My wife and I were full time RVer’s for 10 years and yes we had or baby dog with us from the beginning. If your willing to take the time and effort involved you can believe that it’s safe to RV with pets.
Having a pet in an RV can be perfectly safe if you are willing to spend some time modifying your RV. It depends on how well prepared you are and what steps you take to modify your RV to make it safe for you and your pets.
But, if you put an unrestrained animal into a motorhome you are stretching the definition of safe. Not only could your pet be injured, but the other passengers in the motorhome could also be injured as well.
Fortunately, modifying your RV to make it safe for you and your pets is a fairly easy process. You also need to keep in mind that different types of pets have different needs.
For example, traveling with a snake is easy because you can put your snake in an aquarium. But, traveling with a dog isn’t as simple since you can’t just lock a dog in an enclosed space for long periods of time.
What Are Your Pet’s Needs?
Different types of animals have different needs. No two animals are the same, they are all unique with their own personalities and needs. For example, some dogs are perfectly content to spend their days lounging around and relaxing.
Other dogs are more energetic and require more exercise and attention. Some pets are very comfortable in a moving car, others have anxiety issues that require time to overcome.
What you need to do is determine what your pet’s needs are, what their personality is like, then adapt based upon this. You can’t expect your pet to adapt to you, you are going to have to make accommodations for your pet.
While this will take some work on your part, as a responsible pet owner that loves your pet, you should be willing to do whatever you can to ensure that your pet can safely travel with you.
For Dogs And Cats, A Kennel Or Seat Restraint Is A Necessity
The biggest danger you are going to encounter when traveling in a motorhome with a dog or cat is the risk of your pet falling or being thrown in your motorhome when you accelerate or decelerate quickly.
This can injure your pet, damage your property, or injure you or the other passengers in the motorhome. That means that for a cat you’ll need a kennel, and for a dog, you’ll need either a kennel or a seat restraint.
This is another instance where you are going to have to take the personality of your pet into consideration when determining what type of restraint to get. If you have an obedient dog that will happily sit in a seat restraint, then you will probably be just fine having your dog in this type of restraint.
But, if you have a dog that gets anxious or doesn’t like sitting still, you are going to be better off with a kennel. If you do use a kennel for a high-energy dog make sure that you let him out regularly.
While a kennel may be necessary to keep him and your other passengers safe, you still don’t want to leave him in it for too long since it will cause him anxiety.
Be Careful Of Flying Objects
Make Sure That You Keep Food And Fragile Items Stored Away To Keep Your Pet From Getting Into Them or having them falling off the table or counter top while you are traveling.
Being organized when you are traveling in an RV will make your life a lot easier. When you are traveling with pets it’s a virtual necessity. There are going to be times that you are going to have to leave your pet alone in your RV.
At times like these, you can either leave your pet restrained, or you can pet-proof your RV. Since you shouldn’t leave your pet confined or restrained any longer than necessary, pet-proofing your RV is your best bet.
Put Things Away
Think of it this way, you will need to keep your pet confined or restrained when you are driving. So, whenever you are parked you should make sure that you let your pet have some time to stretch their legs and move around.
As a general rule of thumb, if you don’t want your pet to get into something you need to put it somewhere out of their reach. This is especially true with food. Even the best-behaved pet is going to be tempted if you leave food sitting out where he can see or smell it.
By simply keeping food put away in the refrigerator, or in cabinets out of your pet’s reach, you can eliminate the temptation.
Start Out With Short Trips To Get Your Pet Used To Travel In Your RV
While preparing your RV by pet-proofing it and having the right supplies is important, it’s also important that you take the time to familiarize your pet with what it’s like to be in an RV.
Spend some time with your pet in the RV petting him, and just acting normally. You want to do all of this before you even think about putting your pet into a moving RV.
The idea here is to get your pet used to a new environment, so when you add something new to the equation, like a moving RV, it won’t be as traumatic to him.
Pets love having a set routine and you are about to disrupt your pet’s routine by going RVing. So do your pet a favor and ease him into the process. They will be happier for it and you will too.
After your pet is comfortable spending time in your RV you can add motion to the equation. You should start and stop slowly with your pet not restrained so he can get a feel for what it’s like to be in a moving RV.
You should also train your dog to spend time sitting in a kennel or a seat restraint to get him used to it. Some pets are going to adapt quickly to spending time in an RV. Other pets are going to take more time and patience on your part.
Avoid Babying Your Baby
One thing you need to avoid doing is comforting your pet every time he gets upset in your RV. It can be hard, but if you comfort your pet every time he gets upset in your RV it will condition him to expect that.
What should you do then? You should pull over when safe, park your RV for a few minutes and give your pet a chance to catch his breath. Once he calms down you can pet him and offer him a treat before you resume your trip.
Spending some time helping your pet to acclimate to life in an RV before you go on a trip can reduce his anxiety and make traveling more comfortable for him.
Have The Supplies You Need
When you have pets at home you have a lot of responsibilities, one of those responsibilities involves having all of the supplies that you’ll need to take care of your pet. When you are traveling in an RV you have those same responsibilities.
You need to ensure that you have plenty of food, medications, toys, and anything else that your pet may need. If you have a cat that uses a litter box, then you’ll need one for your RV as well.
A Leash Is A Necessity
If you have a dog or a cat that you plan to have travel with you in your RV you definitely don’t want to keep them cooped up inside of your RV all day. Your pets get stir crazy just like you do, so you need to be able to let them get out and stretch their legs.
The problem with RV travel is that you don’t have a fenced yard to keep your pet safe. You’ll also probably frequently be parked in areas where there are a lot of cars and people. Having a pet run around loose in an area like this could result in an accident.
It’s unfair to your pet, and it’s unfair to the other people that are driving or parked near your RV. While the idea of having a cat on a leash might seem a little odd, it’s something you’ll have to get used to if you are going to have a cat in your RV with you.
RVing With Pets Is Safe If You Are Properly Prepared
Is RVing with pets safe? It can be if you are a responsible pet owner. If you love your pet and have an RV you might be tempted to load your pet up without making the appropriate preparations, and then hit the road.
But this is the kind of mistake that can end up injuring or traumatizing your pet, damaging your property, or injuring you or the other passengers in your motorhome. There’s no reason you can’t safely travel with your pet, as long as you are responsible enough to prepare in advance.
Spend time considering your pet’s needs, then ensure that your motorhome/RV will be able to meet them. Make sure that you have restraints available, but also make sure that you don’t leave your pet restrained or confined for too long.
The good news is that traveling with pets in an RV can be done safely, and the effort required is pretty minimal. Make an effort to make sure all members of the family are comfortable, happy and safe. Enjoy RVing safely!