For those who travel with more than one large dog, what should we take into consideration here?
We have a 2 1/2 year old German Shepherd Dog and are considering another. Of course he/she would go pretty much anywhere we took the beast and would be part of the family so what sort of things should we be aware of?
We know about the added mess and possible added noise, we are very conscientious about that stuff but what problems or special considerations have others run across in traveling with multiple larger breed dogs? Any real difficulties over just one dog?
* This post was
edited 03/30/08 06:25pm by Dax2274 *
MCI bus conversion.
German Shepard Dog (Elexa von Rikah Haus (we just call her Lexie) who loves Schutzhund training and a parrot (Kiwi, answers to Beer) both act like kids together.
We have three dogs and they go with us everytime we camp. 90 lbs., 35 lbs., and 10 lbs. The only difficulties is when its raining and I have to take them out to do their business. Lots of feet to wipe clean. We also vacuum every morning after breakfast to keep the hair in check. Other than that, we have no issues with the dogs. We bought the king size pooper scooper for when we walk them. Don't like to leave any messes at the campgrounds.
Navy Chief
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Have read that some CGs get upset, and have a total weight limit. We never had trouble with two GSDs, but most of our travels are with one (second one passed away, and will not inflict a puppy on our 13+ year old GSD). They kept each other company, and were not much extra trouble as long as there was a path to bathroom from bed. First fully enclosed had bed on one end, toilet on the other, two GSDs in between. Faulty trailer design for sure.
Chuck
Wonderful Wife
Lovely German Shepherd.
1999 Mercedes ML320 TV
2003 Wanderer 187TB Toybox (3620# UVW, 4800# loaded) Not yet camped in Hawaii, 2 Canada Provinces, & 2 Territories. I can't be lost because I don't care where this lovely road is going
We travel with four (weightwise 70,65,35,11)and we figure they are more trouble than 4 cats and less trouble than 4 kids. Probably the toughest thing is to walk them all at once because they all go at different speeds. For that reason we do a fair amount of boondocking where they can run off leash (three of them are very well trained...the little one, fugedaboudit). And while only two spend all night in our bed, all four join us for reveille. The many moments of joy they give us far outweigh any trouble. Some CGs have a 2 dog limit, but we always travel in the off season and if I call ahead, they will usually waive the limit..we've had zero dog problems of any kind in 7 years of travel around the western US and Canada.
We travel with a BullMastiff and a Great Dane==they're jealous of each other. Don't bark at other dogs, people or birds. Both hate squirrels. They will bark for food. Been racing, beaches, and simple weekend getaways. No problems. Had zero problems with the Rottweiler as well--RIP Maxwell.
Bryan and Peg, 3 kids IAFF Local 795
2008 Wildcat 28 RKBS
2003 Dodge 2500 quad cab Cummins 5.9HO
Husky 16K slider
Alex--Great Dane
Bull Mastiff--Sebastian Pierce
Until 2 years ago, we traveled with three (80, 80, 65), we're down to 1 now. We only encountered the same problems as at home. Walking three at a time was sometimes an adventure, the volume of poop required more bags than we got from the grocery. Sometimes walking around the camper was like doing an obstacle course. I'd love to have Amanda and Buddy back and have to deal with the problems.
Doug
Doug & Sandy
Megan (14 yr old Golden)
2008 Southwind
2001 Honda CRV
Travel with two GSD, no trouble at all as they are very well behaved, don't need to be leashed type of dogs. I have not had any type of leash on them since last summer. Just about impossible to walk, I'm a big guy, and I can't hold them, they just pull pull pull and kill each other at the same time. It's really kinda funny, but my own fault for not training them on the leash, fortunately our lifestyle and enviroment has very little need to have the dogs leashed and I am okay with that.
Some people get a little scared when they see them, due to the size, but after a while in a campground, campers come over to see them, especially kids. They poop on our site usually so cleanup is easy. They can be eating a t bone steak and will not get upset if it is taken away from them. We travel with two cats too, and none of them are allowed to fight over food. They all get along quite well.
Where ever I go, the dogs go, this keeps them entertained, after a day on the boat and swimming, they go back go the campsite and sleep. My dogs don't chase other dogs or cats, they sometimes want to, but not allowed, and they don't bark, they will growl though.
Having said that, they are dogs and I keep an strict eye over them, not too often the dogs are a problem. My 13 year old and 10 year old nephew, I could write a book. Not complaining, love every minute.
Another Gsd for your Gsd, my two are inseparable, one is ten months and one is 2 years, they get along so well and are extremely comical together. They are going concerns and somedays, I just spend the whole day with them.
There is a method to the madness, disturb the method and the madness begins.
We travel with three dogs - 95lbs, 65lbs, and 8lbs (this one's the boss!). Lots of walking is mandatory, rain or shine, to keep them happy, lots of pooper scooper bags and lots of water. We haven't had any problems at RV parks and only had to pay extra at one for the extra two - DH asked what do we get for the extra fee - not have to pick up after them? We did anyway. We have a loading ramp for them to get them up to their crates in the back of the truck. When we travel for more than a week, we arrange our sightseeing with them in mind because them have to ride along in the back. If we plan to tour someplace where they aren't allowed we make arrangements ahead of time at a kennel to board all three for the day. To avoid car sickness, if we are heading out early, we wait to feed them after we've gotten to the first stop. We make extra stops at rest areas for them, but then again you probably do all this with your one. There's more under foot in the RV with more than one and they like to sleep close to the bed so I have to climb over them in the middle of the night when I get up. Other than that, nothing extra other than what you would normally do with just one.
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I think 2 is a good number. We traveled with 2 Labs and a pointer mix. Now we just have 1 Lab and the pointer. The pointer has a little more energy to burn off, but does well as we have a soft ball toy that we can toss in the motorhome. Walking 2 instead of 3 is easier. The lab is very quiet and friendly and doesn't bark at much of anything in her life. The pointer likes to lay on the dash and will bark at a dog going by, but other than that is very quiet. They are 7 and 9 in age. A puppy is a lot more to travel with due to the need of training and the boundless energy at times. I think another GSD would be good.
We camp mostly in state and COE parks and never have problems. When we have used a private park we haven't had any problems with either 3 or 2. They will walk together or separately and are taught not to exit the motorhome until they are told and they know BenBen goes first and then I come back for Koko. She doesn't try to dart out with me. If they are to be walked in an order, they have to understand the order and not try to get out . When they are walked together they know that the leash has to be on and they cannot exit until the person has gone out the door and calls them.
* This post was
edited 03/31/08 09:36am by kokosfriend *
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