RVing is the ultimate way to enjoy laid-back travel. Not only are you free to explore the open road, but you can also bring home comforts, including your canine best friend!
Proper planning is essential when RVing with your dog. Bringing your pet adds a number of considerations to your trip including finding dog-safe activities, temperature regulation, and safety when on the road.
Not sure where to begin? Read these 6 tips for RVing with your dog and look forward to a safe and enjoyable trip with your pup!
1. Get a pre-trip health check
Before you pack up your RV and hit the road, you should take your dog to the vet for a health check.
During this appointment, make sure your pet is up-to-date with all their inoculations, and find out whether you need to bring additional parasite medications. Your vet should also advise about any health paperwork you’ll need to bring.
If your dog has existing health issues, your vet will tell you the best way to keep them healthy on the road. You may need to get a larger prescription for medications to cover the journey, or your vet may be able to help arrange to restock at another clinic at your destination.
I also strongly recommend getting your dog microchipped before travel. If they’re already microchipped, check that the linked contact information is correct before you leave.
Tip: It’s important to be honest about whether your dog will enjoy RVing. If they get stressed in new locations, have health problems, or you’re planning to leave them cooped up alone for long periods of time, then it may be better to leave them with a friend or dog sitter.
2. Plan around your dog
When you bring a dog on vacation, it’s important to make them a priority.
If you’ll need to drive long distances, for example, then plan a route with many rest stops. This will allow your dog to get some fresh air and a bathroom break before getting back on the road.
Aside from route planning, be sure to research dog-friendly RV parks that have exercise areas for your dog to enjoy, and electrical hook-ups so that you can keep your AC running.
I also recommend taking your pup out for a long walk the morning before you leave – this will tire them out and help them relax while you drive.
Tip: Bring familiar items to comfort your dog and make them feel at home. These could include their favourite bed, toys and food and treats you’d normally give them at home.
3. Choose safe activities you’ll both enjoy
Once you’ve decided on your destination, make an itinerary filled with fun activities that both you and your dog will enjoy. This could include dog-friendly beaches, hiking trails and national parks that you can explore together.
When planning your activities, keep both you and your dog’s fitness level in mind. You may like to hit a challenging trail, but be honest about your pet’s physical capabilities.
Be sure to bring plenty of water, along with a travel bowl (such as those reviewed on The Dog Clinic), and educate yourself about local dangers. These could include wildlife, busy roads, livestock, fast-flowing rivers, or sheer drops.
4. Install an RV temperature management system
I recommend supervising your dog at all times. But if you want to visit somewhere that doesn’t allow dogs, you might need to leave your pet alone in the RV for a few hours. Many owners believe that if they leave the AC on while they’re gone, their dog is cool, safe and secure. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case.
Power outages and AC failures pose a serious risk to your dog when they’re left alone in your RV. If the power goes off, so does the AC, and within minutes, your dog can begin to dangerously overheat.
To keep your dog safe, make sure you install a temperature management system (TPS) in your RV before your trip. These smart systems monitor the temperature inside your vehicle, and send an alert to your smartphone if the temperature rises above a set threshold.
The most expensive models use a cell connection to send alerts, but this costs a monthly fee. Others connect via Wi-Fi, so you’ll need to be at a campsite with a wireless network. You’ll also need a cell signal to receive the alerts, which may be an issue if you’re hiking in the wilderness.
Some RVs may have built-in, automatic start-up features that will trigger a generator if the power goes off. While these are good to have, they’re not a fail-safe solution – so you should always have a TPS just in case.
Do your research to ensure your dog is safe, in the event of a crash.
5. Use a crash-tested crate or harness
When driving, it’s essential to keep your dog safely secured. Not only will this reduce the risk of serious injury, but some US states legally require you to secure your pet on the road.
Read “What You Need to Know When Travelling with Pets Outside of Canada” for more tips on what you’ll need to know to travel abroad.
Sadly, most harnesses are not crash-safe, even if they have a built-in seat belt loop. The vast majority of dog crates are also not safe for use in cars.
To keep your dog safe, I strongly recommend using a crash-tested crate or harness (such as those reviewed on The Dog Clinic). As the name suggests, these items have been put through rigorous crash-simulation testing, to ensure that your pet has the best chance of surviving an accident. They usually have reinforced stitching and metal buckles to keep your pet secure.
6. Bring a first aid kit
It’s always a good idea to bring a first aid kit when RVing with your pet. Fill this kit with all the essentials you’ll need to deal with any injuries to your pup, such as:
- Sterile gauze
- Blunt-ended scissors
- Bandages
- Surgical tape
- Towels
You should also have the contact information of local veterinary clinics and ERs in your first aid kit and saved in your phone. In an emergency, you don’t want to waste time trying to find the nearest vet.
If you’re new to the world of RVing, hitting the road with your canine best friend may seem daunting. But as long as you do your research, plan ahead, and follow my tips above, you and your pet can stay safe and enjoy the trip of a lifetime together!
Richard Cross is the head editor of The Dog Clinic. He’s passionate about dog welfare, encouraging people to adopt rather than buy, and promoting positive training methods.
