Dogs in campervans – my top tips

Before our recent road trip to Scotland, I wondered how compatible dogs and campervans really were.

But even in our small van, I have been pleasantly surprised.

This fortnight road trip around Scotland was Fred’s third campervan holiday but it was also his longest. When he was just an excitable pup we celebrated a white Christmas in the van at Glen Coe.

Once he’s clean, he makes an excellent hot water bottle.

Campervan Christmas Eve by the campfire.

But we all know dogs rarely stay clean. And that campsites (wild or otherwise) can be wet, muddy places. Fred by the way, is a Fred Russell. Mostly Cornish Jack Russell but with something soft and fluffy mixed in.

Like most short fluffy dogs, one of Fred’s talents is collecting mud.

I’m sure there are plenty of people out there who have more experience of campervans and dogs than I but I’ve picked up some tips on this last van holiday and thought I’d share the benefit of my experience with you.

Here are the answers to your questions about dogs and campervans.

Taking your dog in a campervan

Are all campervan trips like the ones I see on Instagram?

Fred enjoying campervan life in a car park in Scotland

Of course they’re not. Very few things on social media actually match up to reality.

Haven’t you noticed how clean Instagram dogs are?

On a campervan trip just like any holiday, you’ll have good moments and not-so-great moments.

We once spent three whole campervan days playing cards in a Scottish forest because it was raining.

But campervan holidays, can bring moments of pure delight at the experience and your surroundings. I find this especially true now we take our dog in the campervan because his requirement for walks means we explore on foot further and more often.

Can you hire a dog-friendly campervan?

Dogs sleep in the strangest of places.

Owning your own campervan isn’t possible for everybody but there are plenty of campervan and motorhome hire companies out there.

We hired a campervan in Norway before we invested in our own.

Even if you can afford your own van and have storage space for it, hiring a campervan is a good way of finding out whether or not you enjoy the experience before investing in your own van conversion.

You could even enjoy a train adventure to your pick-up destination.

Taking your dog on the train.

Dog-friendly holiday accommodation is much easier to find than it used to be, so it should come as no surprise to hear that there are campervan hire companies that allow you to bring your pet.

Goboony can link you up with dog-friendly motorhome and campervan owners across the UK and Europe.

Swift Go rent out motorhomes from Manchester and Edinburgh and won’t charge you extra to bring your dog.

South West Camper Hire have a range of pet-friendly campervans for hire from their base at Tedburn St Mary in Devon. Dogs can join in from £35 per hire.

There are plenty of other dog-friendly campervan hire companies out there. Before you book I would advise asking about any restrictions (e.g. dogs on seats) and additional costs (e.g. for extra cleaning).

How do I find dog-friendly campsites?

Cashel Campsite Loch Lomond

Understandably, not all campsites accept dogs. Some sites (e.g. some farms) are unsuitable and some campsite owners aren’t keen on dogs themselves.

But the good news is there are plenty of campsites ready to welcome your dog.

If you hire a campervan from a local company or individual, they might be able to recommend good dog-friendly campsites. You’re looking for a campsite with plenty of nearby walks or a good sized exercise area. If this is your dog’s first campervan trip, you might want to choose a quieter campsite or travel out of season.

Dogs should always be on the lead around other animals and most campsites require this too but if you know your dog gets over excited around stock (sheep, cows etc) you might have a calmer holiday if you don’t choose a farm campsite.

If your dog isn’t too friendly with other dogs or nervous with people (nobody loves everybody) you might be able to request a quieter pitch away from the main area.

It’s always worth asking.

Websites like Pitchup and Cool Camping (now Hipcamp) are great if you want to generate a list of pet-friendly campsites to choose from but nothing beats emailing or phoning the campsite owner and asking about their provision for dogs.

It’s also worth remembering that booking directly with a campsite saves them additional fees.

If you think you might prefer ‘wild’ camping locations to campsites, have a look at my comparison between using campsites and ‘freedom’ camping spots on campervan trips.

On our recent trip to Scotland we used campsites, Forestry Scotland Stay the Night locations and a couple of wild camping spots. We also slept in two car parks.

Fred the dog took it all in his stride.

As long he can get out for a sniff around, gaze out of the window and snuggle in bed with us, he’s happy.

Can dogs travel in a campervan?

Fred helping with the camp washing up

Dogs can travel in a campervan just like they can in your car. You need to think about their comfort and safety so all the same rules about hot weather, drinking water and leaving them apply. The more often you go on campervan holidays with your dog, the more relaxed they will be about the experience.

Some people ask if there are good breeds of dogs for campervans but I think if you’re asking about vanlife dog breeds, you’re asking the wrong question.

Choose a dog breed that suits you, then adapt your vanlife to match their needs.

Can I leave my dog in a campervan?

