Going on vacation with your dog in a converted van
Going on vacation with your dog is not always easy, so with three dogs, the matter becomes even more complicated… For Raphaël and his wife, going with their animals has always been obvious, they are an integral part of their family. The campervan therefore naturally imposed itself on them in order to leave as they pleased… Raphaël took the time to tell us about his perilous and juicy escapades with his dogs, always ready to hit the road for a Too W'ouf holiday. I let you discover their adventures through the story of Raphaël.
A passion for animals
My wife and I are dog lovers. Baku is the oldest of our little tribe, he is an 11-year-old cursinu (Corsican dog) rather timid, he needs his security perimeter so as not to be disturbed. He barks easily and is quickly on the nerves as soon as he is destabilized. This cushy often gives us a hard time, it's our cabochard Baku that we love despite everything.
We also have Frost, a four year old white male amstaff and Nina, also a year and a half amstaff, completing the family. Both are quite sweet and sociable. Nina is still a little crazy and dynamic.
Our 3 companions are rather nice and pleasant to live with on a daily basis, they are truly three loves of dogs.
Dog sports have long been at the very heart of our lives with our three accomplices. Baku, who is now 11, can no longer practice these sports. The siesta therefore remains his favorite pastime.
I play Frisbee with Frost to entertain him regularly but also to improve his skills because I would like to make him compete later. After each session, he always has the right to his little massage to relax him. It is certain that this little moment strengthens our friendship.
Nina is also a fan of frisbee, running, frolicking, jumping, I can assure you that she is tireless. We are still waiting a bit before making her start agility because she still has some injuries that prevent her from being able to do this exercise. My wife and Nina have forged very strong bonds thanks to the practice of this activity.
The relationship with our dogs is very important, it's undeniable, and my wife is always there to cuddle our 3 doggies.
We are truly passionate about dogs. Three dogs a day is a lot of work, but the love they give us is unfailing.
So going on vacation with them on vacation, for us it's a strong experience that allows us to strengthen our ties even more by having a good time.
A new mode of vacation: the converted van
After years of leaving with our companions in classic accommodation, it became more and more complicated to leave with our 3 doggies on vacation. Finding an accommodation that accepted us all together was a real headache. And the additional cost charged for the presence of our dogs became too expensive. So after careful consideration, we opted for a fitted van in order to leave as soon as we felt like getting some fresh air.
We have had it for a year and a half now and since then we have left once for a long period and we take advantage of the weekends to escape into nature.
The dogs finally adapted quickly except for Frost who is not comfortable. The noise and vibrations still intimidate him, he is quite disturbed during the trip.
The dogs each have their place during the trip. One remains under the table, the other on the seat and the other on the bed, I specify that they are all attached for their safety.
We take regular breaks every 2 hours or so and take the opportunity to take walks depending on where we are.
Before leaving, we do our best to target dog-friendly campsites. We send emails to warn that we have 3 dogs, which is indeed unusual and it avoids unpleasant surprises.
We live in Switzerland and the legislation concerning category dogs is less strict. Which is easier for us and our doggies. To facilitate our travels, a list is put online by cantons for category dogs. In general, people are not refractory when we arrive with our little pack. We put on muzzles when necessary but that tends to be more scary than anything else. The campsites do not ask us for the documents of the dogs most of the time but it is better to have them with either.
Holidays in a van with our dogs
Traveling in a campervan is really simple. This allows us to live outdoors and dogs are always eager for freedom. We take care to take the necessities such as bowls, leashes, harnesses and muzzles and especially not to forget the treats. So that they have their space, we install a sheep net around the van of about 20-25 square meters, this gives them space to roam around and this allows us to prevent them from taking to their heels. .
It's quick to set up, and if it's really necessary, we attach them to a lanyard.
The dogs are rarely left alone in the van. We adapt to the campsite in which we are. We prefer to go out of season, it's much more comfortable because there are fewer people. And as our dogs are said to be “categorized”, they can be scary so in the off season, it's much easier to travel with them.
I can assure you that we prefer to be in the middle of nature as soon as the opportunity arises, it's really better for their comfort and well-being. The beach and the town are not suitable with 3 dogs.
To tell you the truth, this mode of vacation adapts perfectly to the way of life of dogs, we do not regret having acquired this van to travel with them, it is really beyond measure.
The van finally turns out to be more practical because it is considered a car and we find places to park more easily.
We made our last trip for a weekend to Saint Gall in Switzerland on the occasion of a frisbee course for Frost. He let off steam, and the others were very happy to be pampered.
And, on occasion, we go to the edge of a lake where we can park for one night. Our dogs can enjoy good walks and we can relax in the fresh air. We all find our account there to take advantage of each other.
Traveling with categorized dogs
If I had to remember one word to describe our vacation in a van together, it would be the freedom and happiness of seeing my dogs “truffles in the wind”!
My most sound advice is really the sheep net when you stop. This space is really appreciated by our three dogs and we can watch over them more easily.
Musher and Sophie: “ Traveling with a categorized dog it is possible but there are some rules to respect. Remember to read or reread the Mag' article on the subject to take stock of what you need to know. ”
Do not hesitate to leave, it is an incredible experience to explore all the most remote places and above all you will keep memories full of emotions.
I would like to thank Raphaël, Baku, Frost and Nina for telling us about their adventures in a converted van for Wouafement Bien moments of sharing. So tempted by a holiday full of freedom? Go in a motorhome this summer with your dog! You will find lots of advice on this mode of travel in the article The motorhome: ideal solution for holidays with your dog?