A Guide to RVing With Pets
If you’re a loving pet owner, you know that traveling with your furry friends isn’t always easy. Whether you’re dealing with planes, trains, hotels, taxis, or any other public space, it’s no simple task when you have a pet in tow. After all, it can be difficult to keep your pet calm in high-traffic, high-stress areas. Fortunately for RV owners, traveling with your pet can be fun and rewarding, especially if you take a few extra steps to make it easier on them. Keep reading to learn more about maintaining discipline, keeping your pet healthy, and keeping the entire family happy as you travel together.
If you require parts or service for your RV before you embark on your next adventure, feel free to stop by Sunny Island RV. We’re conveniently located in Rockford, IL, near Chicago and Naperville, so get in touch with us today!
Maintain Discipline
One of the first mistakes that pet owners make when traveling is that they don’t establish necessary boundaries and maintain normal discipline. While traveling can be quite stressful for your pet, it’s still essential to maintain order and discipline to make them feel more at home on the road. By maintaining routine and disciplinary strategies, we can make our pets feel more secure in a strange environment. If you allow them to run the whole show, they’re bound to feel more anxious and nervous.
Secure Your Pets During Transit
Many pet owners forgo crate usage when they’re traveling as they think it will stress them out further. Some owners prefer to have their furry friend in their lap for their own comfort. It’s important to note that you should always keep your pet secure in transit, whether that involves a crate or another method. A loose animal can become very distracting for the driver. It’s also much too easy for a dog or cat to cause unintentional trouble, like knocking over a drink and causing the driver to take their eyes off the road. This could quickly lead to an accident in your RV.
If your pet is secure in their crate, there won’t be any unwanted distractions. Remember that this will prove difficult if it’s your first time attempt. Luckily, there are endless resources available for crate training. We suggest you begin this process before you take a journey with your pet in your RV. They will be trained and comfortable by the time you hit the road, which is better for everyone involved.
Keep Them Hydrated & Well-Fed
There are two main reasons it’s so important to keep your pet fed and hydrated when traveling in your RV. First of all, maintaining their food and water intake will help keep them stable. Take a moment to think about how stressed out you become when you go too long without eating or drinking water. Secondly, it’s critical that you stick to routines when traveling with your pet. Amidst all the chaos of packing, unpacking, driving, and other activities, it’s easy to stray from the normal home routines our pets are accustomed to.
Make sure you pack plenty of your pet's normal food from home on the trip. You don’t want to end up in a situation where you run out of food and are forced to purchase something different. Given the fact that they’re already in a stressful situation, this can easily cause them to become sick and impact their behavior. Water is essential as well because a long trip in the car or your RV can easily lead to dehydration for your pet.
Bring Their Bed & Favorite Toys
Many pets find comfort in having their bed and favorite toys close. This may seem insignificant, but these items remind your pet of home and can make all the difference in their behavior. They’re much more likely to curl up peacefully in their bed rather than pacing around anxiously all night long.
It’s safe to say they will be much more comfortable if you keep their favorite toys and bed around. This is even more important if your furry friend has one particular stuffed animal or another toy that they’re attached to. Chewing is often a stress-relieving activity for dogs. It also provides them with an outlet that will prevent chewing on shoes, RV furniture, or other valuable items.
We hope that these tips for RVing with pets have been helpful. If you’re looking to buy an RV or you need parts or service, swing by Sunny Island RV in Rockford, Illinois. We welcome all those coming from Chicago and Naperville, so stop by today!