Where do your big dogs sleep?

[CrowdedCamperMom]

Hi!
We have 2 dogs in our camper with us. One is a 105lb belgian malinois and he's a retired bomb dog. The other is a 75lb Labrador retriever (hes a retired duck dog). Don't tell either of them they're retired. I'm curious where your dogs sleep/stay in your campers when you're not there or when you're sleeping at night.

We removed the dining table and chairs and put their dog crates there. They take up so much space!! If we leave the bomb dog out he will use every second to "search" our camper and essentially work himself into a vet visit from exhaustion/overheating. I really wish we had an indoor table space. We have looked at building a table to go over their crates, or just using a folding table in the living room. But we also have a 4 year old daughter and a 2 year old son that would enjoy grinding their food into the carpet...

But I'm curious where your dogs stay, where they sleep when you're sleeping and generally do you have problems with them eating things in your camper? Like the doors and furniture if left out. Ha.

Thanks for the help!

[mitch5252]

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My beast sleeps cuddled up next to me if it's cold and by my feet if it's not.
Oh, wait - she's only 8 lbs!

But, here's a thread with some pics showing Dog Crate Creativity...

http://womenrv.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=10736&p=140137&hilit=+crate#p140137

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[CrowdedCamperMom]

What a creative solution!! Thanks for sharing the link. I'm not sure it would work but at least it has me thinking of other options...

[sharon]

Wish I could help....my big dog is 13#...4# over weight. The cat is 16#. They sleep one on each side of me. When DH was alive we had 2 German Shephards...I had one and he had one. One on each side of the bed. On the floor. He didn't allow animals on the bed. Except the Samcat...he was allowed. But they weren't working dogs, either, just spoiled house dogs. LOL! Maybe more training in down..stay.

[BirdbyBird]

When I first started traveling I traveled with a large Golden Retriever sized crate.....as the big dog/s got older and earned more house privileges i left their crate behind and started traveling with multiple smaller crates for the multiple smaller dogs. The dogs are generally much quieter if kenneled when I am out of the rig. They don't feel that they have to defend the property so to speak..... My older English Cocker will often take himself back to his kennel to sleep even if I am in the rig. In general they sleep on the front seats (class C RV), the floor between the seats and my daybed...... I generally only have the littlest one sleep with me anymore....I just don't sleep very soundly.....

I do use the tops of the crates for storage or table tops to set down drinks and dinner plates.....

Some one always asks what will they have room for in an RV? My response will always be, we make room for what is important to us. Those of us that travel with multiple dogs and or large dogs give up human and/or storage space for our animals...We get to step over animals and take more hikes around the campgrounds and parks and give up warm and dry on a chilly rainy day........ Life in an RV is simpler without our dog/s and their equipment.....But life without our animals would not be as full...at least not for many of us!

Experiment! I just know that it is not recommended to place young children in those large dog kennels. I always thought they made nice play pens and or secret hideaways when covered with blankets. We won't talk about how many sleeping toddlers I have seen napping in an ex-pen at a dog show...

[CrowdedCamperMom]

Our dogs know "down stay" but they assume its for the kids. Not them.

With your suggestions I think a "loft" over the crates where kids can nap, craft, read might be the way to make space on the always crowded floor/couch. I see now; move the kids not the dogs.

It could be a win all around! Kids would love it, dogs could sprawl on the floor, and I could stop worrying about them dropping food on the carpet. Can't afford wood floors.
I wish I knew how to post a pic; I could share one of the space for opinions...
Wow- They could even eat up there. Haha.

[Azusateach]

Our dogs know "down stay" but they assume its for the kids. Not them.

With your suggestions I think a "loft" over the crates where kids can nap, craft, read might be the way to make space on the always crowded floor/couch. I see now; move the kids not the dogs.

It could be a win all around! Kids would love it, dogs could sprawl on the floor, and I could stop worrying about them dropping food on the carpet. Can't afford wood floors.
I wish I knew how to post a pic; I could share one of the space for opinions...
Wow- They could even eat up there. Haha.

I travel with a 75# Lab and a 13# mutt, but the Lab has learned to behave himself outside of a crate.

As far as the carpets go, I used cheap throw rugs I got at IKEA. Think they cost about $4 each. They wash well, and when they begin to unravel I toss them and get more. Might help with the food-grinding problem.

Enjoy!

Laura

[mitch5252]

...I wish I knew how to post a pic; I could share one of the space for opinions...

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Becky, give this a try. Let us know if it works, or if you have further questions...

Posting Pictures Using Photobucket

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[Bethers]

I started out with an 80 lb and 35 lb dog - neither crated, both slept in my smaller than normal double bed with me The 80 # dog took one side, head on pillow, body stretched the entire length ... the 35 lber took the foot and I got what was left. Now it's just Peaches and me - she's only 17-18 lbs, but gets 1/2 the bed. What can I say.

