After years of not wanting a dog, my dear wife has decided we really must have one, so on Saturday we are going (hopefully??) to pick up a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. We've got time to think about this before our next trip, but any advice as regards taking this dog with us away in the caravan. Are thee any caravan "must have's" if you take a dog with you? I know many sites take dogs (incl. CC sites) so that shouln't be a problem. I think it will be at least 2 years before we go back to France, so we have plenty of time to think about that, so at present we're thinking UK Caravanning. I have to admit to having taken no notice to dog related problems, but it looks like that is about to change. All advice welcome.
- Always have a dog towel or 2. Dogs get very wet and grubby when camping.
- a stake for attaching lead
- think about where dog eill sleep/lie. In our case its on his own bed on floor........til we're asleep then he sneaks on bed beside us lol
- cover every available area with throws/covers
- if your caravan carpets are detachable, lift them up
- rubber mat for dog bowls
- regular tick treatment
- have 2 leads, one in car, one in caravan. We often misplace one or forget to take in car. Had to buy a pink one once in an emergency- not a good look for my macho dog!
- have dog poo bags in every pocket in every jacket. You always need one when least expecting it
Having a dog is a totally different camping experience. You will walk more and do different things. We miss our dog when he is not with us. camping seems more.......boring.......without him. Research your areas for dog/friendly places.
We've had our dog for the last 10 years and she's been on a variety of holidays with us. All the above is good advice. We however have never allowed the dog on our furniture at home, nor in the caravan so we don't have throws everywhere. If they don't do it at home they won't climb on the furniture in the van either. Entirely up to you. We clean the dog down thoroughly in wet and mucky weather and keep our carpets in, too cold out of the season without them! Happy dog owning.
We have throws but have also had caravan covers made up. It cost around £300 for the covers but are washable and don't detract from appearance or comfort.
From an early age train your dog to do what it needs to before breakfast and then about 2ish. That way, when its wet on holiday you can be out in your car (a good half hour or so from the van), walk the dog, pop him back in the car, dry him off and by the time you get back to the van for your evening meal he is very dry to pop into the van. Avoids potential mud on your carpets.
Get one of these so that when he travels on the back seat to your site he is safe.
Ours sleeps in one of these kind of baskets in the van. Ours weighs 1Kg and is washable. So is the dog come to that!
You will need an extension lead so it can have a good run when on the lead. Opps sorry
Watch it all the time especially in the awning at Sandringham. He will soon be off into the woods chasing rabbits.
Talking of Sandringham/Clumber Park...always keep the dog on the lead and don't let it be picking stuff up. They have had problems with dogs getting ill there. Ours never has suffered at these site so its not all dogs that pick up the problem.
Watch your dog walking near bracken to avoid ticks.
Open the bedroom door in the morning and just wait for him to fly up on top of you and spill your tea!!
Take some doggy treats...we always pack each meal for while you are away in plastic bags rather than carry too much extra unnecessary weight. Just enough for the number of nights we are away and then three extra bags just in case we decide to stay a little longer. Our dog has the dried food. lighter to carry than doggy tins.
When out walking carry the dog's dish and a bottle of water. When out on a long hike the doggy treats, when you have your sandwiches, keep the dog going. They like Bananas as well
Just enjoy the little fella
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
I always use a car harness for my dog, whether I was towing or not, and now also in the van. I prefer this type myself but it's personal choice - these are designed as car seat belts, the walking harnesses used with a seperate clip aren't. Personal choice.
You'll find your holidays take a completely different turn when you've got a dog in tow.
Remember if going to a seaside location, dogs may not be allowed on some of the beaches during the holiday months. Best to check when booking that there is actually a beach nearby you can take your dog onto.
Useful Alcatraz tips - the place is full of rabbits, as you know. Our Ben (Springer/collie/lunatic cross) loves to chase them, but we keep his lead looped around the towball until we have finished faffing about otherwise he would be off into the next parish sharpish. DON'T exercise your dog on the grass by the gates, or you will be shot at dawn. I'm sure you've seen the HUGE signs!
On arrival at/departure from campsite it is the kids' job to take Ben a walk and get him emptied while we get pitched - get your kids to do the same! In transit we stop every couple of hours - I can't tow without a caffeine hit first, so the kids are on doggy duty again while we get the espressos in. We keep a water bottle and a bowl in the car for Ben all the time.
We keep a lead, poo bags and doggy bowls in the van. Depending on what kind of food your dog has it might be worth keeping an emergency supply in an industrial strength plastic box. We discovered how useful this is when we were at Kingsbury with no dog food (left at home) and we found out that Pets At Home sell every kind of doggy food there is EXCEPT what we have!
There are plenty of dog friendly pubs etc about, but you may have to look hard to find them. We've found the best source of info is other campers with dogs!
