How To Enjoy Your RV Camping With Pet & Pet Accessories

How to make your exciting RV vacation even fabulous? The answer is to take your dogs & pets with you. If you’re a pet lover, keeping your four-legged friend at home while you travel to the best destinations in your RV just doesn’t seem right.

Now planning to take your dog on an RV camping trip? And it turns out we aren’t the only ones who think so. Thanks to the comforts of home that RVs offer, bringing your Bruno with you is quite simple, and will prove to be a wonderful addition to your trip. According to a Recreational Vehicle Industry Association survey, furry friends serve as excellent companions on the road for 61% of RV owners.

Carrying your pup with you is a bit different than bringing along another human companion, and thus, there are some rules that you should be aware of, and abide by to ensure you and your furry friend have the best trip possible. Check out these articles for camping with dogs in your RV Motorhome from traveling on the road to campground activities for your pup. Read more here!

At RV Parts Shop we feel like sharing the following tips for RVing with your dog.

Top Tips For Rving With Your Dog

Pack For Your Pup

Ensure your dog has all the necessary tools to have a great vacation with you. Like us, there are certain things your dog can not travel without. remember to pack from his favorite food and treats, to proof of clothes & medications.

Top Things To Bring:

• Bedding | Non-spill food bowl
• Cleaning supplies for accidents
• Leash | Collar | Toys | Medication

Stay At A Campground That Is Dog-Friendly

Pet policies are something that exists at nearly every campground in the country, and they are not something to be taken lightly. In fact, there are pretty strict rules in some places out there regarding your four-legged friends. A number of national parks don’t allow pets at all, and others require that pets remain on a leash whenever outdoors.

Whatever you do, know the pet policies of where you are going. To make things simple and stress-free, call ahead to make sure the campground allows dogs before you embark on your adventure.

Buckle Up

As you have got your furry friend inside your RV you wish to make the best of it. You may think to allow him to sit on your lap on the road. But let me remind you, doing this is not in the best interest of your dog’s safety, or yours! Keep both you and your Bruno safe by putting him in a dog crate while driving. If you opt for a crate or carrier, make sure that it is secured down, and won’t slide around on the road. You can use a seat belt harness as an alternative measure.

Whichever safety measure you choose to buckle up your dog, it needs to be in the same vehicle as you. You should never put him alone in a camper you’re pulling. By practicing the above safety precautions, you will be preventing your favorite furry friend from getting injured, and also from distracting you while driving.

Find Local Vets

As you start your trip Bruno may be up-to-date on all his shots and may seem in perfect health when you leave on your trip. Things can change as you move ahead with your trip, you want to be prepared for such unexpected instances. Due to technological advancement, you can easily get back to your Vets. You can make a video call showing the current health of your Bruno to vets.

You are supposed to carry general medicines you use on frequent occasions for your furry friend. You may even want to ask your hometown vet to refer you to some good docs in the areas that you’re planning to travel to. You’ll want to plan your RV route so that it doesn’t take you too far away from a nearby town where you can quickly get to a vet, if necessary.

Daily Exercise & Free Roaming As Part Of Schedule

Remember there are many similarities between kids & Dogs that you have on your camping trips. Like kids, dogs too can not sit in one place for hours, dogs need some sort of exercise. They need the opportunity to run around and have some fun, absence to provide this is basically torture for dogs.

If your RV is big enough to allow them to run around and play fetch — that's great! If not, however, make sure you’re finding dog-friendly parks along the way for your dog to get a break, stretch, and exert some of his energy. The camping ground is a great opportunity for your dog to socialize and enjoy the company of other fellow-traveling pups.

Plan Your Adventure & Dog Safety From Weather

Once you are on a camping trip you may decide to embark on some adventure trips wherein your Bruno can not be taken together. That requires you to leave your dog back at the campground in your RV. Before leaving ensure that you are paying attention to the weather and what your dog will need in your absence.

If it’s the middle of the summer and the heat is high, leave your air conditioner on so that your Bruno has a cool place to relax & enjoy. You can help by bringing blankets and toys from home that will remind them they are safe. In case weather changes with a thunderstorm, have a safe area where your pup can feel safe, as the loud sound of thunder typically terrifies dogs. Whatever you do, never leave your dog unattended outdoors.

Start Small Trips First

Being at home 99% of the time & going out on the road in your RV for 6 months may not be the best idea for your dog. Instead, start out with small trips and slowly allow Bruno to become accustomed to traveling in your RV and being away from home.

Small trips form part & training for the long adventure trip that you plan ahead. During these shorter trips, you can establish a permanent spot for your dog’s food and water bowls in the RV, so they always know where to go. This will also give you a chance to allow your dog to become used to his new sleeping arrangements, as well as traveling in either a carrier or a seat belt harness.

RV Pet Safety Additional Tips

• Rules of the road.

• Remember the essentials.

• Keep your pet’s information with you at all times.

• Incorporate exercise into your new lifestyle!

• Pack The Right Gear

• Plan A Perfect Itinerary

• Always Buckle Up

List Of Essential Dog Accessories For RV Camping

• Pet Monitoring Camera and Treat Dispenser

• Portable Outside Dog Fence

• Collapsible Dog Kennel | Crate

• Memory Foam Dog Bed

• Automatic Generator Start Controller

• Elevated Dog Bed

• Dog Ramp

• Collapsible Dog Bowl

• Leash and Harness

• Dog Toys Bones and Treats

• First Aid Kit

Staying Safe While Camping

Going camping is generally a safe endeavour, especially if you are camping at a campground where many other campers will be. But that doesn’t mean that it comes without risk. 

And if you plan to go hiking while on your camping trip, that is another consideration. Bringing plenty of water, provisions, and proper clothing is suitable to start. 

Fast food in a plastic tub locked in your car keeps critters at bay. It’s also likely that you won’t have cell service, so having a satellite phone can be very helpful. Phones like Iridium, Globalstar, Inmarsat, and Thuraya work in remote areas where cell phone use is often impossible.

Preparation as a camping newbie is critical. Once you are, we guarantee you’ll have a great time camping.

We’ve reached the end of this guide about How To Enjoy Your RV Camping With Pet & Pet Accessories. Hopefully, you’ve learned a lot and you feel better about traveling with your furry critters!

Now, before you get super excited, grab your pet, and put them into an RV, it’s important to know about essential accessories you should bring along with you. Also, don't forget to document your pet's trip to share with friends and family. It makes a better story too if you add music to photos with a tool like Vistacreate you take before you upload them to Facebook or Instagram.  You'll want to read our other blog stating List Of Essential Dog Accessories For RV Camping & Outdoor for more information on travelling with your pet.