Camping and dogs

[dsnymnky86]

We have not been in the campground at WDW in a few years, since the travel trailer days. Since then we have added a fairly big german shepard but she is well trained and friendly.

We are looking at a travel trailer and we wondering if anyone else had experience with bringing a big dog down to the camp ground. We dont really like the kennel idea.

 

[Disneylitch]

Our dogs are 301b and 61b, so I couldn't tell you about big dogs. However, we met a couple last Christmas that stay for the winter and have 2 great danes. We also saw a giant schnoodle, 110lb, this trip. I would say not one of these campers had what I would consider oversized units.

 

[BradyBz12]

Our gang are more "medium" sized (35-45 lbs) but we've seen dogs of ALL sizes at the Fort - from teeny tiny all the way up to Wolf Hounds, Collies, Mastiffs, Bulldogs, etc. Last November we met up with a lovely Great Dane on several occasions! And IIRC that dog was camping in a popup.

One thing to note - the dog park doesn't have a separate area for big/small dogs. We've never run into any trouble, but my gang will simply run over ANYthing in their path when we're playing ball (including each other and us!) So if we go to the dog park and there are little dogs there, we try and keep our lunatics in another corner of the park.

Unfortunately Li'l Lyn is the Pied Piper of small dogs and we couldn't keep them from shadowing her and jumping on her head when she lay down. In that case my theory is "proceed at your own risk." It's up to the other owners to keep tabs on what their dogs are up to. If we're actively trying to stay out of the way and they let their dogs come chase, then it's on them if someone gets run over.

Oh and that goes for the people that obliviously allow their toddlers to chase my dogs too. <sigh>

 

[mkrober]

We have a Golden & a Great Pyrenees/lab mix- they are both big and they do great in our travel trailer and they love FW!!! We have those 2 and 2 big kids- and we all fit fine and happy!!!

 

[medic9016]

My German Shepherd is 90 lbs. She stays in the TT while we are out. She goes with us on every camping trip.

 

[KristinU]

Are you asking about dogs and camping in general? And looking at the specific TT model with your dog in mind? If so I'll give my .02 (but my pup has never been down to the Fort - just lots of regional camping around home) My Dk9 is a 65 lb lab.

If your dog sleeps on a bed at home, you'll want to think of him as another person as far as sleeping space goes. DS and Dk9 sleep together at home, so they sleep together in our little camper as well. She's getting pretty old and does a lot of lying around, so we leave her to nap inside the camper for an hour or so here and there while we go hiking or swimming or something. That's a nice thing about hard sides - most places don't allow unattended dogs in canvas/tenting. Of course we make sure it is cool enough if we do leave her.

Dogs love camping (for the most part)...I think most of them just love being with their families, especially when their families are relaxed and having a good time - they know a good thing when they see it!

 

[Fort Fanatics]

We have 2 fur-kids, Pete the retired racing Greyhound, about 75 lbs, and Cleo, the Italian Greyhound about 15 lbs. They absoutley love to go camping with us, and pretty much take over our toy hauler fiver. Pete has the garage area for his "bedroom" and Cleo, well, she sleeps with us in our bed. Pete LOVES the dog park at the Fort, and likes to mingle with the other doggies there. Cleo on the other hand is 14 years old, and likes to keep to herself at the park. In the past, while looking for the right RV for us, it was mainly looking for one that would accomodate our "kids", even our truck had to be big enough to fit the "big dog"!

 

[M & E love WDW]

Our German Shepherd is 108.5 lbs and enjoys camping very much. He especially likes FW and riding around in his golf cart. He was with us last Thanksgiving but, we decided that next Thanksgiving he is going to stay at the bed and bisquit so that the rest of us can fit on the golf cart. He obsesses too much when grandkids are here there and everywhere around his golf cart. He's stayed at the kennel before but doesn't eat while there. He did well at the b&b so that is where he'll be.

