MH and a large dog. (1 Viewer)

Jul 2, 2011
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Spent our first weekend away in new (to us) Mh with our 5 month old GS. All went well but as you can imagine, although only 5 months old he is already a reasonable size and very friendly meaning everyone he sees, man or beast he wants to charge at hoping they will play or make a fuss of him.

So, when outside the MH which is where he wanted to spend most of his time we had to tie him up, something he is not used to, but unfortunately will have to get used to. He chewed through one lead and even started to dig up one of those corkscrew/stake thingies.

So we are thinking we need a better way, to give him as much room as possible, but to minimise the chance of hime getting loose, at least until he is older and trained to stay put (hopefully).

We are thinking a chain is the only way to go as we only left him outside for 10 minutes on his own when he chewed through the lead. Would prefer a covered chain but not sure if they are available, ideally want one that is quite long and can be shortened in some way if we have a situation where he has less room.

The other problem is on soft ground I imagine stakes and those corkscrew type thingies are not that secure, there doesn`t seem to be anywere on the hab door side of the van that we could attach it to, if we use the towing rings front and/or back he will be out of sight too much.

Sure there are funsters out there that have solved these problems or seen them solved by someone.

Don`t really want to have to tie him up but we can`t see any other way other than leave him at home which we don`t want to have to do.

Thanks in advance.

Steve
 
Jun 2, 2010
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A chain around the rear spring hanger:thumb:

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alfandM

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DOGS & MHs

Hi, Wev'e had our dog Bamse which is a laumburger 55kilo, for 12 years MHing, with us since a puppy, and the best advice we can give, start training him and take him out cycle riding and long hard walks also good for us, then he will be satisfied and sleep, we still go out for 2 to 3 hr walks twice these day's and bamse as said 12yrs of age is still going strong! ask your pet shop for a good and strong lead and coller. but dont use one of them choker collers, it only distroys there wind pipes, but as said ware him out first, he's a big dog so size and a good activity will tire him out, good luck, Cheers Alf:thumb:
 

jhorsf

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I am sure you will get some good advice as lots of Funsters have experience on how they trained their dogs:thumb: I will only add your dog must be the last member of your pack what you do with the dog now and where he sees he is in the pack really matters if you want a happy well behaved dog.he has to learn when is playtime and when not.


lots of info out there like
http://www.dog-obedience-training-review.com/dog-behavior-training.html
 

Road Runner

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Just a quick reply to say I used to travel with 2 X 15 stone Great Danes:winky:

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Frankie

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Spent our first weekend away in new (to us) Mh with our 5 month old GS. All went well but as you can imagine, although only 5 months old he is already a reasonable size and very friendly meaning everyone he sees, man or beast he wants to charge at hoping they will play or make a fuss of him.

So, when outside the MH which is where he wanted to spend most of his time we had to tie him up, something he is not used to, but unfortunately will have to get used to. He chewed through one lead and even started to dig up one of those corkscrew/stake thingies.

So we are thinking we need a better way, to give him as much room as possible, but to minimise the chance of hime getting loose, at least until he is older and trained to stay put (hopefully).

We are thinking a chain is the only way to go as we only left him outside for 10 minutes on his own when he chewed through the lead. Would prefer a covered chain but not sure if they are available, ideally want one that is quite long and can be shortened in some way if we have a situation where he has less room.

The other problem is on soft ground I imagine stakes and those corkscrew type thingies are not that secure, there doesn`t seem to be anywere on the hab door side of the van that we could attach it to, if we use the towing rings front and/or back he will be out of sight too much.

Sure there are funsters out there that have solved these problems or seen them solved by someone.

Don`t really want to have to tie him up but we can`t see any other way other than leave him at home which we don`t want to have to do.

Thanks in advance.

Steve



Hi, I fitted a galvanised ring bolt to a pre drilled hole on chassis by back wheel.Fitted a large clip to rope/chain for easy attachment:thumb:
 
OP
OP
Encantador
Jul 2, 2011
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Thanks for the replies.

yes, as I mentioned, training is the long term answer, short term he has to be secured.

Ring bolt sounds like a good idea, thanks.

Steve
 

Hollyberry

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I bought 2 plastic covered wire tether leads (these: Link Removed)

and I've so far tied the dogs to the ladder at the back, the step and a sort of round hook at the front (for towing?)

It is a case of training and letting the dog get used to the motorhome. Long walks to tire him out. And if you can look at any Cesar Milan clips, his methods work really well.

I've also got 2 of the large fold up kennels.Link Removed
(mine are larger than these but you get the idea) and I can open the ends, bungee 2 together and it's large enough for my 2 dogs and 2 cats to all move around and lie down together. The cats travel in one of them, as it gives them room to move around or curl up in a soft bed inside.

