Big Dogs & Roof-top Tents...

[jsmoriss]

Hi everyone,

As I work towards getting my Jeep 'expedition' ready, one nagging concern has been the dog (75 lbs Chessie)... There's no way I can haul him up into the tent, so I figure he'll sleep in the back of the Jeep. He doesn't have a tendency to chew things, although he likes to move things around at home, but you never know - he might start, so I'm thinking maybe a kennel, but a kennel takes a lot of room. I'm using a Raingler net at the moment, but he's already chewed through that once when we were off-roading and he was super excited. The net also 'reserves' quite a bit of room... The alternative might be a harness...

I'm probably not the only one with a big dog and plans for a roof-top tent. What are you guys doing with your large pets at night?

js.

 

[Mike S]

I haul folding wire kennels, and the dogs sleep in the back of the LC - in their kennels. They travel in the kennels. They eat in the kennels. The kennels can be folded up and stowed when not needed.

M

 

[TheGillz]

I planned on leashing mine to the bumper or trailer with a long lead. Is this inhumane?

 

[DaveM]

I planned on leashing mine to the bumper or trailer with a long lead. Is this inhumane?

not inhumane, but you have to consider the risk your dog may face with predators in remote areas. Weather is also a concern depending on the type of dog. Some type of shelter is usually preferable to being left out over night.

There are a number of foldable and soft sided kennels out there and it's really a convenience to get your dog kennel trained.

 

[UK4X4]

Really it just depends on how you treat your dog.......

mines part of the family...or is it the other way around...sometimes I forget...wether we own him..or he's the boss.

Personally I think tied to the bumper outside is not right....

but he's your dog not mine...and you have the choice...

I even flew him from venolandia rather than leave him there...

I'd be worried for the reasons stated above...wildlife and weather...even mosquitos/ticks/scorpions etc...let alone the other other larger furry critters.

Being on the truck...yep its a pain ...but he's been up there since a pup..........

Mind you on the new trailer the tent will be a lot lower than previously...for both the dog and the baby...

 

[TheGillz]

Really it just depends on how you treat your dog.......

mines part of the family...or is it the other way around...sometimes I forget...wether we own him..or he's the boss.

Personally I think tied to the bumper outside is not right....

but he's your dog not mine...and you have the choice...

I even flew him from venolandia rather than leave him there...

I'd be worried for the reasons stated above...wildlife and weather...even mosquitos/ticks/scorpions etc...let alone the other other larger furry critters.

Being on the truck...yep its a pain ...but he's been up there since a pup..........

Mind you on the new trailer the tent will be a lot lower than previously...for both the dog and the baby...

Preditors: No temp kennel is going to matter for that. I figured a good bark would wake us to that. We are after all right above her in a fabric tent.

Ticks/Misquitos: I hadn't really considered that. Are ticks more of a concern at night rather than running around in the brush? And our dog is a newf, pretty protected against skeeters.

Scorpions: Hadn't thought of that, good point. I don't know much about them. Also is night a larger time for them to be roaming?

Weather: Keeping the dog outside in the rain or snow would definately be inhumane to us. That would be a reason to bringer her in somewhere. Most likely in the jeep.

Family: She is definately part of our pack, she sleeps in our room and is inside unless she wants or needs to go out.

My vision for our future outdoor adventure is to have the tent for me and my wife on a trailer, the kids (girls 6-10) would sleep in the jeep and the dog between outside unless weather required a shuffling to keep us all dry/warm. your input is appreciated and welcomed.

 

[blupaddler]

The problem isn't getting the dog UP in the tent... It's bringing them DOWN from the tent.

Our dog can almost walk the ladder. However, I carry her down. But she's not that heavy, only 65lbs.
:ylsmoke:

 

[DaveM]

Preditors: No temp kennel is going to matter for that. I figured a good bark would wake us to that. We are after all right above her in a fabric tent.

I should have said pests really, since thats what your dog is most likely to encounter. Even small rodents. However, never underestimate the ability of a true predator to get within striking range before being noticed.

Another thing to consider is that in a strange location, even when perfectly safe, your dog may feel vulnerable and stressed by being tied up outside in the open. The kennel can be a psychological protection as well as physical.

 

[edgear]

The problem isn't getting the dog UP in the tent... It's bringing them DOWN from the tent.

