When your pet is an important member of the family, there’s no reason why you wouldn’t want to take them everywhere you go. This includes when you go camping in your RV. And when your RV is almost as comfortable as your stationary home, there’s no reason to think your pet wouldn’t love the adventure as much as you do. Many animals do enjoy camping and easy access to the outdoors. However, you’ll want to make sure you’re putting their needs first and not assuming they’ll take to it immediately. To help with your pet’s adjustment process, Country Road RV: Sundre has provided some tips to get you started. If you still need the perfect RV, then stop by our showroom to see what we have in stock right now. We proudly serve the communities of Sundre, Olds, Canmore, Cochrane, Lethbridge, Edmonton, Calgary, Airdrie, and Red Deer, Alberta, as well as Kamloops, British Columbia.
Allow for an Adjustment Period
Before the big day comes, you’ll want to make sure your pet is already familiar with the RV. Throwing them into a vehicle, they don’t recognize with all new smells under all new conditions can make for an overwhelming and unhappy day. Spend some time before the trip taking your pet into the RV for supervised exploration and adjustment. Let them figure out where the food and water dishes will be and a litter box if you’ll have one. This will lower their stress levels on the day of the trip, as they’ll already feel comfortable in their environment.
On the Road
Next, you’ll want to have a game plan for when you’re traveling down the road. Make sure that your pet is in the same vehicle that you’re in. Never put your pet or a person in a towed RV. All passengers should be with you in the tow vehicle or in the motorhome. They also need to be secure, whether you use a crate or a seatbelt. This will not only keep your pet safe in the event of an accident, but it will also keep them from distracting you.
You’ll also want to know how many breaks your pet needs to stay healthy and happy. Maybe you can travel for ten hours without stopping, but they’ll need some time to get out and stretch, relieve themselves, and drink some water. Just make sure you put them on a leash before taking them out of the vehicle.
Safety
You’ll also want to make sure you’re prioritizing other safety needs for your pets. This includes a trip to the vet. Inform your vet of where you’re going to go so they can recommend any additional vaccines or other health measures that might be beneficial for your pet before you leave. Ask for copies of your animal’s records in the event you need to board them or take them to a local vet while you’re on the road.
Finally, think very carefully about how often you’ll actually be able to supervise your pet. If you’re bringing them along but don’t plan to spend a lot of time with them, you might want to reconsider. They’ll be left alone in a place that’s unfamiliar, which can increase their stress. Plus, if it’s hot out, you’ll need to leave the air conditioning running to keep your pet cool while they’re in the vehicle. If you’re worried about your pet’s health while you’re out, consider boarding them at a local kennel.
Above all else, keep your pet’s health and happiness in mind. If it looks like they’re exceedingly uncomfortable or can’t seem to get used to the RV, then maybe it’s best to leave them at home and hire a sitter. Don’t force your pet to do anything it doesn’t want to do. Then again, your pet may love the experience, just as it loves hanging out with you. If you want to know how our experienced staff travels with their pets, then stop by Country Road RV: Sundre. We welcome all RV owners from the areas of Sundre, Olds, Canmore, Cochrane, Lethbridge, Edmonton, Calgary, Airdrie, and Red Deer, Alberta, as well as Kamloops, British Columbia.
