Don’t Fence Me In – Corralling Critters At Campsites

Greetings from Palm Springs! Rocket & Pinkie and I are enjoying the winter desert weather, sitting out on the patio most morning and evenings. 

 

When you are outside at a campground with pets, what do you do to keep them by your side? (Boss Tweed the cat never goes out, so this article is about dogs, but I have seen cats on leashes, in wire kennels, and in elaborate mesh tubes and tunnels at campgrounds.)


I am envious of people with dogs with no desire to leave the campsite. Mine are certainly not that way. One whiff of a bird or a squirrel or someone walking by with another dog, and all bets are off. (Even if your dogs stay close, don’t let the park folks see them off-leash. It’s a big no-no.)

Invisible Fencing

Questions about invisible fencing pop up on the RV forums almost daily, usually posted by someone who has not yet started to camp or full-time.  Invisible fencing simply is not allowed at campgrounds.  All parks require that animals be secured in some way, and from a distance invisible fences don’t look secure. Invisible fencing can also confuse and alarm passersby and create a lot of heartburn and consternation for you and the campground.


Regular Fencing

I am often impressed by the extensive barricades campers pack and set up at their sites – plastic or metal fashioned in a circle, or projecting from the rig. With the big rigs, the barrier must also cover the tall area under the coach to prevent escape. I just don’t have the kind of storage required to carry it all, or the energy to set it up and break it down.


“Playpen” Type Systems


When I first saw this vinyl and canvas hexagonal thingy, I was convinced it was the ticket for Rocket & Pinkie. It folds up into itself, creating a tiny package that will store almost anywhere. At a campground in Wisconsin, I fluffed the pen open and dumped in the doggies; Rocket immediately jumped out. The pen comes with a mesh top that zips on to prevent escape. I put Rocket back in and zipped them both up tight.


Rocket absolutely hated being constrained, as evidenced by his howls and cries of despair. I swear I saw Pinkie, as calm as ever,  rolling her eyes at his High Drama. He repeatedly jumped and slammed himself against the wall of the pen, until it finally flopped onto its side. At that point the pen was like a hamster wheel, and Rocket began to run. Most of the campsites were empty, so there were few obstacles in the way. As the pen rotated like the drum of a dryer, Pinkie could be seen once with each spin, wide-eyed and rising like a sock, ears floating up like the pup from “Our Gang,” dropping down again with a thud.


I was laughing so hard I couldn’t compose myself to chase after them. Other people around the park laughed and pointed as well. Systems failure came in the form an unyielding tree. 


I thought briefly that tiedowns might fix the problem, but I knew better, because I knew Rocket. I spied a camper with two small Dachshunds across the way and asked if she would like the pen. Heck, the color even matched her rig. She was thrilled.


Tie-Outs


Through trial and error I have found that good, old-fashioned tie-outs work best for Rocket and Pinkie. I tried these retractable kind for a while,

but Rocket could often pull them out of the soft ground, and the retractable feature did not prevent Rocket and Pinkie from becoming less entangled. The trick with tie-outs is to space them far enough apart so that Rocket cannot play and wrestle with Pinkie until they are both twisted and cannot move.


Usually I use a picnic table as the base and try to move it far enough away from other outdoor furniture so the dogs cannot knot themselves or turn everything over.


I am ecstatic when my campsite is equipped with two reliable, tall anchor points (usually two trees); I run a “clothesline” and attach the tie-outs to that. (This is sometimes called a “dog zip line.” If you attach a pulley, that is known as a “dog trolley.”)

There are far fewer entanglements, but make sure the line is visible and preferably taller than the humans at your campsite, or they just might take themselves out in a classic wrestling move on their way to the bathroom or the barbecue.


If it looks like the clothesline method might work for you, be sure to read park rules. I was once given a written warning at a county park in Florida for tying a clothesline to trees.


Know The Rules

Whatever method you use, please, please do not leave your animals tied up and unattended at the campsite. Not only is it against park rules, it’s just a dickhead thing to do.

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This Post Has 5 Comments

  1. kc

    too funny!

  2. trikepilot

    We have a Cairn Terrier and a mini poodle that love to romp and play all day long. I am hoping that once they get a few years on them, they might mellow out and just be content to sit in our laps at the campsite. In the meantime it is a twin lead on one leash tied around my leg. They get to play, are on-leash, and as long as I watch my step I can stay on top of the situation.

  3. Judi & Ivan

    Hi Ho dear friend
    Returning home from a Seattle adventure, we thought we had it made because we were a “maybe” to get on the ferry.

    Turned out to be “maybe not”.. and then not as we were the next car but they closed the gate!

    So I got out my phone and saw you had written another blog.

    I was laughing out loud at your misadventures and ideas of corralling the kids. I love that you and your merry little family have seen and done so much.

    They make life so much fun… some work attached.. but you can’t beat the unconditional love coming your way everyday.

    We are good and may make another attempt to go south to see John in February. We might end up going through California ( although he hates it) to avoid snow/ice on our normal route.

    Will let you know… how long are you planted in Palm Springs?

    Miss you & love you…🌴❤️

  4. Jane Ashman

    You always paint such a great picture with your rad writing skills! Oh how I would have loved to see them rolling! Thanks for the laugh!

  5. Jana Plummer

    America’s funniest video nomination for the Hampster Pen Roll. So funny!

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