Well David - I was like you never had a dog until she who should be obeyed decided I was getting fat and needed more exercise. I kicked and screamed for a while and then we called into a Retired Greyhound Trust kennel. I had all my excuses ready. But they were all poo-pooed by the staff. They need very little walking, they sleep most of the day, fed morning and evening, ablutions morning and evening. They come ready trained for walking (dont pull) dead calm/ relaxed and very loving. They shed no fur (I brush him once a week) my wife has chronic asthma and is not affected. For a donation you get a pedigree dog with all his papers a bowl and stand, lead, all inoculations free vets access for 3 months with his googlies whipped off, 6 free dog training sessions and cat friendly. So 2 years and 1 mnonth ago we picked up Sid (Turnwood Big Boy see him on google. I am quite strict as we dont let him get on the sofa or kitchen but when we get home from work the sofa is a little warm in one place. In the van he is allowed in at certain times but mostly in the porch or full awning. As he is a tall dog he doesnt get wet when on grass just his paws. Everyone who meets him loves him because he is so calm. Sorry for the long thread but felt I should share my experience with you.
------------- A barman is just a pharmacist
with a limited inventory
Whoops forgot to say all the above ideas are what we practice too. Enjoy your dog but remember if you are having a puppy they will be hard work at first my boss had the same dog as you and had loads of problems with it and in the end give him away. Also you will have accidents so be prepared for that once you have trained him I am sure he will be fine. This is my fist ever dog so I am no expert, I call it as I have experienced it.
------------- A barman is just a pharmacist
with a limited inventory
You don't say whether it is a puppy or a fully grown house trained dog.
In the back of the car we have a hammock so if you have to brake hard the dog does nto fly forward and onto the floor. Always carry some fresh water with you. We always have a 6 pack of small water bottles with us.
For the caravan all our seats are covered with throws. As we have three puppies two of whom are not quite house trained we use nappy type bedsheets which cover a large portion of the floor.
All their food is kept on a separate mat which is washable and prevents the caravan mats becoming dirty. We have a board which we place across the end of the front bunks where they sleep at night.
If it is a puppy you may want to consider crate training, some people against, some for and for us if was definite yes! You can use a crate at home for when you can't be with your dog, as long as it is not hours and hours, to keep the dog and your home safe! this is then something you can continue when on a campsite if you want to keep your dog in the awning rather than you caravan. We only do this if it is warm enough of course but we do drape picnic blankets and fleece blankets over the cage for extra warmth. We now use a fabric crate for our dogs (as they don't try to escape though we did start out with the metal ones) on campsites and it is great mainly for bedtimes as we can keep them warm and safe.
We don't shut them in in the day time but they do go in and out for a lie down when they want. It stops your caravan becoming too doggy. It is also a useful place to keep your dog while they are drying off after a long wet walk and before you let into your caravan.
I love animals to bits,you realise that life will never be the same now as everything you do will revolve round the dog.Good on ya David just start the way you mean to finish and i wish you a many a happy time with your new pal..
When we take Harry the borrowed dog with us he has his own bed (2 fixed single beds, OH in one and Harry on the other with an old sheet to cover the bed). I am relegated to a front lounge seat. When Harry wakes up in the morning he "holds hands" with OH across the gap between the beds, which is lovely (and funny) to see, male bonding!
O...M...G...! What a fantistic response from you all. I will need to go through all these responses with a fine dog brush and make a complete list. Some excellent advice, here - too much to respond to every post individually, so apologies. It is a puppy, by the way, Surfer01, but about 12/13 weeks old rather than a very young one. I am expecting we will have done the toilet training thing before we go away in the van next (which will now be in the new year.
Thanks for the good lists from feeblecat and Phil (+ the links). Chilephilly: I'll be careful up at Alcatraz and with the rabbits. Sandra and brianconwy: I don't intend that the dog will use the caravan furniture (well that's the theory anyway), and Phil: we don't do tea in bed . Nora: I'll take a look at the car harnesses, and Andcow: I have been to look at crates/carry bag type things this morning, just to see what is available. Jax365: I know about the beach problem - for the future though, I've no idea if the problem exist to a greater or lesser extent in France? Thanks for sharing your experiences Chalkie56. Anne: Sorry you're relegated to the front when the borrowed dog goes with you - nice story though ( Jeff: thanks for the thumbs up and good wishes.
Any other advice will be so welcome. I'll try and post some photos so that you can have a look at what we end up with. Thank you all so much.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Caravanning and dogs
. Nora: I'll take a look at the car harnesses, and Andcow: I have been to look at crates/carry bag type things this morning, just to see what is available. Jax365: I know about the beach problem - for the future though, I've no idea if the problem exist to a greater or lesser extent in France? Thanks for sharing your experiences Chalkie56. Anne: Sorry you're relegated to the front when the borrowed dog goes with you - nice story though (
Jeff: thanks for the thumbs up and good wishes.
