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Camping with a medium dog.

Printed From: r-pod Nation
Category: General Camping
Forum Name: Camping with Pets
Forum Description: Got a Dog, Cat or other pet you camp with. Share your experience and questions here.
URL: http://www.rpodNation.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3023
Printed Date: 28 Mar 2024 at 6:52pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.0 - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: Camping with a medium dog.
Posted By: Kenn
Subject: Camping with a medium dog.
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2012 at 12:48am

Ok, here's the situation: We're a family of 4 (soon to be 5) and have a medium sized dog (Samoyed). She is too big to stay in the back seat of the truck due to the coats and such that we carry. And when the new baby arrives, she will have no space. So, we have her in the kennel in the bed. Do any of you guys with a pick-up truck and have the same number of people travelling have a larger dog that you guys camp with? If you do, how do you guys transport your pet? Another issue that we're encountering is that we can't open the tail gate all the way to let her out when we stop. We have to get in the back of the truck and pick her up out of her crate, to help preserve her joints. We don't have a topper, but a bakflip cover. We were considering a topper, but we will end up with the some issue of not being able to open the tail gate during driving breaks. Her crate stays in the coach when we stop for the night or an extended period of time.



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2010 RPOD 176 (Silly-POD), 2011 Forest River Stealth 2612, and 2014 Forest River XLR 380AMP



Replies:
Posted By: Ratdog
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2012 at 8:03am
Hey Kenn,
 
Nothwithstanding your other post about the advantages of an F-150 pick up as a tow vehicle, a big SUV will solve most of the problems you're having (plenty of room and no tailgate) <LOL>.
 
I think camping with a big dog can be a challenge with any setup, especially with a big family thrown in the mix. Many years ago we had a 32' travel trailer with a full-size Dodge van as a tow vehicle. The TV was one of those 9-passenger vans. At the time we had a family of 3 and a Labrador Retriever. I thought THAT was crowded, especially because of the dog who was very active. We've now downsized to a family of 2, a 12-pound Rat Terrier, an R-Pod, and a mid-sized SUV and life is good.
 
Take care,
-- Steve


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Steve, Anne, and Paige the Rat Terrier
2013 Lexus RX 450h Hybrid AWD
2011 RP-177 (aka: The Circus Wagon)


Posted By: Kenn
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2012 at 9:52am
Steve,
Towing the POD with an Expedition or Armada is awesome, but...
The big SUVs that are able to pull our bigger trailer would be maxed out. For some reason, SUVs [eventhough] having the same body as a 1 ton truck is rated to tow less...I wonder why?
 
More fun in the sun with a big family...whoohoo!
 
Kenn


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2010 RPOD 176 (Silly-POD), 2011 Forest River Stealth 2612, and 2014 Forest River XLR 380AMP


Posted By: Heidi
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2012 at 5:57pm
Have you thought about putting the dog in the camper? I know its not legal for people but I don't know if there are laws about pets? Will the crate fit somewhere? 

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we R-pod people
175 ,2 peeps and one small horse


Posted By: Ratdog
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2012 at 6:02pm
Originally posted by Heidi Heidi wrote:

Have you thought about putting the dog in the camper? I know its not legal for people but I don't know if there are laws about pets? Will the crate fit somewhere? 
 
Without sway control, I fear an extreme case of motion sickness <LOL>.
 
-- Steve


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Steve, Anne, and Paige the Rat Terrier
2013 Lexus RX 450h Hybrid AWD
2011 RP-177 (aka: The Circus Wagon)


Posted By: Kenn
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2012 at 6:29pm
We've thought about that, but just want her to be comfy and not feel sick. We do have a sway bar and all that jazz. E4 hitch :)

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2010 RPOD 176 (Silly-POD), 2011 Forest River Stealth 2612, and 2014 Forest River XLR 380AMP


Posted By: Heidi
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2012 at 9:33am
I would guess that a little experiment with some water in a dish to see what kind of motion there is inside the camper might give you a better idea of what goes on in there. Or perhaps set the dog up with a camera (Skype) to monitor her. That way if she isn't doing well you can get her out of there. 

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we R-pod people
175 ,2 peeps and one small horse


Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 25 Jan 2012 at 5:52am
    I like Heidi's idea, you could try it. Perhaps a baby monitor or someway you could talk to your dog to not let it feel alone while in the camper. With a soft comfortable bed maybe your dog will be fine.

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SWFL   171
2010 Jeep Liberty


Posted By: Kenn
Date Posted: 25 Jan 2012 at 9:55am
Originally posted by David and Danette David and Danette wrote:

...With a soft comfortable bed maybe your dog will be fine.
 
She eats everything we place in her crate. I've spent tons of $$ on padding, memory foam, etc. for her to just eat. Even with toys in her crate, she still eats the padding. And when she eats stuff other than food, she throws up. Our wonderful, loving, fun, and member of our family - Rainbow.
 
We're going to strap her crate down in the trailer when the weather is bad and get her a pick-up truck ride when it's not raining.


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2010 RPOD 176 (Silly-POD), 2011 Forest River Stealth 2612, and 2014 Forest River XLR 380AMP


Posted By: Heidi
Date Posted: 26 Jan 2012 at 12:41am
Good luck. Let us know how it works out for you. She is a beautiful dog.

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we R-pod people
175 ,2 peeps and one small horse


Posted By: Dvmtxschh
Date Posted: 06 Jun 2012 at 1:39pm
Having seen how stuff bounces around while being towed, I wouldn't recommend putting her in the r-pod while towing.  In my part of the world, you would also have to be concerned about her getting too hot.

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Dr. Dena McGowan


Posted By: Leaflin
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2012 at 3:04pm
I think she will be traumatized.

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Leaf-Pod 173
97 Ford Explorer
http://www.leaflin.net - http://www.leaflin.net


Posted By: Kenn
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2012 at 6:44am
It was a challenge taking her cross country. I think next time, I'll ship my tailgate and have a ramp for her to climb up and down from the truck bed. I could get a camper shell, but a 5th wheel is in our future, so that would be a waste.

Now I know why I see a lot more little dogs...LOL

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2010 RPOD 176 (Silly-POD), 2011 Forest River Stealth 2612, and 2014 Forest River XLR 380AMP



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