 

[dsnymnky86]

Oh, I never thought of that. I know dogs are not allowed in tents and they dont really work in pop ups but a travel trailer with the bed fold outs, not the expanding rooms is still canvas. I wonder if that is ok or if you have to fold them up if you leave the dog there?

does anyone have one like this?

Are you asking about dogs and camping in general? And looking at the specific TT model with your dog in mind? If so I'll give my .02 (but my pup has never been down to the Fort - just lots of regional camping around home) My Dk9 is a 65 lb lab.

If your dog sleeps on a bed at home, you'll want to think of him as another person as far as sleeping space goes. DS and Dk9 sleep together at home, so they sleep together in our little camper as well. She's getting pretty old and does a lot of lying around, so we leave her to nap inside the camper for an hour or so here and there while we go hiking or swimming or something. That's a nice thing about hard sides - most places don't allow unattended dogs in canvas/tenting. Of course we make sure it is cool enough if we do leave her.

Dogs love camping (for the most part)...I think most of them just love being with their families, especially when their families are relaxed and having a good time - they know a good thing when they see it!

 

[KristinU]

Oh, I never thought of that. I know dogs are not allowed in tents and they dont really work in pop ups but a travel trailer with the bed fold outs, not the expanding rooms is still canvas. I wonder if that is ok or if you have to fold them up if you leave the dog there?

does anyone have one like this?

Oh yeah, good question - anyone know how the Fort (or any other GC) views hybrid TTs as far as canvas and dogs?

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Oh yeah, good question - anyone know how the Fort (or any other GC) views hybrid TTs as far as canvas and dogs?

I believe that Monique/BradyBz12 had a hybrid TT and camped at the Fort with her pups before she got her new TT this year.

The current "official" rules on the Disney site say:

Pets like to go on vacation, too, so we offer a limited number of pet-friendly Preferred Hook-Up and Premium campsites. Pets are not permitted to stay in vehicles without air-conditioning or at tent sites.
Campsite Guests with pet privileges may take their dogs to play in the off-leash Waggin' Trails Dog Park or walk the many on-leash trails. So that our Guests with pets can enjoy ample time in the Theme Parks and other Walt Disney World destinations, day and overnight kennel care is available.

Here's the link if you want to see for yourself: Official WDW FW Page

So, according to the language quoted I would say a guest with an air-conditioned pop-up camper staying on a pet loop is allowed to have a pet at his site.

TCD

 

[dsnymnky86]

That seems pretty clear, thanks for taking the time and posting it.

I believe that Monique/BradyBz12 had a hybrid TT and camped at the Fort with her pups before she got her new TT this year.

The current "official" rules on the Disney site say:

Pets like to go on vacation, too, so we offer a limited number of pet-friendly Preferred Hook-Up and Premium campsites. Pets are not permitted to stay in vehicles without air-conditioning or at tent sites.
Campsite Guests with pet privileges may take their dogs to play in the off-leash Waggin' Trails Dog Park or walk the many on-leash trails. So that our Guests with pets can enjoy ample time in the Theme Parks and other Walt Disney World destinations, day and overnight kennel care is available.

Here's the link if you want to see for yourself: Official WDW FW Page

So, according to the language quoted I would say a guest with an air-conditioned pop-up camper staying on a pet loop is allowed to have a pet at his site.

TCD

 

[BradyBz12]

I believe that Monique/BradyBz12 had a hybrid TT and camped at the Fort with her pups before she got her new TT this year.

Yep! Our little hybrid made 4 trips to the Fort with the pups - each for 2-3 weeks. We did crate the dogs when we weren't there. I know of more than a few cases of dogs escaping from tent ends - either in popups or hybrids. Our unit had A/C and we were there in Nov/Dec so temperature wasn't an issue.

Our hybrid had queen beds on both ends. In our case it's just DH and I so the dog got one end (we easily fit 3 crates across) and we got the other. This was last year in the 300 loop.

