Caravan suitability for dogs.
We come from the "roughing it" end of caravanning. Sites with caravans all in neat rows, mown lawns, shower blocks, community centres etc are an anathema, and we would rather stay at home. Give me a rough field and a water supply and l am happy. Give me great dog walking nearby and life is complete.
But where is the caravan that matches these slightly spartan requirements. All caravans are built with a view or eye towards luxury. Nothing wrong with luxury, don't get me wrong, I enjoy it as much as the next man. But where is the praticle caravan for the doglover? Where is the caravan with vinyl floors throughout for easy wiping clean, the upholstery that is not velor trimmed or deep pile. Where is the caravan with a locker easily accessible from inside and out for leads, dog bowls, muddy wellies etc. Where is the caravan with all lower surfaces finished in melamine or vinyl so dogs can sleep or lean against it and thier dirt and grease can easily be wiped away. Where is the caravan with a "reverse stable door" so the bottom can be used as a dog door.
Country caravanning and dogs meld together beautifully. But the caravan that would make this perfect is yet to be built.
Comments
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I saw one at the NEC in October that would probably have suited you - not sure what it was but German I think quite spartan and not cheap either! Seats were covered in plastic etc etc. I didn't like it because there was no front window - the bed being raised and in the front. But as the owner of two largish dogs I don't find it hard to adapt with throws to cover the cushions - the vinyl floor is already there under the carpets. I have hooks just inside the door for the leads and so it goes on. At one point I did keep the cushions from an old caravan that was going to scrap and kept the current caravan one in the house. But then the mice got those and I just cover the seats now!
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Yes but caravans do have Lurcher size seating for comfort!
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Muck and comfort go together and I agree wipe down would be ideal but too spartan for me, our dog makes a mess and we clean it up. We don't mind how dirty she is, we just clean her up before entering the best we can and letting her share the comforts that we have, when I can get on the seat
We do cover the seats though and crosswords do tire her.
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Most dog owners are resourceful folks, they can take any form of home and make it dog friendly, including caravans. If you can't get a new one, (and I suspect you can as a lot of Euro design ones have wipe clean surfaces) then get an older one and kit it out yourself, exactly how you would like it.
What kind of dog do you have Marril? We have kitted out three ourselves for our three/two dogs over the years.
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Bl**dy website!1 -
Hmm sounds like you're after something in between a dog kennel 🐕with wheels on & or something you could jet wash out , easily & quickly ........A skip maybe .🐩
Something of a mongrel type caravan , but nothing too pedigree . Good luck with your search , I'm sure there's something out there 😇
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What a great first post from a new poster. Sites, vans and dogs all in one post. Are you sure you'll enjoy CC, Marill?
Don't caravans have vinyl flooring under the carpet any more?
Anyway, what's wrong with a bit of comfort on a nice tidy clean site with all mod cons?
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Can't remember seeing you posting before Marill so if your new or a returnee then welcome!
Not a dog owner myself but most vanners seem to manage their pets pretty well, most we come across seem to pitch their awning, even in the winter.
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My C/van was bought new, I removed the carpets to under the bed. I bought an Awning for the clutter, I 'fleece rugged' it out to enable my 2 Dogs access to all seating areas. I had it 3 yrs & lost a couple of grand on the sale. I think most C/Vans can have that minimalist of changes done to be honest. Dog friendliness is down to the inventiveness of the owner
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When we got our latest new caravan I removed the loose carpets, then fitted the floor with a piece of cheap carpet, roll end. We then cover this with a rubber backed runner with we can was after each trip. All our seats are cover and then have extra throws on top of the covers. All gets washed after each trip.
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We put throws on our seats, but our dog is only small so it's not bad at all. I think most caravans these days have removable carpets with a wipe able surface underneath. Very useful if you have a dog and it mears you can take the carpets up for cleaning if you wish to leave them down. We only have a very small dog, but the caravan works for our dog.
David
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You're a hard master husky
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I don't agree that dog-friendly caravans aren't already around. We have a Bailey Barcelona which has most of the features the OP is seeking. We have removed the carpets, revealing the vinyl covered floor - which we cover with three cheap runners from one of the cheapo shops. The seating isn't velour or anything similar but, like others, we cover them with throws. There is a shoe cupboard next to the door and another opposite in which we store all matters 'doggy'. Plus, there is a stable door and a fly-screen across that door which can both be used to keep the third member of our family confined if required. We also like basic sites and inevitably Meg, our Cockapoo, gets muddy - but we always wash and dry her paws in a bowl outside the van before she's allowed inside and she knows she isn't allowed on the seats until her feet have dried! There's also plenty of room for her own bed on the floor. The van gets a thorough clean every time we have been away (every month for the last two years) and it still looks brand-new inside.
The one big advantage we have is that, being a Cockapoo, she doesn't shed, so we don't have the problem others may have with dog hairs everywhere.
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With a well thought out Human/Dog friendly design within the C/van Dogs can access all areas(if your attitude allows) without the Van suffering. No Dog of mine has ever been just a Dog marill so all areas are for all not just Humans. It can & does work
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To be Frank, I wonder if Marill will come back and tell us what he/she thinks.
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Interesting Opening Post.
Yes caravanning with the CC is suitable for dogs as long as the site rules are complied with.
As far as keeping the van upholstery clean -- the golden rule is -- People on furniture -- Dogs on the floor.
Cheers..................K
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Have a look at the Swift Basecamp - I think it meets every one of your requirements apart from the reverse stable door. It even has an outside shower for washing your dog and your wellies after those muddy walks.
But there are plenty of other caravans which aren't all shag-pile and velour. Many of those made by European manufacturers are much more basic, and therefore more dog-compatible, with vinyl floors, flat finish upholstery, melamine, outside lockers, etc.
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I have a Luna Delta TI and 3 border collies ( soon to be 4 ) The best thing I ever bought for going away with the dogs is some solid fencing. It allows the dog a bit of freedom while being safe and secure.
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Love it !!!!
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Marill
I share your sentiments about types of sites - which is why we stay predominantly on CLs and CS's. We bought our Barcelona new in 2015 and despite having a very woolly Cockapoo who delights in getting muddy, I like to think our van still looks as good as new, despite using it all year round - including at Christmas, New Year and right through the winter months.
We removed all the carpets on day one - revealing the washable vinyl underneath and put down some cheap carpet runners just for a bit of comfort - and perfectly adequate. Meg always has her muddy feet washed and dried before being allowed back in the van and with covers on the seats, the upholstery has so far survived without a mark. She has even been known to have had a shower in the van although that takes a bit of careful management!
As far as I am aware, most of our "woodwork" is light timber covered with some sort of vinyl wood-effect covering - so wiping that down isn't a problem either.
So - although I agree with your sentiments, I believe that with a bit of ingenuity, the perfect home for our four-legged friends does already exist. (Well, Meg seems to think so, anyway!)
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We have had dogs in nearly all of our different types of leisure vehicles,and have noticed that over the years they are becoming more "dog friendly"in that the material used is now less natural, and more "man made" which gives more durable wipe clean surfaces,and with removable carpets over vinyl flooring,and the upholstery (in our latest) is less "attractive"to dog hairs and also easier to vacum clean,and if not fitted outside, a doubled length shower hose through the bathroom window is helpfull
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