When starting this RV adventure, we knew it wasn't just going to be a happy couple. We were going to have a pup with us. With one year behind us, it's time to look at Traveling with your Fur Baby in this installment of "Did It Work?".
When we first began, we had a lovable American Staffordshire Terrier named Maggie. She was with us on the Shakedown and first two trips before losing her to health issues. Looking back to our travels, as much as it would seem selfish that our location abilities would have been limited by her, it is a sad and uncomfortable truth. We've been spending a great deal of time in an area that discriminates against certain dog breeds colloquially referred to as "pit bulls", and her well-being and safety from local bureaucrats would have very much been in jeopardy. The nature of this breed makes matters even more difficult if you think about starting an adventure like this, because the dog becomes very attached to its first recognized "owner". As much as a new owner would be very happy to have this companion, along with a reciprocal feeling possibly being mutual, the dog will always long for its first.
Fast forward a bit, and in comes Miles to the picture. The original strategy was to crate train so we could workamp. Needless to say, he grew a bit too large for the crate, and there isn't exactly a good spot for a larger one, so he now enjoys close company while respecting our needs. He's still a relatively small breed, which not only makes finding places to stay very easy given a 25-pound limit that seems to come up often, but also allows for a little more room for our living needs. The carrying of food and water transferred very well, as he enjoys a good national brand that keeps him healthy. Being on his own is starting to get better as the separation anxiety doesn't seem to manifest.
If there's one thing where we've found quite the swing, it's vet visits. Once we made it to the first workamping site, we found a terrific vet that was not only more concerned about the true health of the pup, but was much more reasonable in price. Fast forward to the next spot that has many ranches around, and the service is even better. We know we aren't going to get that lucky everywhere we go, but at least transferring his records from place to place is a breeze. Changing environments can be rough on the pup, though. This is where you have to really pay attention to what sort of things go around the area, from minor illnesses to allergies. Work with the locals, and try to stock up on the "essentials" before moving on to the next place.
When following your internal compass, remember to re-orient and adapt if necessary. That includes with the fur babies.
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