Fred waiting patiently for his (my) breakfast.

As we’ve said above, leaving your dog in a campervan in warm weather is an absolute no-no but things can get a bit tricky if you’re travelling alone.

Which is one reason we take our campervan trips out of season.

When you need to go to the loo, have a shower or do some food shopping, you might have to leave your dog on their own. For example, some campsites ask you not to take your dog into the toilet block.

Planning how you’re going to handle this can make life easier.

You might for example, decide to invest in an onboard composting toilet.

You know where and how your dog is likely to be the most happy. Fred was with one of us for almost the whole van trip but we did leave him in the van a couple of times.

We feel he’s safer in the campervan than tied up outside.

When leaving him alone, we took him off his lead so he had the run of the van, always left him with water and didn’t use the van alarm in case he set it off. He mostly kept his eyes on us and was always pleased to see us back again.

He also beeped the horn a few times.

Do dogs need restraining in campervans?

Just like in your car when you’re driving, your dog needs to be restrained for your and their safety. In the UK Highway Code Rule 57 states,

‘When in a vehicle, make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves, if you stop quickly.’

How do you secure a dog in a VW size campervan?

How you choose to restrain your dog in a campervan is up to you. Some people opt for campervan dog crates, which can also be great if you’re dealing with a wet dog or want somewhere familiar for them to sleep.

But dog cages can take up a lot of space in a small campervan.

I’ve yet to see a dog guard that would work in a campervan but harnesses are available, some of which work with your normal seatbelt system.

We’ve tried a couple of travel options with Fred but in the end went for a shortish lead fastened between his harness and the van seat. It gives him enough room to move around comfortably on longer journeys but doesn’t allow him to reach us or jump out of the van when we open the doors.

Despite a few travel sickness mishaps when he was younger, Fred is now a very relaxed traveller and loves his time in the van.

The other element of restraining your dog in a campervan is when you reach your camping location. He or she will obviously want to explore but most campsites quite rightly have dogs-on-leads requirements.

We use a climbing sling with a carabiner to extend Fred’s lead so he can be outside next to the van. We also have a long lead that we can either tie to a tree or use as a running line between two trees if there is enough space.

If you have more than one dog, be prepared for longer leads to get tangled.

Which is the best campervan for dogs?

Fred sporting his (my) Craghoppers insulated jacket.

The best campervan for your dog is the one with you in it but if you’re buying or hiring a campervan, you also need to consider the size of your dog, the number of dogs you have and the type of seat and floor coverings you opt for.

Hard floors are easiest to wipe clean and I recommend covering your seats.

If your dog prefers to travel in a crate, you might opt for a bigger campervan or motorhome. If your dog likes to sleep with you, you might choose one with a larger bed.

On our van trip, we discovered Fred had priority when it came to bedtime. In a bed that was almost too small for two adults, he took up more than his fair share of the space.

But he did keep us warm.

Would you recommend any campervan dog accessories?

Fred showing off his buoyancy aid.

There are plenty of fantastic looking vanlife dog accessories out there but I have to say that apart from a dog buoyancy aid, we didn’t take any on this trip. Here’s what we packed for Fred.

  • His usual food and treats.
  • His usual food bowl.
  • A plastic box with a lid for his water.
  • His brush (he needed it!)
  • A pair of tick tweezers (I had those in my walking first aid kit but you can buy doggie first aid kits).
  • Several old towels for feet drying (we kept these by the door).
  • His favourite blanket.
  • A sheepskin rug (mine but Fred thinks it’s his).
  • A Craghopper insulated jacket (that’s mine too but Fred loves being wrapped in it).
  • His favourite tennis balls (although he found his own quite quickly).
  • Two leads (one fixed to the van, one for walking).
  • A climbing sling and carabiner (to extend his lead).
  • A long line (for fixed exploring at campsites).
  • A empty hot chocolate pot for bagged dog poo when we weren’t near bins.
  • Plenty of poo bags.
  • A doggie buoyancy aid. For Fred’s first kayaking trip.

That’s quite a long list but most of it fitted into his bag, which we slung off the back of the front passenger seat.

Here’s what we didn’t pack for Fred.

  • A dog sleeping bag (although he did quite like my sleeping bag).
  • A specialist van life dog bowl. He eats his food so quickly, we didn’t need one with a lid.
  • A dog coat. We’re probably going to get him one of those before our next trip.
  • A specialist road trip harness (he wore his usual one).
  • A dog towel (old bits of person towel did fine).
  • A special bag or box for dog poo.
  • A flashing light to fix to his harness. We forgot this and I missed it.

We had such a good time in the campervan with Fred Dog that I’m already planning our next adventure. It’s likely to be a winter campervan trip so we’ll be needing even more of those towels.

And perhaps he might like his own doggy sleeping bag and dog coat.

 

 

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