RVing with Pets

Travel RVing With Pets
By Sandy St Germaine

If you own pets (or if they own you), taking an extended RV trip without them would be unthinkable. Being able to take our pets along with us was the number 2 reason we opted for getting an RV. (I'm not sure what the number 1 reason was).

Traveling with pets can make your RVing experience very gratifying. But, if you don't plan well for it, it can make you c-r-a-z-y! So don't throw your pets in the RV at the last minute without considering that they are people, too, and deserve special care and attention to their needs.

Most dogs take readily to RV travel and enjoy the trip as much as other family members. As long as you stop every couple of hours and take them out for some exercise and to take care of their personal business, they are good to go. But there are exceptions--some have problems adjusting to all the new surroundings and get stressed out. Typically quiet dogs might become incessant barkers and exhibit behavior you have never seen before. If you don't know how your dog reacts to travel, you should consider taking him on some short trips before embarking on a journey. Another consideration is keeping your best friends clean. No matter how hard you try, you cannot keep a wet dog from smelling like a wet dog. Put that wet dog into a confined place, like a motorhome or camping trailer--and you are going to have some unhappy campers. Keep lots of old towels available for rainy days and swim meets. Dry them off before you let them inside.

Cats can make terrific traveling companions, but are definitely different from dogs. Most of them won't take to a leash, so letting them outdoors can muster up a whole different set of problems.

Dogs and cats are by far the most common RV compatible animal companions, but certainly not the only ones. I have seen pot-bellied pigs (which are truly wonderful pets), miniature donkeys, birds of every feather (well, nearly every feather), lizards, geckos, goats, chickens, bunnies--and snakes. All seem to do well as RV travelers. An animal lover myself, I think they are all terrific--except for snakes. Snakes scare the bejeepers out of me. To each his own...

Planning and consideration are the most valuable tools to make sure you have an enjoyable trip with your best friend on your next RV excursion.

Sandy St. Germaine has a website devoted to the RV lifestyle with a special emphasis on our beloved pets. Please visit us at http://www.travelrving.com

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