Dog doesn't like the 5er

[BigHorn]

Took a trip and the Dog just hated the thing. He had spent time in trailer while it was parked in the yard, seemed fine. But when we got to the RV park, it was plain to see he was miserable. I'm not too sure if it was because the space was somewhat confining, or because it was cold. Had taken all his stuff, bed, blanket, familiar things. We walked him a lot also.

Am thinking that when it is warmer will get a screen room that attaches to the awning so we all will have more room and he can come and go outside.

Anyone else run across this problem with their dog? Ours is 6 year old male Bichon. It would have been better had we started this when he was a puppy, but that wasn't possible.

Would sure appreciate any advice. We don't want to leave him home. We are hoping a trip or two more might show an improvement.

Thanks for any advice or similar dog stories

[Little Kopit]

a) where did he ride? I hear riding in any kind of a trailer is very uncomfortable. One of my dogs rides in my TC and I don't have a choice. She puts a dinette cushion on the floor. At first she got up on the dinette seat, but this year she has that cushion on the floor. Well, maybe this year we did some more venturesome roads, and sometimes took those at speed.

b) Where did he ride before you got the 5er? Could he do that again?

c) When you're at campsite, what is the site like. Is there space around him, a defined site. I much prefer sites defined by trees. That makes boundary training much easier. & believe it or not boundary training is much more difficult for humans than for dogs. Far too many people don't know that dogs are territorial. They come onto your site and then complain that the dog barked. I beg your pardon. That's unfair. You rented the site. They should respect your camp site as much as they do your lot at home.

d) Do you cook outside or stay where he is in the camp site. I do. It means that camping is much more a family time than it is a home, when I have to work and such. Some days on the road my dogs pretty well have all of me.

Keep the discussion going. Others should have ideas too.

:sun:

[RvCrazy]

Dogs have a greater sense of smell than the human, beings you state that it is fairly new trailer, maybe it is the off gas that is bothering the nose. Did he seem to come in after the trailer was well aired out at home and now that you traveled with it closed up maybe the smell is too much for him.

Happy Rving!

[Bob Boucher, Ontario]

Our 15 year old Bichon has been a great traveller fot the seven years we have been RVing. He rides in the truck with us and addapted real well to the fiver.

In fact, the only time he gets fussy is when the fiver is parked in our driveway while I clean it and DW packs it. He stays right by the garage door to make darn sure we do not forget him!

A New trailer might just have enough chemical smells to disturb him but we got our fiver new and did not note a problem.

Our dog took a good two years to get totally used to our new house when we downsized at retirement, he was then about the age of yours.

Can only suggest perseverence! Good Luck"

Bob :wink: :drive:

[Time2go]

we had the same trouble with Maxwell but he soon learned that mommy and daddy were just fine and it became to the point where he was just ok with it. It took about half a dozen trips before he was just ok with it and now he is ready more than ever to jump right in and go for a trip. I say just keep taking him on trips, short ones first if it seems like he is really fightened and more than likely he will eventually get use to it! Always be comforting and give him love, they sense that everything is ok and tend to see that it isn't so bad. good luck and keep us posted on how he is coming along!

[Time2go]

we had the same trouble with Maxwell but he soon learned that mommy and daddy were just fine and it became to the point where he was just ok with it. It took about half a dozen trips before he was just ok with it and now he is ready more than ever to jump right in and go for a trip. I say just keep taking him on trips, short ones first if it seems like he is really fightened and more than likely he will eventually get use to it! Always be comforting and give him love, they sense that everything is ok and tend to see that it isn't so bad. good luck and keep us posted on how he is coming along!

[Roy M]

Our 7 year old toy poodle is not yet a seasoned rv'er. She is restless on long trips in the truck and hates being tied up at the campsite, we have a large fenced yard at home.
AT the campsite she wants to spend her time on our bed, likely because the smells are familiar, or underfoot in the galley. If we tie her up outside and close the screen door she will whine continuously. We are new to this so hope she will get more used to it next season.

[Little Kopit]

There is a point with dogs where ignoring them gives better training.

All pets respond more strongly to positive response from their alpha than any negatives. They listen to the tone of your voice more than the words, even if they know the words (no, good, thank you....) But, I have taught my dogs a hand signal for when I'm far from them.

I project my voice, call their names, with arm raised, hold my hand so they see it side on and with the fingers and thumb separated, but I can make a close motion that they can see. Once they learn it at home they will follow that command at a campground.

I think I would teach being tied on at home.

I have my dog who rides in the camper tied there, for safety, etc. I do not allow any dogs in my bed at home and I do not want them in or on my bed in the camper.

:)