TRAVELING WITH DOGS AND CATS

When I began traveling about the country in an RV, I was surprised to see how many RV owners had pets, especially dogs, with them. On second thought, it made sense. If you are traveling for more than a week or so, boarding a beloved animal companion seems heartless, and most campgrounds are pet-friendly. Why not take Fido or Fluffy along? Besides the other advantages, having a dog along can easily lead to meeting other RV owners. A friendly dog is almost as useful as a cute toddler in that respect.

Certain breeds are better than others for RV travel. A terrier or Chihuahua doesn’t need the space that a larger dog does, eats less, poops less. Gentle, friendly breeds are also indicated—hopefully, you’re not using the dog as a watchdog!

Some traits can make a pet less suitable for the RV life. I have seen cat owners spend hours vacuuming cat hair out of the upholstery. Cats need to have a litter box, too; and they can escape from a vehicle in an instant.

Campgrounds often are crowded, and so having a dog that barks often or is aggressive is out. (Here I must add  that I would never own a pit bull or other notoriously aggressive breed, whether at home or on the road. I had a terrible experience with pit bulls years ago, so I’m more frightened of them than most people are, but it’s not just me. The web site www.dogsbite.org gives many stats on the subject.) Some campgrounds even refuse to allow certain breeds.

Lest I sound like a dog-hating grouch, let me say that I do like dogs in general. In fact, for 32 years I helped raise a series of wonderful Scottish terriers. Though in principle I think it’s preferable to adopt a mutt from a shelter, in practice my late husband and I bought pedigreed puppies because we knew exactly what to expect. We never had an RV, but Scotties would have been ideal for the RV life I have today. They are small enough to adapt to the limited space, but big enough not to disappear easily into a moving slide. Loyal and protective, they always made me feel safe when alone at home or walking them at night. They are cute! (Older people who remembered FDR’s Fala were especially attracted to our dogs.) All these traits would make them ideal for RV campgrounds.

Much as I loved our dogs, today I prefer not to have one. Thirty-two years of feeding, walking, and cleaning up after them was enough! Also, many of the places we go in the RV—museums, many hiking trails, visitors’ centers—don’t allow dogs for good reasons. We would have to miss out on those places altogether or take turns with dog sitting. Leaving a dog unattended for more than a short time is usually a bad idea, and in hot weather it is simply impossible.

If I were a solo RV traveler, I’d take a dog with me in spite of these disadvantages. (Perhaps I’ve read too many of Sue Henry's mysteries about Maxie McNabb and her miniature dachshund, Stretch, who travel in a Minnie Winnie. Invariably in those books, some evildoer tries to break into their RV.) In addition to making me feel safer, a dog would be a fine substitute for a human traveling companion. Scotties can be stubborn, but I’d win any arguments!