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Winter is just around the corner, and that means it’s time for us full timers to start prepping. Most of us are aware that we need to get our RVs ready by adding skirting and heated hoses, and we all know that finding winter clothes is a must-do. Another thing you need to think about? Your pets.
Winter camping with dogs is not any more difficult than camping with dogs any other time of year. That said, it does require a little bit of forethought. In this article, we will discuss what you need to think about as we head into the cold season while full timing with a dog.
Keeping Your Pup Safe and Comfortable
The most important things to consider when planning on winter camping with dogs? The comfort and safety of your pet. Overall, this is easy enough to do, but we have included a few tips to help you out.
Know Your Pet’s Limits
It’s important that you know your pet and their individual limits. If your pup has arthritis, they likely won’t be able to handle the chilly weather for long. Meanwhile, a husky should be able to hang out in the cold for quite some time.
Know what your dog can handle and pay attention to their cues so you know when it’s time to go inside and get out of the cold.
Bundle Up
If it’s super cold outside, it’s never a bad idea to bundle your dog up, especially if your pup happens to be smaller or have thinner-than-average fur.
There are plenty of dog coats on the market, so you can choose one that suits your pet. Add a set of dog booties to protect your furry friend’s paws from snow, ice, and cold.
Check the Paws
Speaking of paws, make sure to keep an eye on your dog’s paws when spending a lot of time outdoors in the cold weather. Snow can actually build up between the toes, causing pain—and sometimes, paws will crack and bleed when they get too cold.
If you notice your pup’s paws looking chapped or bothered by the cold, clean them well, apply ointment, and make an effort to stay out of the cold for a bit.
Stay Hydrated
Everyone knows how important it is to stay hydrated when the weather is hot, and honestly, it’s pretty easy to remember to drink water in hot weather because you feel thirsty.
What some people don’t realize is that it’s actually easier to become dehydrated in winter, because while your body does need plenty of water, it won’t always feel as thirsty in the cold. This can lead humans to consume less water, and it might mean you forget to offer water to your pets as well.
It’s important to get into the habit of offering water regularly, especially if you are being active and even if you don’t feel thirsty.
Wash Up
Antifreeze and chemicals that are put onto the ground to melt ice can be dangerous to dogs. Make sure to give your dog a wipe-down after going out on walks to ensure they don’t have any of these chemicals on their fur. Pay special attention to their paws and belly, as this is where chemicals are most likely to end up.
Take Fido with You
It’s common knowledge that leaving your dog in the car when the weather is hot is a no-no. That said, leaving a dog in a car in cold weather can be just as dangerous.
In areas of the country that don’t get super cold, a car can still reach insanely high temperatures on a slightly chilly but sunny day. In areas that do get cold, the inside of a car is likely to get extremely cold extremely fast. Either way, you’re putting your pup in danger any time you leave them in a car alone.
The best options are to (1) take the dog in with you, (2) leave the dog at home in your RV, or (3) bring someone along to sit in the car with the dog while you run in.
Monitor the RV
If you do choose to leave your dog in the RV alone, there are a couple things you’ll want to consider:
- Heating the RV
- Monitoring the RV from afar
As far as heating goes, you can either use the onboard supply of propane to keep the furnace running until you get back, or park in a spot with reliable electricity and run a couple of space heaters. If you choose to use the RV furnace, make sure you do have plenty of propane to keep the heater running until you get back. If you choose to go the space heater route, you might want to set the RV thermostat to a low but tolerable temperature, so the furnace will kick on if the heaters happen to quit running for any reason.
For monitoring the RV, we recommend a cellular pet monitor, which will connect to nearby cell towers. Planning to camp in a spot without cell service? A Wi-Fi pet monitor can be connected to the internet via Starlink and do the same job.
Choosing a Dog-Friendly Destination
Picking the right destinations when winter camping with dogs is key. Fortunately, there are a lot of great places you can enjoy with your dog during the cold season. Here’s what you need to know to choose the safest and most fun destinations possible.
Check the Forecast
Before you head anywhere to go winter camping with dogs, check the forecast. If there happens to be a storm or super cold weather in the forecast, it might be better to head elsewhere until the bad weather passes. After all, no dog wants to be stuck inside a tiny RV all day every day, and we’re betting you don’t want to be stuck inside with a rowdy dog that needs to run around.
Avoid Water
If you’re headed someplace cold, avoid camping or visiting places with bodies of water. Water can freeze over, but the layer of ice on top may not be strong enough to hold a dog. If your pup runs out onto the ice, they are liable to fall through, a very dangerous situation that we don’t wish on any dog or their owner.
Head South
Of course, you could just head south and avoid the cold and frozen water entirely. Locations like Florida, south Texas, SoCal, and Arizona are perfect winter destinations for RVers, especially those with active doggies who like to spend a lot of time outside.
Dog-Friendly Winter Destinations We Love
Still not sure where to go winter camping with dogs? Well, there’s the aforementioned Florida, South Texas, SoCal, and Arizona, and here are some of our favorite dog-friendly national parks to visit in the cold months.
Congaree National Park
Congaree National Park is a great pick. It is far enough south that the weather is relatively warm even in winter. Dogs are welcome on all of the park’s trails and can even take park tours.
Grand Canyon National Park
Another good choice? Grand Canyon National Park. While this park does get cold sometimes, it’s rarely unbearably cold, and it’s the perfect park for pups. Many of the park’s trails are dog-friendly, meaning you can explore with Fido for hours.
Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park also makes the list of good places for winter camping with dogs. The park stays relatively warm all year long. Leashed dogs are allowed on all park roads and trails and can even wander into the wilderness areas.
White Sands National Park
Last on our list of places to go winter camping with dogs is White Sands National Park. We love playing in this park with dogs, because pups can run around in the dunes wherever they choose. Unfortunately, the sand tends to be too hot for paws in summer. Therefore, winter is the better time to visit this gorgeous park with your furry friend.
And that’s it—everything you need to consider when winter camping with dogs! Now that you have all of the most important tips, why not start planning an awesome winter advance turn with your pup? We’re betting your furry friend really appreciates it.
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