Dogs. They're smelly, needy and expect you to pick up their poop. So why on earth would you ever consider living in a van with one!?
Well, they're part of the family aren't they? Our dog Pip is 6. We got her when Jameson was 3 years old and Evelyn was just 1. She is their childhood dog, you all remember those don't you? They've grown up with her, and will continue to grow up with her into their teen years. Theres no way we could take that rite of passage from them!
We knew we were going to be making our lives harder by travelling with a dog - Australia is really not a dog friendly country. You'd be amazed at how may 'No Dogs Allowed' signs we come across, and some in the most ridiculous places (like a Pier! What? Why!? SMH). Most of the nice cosy 'kid friendly' beaches are 'no dogs allowed'. The National Parks are a definite no no. A lot of the cool ( *coughs* expensive) caravan parks, you know the ones with the mega water parks and awesome kids activities (Im looking at you Big4 Whitsundays) are not dog friendly. So many free camps are closed to us because of our furry friend.
Long story short, it takes a lot more thought and planning to travel with a pet.
But thats it, its just extra preparation. We don't miss out on stuff, our time isn't 'ruined' (as I've heard some people claim) by having our dog with us. If anything we end up finding so many more places off the beaten path, that have less crowds and feel more wild - which fortunately is just the way we like it!
Our favourite camps have been places we only went to because it was the dog friendly option!
She gets us out of the van and on amazing walks twice a day, where we reconnect with nature and with each other - I really don't think we'd have the discipline to do this if it weren't for her.
The kids adore having her around, they are reaping all the benefits that come from being raised with a pet - they have a healthy respect for other animals, they lack the irrational fear of other dogs, they start up conversations with other dog owners, they learn lessons in responsibility and care of another creature.
So heres a few tips and tricks for making travelling with a dog easier.
1. Have a travel kennel. We picked ours up from an Op shop. It folds down flat and weighs next to nothing. We chain her to the kennel with a long chain (she chews rope) so she can wander around our site. The kennel is her home, and with our environment constantly changing, this gives her a sense of place. And it keeps her out of the van! Win!
2. Look ahead. When you're planning your stops, check that there are dog friendly beaches of parklands near by. This makes squeezing in those walks a bit easier.
3. If you want to go into national parks, plan to stay at free camps, or check the dog rules at caravan parks. If the rules say 'don't leave dogs unattended at site' then don't bother. Some parks also offer pet minding services - at a cost.
We've done all our national park stuff in day trips and have just left Pip at the van for the day. Luckily she's not a yappy dog so she never disturbs anyone. We had a bit of guilt at the start, but then realised thats exactly what we would do at home when we went to work all day every day!
4. Wash your dog. Im much happier allowing Pip into the van for some family down time when she's all soft and sweet smelling.
5. If you have kids, get them involved in the care of your dog. Walks around the caravan park, picking up dog poo, cuddle time. You're kids are mini slaves right? So use that! ;)
6. Let it go. If you find yourself getting upset at not being able to do certain things - its particularly annoying when you turn up somewhere you thought was dog friendly and it turns out its not - just let it go. Find somewhere else (that will 9 times out of 10 be just as good) or risk the fine (but I didn't say that) !!
Well, its not been much, but I hope it has given you something to think about. Travelling with a dog is really not the 'big bad' that some people make it out to be. We love travelling with our dog, the joy she gives us far outweighs any hassle that comes our way, and we don't feel like we've missed out on ANYTHING. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us!