Your dog will calm down and get used to travel--just takes time and consistency on your part. I used Cesar Milan's methods to train one of mine (formerly she lived wild in a pack on Troodos Mountain) and it worked in a matter of hours.

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TheBig1

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Our old staffies we used to have were just like your GSD and could eat a lead in seconds or pull a corkscrew from soft ground. Eventually we found a dog tie out kit in pets at home that had a long plastic coated steel cable with clips on. We fastened this to a wheel clamp and never had a problem again
 

TheBig1

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forgot to say, our current puppies and 14month old are getting training that didnt work on the older rescue dogs. Hoping to put them through their kennel club good citizen gold awards and then getting them passed as pets as therapy dogs....thats a while off still though
 

haganap

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Don't know why you have such a small problem with a small dog, :winky:

here's my girl Link Removed

I use a harness on her when we are away. Its a small pony harness so avoids any chocking problems. I then have a slip lead around the alloy wheel so not to damage the wheel and then used to have a chain to the harness but now just use two leads joined together.

Those spikes are a waste of time for a big dog,

In honesty, she doesn't try and escape these days, she simply loves to be outside though, She lazy's around outside taking everything in.
She loves going away in the MH, as soon as its being packed she knows.
:thumb:

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sue1959

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non as yet, hired in Canada a couple of times. hope to buy in the next few years.
Our problem is we have a JR that loves to hunt! She got stuck in a drain the other day could get down but not up! Hubby had to go in after her. She's only 8 months at the mo so hopefully she'll improve! Our collie is so friendly but over exuberant (mad is the appropriate word!) mind you he is very obedient and loves to travel in the car.
That's them in my avatar.
 

con-tiki

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My 2 hyperactive setters are well behaved in the motorhome, its when they are out and smell all the lovely country air that gets them over excited, and boy they are strong..I did start training them caesar milan's way, but unfortunately my son died in an accident ,so their training went to pot. I had a heart attack a few weeks later and since then have had x2 lots of cardiac stents, so I am not exactly strong enough to finnish off their training (my fault , not theirs). They are not the easiest of dogs to train, but I am sure your GS will be as good as gold.

I would suggest if you are going to tether him, then use a harness. I had tetherd one of mine and she got excited at another dog in sight and tried to run, broke her collar. She could have easily broken her neck.

Shirl
 
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We too have a couple of these . Link Removed
Our dogs are smaller and we use a screw into the ground , or fasten round a wheel or towbar. You will find most CL's and all bigger camp sites want you to keep your dog on a lead or chain / rope .
I think its a good rule even though we are dog lovers .
Not everyone loves your dog like you do.

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TheBig1

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My 2 hyperactive setters are well behaved in the motorhome, its when they are out and smell all the lovely country air that gets them over excited, and boy they are strong..I did start training them caesar milan's way, but unfortunately my son died in an accident ,so their training went to pot. I had a heart attack a few weeks later and since then have had x2 lots of cardiac stents, so I am not exactly strong enough to finnish off their training (my fault , not theirs). They are not the easiest of dogs to train, but I am sure your GS will be as good as gold.

I would suggest if you are going to tether him, then use a harness. I had tetherd one of mine and she got excited at another dog in sight and tried to run, broke her collar. She could have easily broken her neck.

Shirl


Shirl that is such a sad story, and I really feel for you
I know the dog training clubs locally and there are a couple of people who will take your dogs on in a one to one setting and train them for you. This is obviously not ideal, as 70% of dog training is training the owner/handler.

Have you thought about talking to a local dog training club and see if they can help? Some wont want to know, but given the circumstances there are plenty out there that will
 

slobadoberbob

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Ezzie is 88 kgs .. a big dog

Ezzie is 88 kgs and takes up the settee on her own.. We have an American Bull plastic coated wire that we attach to various parts of our rig... normally to the 4 wheel car trailer of our tow bar.

At the shows there is a chap that does them (or similar as our's have clips each end) that can be used with padlocks ... he does all sorts of lengths. I have had all these screw in the ground things.. waste of time.. I just use a large (and I mean large) marlin type stake ..bash it in the ground and drop the end over it.


There are roes to how long the rope or chain can be at shows and on sites..... best to get your dog socialised and obey command to stay or leave... As many know Ezzie trots along beside my disabled scooter at shows happily... and walks along slow in the shows and is petted a lot.. very good natured is a St bernard.. our Ezzie is very bomb proof... Only moans I heard last year was in the tent at Shepton when someone moaned about her size and being in the tent... but for the one off complaint I have heard hundreds of the opposite.. Motor Home owners by there nature seem to have dogs and if you are a sensible owner and control the dog then no one has an issue.

Yes Ezzie does love drinking from fire buckets and she does drool and no she is not my spare battery.