The first 3 trips were with 2 dogs. Last year we added Li'l Lyn to our family and that kind of maxed us out for space in a 21' hybrid without a slide. We still managed 3 weeks at WDW pretty nicely, but space plus us getting old and lazy pushed us to go for the hard side TT.

We shopped for the new unit for quite a while, with a floorplan that could accommodate 3 crates being a priority. We finally settled on an Open Range Roamer. They had one floorplan with a side slideout bunk that just happens to comfortably fit 3 24x36 crates (yes, we shopped with a tape measure).

We got it home, ripped out the extra couch and bunk and installed the "doggie dorm". Then DH fulfilled his lifelong dream of building a bar over it.

The raised area in the back of the bar lifts up so that we can put fans in for the dogs when we don't need the a/c or just need a little extra white noise.

The pups will still stay in the crates while we're gone. Otherwise they'll be bouncing all over the place with their heads in the windows barking at everything that passes.

Oh! And because this area was originally intended as bunks, there's a hookup right there for the small bedroom TV that came with it, so during the day they can watch the Disney channel.

But they're loose in the camper at night and when we're inside the TT (although Lyn still prefers sleeping in an open crate). We bring x-pens with us to setup outside when we're hanging out at the site. 2 x-pens joined together fit perfectly on our 9x12 camping mat and provide enough room for a little play time at the site. The 2 pens fold and fit perfectly in the storage compartment.

Yup, go ahead... you can say it.... we're those crazy people who bought an RV and then tricked it out for our dogs.

 

[KristinU]

Yep! Our little hybrid made 4 trips to the Fort with the pups - each for 2-3 weeks. We did crate the dogs when we weren't there. I know of more than a few cases of dogs escaping from tent ends - either in popups or hybrids. Our unit had A/C and we were there in Nov/Dec so temperature wasn't an issue.

Our hybrid had queen beds on both ends. In our case it's just DH and I so the dog got one end (we easily fit 3 crates across) and we got the other. This was last year in the 300 loop.

The first 3 trips were with 2 dogs. Last year we added Li'l Lyn to our family and that kind of maxed us out for space in a 21' hybrid without a slide. We still managed 3 weeks at WDW pretty nicely, but space plus us getting old and lazy pushed us to go for the hard side TT.

We shopped for the new unit for quite a while, with a floorplan that could accommodate 3 crates being a priority. We finally settled on an Open Range Roamer. They had one floorplan with a side slideout bunk that just happens to comfortably fit 3 24x36 crates (yes, we shopped with a tape measure).

We got it home, ripped out the extra couch and bunk and installed the "doggie dorm". Then DH fulfilled his lifelong dream of building a bar over it.

The raised area in the back of the bar lifts up so that we can put fans in for the dogs when we don't need the a/c or just need a little extra white noise.

The pups will still stay in the crates while we're gone. Otherwise they'll be bouncing all over the place with their heads in the windows barking at everything that passes.

Oh! And because this area was originally intended as bunks, there's a hookup right there for the small bedroom TV that came with it, so during the day they can watch the Disney channel.

But they're loose in the camper at night and when we're inside the TT (although Lyn still prefers sleeping in an open crate). We bring x-pens with us to setup outside when we're hanging out at the site. 2 x-pens joined together fit perfectly on our 9x12 camping mat and provide enough room for a little play time at the site. The 2 pens fold and fit perfectly in the storage compartment.

Yup, go ahead... you can say it.... we're those crazy people who bought an RV and then tricked it out for our dogs.

Nice setup and mods! As for being the crazy people, my parents bought their first RV (a class C) for their dog. She was a sheltie, around 13 with mobility issues at the time and they wanted to ne able to travel and not worry about who they could trust to care for her at home. She lived to 16, so she got to travel a lot in her golden years! Ahhh...what we crazy dog people will do for our furbabies.