Our dog can almost walk the ladder. However, I carry her down. But she's not that heavy, only 65lbs.
:ylsmoke:

I hear ya on that one! It's not too hard to get Carter (75lbs) up the ladder. But it definitely takes both of us (one carrying, one spotting) to get him down the ladder in the morning. But on the few occasions he doesn't sleep up in the tent with us, we set him up with a cozy bed inside the truck cab. I think it's a little safer than leaving him outside in his soft kennel since he can bust right out of the zipper door.

 

[Rockcrawler]

I hear ya on that one! It's not too hard to get Carter (75lbs) up the ladder. But it definitely takes both of us (one carrying, one spotting) to get him down the ladder in the morning.

This is what we've been doing with our 73 lbs retriever mix... our answer is that we are now looking for a Hawk FWC.

 

[Ruffin' It]

I wouldn't vote for the leasihng, but I'm not going to say your a bad person if you do. A few things to think about though:
I think I caught that it's a Newfie? If yes, then he/she should be OK in dry weather down to low 50's. Some dogs can handle it, some can't. Remember sleeping on the ground sucks out the heat, even with a thick double coat like they have, so they might get colder more quickly than expected. Dogs' coats acclimate, to a certain degree, to the environment they are used to living in. A mostly inside dog isn't as prepared for cold temps as they may look. I have found moving blankets like the ones you can pick up fairly cheap at U-haul, when doubled over, make pretty good dog beds that insulate very well.
Fleas/Ticks/worms carry disease. Even if the dog has Frontline or something similar, it is still possible for the bugs to infect them. Some of these diseases can get nasty (I have heard you can get the black plage in certain parts of the Southwest if you are really unlucky).
Predators: True, a softside crate isn't going to stop a determined bear from eating your dog. However, the dog will have a lot smaller chance of being viewed as fair game if it were crated, much like your tent serves as a good deturrant, but not a force-field. Animals such as mountain lions, wolves, and even coyotes in significant enough numbers can and have attacked and killed even a large dogs. Someone else raised the point of scorpions and snakes that are out at night looking for warmth, so I won't go into that one.
Lastly, if your dog is leashed, it can hang itself. Lots of dogs life long lives sleeping on leashes without having a problem. But I have seen, first hand, dogs get tangled, panick and hurt or kill themself with their leash. I would strongly recommend against it. It is more common than you think and trucking out a dog with a dislocated hip off-road is going to be miserable for everyone.
Besides, if the dog has a crate (soft or otherwise) that they are comfortable in (hasn't been used as a place to be sent if they are bad and is big enough for them to stand up and turn around in), then they often view it as their own little den. Get them acclimated to it while at home by putting treats or toys in their and hanging out on the floor with them for a while, and they will feel much more comfortable and secure at night when camping. If he/she gets antsy, you can sleep with a towel for a few nights before you head out to go camping, then put that towel in the crate for the dog to sleep with. Having his families sent in the crate with him can help to sooth a nervous or anxious dog.

Just my thoughts,

Tyler

 

[Dave]

Skunks.

 

[TheGillz]

Some good points being made gentlemen and some that don't apply. I thank you for your help in thinking about this issue and to the OP for posting it. Sorry for the thread highjack.

We are not extreme campers so any temps we would be willing to camp in she would be fine in, having a blanket at the very least. The leash points are something I have thought about, mostly for tangling not neccessarily for choking. Newfs, including ours, are very laid back and I can't imagine her getting so worked up that she hurts herself on a leash unless there was something external going on, in which case we would be awoken by the ruckess. I am thinking maybe a dog run between the roof rack and a tree may be a good way to avoid tangling.

Scorpions/Snakes/Skunks so far is the major thing that has me thinking in jeep may be best. I know skunks are nocternal I don't have enough knowledge of snake and scorpions so any input on those would be appreciated.

She has never been kennel trained, we used a baby gate and had her sleep in our tiled bathroom while she was potty training. Now she goes in there on her own when its time for bed, and prefers the cool tiles to the carpet as with her thick coat a 72* house is uncomfortably hot for her unless she is at rest. Once her winter coat blows in a couple weeks or so she should feel better.

 

[DaveM]

I don't have enough knowledge of snake and scorpions so any input on those would be appreciated.

Scorpions are nocturnal and seek out heat. Many snakes, including most pit vipers (rattle snakes) are active in the dark and again, seek out heat.

 

[xcmountain80]

I say hit the gym and work those muscles. We have a 60lb Vizsla and I carry her up and down. She is a family member and likes to snuggle. Now obviously not all breads are like the Vizsla but they are know for being velcro dogs. It is possible to have them in the RTT no question.

Aaron