share?w=snapfish_uk&c=snapfishuk&l=en_GB#Jg8I56KPu_UnTC5_hRTfpQ/AUS/27939161652070/SNAPFISH
I had a Cairn terrier when we tent camped, at home she would bark if the wind changed direction! but in the tent she never made a sound, and always seemed super relaxed, she had a superb recall, but was never off a lead while on site.
We now have a Border terrier, she loves the caravan, although she never barks at home, well only at Horses on TV (can't watch a cowboy movie) in the caravan she is the same, although she loves to sit in the window and watch everyone going past, she is also happy to sit in the awning or lay in the sun whilst we BBQ.
We choose to caravan/camp so the dogs can come, they are a big part of our family.
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