Living with dogs in your Motorhome (1 Viewer)

Oct 1, 2013
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Elvis travels, errm wherever he wants :roflmto: Usually on the bosses knee.


He also sleeps wherever he wants :roflmto:
 

DBK

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Jan 9, 2013
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I don't think there is one universal as answer to this question. With our PVC there is plenty of room for our Jack Russell but a big dribbling flolloping dog would be a different matter. Big dogs need a big 'van. Smaller dogs fit in smaller vehicles. Simple as that.
 

Onderweg

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Jul 17, 2008
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Hi daisy mae

Will our long haired German Shepard fit the towel and would we still be able to close it with the zipper ?

Paul and Ineke
 

Minxy

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Aug 22, 2007
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Since 1996, had Elddis/Swift/Rapido/Rimor/Chausson MHs. Autocruise/Globecar PVCs/Compactline i-138
Travelling locations:

Romy, 11 year old cross Staffie/Greyhound: in the bed under the half dinette table, on the dinette seat, or between the cab seats on a nice big comfy dog duvet.

Lily, 6 year old Patterdale: in a small squishy dog bed placed at the very front centre of the cab floor (in front of Romy's duvet), or in the one under the table, or on my knee on a nice big cushion.

Tazzy, 2 year old cross Chihuahua/Jack Russell (aka a Chisell due to how much she likes to chew stuff!): is usually on my knee on the big cushion, in the under table bed, but her favourite place is on the rear bed snuggled into the corner as she likes the peace and quiet!

At night ... ideally:

Romy: on her duvet between the cab seats, or in the under table bed.
Lily: on the dinette seat
Tazzy: in the squishy dog bed placed on the table itself

In reality ....:

Romy: as before
Tazzy & Lily: on our bed at the foot end, one in each corner ... until they 'creep' up whilst we're asleep and wriggle under the top duvet (we use 2) to have a nice warm snuggle! Then they spend the night going in and out as they cook and cool off again! :Doh: Nothing like waking up in a morning with a dog's nose straight in front of you. :roflmto:

At home they have their own bedroom with a single bed in it and a baby-gate across the doorway - we used to have 5 dogs and found this was the best way to avoid having loads of dog beds everywhere! We can't close the door to their room with them in it though, or our bedroom door which is opposite, as Romy gets very, very upset at being 'separated' from us like this (she was badly abused by a previous owner and obviously associates it with that time). We do have some doggy blankets which we cover them up with as being short haired they do tend to feel the cold so kept shuffling around at night to get warm which the blankets stopped, however when we got Tazzy we found that the blankets weren't sufficient as she does wriggle around a lot at night so used to squeak to be wrapped up again. To solve this I cut down an old duvet we had and made some mini-duvets for them (with removable covers) so that even if she wriggles around she can easily snuffle back underneath to keep warm ... so now she lets us sleeps until a more sensible hour! :thumb:

As for drying them, we have a few different types of towels:
  • a couple of large microfibre ones which dry quickly
  • a couple of kiddie 'square' ones with little hoods which dry quickly (Lily loves hers - see picture below!)
  • a kiddy poncho which is ideal for Romy when she been splashing about in the sea - she wriggles about a lot when being dried so I can pop it over her head to keep her in one place as I try to dry her off!
  • a couple of small hand-towels (much easier to rinse out and dry) which we just use for paw wiping after a walk or for wiping off the muck before using the larger towel to just dry them (thus keeping it cleaner)
  • a couple of microfibre car wash mitts which are good at removing a lot of the moisture when the dogs are really, really, really wet before a last 'buffing' up with a normal towel!
 

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Minxy

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Aug 22, 2007
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Forgot to mention how we 'manage' for other than sleeping and travelling! :Doh:

We've had a couple of standard front lounge MH in the past (ie double dinette with settee opposite and rear kitchen/washroom), followed by a French bed one with half-dinette up front with kitchen opposite, a longitudinal fixed bed in one rear corner and washroom in the other, with our last 3 motorhomes being a dinette up front on one side, with kitchen and washroom opposite each other in the middle, and rear transverse bed works very well for us as in effect we have 2 distinct 'rooms' so even in our 6m PVC conversion we can still have our own 'space' if we need it, or get out of the way of each other. :Smile:

When cooking or eating the bed comes in handy to put the dogs on out of the way and then I usually spend some time doing my puzzle book whilst lounging on the bed with the dogs or ringing home etc, whilst hubby looks at the maps or does the washing-up as he likes to lay it all out on the table first.
 
Jun 17, 2012
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Travelling locations:

Romy, 11 year old cross Staffie/Greyhound: in the bed under the half dinette table, on the dinette seat, or between the cab seats on a nice big comfy dog duvet.

Lily, 6 year old Patterdale: in a small squishy dog bed placed at the very front centre of the cab floor (in front of Romy's duvet), or in the one under the table, or on my knee on a nice big cushion.