My dogs have always been trained in the house to not cause destruction. In fact, my 80 # dog was not allowed on furniture - except the bed Yes, I'm a sucker. When we moved into the rv, he took over the couch (don't have a dinette, and remember my rig is only 22' long) as that's where he stayed when moving down the road. He gave it up for the floor when we were stopped, thank goodness! And that's only because he realized I accepted him on it only when we were moving.

It's a matter of training, and being creative. If your dogs are good with the crates, I think finding a creative way of making space above/around/below, etc would be the best ...

BTW, I use two tray tables for my table space, even though the rig comes with a long table to go in front of the couch. I don't like the space that takes up.

[CrowdedCamperMom]

I'll give the photobucket a try soon. The lab is a very well behaved, obedience trained and hunt trained dog. If he was our only dog life would be cake! We probably wouldn't even bring a crate.

Our retired bomb dog is 4, and we just adopted him. As amazing as he is, he's never experienced life outside of a concrete kennel. The only life he had was working for his kong and eating food. So everything (carpet, walls, people, other animals, I mean everything, is new to him.)
He never leanred to tell you he had to pee so we had accidents when we first got him. He can find an explosive the size of a walnut in a space the size of a football stadium. But if a crayon is on the floor he will eat it like a spaghetti noodle.

If he were as civilized as our lab we would have no crates. But until he gets retired life figured out he will need the crate a while. We sure love him. Our daughter has cerebral palsy and it's like they have a silent bond. When she is worried he just goes to her and lays by her side. I will drag his crate anywhere just for that.

So until he learns his new ropes we will have to stay creative! And I will take all the ideas I can get!!

[Bethers]

Aw, love him already .... and would do like you ... whatever it takes to make it work. So glad he and your daughter formed that bond.

[cnq50b]

Hi Becky,
I've got a 45# Belgian Malinois mix. She's a rescue & an incredibly loving & sensitive pup. When you described yours, I thought 'YES" - what a fantastic breed. Being smaller Sadie doesn't take up much room in my van - but she is strictly a floor baby - can't even be coaxed up on the seat to see what's going on outside. But what a great traveler! This summer we covered over 5,000 miles in 3 weeks & she only asked me to stop once. They are definitely keepers. Glad your daughter has her gentle giant by her side when she needs her.

Have you tried a pop-up type kennel? like this? http://www.walmart.com/ip/SportPet-Pop-Open-Kennel-Multiple-Sizes-Available-Dogs/5192526 It isn't strong enough to restrain a pooch but if you only need containment you could use it when you need to & then close it down when he can be loose. I bought one of these to transport my daughter's cats from KS to CA. It worked great for that - & was very easy to close up - much like those flexible windshield shades. Obviously this won't work unless he likes being kenneled & is accepting of limits.

And who says kennels aren't for kids? This is my youngest with her puppy - about 21 years ago.



Catherine

[snowball]

I don't think my answer will help you at all
I tow a 5th wheel so he is in the seat depending usually the front
at night or when we are stopped which is the major part of my life (full time) but
spend the summers in ID with two of my daughters then the winter in Quartzite
At night Shadow usually starts out in the crate leave it open some time during
the night he will come up to my bed..some times close but most of the time on
Larry's side of the bed..he must think some one has to sleep there.. He is only a 20 lb dog
so doesn't take up much room
sheila

[retiredhappy]

When I fulltimed I had two big black Labs. They slept on the bed with me, one on each side. I made one of them sleep under the covers cause if they were both on the outside, I couldn't even turn over. they were great RV dogs. When I was moving around inside they would get up on the bed to be out of my way. I now have two smaller dogs; Baxter is 20 lbs and Sophie is about 28 lbs. It seems like they both have 3/4 of the bed and I'm left with the edge. They both sleep under the covers - build in heaters. I NEVER get cold. When driving Sophie sleeps on the floor between the seats and Baxter copilots. When it gets too warm on the floor by the engine Sophie is smart enough to go lay on the bed. Baxter is too busy making sure I don't get lost to sleep.

[CrowdedCamperMom]

We have a few pics of our own kids napping in dog crates.

I've gone to check on the kids at night before and come back to a big furry hoof where I thought my husbands arm would be... Arco (the belgian Mal) is rotten about getting out of his crate and stealing my spot. He can unzip it by himself. He's just to smart but if he stayed in the bed there would be no room for me.

I guess he could sleep in the bed with our daughter. It's an air mattress though. That might go south real fast.
Thanks for the ideas! And insights! Love them all!! This forum is great!

My latest blog post is up if you're needing some humor about beginner rvers-
I'm still working on photos. I'm gonna have to consult the spouse. He's tech savy!