by Douglas Dunn

Created on: May 31, 2008

Traveling with pets in RVs should be given serious thought before actually attempting it. Many folks just pile the pets into the camper just like a piece of luggage and wonder why they have problems during the trip. Traveling with pets can be a great source of pleasure or it can be a tremendous burden.
There are several questions you should ask yourself before adding a pet to the already endless list of things to bring along on a trip. First and foremost, is your pet able to go potty at the end of a leash? Some dogs are shy about doing their business in front of their owners while on a leash. Maybe you have a cat. Will it go to a litter box when in a new location? I suppose a bird would be a good travel companion as they are caged up and don't have much choice in the matter.

Does your pet like change? Some pets are comfortable with their surroundings and will not wander even if given the opportunity. You may think twice about taking a pet that is a homebody. Of course an RV is like a home on wheels but the surroundings are still new to the pet. If your pet enjoys a change of scenery, then by all means they will probably enjoy a trip in the RV.
Will you be able to spend quality time with your pet as you would a child on vacation? Why bother taking a pet along if you are just going to ignore it like a bad neighbor? With the smaller spaces of an RV, your pet will demand more play time and walks which will require you to go along. Be sure you have the energy and ability to devote some time with your animal.
Another time issue will be the brushing and cleaning of a dog in an RV. Since the space is smaller in an RV, the dog hair will show up much more intensely in every corner. If you never brush out your dog, the floor will soon look like a hair salon for new marine recruits.
Make sure your pet is friendly with other animals and people. Walking around RV parks can take you across the paths of other RV people and their pets. Some RV parks are small and do not have much room while others are like huge nature preserves and have all kinds of room to roam. Either way, be sure you have control of your pet and that it will not lunge like a hungry lion at other RVers.
Traveling with pets in RVs can indeed be a pleasure or an all out assault on your nerves and happiness. Think long and hard before embarking on an adventure with Fido in your camper. Better yet, take one of his chewy bones, gnaw on it awhile and think about the pros and cons of taking your pet with you.

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