I didn't see anywhere to post about tips on handling pets while fulltiming. I am sure there are lots of tips I will need to know when I fulltime with my 3 Chihuahuas. I appreciate any input.
DaveSam said
06:06 PM Nov 28, 2008
I found handling our chihuahua while fulltiming is really no different than being in a house, except we can't let him run loose in the yard. When we go outside, he goes with us. He lets us know when he needs to go out. We keep him tethered when we are outside but we don't leave him outside alone. When we leave and leave him at the trailer it is no different than leaving him in the house when we had a house.
-- Edited by DaveSam at 18:07, 2008-11-28
Judy said
10:12 PM Nov 28, 2008
Apparently you havent read all of Howards and Lindas forum so go to community forum and go down the page where it says fur, Fins and Feathers. You will find many of us have answered questions about traveling with our pets. We travel with 2blackdogs. Rahma and Rio. One is a 75 lb and the other a 15 lb. southwestjudy
Luvglass said
10:49 AM Nov 29, 2008
Aside from keeping them leashed when your outside, I don't feel there's any difference in pet care from a sticks and bricks.
SO many fulltimers have pets, don't worry about it. Good luck,
breezy said
12:05 PM Nov 29, 2008
Thanks Judy, I will check it out...and no I havn't navigated through the whole site yet but trying lol
breezy said
12:08 PM Nov 29, 2008
One thing that concerns me is if I am away and have left my dogs in the fifth wheel and something happens to the air condition or power goes out or something...this is probably one of my main worries.
bjoyce said
11:15 PM Nov 29, 2008
breezy wrote:
One thing that concerns me is if I am away and have left my dogs in the fifth wheel and something happens to the air condition or power goes out or something...this is probably one of my main worries.
They do make automatic generator start systems if that is a real worry. You need an onboard generator to make that work, which is common with class A motorhomes but not fifth wheels. The vast majority of automatic generator start systems that are installed are unused. Power going out is very rare or it would be a worry more people would have. Many RVers have pets and don't stress about the power going out in campgrounds. They love their pets but it is not something that worries them.
DaveSam said
05:58 AM Nov 30, 2008
We have made friends in the parks and we look after each others' pets. One couple asked us to check on their dogs every hour to make sure the AC was still running. Another couple asked us to take their dogs out every couple of hours and walk them. We have also had people take our dog out for walks while we were away. We have found pets, dogs especially, are a common bond and help develop new friendships in our travels.
Jack Mayer said
09:57 AM Nov 30, 2008
We have a dog, and although she usually goes with us most places we do occasionally leave her behind if it is too hot out.
We have 2 AC units so I always make sure both are on. If one fails the other is more than enough to keep the rig at survivable temps. Unless you are in 100+ temps in the desert then even a failure of the power is survivable for the hours you would be gone. Just make sure direct sun is not entering your windows and you have both airs set on a reasonable temp. If one fails the other will pick up enough. If power fails totally then the rig will get warm, but not so hot as to cause trauma. You should not be gone longer than 4-6 hours, anyway....
You do want to check the voltage in the park if you have an energy management system that will cut your power if the voltage gets too low. You also want to be sure that your thermostats allow the AC to automatically come back on if power fails and is then restored. Some do not, but most do.
As someone who lives and works in campground I do hope you check your dogs for "barking behaviour". There is nothing worse than a dog that barks the entire time their owner is gone. We have warned MANY owners about this issue as campground employees. In some few cases people have been asked to leave because they would not address the issue.
-- Edited by DaveSam at 18:07, 2008-11-28
southwestjudy
They do make automatic generator start systems if that is a real worry. You need an onboard generator to make that work, which is common with class A motorhomes but not fifth wheels. The vast majority of automatic generator start systems that are installed are unused.
Power going out is very rare or it would be a worry more people would have. Many RVers have pets and don't stress about the power going out in campgrounds. They love their pets but it is not something that worries them.
We have 2 AC units so I always make sure both are on. If one fails the other is more than enough to keep the rig at survivable temps. Unless you are in 100+ temps in the desert then even a failure of the power is survivable for the hours you would be gone. Just make sure direct sun is not entering your windows and you have both airs set on a reasonable temp. If one fails the other will pick up enough. If power fails totally then the rig will get warm, but not so hot as to cause trauma. You should not be gone longer than 4-6 hours, anyway....
You do want to check the voltage in the park if you have an energy management system that will cut your power if the voltage gets too low. You also want to be sure that your thermostats allow the AC to automatically come back on if power fails and is then restored. Some do not, but most do.
As someone who lives and works in campground I do hope you check your dogs for "barking behaviour". There is nothing worse than a dog that barks the entire time their owner is gone. We have warned MANY owners about this issue as campground employees. In some few cases people have been asked to leave because they would not address the issue.