Tazzy, 2 year old cross Chihuahua/Jack Russell (aka a Chisell due to how much she likes to chew stuff!): is usually on my knee on the big cushion, in the under table bed, but her favourite place is on the rear bed snuggled into the corner as she likes the peace and quiet!

At night ... ideally:

Romy: on her duvet between the cab seats, or in the under table bed.
Lily: on the dinette seat
Tazzy: in the squishy dog bed placed on the table itself

In reality ....:

Romy: as before
Tazzy & Lily: on our bed at the foot end, one in each corner ... until they 'creep' up whilst we're asleep and wriggle under the top duvet (we use 2) to have a nice warm snuggle! Then they spend the night going in and out as they cook and cool off again! :Doh: Nothing like waking up in a morning with a dog's nose straight in front of you. :roflmto:

At home they have their own bedroom with a single bed in it and a baby-gate across the doorway - we used to have 5 dogs and found this was the best way to avoid having loads of dog beds everywhere! We can't close the door to their room with them in it though, or our bedroom door which is opposite, as Romy gets very, very upset at being 'separated' from us like this (she was badly abused by a previous owner and obviously associates it with that time). We do have some doggy blankets which we cover them up with as being short haired they do tend to feel the cold so kept shuffling around at night to get warm which the blankets stopped, however when we got Tazzy we found that the blankets weren't sufficient as she does wriggle around a lot at night so used to squeak to be wrapped up again. To solve this I cut down an old duvet we had and made some mini-duvets for them (with removable covers) so that even if she wriggles around she can easily snuffle back underneath to keep warm ... so now she lets us sleeps until a more sensible hour! :thumb:



As for drying them, we have a few different types of towels:
  • a couple of large microfibre ones which dry quickly
  • a couple of kiddie 'square' ones with little hoods which dry quickly (Lily loves hers - see picture below!)
  • a kiddy poncho which is ideal for Romy when she been splashing about in the sea - she wriggles about a lot when being dried so I can pop it over her head to keep her in one place as I try to dry her off!
  • a couple of small hand-towels (much easier to rinse out and dry) which we just use for paw wiping after a walk or for wiping off the muck before using the larger towel to just dry them (thus keeping it cleaner)
  • a couple of microfibre car wash mitts which are good at removing a lot of the moisture when the dogs are really, really, really wet before a last 'buffing' up with a normal towel!

So collectively the dogs are in charge ??

I thought we were soft.............::bigsmile:

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Armytwowheels

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Aug 10, 2012
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When wet and muddy a dri towel bought from the NEC last year worth every penny, open towel out, it has a zip along two sides, lay flat put dog in the middle and zip up, half an hour later a clean dry dog, and the towel dries quickly being microfibre.
Only one dog in Mh three if in caravan , no problem then.

I have looked at these towels before but thought - what happens when the dog try's to walk about, do they just fall over? Cannot imagine mine sitting still for half an hour while she drys?
 

Mags52

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Jun 2, 2010
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Of course it depends on the layout of the MH but in ours the cab is not part of the habitation area. The dogs usually sleep in there although the little one sometimes creeps back and gets under the dinette during the night. For travelling we have clips that attach to the (fastened) seat belt and the other end attaches to their harnesses. One travels in the back and the littlest one between the front seats. Like kids there's usually an argument about who's in the front.
I love travelling with the dogs just witnessing their excitement at being in different places and exploring new walks. They sleep really well (as do we). Can't wait for spring ... that's got me dreaming of the next trip. :Smile:

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Dec 29, 2007
293
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Our two wear a harness each. One bed between front seats and one bed under table. In the current mh started with one clipped into rear seat belt and other attached to strong metal bar which goes from drivers seat to seat behind. Now both attached to that as they like to be close.
Night time, they have their beds of course but they end up in both of our beds. Pippa started off as she meant to from the word go in the new mh!
 

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ukbill

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starting on saturday 10/3/2012
ours is a lhasapoo and he is tied to the rear bumper when on the move and runs behind the mh we have to be careful at tolls as they try to charge us for a trailer :ROFLMAO:

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Minxy

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Aug 22, 2007
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So collectively the dogs are in charge ??

I thought we were soft.............::bigsmile:

Lily even has her own clothes as she feels the cold. :Blush:
 

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Jun 17, 2012
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I have looked at these towels before but thought - what happens when the [HI]dog try's to walk about[/HI], do they just fall over? Cannot imagine mine sitting still for half an hour while she drys?

[HI]It will be funny to watch [/HI]:roflmto:

Especially if it has lots of legs:ROFLMAO:
 

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daisy mae

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There is a size guide here; Broken Link Removed[/QUOTE

This isn`t the towel that I bought from the NEC, mine is the original DRI DOG TOWEL, from Muddy Paws.com. it`s like Silver Screens and Taylor Maids.

