Camping with pets at the Fort

[skyp4WDW]

Ok this is my first year with the rv. My dogs bark. One is sick so her bark is not very loud but the other one barks. They are both big dogs. When I sit outside with them and another dog or the horse carriage goes by they bark. I get on them but they still bark. Am I annoying? If they are outside I try to get on them right away but seriously they bark and loud. I guess I am just apologizing to my neighbors. I try but they are dogs.

This may be fine for you; but not for some of the other guests. (Guests who have traveled long and far, and have spent alot of money to be at Ft Wilderness and listen to the sweet sounds of the fort and maybe enjoy the quiet away from the real world)
Some animals should be left at home for everyone's sake (theirs, yours, and ours).

 

[garneska]

I do get on them right away, but they still get out a few barks. They are not barking all day long and don't bark late at night. We go to bed fairly early. I have found the bark collar on yeti helps. He does not bark unless it is really special and he wants to get sprayed. As I sit here right now. Mine are not barking yet I heard another dog. But in general it is fairly quiet, but I hear other dogs. And mine don't bark much inside the RV. We try and check on them and I have definitely had other dogs bark at us from inside their rvs when walking.

 

[StormyCA]

Our Dachsie is a barker when left alone. That's why he'll be spending his days at the Pet Resort! Luckly we live in the country so no neighbors to annoy at home.

I'll have to try the squirt bottle for the 'who's/what's that?' barking. Unfortunately, DH somewhat encourages it as he thinks it's 'funny' that such a little dog thinks he's so tough.

The squirt bottle will be used on DH, not the dog!!

 

[KristinU]

I do get on them right away, but they still get out a few barks. They are not barking all day long and don't bark late at night. We go to bed fairly early. I have found the bark collar on yeti helps. He does not bark unless it is really special and he wants to get sprayed. As I sit here right now. Mine are not barking yet I heard another dog. But in general it is fairly quiet, but I hear other dogs. And mine don't bark much inside the RV. We try and check on them and I have definitely had other dogs bark at us from inside their rvs when walking.

I think a bark here and there isn't an issue. It isn't like the Fort is an ICU or library or something...people are allowed to talk in normal voices and kids are allowed to play. Apparently people are even allowed to watch football on their outdoor TV loud enough to be heard clearly 3-4 sites away. I think the issue is with the incessant barking from anxiety or separation.

We always make sure that our dogs are good and tired, which isn't hard to do at the Fort with the great dog park and plenty of places to walk and sniff. However, we do always know that if we're about to leave and someone isn't ready for a nap one of us will have to stay behind. This isn't so much of an issue for us now with a pair of adult dogs who indicate clearly to us that they want us gone so they can sleep, but when we only had one and he was younger we did have someone stay behind with him a couple of times.

 

[jamescorey]

My intention of my previous post was not to "call anyone out." I was speaking in a generalization that I believe most folks would agree with. As far as dogs barking, I am less concerned with that as I am owners not picking up after their dog, especially in instances of #2. There is nothing in the world more aggravating than stepping in fresh pile while you are trying to set up or walking your dog through the dog walks!
Dogs are gonna bark...bottom line! That's their way of talking. There is a huge difference between the dog that barks and his human tells him to stop and the dog that barks and its human ignores him and allows it to continue. Same thing with owners who "know" they have a yapping dog and still leave him or her cooped up in the camper rather than boarding them because it is inconvenient to them. Dogs are like children. Sometimes you have to be inconvenienced for the good of everyone.

 

[jamescorey]

We always make sure that our dogs are good and tired, which isn't hard to do at the Fort with the great dog park and plenty of places to walk and sniff. However, we do always know that if we're about to leave and someone isn't ready for a nap one of us will have to stay behind. This isn't so much of an issue for us now with a pair of adult dogs who indicate clearly to us that they want us gone so they can sleep, but when we only had one and he was younger we did have someone stay behind with him a couple of times.

Thank you for making my point!

 

[garneska]

That is basically what we do. Before we leave they have played at the park, and love it. But yes they occasionally bark. They can't help it. Now they don't bark at the geckos but yeti loves to chase them and it is so funny to watch!

 

[Ddude]

We always travel with our dogs and are very aware of how they could bother other campers . We've found an app called Valarm which works with Android phones. It offers several things giving us a bit of peace of mind when the pups are left in camper for any length of time. It monitors sound and temp (plus a bunch of other things if you want). It will send text alerts if noise sensor is activated or if temp goes above or below what I've set. In addition I can set it to record for a set period if noise is triggered. I can even have the phone in camper call my phone so I can listen in on things.

What I've found is that they almost never make noise. An occasional bark, but never anything more than that (the recordings prove that). Once, someone knocked on door and set them off (attendant letting everyone know no fires one night because of high winds). The temp sensor has never sent an alert but it is nice to know it's there.

 

[Maligator]

Electronic bark collars are another alternative to consider. I have used them for years with success. I have been a police k9 handler for many years and both of my partners have used them at home. The dogs become "collar smart" quickly and know when the collar is on they shouldn't bark but when off it's OK. Obviously, I need them to bark at work so I can assure you there is no worry of them failing to alert you of an intruder when the collar is off. In fact, I usually don't even turn the collars on anymore when they wear them. The mere fact of wearing them is enough to quiet them.

I've also found that it has a calming effect on them. When the collars are on, they appear restful and not hyper vigilant as if they know it's not they're time to alert me to everyone who passes. Also, because I know that there are those owners who are not keen on the "shock" (if you can call it that) that the collars give.. I've buzzed myself with it several time to see what they feel and it's nothing. Feels very much like those crazy battery operated ab muscle pads people used to wear or a TENS therapy back pad. It is also the same type of system used in the invisible fence systems.

 

[garneska]

Nit trying to debate or be a bad neighbor. I put on yeti's bark collar. It's the citronella kind. I know it does not work for some but mine it is good for mine. He wore it all day, he was sad. Mallory did bark at dogs going by yeti did not. I took it off him and the first noise he went crazy so back on it went. He actually does well and won't bark with it in, he is just not happy. Too bad. He did bark with it on, got sprayed and ran to me. It was kind of funny. I will admit I give mallory a pass. Her bark has been affected by the DM, and not sure how much longer I get to keep her so she barks but more of a whoop and hard to hear.

 

[jeepnjudy]

We started taking ours at 7 months old so she knows the rules. Of course you're gonna get some bark out of most dogs at some point.

If you want to try something, put water in a spray bottle. When they bark give them a squirt and say no. We learned this at puppy school, it usually works.

This only works if you have a dog who does NOT like water...tried this on my Golden Retriever and he thought catching the water being sprayed at him was the BEST game ever!!!