Bob
 

jhorsf

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My 2 hyperactive setters are well behaved in the motorhome, its when they are out and smell all the lovely country air that gets them over excited, and boy they are strong..I did start training them caesar milan's way, but unfortunately my son died in an accident ,so their training went to pot. I had a heart attack a few weeks later and since then have had x2 lots of cardiac stents, so I am not exactly strong enough to finnish off their training (my fault , not theirs). They are not the easiest of dogs to train, but I am sure your GS will be as good as gold.

I would suggest if you are going to tether him, then use a harness. I had tetherd one of mine and she got excited at another dog in sight and tried to run, broke her collar. She could have easily broken her neck.

Shirl



Shirl I had a big dog that pulled a rescue 2 years old, a lady that ran kennels told me to get a lupi
http://allgiftsdirect.co.uk/lupi-dog-harness-medium.html?___store=default&___store=default



I like you have had heart problems 3 mi's and 10 stents over the last 15 years so it was important that the dog stopped pulling I now you will not believe this but I put it on and when she pulled I just stood still when she stopped I walked on this took only a few minutes and I stopped using it after 2 months as she never pulls now it was the best 6 or seven pounds I have ever spent and really worked .you are best to get one from a pet shop as they make different sizes and you can try them on there:thumb:

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con-tiki

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Shirl I had a big dog that pulled a rescue 2 years old, a lady that ran kennels told me to get a lupi
http://allgiftsdirect.co.uk/lupi-dog-harness-medium.html?___store=default&___store=default



I like you have had heart problems 3 mi's and 10 stents over the last 15 years so it was important that the dog stopped pulling I now you will not believe this but I put it on and when she pulled I just stood still when she stopped I walked on this took only a few minutes and I stopped using it after 2 months as she never pulls now it was the best 6 or seven pounds I have ever spent and really worked .you are best to get one from a pet shop as they make different sizes and you can try them on there:thumb:

I will give them a try....I have a box full of harnesses etc...useless! I soon realised that the harnesses gave them more pulling power....I have ended up being pulled to the ground in the past. I also have shoulder problems which don't help (oh the joys of getting older!!!, the knees are not too good either...) I would try anything just to get them walking nicely.
Once on a campsite I thought it might be a good idea to tie a training lead round my waist and all that happened was that I got lead burns on my hand ....ouch ! I wouldn't recommend it! I love my girls to bits......but they are killing me !!!!......joke...

Shirl
 

slobadoberbob

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I can always run them beside the scooter

I will give them a try....I have a box full of harnesses etc...useless! I soon realised that the harnesses gave them more pulling power....I have ended up being pulled to the ground in the past. I also have shoulder problems which don't help (oh the joys of getting older!!!, the knees are not too good either...) I would try anything just to get them walking nicely.
Once on a campsite I thought it might be a good idea to tie a training lead round my waist and all that happened was that I got lead burns on my hand ....ouch ! I wouldn't recommend it! I love my girls to bits......but they are killing me !!!!......joke...

Shirl

The scooter does 8 mph.. bit rough on the grass, but it soon takes the steam out of a dog... my daughter has a Belgium Shepard and she jumps up and pulls, but I have often run her with the scooter and they soon settle down... I could make a good living exercising other people dogs at shows at this rate:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:

Problem I know... But with scooter my body would not suffer from an over active dog...

But Ezzie has always been fine.. only problem is she pulls my arm out of the socket when she stops dead to sniff.. regardless if I am doing 4 mph or 8 mph... either I stop fast or boy the pain...


bob

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pappajohn

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if you fit a ringbolt through the chassis make sure the chain wont rub on the vans lower sideskirt....most chassis rails are higher than the skirt and it will make a hell of a mess of it.

another similar option would be to chain around the lower half of the tyre on the ground...front or rear...and once settled it cant rub on anything.
if it pulls too tight and cant be removed simply drive forwards off the chain when you leave site
 

TheBig1

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there is a huge difference between occasionaly cliping your dog onto a tether for his/her own safety and a dog subjected to the torture of permanent isolation caused by long term tethering. The link supplied is more related to the way dogs are frequently tethered in yards in the USA.

In this country, our animal welfare laws are a lot different and although they are only guidelines all inspectors for the RSPCA are looking for the 5 freedoms as best practice

The Five Freedoms are:
gr-spacer.gif

Freedom from Hunger and Thirst - by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour.
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Freedom from Discomfort - by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.
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Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease - by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.
gr-spacer.gif

Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour - by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal's own kind.
gr-spacer.gif

Freedom from Fear and Distress - by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.



I believe we can assume that anyone that cares enough to take their animals on holiday with them will always do the best for their dog. No dog should be left chained up and unsupervised and precautions should be taken to ensure they avoid injury whilst they are

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