You Should Get a Dog | RVLife

Do you need a dog when traveling?

Why is this not always the best advice to follow? If you are a dog person, no one will need to tell you to get a dog. You already have one, or two, three, and so on.

There are pros and cons to anything in life. When it comes to pets you get a variety of responses. When it comes to dogs, some people are pet illiterate. If you haven’t had a pet in the past, then maybe it’s not for you. They provide security; and let you know when things don’t seem right. And they are a great judge of character. But they require a lot of time and money. If you are not prepared to give them a considerable amount of your life, save the pet and take a hard pass.

This is the topic I write about this month. Because, well I got a few questions when I returned to our winter spot. “Did you bring your shepherd back with you?”

“Yes, of course I did. She’s, my dog.” I responded and was perplexed as to why people would ask. And then they continue to comment.

“She’s quite a handful.”

I could only respond with, “So were my kids, but I didn’t get rid of them.” (I did have my moments, but I’m just kidding.)

To be honest. Yes, she is. She is a pain in the ass at times. But not enough to trade her for anything in the world. Her job, as a working dog, is loyalty and protection. She is an alpha female with an attitude. So is her handler😏. She is not dog-friendly, and people well, don’t approach me without warning. I see it like this. You have two choices: 1. Move along. Or 2. Make your peace with Jesus. It’s not complicated.

Then they would continue to say, “Maybe she’ll get to be more sociable.”

Again, I am perplexed. “Why? I don’t want her to be sociable. I want people to keep their distance.”

This is for a few reasons. As a solo traveler, I want the visual protection. With her acute hearing, she can hear anything far quicker than a sensor, or an alarm. If you come anywhere near my motorhome, she will make her presence known.

A lot of people travel with dogs. A lot. It does create a bit of a challenge for me. I always take measures to keep her at a distance. And you always have those people who don’t understand the concept of a leash. “he’s very friendly.” I want to smack these people sometimes. “Mine isn’t.” But as with everything that is life, people live in their world and no one else matters.

Not all dogs who camp are friendly. And they don’t have to be. You have to be a responsible pet owner and understand your surroundings. Just because you are in a wide-open area does not mean unleash the hounds and let them roam. Just because they behave very well at home doesn’t mean it will work on the road. And for the love of Pete PICK UP AFTER YOUR PET!! Huge pet peeve of mine. If you can’t pick up after your pet. Don’t have one.

So, back to the topic; You should get a dog. It’s not a must-do. Some people are not cut out to be dog owners. They do require a lot more work when you travel. You are limited on what you can do and where you can camp. Many campgrounds don’t allow certain breeds. And the number of pets can be a restriction. Weather is a big issue. Heat and extreme cold can kill your pet. They cause burns on their paw pads when walking, and even on rocks and sand. Heat stroke and frostbite can happen quickly. If you can’t walk barefoot on the ground then guess what, neither can your pet. (This should be common sense. But it’s not in most cases.) Leaving your pet alone while you are out and about for long hours is not recommended. Power outages, AC, or heat sources can go out. Even if you have monitors for temperature changes – are you close enough to get back to your pet?

Me, I think and treat my dogs like they are my children. It’s not for everybody, and that’s okay. But I did respond to those who questioned my choice to keep my handful of a fur goblin. “I’d get rid of a man before I got rid of my dog.” Sorry, – not sorry.

For Wolf and me, our lives revolved around our dogs. If our dogs couldn’t go, we didn’t go. That is one of many reasons we worked so well together. It’s what made us happy. They do make me happy. I enjoy spending time with my dogs more than people. I’m reclusive. I don’t have to be around people all the time. I prefer solitude over a social life. My home is my sanctuary. My dogs, they are perfectly fine with it.

Sure, I would love for Sasha to have the ability to run around and run off energy. We go on several walks throughout the day. When the dog park is not occupied, we go, and she loves to play catch with her ball. Ball is her life. She uses it to wake me up. There is nothing like a ball dropped in your bed at 5:30 AM. Or nothing like a wet sloppy toy dropped on your face. There are a lot of toys for all the babies to play with. Much like typical siblings whatever toy one has, the other wants.

I do go out and talk to people and sit and chat. The kids are at home when I do – but it’s for a short time. One camper asked me what I do all day since I don’t go out much. I write, paint, read – my current read is Cher Part 1. I keep myself busy with all sorts of things. I am a creative. I am also lazy. I can admit that. I’m not a type A. Sitting on my butt and not doing anything doesn’t bother me in the least. If I get bored. I do something.

I have had pets my entire life. To me, they are an extension of my family. When we started RV life, what will we do with the dogs was never a second thought. This was going to be our lifestyle, and our dogs were going to be a part of that. Before RV life on the few occasions, we went on vacations, the dogs came along.

So, in conclusion, if you are thinking about the RV life and someone says, “You should get a dog”. If you are not a dog person, please don’t get one. Living life on the road takes time to adjust. If you’re trying to learn how to live with a pet that can get overwhelming.