Cannot say about the quality of the link, maybe ok, whatever the make it `s a great idea which works and no mud and wet in the MH.
:thumb:

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Minxy

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Aug 22, 2007
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I've seen those 'doggy dry bags' and can't say that I'm a fan really, I much prefer to dry my dogs off as much as possible with a towel and let them then 'air dry' for the last bit, I can't help thinking that having them 'encased' in a wet towel for 20 mins will do them much good.

However, I'm also sure that if people put their minds to it they could easily make something themselves at a fraction of the cost. :Smile:

Its a bit like the 'turbi-towels' that came out a few years ago, the towels that look a bit like a turban once you've wrapped them round your head, I saw them originally at the extortionate price they were then and soon worked out how to make my own which is still going strong and has lasted much longer than the 'proper' ones.:thumb:
 
OP
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Dawn B
Oct 20, 2013
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I've seen those 'doggy dry bags' and can't say that I'm a fan really, I much prefer to dry my dogs off as much as possible with a towel and let them then 'air dry' for the last bit, I can't help thinking that having them 'encased' in a wet towel for 20 mins will do them much good.

However, I'm also sure that if people put their minds to it they could easily make something themselves at a fraction of the cost. :Smile:

Its a bit like the 'turbi-towels' that came out a few years ago, th

towels that look a bit like a turban once you've wrapped them rounyour head, I saw them originally at the extortionate price they were then and soon worked out how to make my own which is still going strong and has lasted much longer than the 'proper' ones.:thumb:
Turban.jpeg


Link RemovedLink Removed

Sorry, couldn't resist it ::bigsmile:
 
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daisy mae

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That`s brilliant Dawn, made me laugh.

If the dogs have had a good run, mine just goes to sleep in the towel, I usually have some heat on , front of aga or heating in mh. only a few minutes really she isn`t laying in a wet soggy wet towel. being a beardie she has a lot of long hair.

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Minxy

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As an aside to this, we used to have a poorly dog called Midge who had cushings disease and couldn't walk very far so we had a buggy for him and also a kiddie papoose which he loved being carried around in, though you might like to see ... just to confirm we are really, really, really daft about our dogs!
 

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Dawn B
Oct 20, 2013
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As an aside to this, we used to have a poorly dog called Midge who had cushings disease and couldn't walk very far so we had a buggy for him and also a kiddie papoose which he loved being carried around in, though you might like to see ... just to confirm we are really, really, really daft about our dogs!
Exactly how it should be. Good for you :Smile:
 

Minxy

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.... and this was Tazzy last summer in Ireland ... she was tired out after running around like a mad thing on our walk so she wanted to be carried by 'Daddy'! ::bigsmile:

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daisy mae

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As an aside to this, we used to have a poorly dog called Midge who had cushings disease and couldn't walk very far so we had a buggy for him and also a kiddie papoose which he loved being carried around in, though you might like to see ... just to confirm we are really, really, really daft about our dogs!

I had a buggy when I first had Pollyanna at eight weeks, as I couldn`t walk her until she was vaccinated, to get her socialised I walked her round the village and by fields where cattle and sheep were , she got used to tracters etc, and animals, she was far too heavy to carry for long, after a week or two she used to climb in it herself when the buggy was in the hall, it was a dog buggy. when she was able to be walked she wasn`t freaked out by the noise and traffic, very good for elderly dogs too. I did have a pink one, no one else would push it or even go out with me when I had it, spoilt sports. :ROFLMAO:did raise smiles in the village.
 
Dec 6, 2011
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As an aside to this, we used to have a poorly dog called Midge who had cushings disease and couldn't walk very far so we had a buggy for him and also a kiddie papoose which he loved being carried around in, though you might like to see ... just to confirm we are really, really, really daft about our dogs!

i'd like to see Haggars carrying Tara in one of those papoose jobbies:Doh::ROFLMAO:
or even with her in a Buggy:Cool:

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Minxy

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I had a buggy when I first had Pollyanna at eight weeks, as I couldn`t walk her until she was vaccinated, to get her socialised I walked her round the village and by fields where cattle and sheep were , she got used to tracters etc, and animals, she was far too heavy to carry for long, after a week or two she used to climb in it herself when the buggy was in the hall, it was a dog buggy. when she was able to be walked she wasn`t freaked out by the noise and traffic, very good for elderly dogs too. I did have a pink one, no one else would push it or even go out with me when I had it, spoilt sports. :ROFLMAO:did raise smiles in the village.

Any photos???? ::bigsmile:
 

karl c

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I've got to ask. I've noticed a lot of you have more than one dog, how do you manage in your MH. Travelling, sleeping etc.

We Have 9 dogs they have the garage, they all have crates to travel & sleep in.
8 Siberian Husky`s & a Rottweiler cross :Smile:
the rear garage keeps them cool in the summer:Cool:.

We went for the Four winds Fun Mover. for the Dogs.
 

daisy mae

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Any photos???? ::bigsmile:

I might have somewhere, one of the things on the to do list, arrange in albums, cannot put photos on here though. will see what I can do.

Margaret

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