 

[freshlybarked]

Yup, go ahead... you can say it.... we're those crazy people who bought an RV and then tricked it out for our dogs.

I got to say I enjoy the company of people more when they pay special attention to the comfort of their dogs while traveling. That was the reason we bought our RV. We've never camped before we got this one and we just wanted to be able to take the dogs with us. DH and I have trust issues when it comes to other people and our dogs. I've seen too many horror stories about sitters and kennels.

 

[Fort Bordeaux]

We have a Dogue de Bordeaux (think Turner and Hooch), she stays right inside our motorhome while we are at the parks. She loves the dog park, as long as it is not too hot. She is 2 and has been to the Fort 7times

 

[Minnie&Mickey]

I got to say I enjoy the company of people more when they pay special attention to the comfort of their dogs while traveling. That was the reason we bought our RV. We've never camped before we got this one and we just wanted to be able to take the dogs with us. DH and I have trust issues when it comes to other people and our dogs. I've seen too many horror stories about sitters and kennels.

We are the exact same way! When my mother passed away, we no longer had "the best dog-sitter ever." So we shopped around for about 9 months until we found a MH that we liked. Our furry baby (a Pekinese/Pomeranian mix) loves the RV, and gets so excited when we tell him that we are going to the Fort! I swear he knows exactly what we are talking about.

 

[Magicbus]

Our dogs are 301b and 61b, so I couldn't tell you about big dogs.

301 & 61, sounds big to me.

 

[dsnymnky86]

wow - that is fantastic

do they prefer goofy or pluto?

Yep! Our little hybrid made 4 trips to the Fort with the pups - each for 2-3 weeks. We did crate the dogs when we weren't there. I know of more than a few cases of dogs escaping from tent ends - either in popups or hybrids. Our unit had A/C and we were there in Nov/Dec so temperature wasn't an issue.

Our hybrid had queen beds on both ends. In our case it's just DH and I so the dog got one end (we easily fit 3 crates across) and we got the other. This was last year in the 300 loop.

The first 3 trips were with 2 dogs. Last year we added Li'l Lyn to our family and that kind of maxed us out for space in a 21' hybrid without a slide. We still managed 3 weeks at WDW pretty nicely, but space plus us getting old and lazy pushed us to go for the hard side TT.

We shopped for the new unit for quite a while, with a floorplan that could accommodate 3 crates being a priority. We finally settled on an Open Range Roamer. They had one floorplan with a side slideout bunk that just happens to comfortably fit 3 24x36 crates (yes, we shopped with a tape measure).

We got it home, ripped out the extra couch and bunk and installed the "doggie dorm". Then DH fulfilled his lifelong dream of building a bar over it.

The raised area in the back of the bar lifts up so that we can put fans in for the dogs when we don't need the a/c or just need a little extra white noise.

The pups will still stay in the crates while we're gone. Otherwise they'll be bouncing all over the place with their heads in the windows barking at everything that passes.

Oh! And because this area was originally intended as bunks, there's a hookup right there for the small bedroom TV that came with it, so during the day they can watch the Disney channel.

But they're loose in the camper at night and when we're inside the TT (although Lyn still prefers sleeping in an open crate). We bring x-pens with us to setup outside when we're hanging out at the site. 2 x-pens joined together fit perfectly on our 9x12 camping mat and provide enough room for a little play time at the site. The 2 pens fold and fit perfectly in the storage compartment.

Yup, go ahead... you can say it.... we're those crazy people who bought an RV and then tricked it out for our dogs.

 

[freshlybarked]

301 & 61, sounds big to me.

We have 2 that are 45lbs each. I love it when people refer to them as big dogs. My parents do that. You can always tell people who own little dogs as they thing anything over 20lbs is big. BIG dogs people think we have little dogs. I love BIG dogs, but just don't have the room. Little dogs scare me to death. I'm always afraid of stepping on them. 45lbs is good for us. 2 fit nicely in the RV.