Pet owners love their four-legged friends. Dogs help make our travels that much richer and more enjoyable. But when dogs start barking at a campground, they can become a major headache for your fellow campers. Thankfully, there are plenty of things you can do to keep your dog from annoying others with incessant barking. Let’s take a look at why it’s important for pet owners to keep their dogs quiet at campgrounds, and what they can do to make it happen.
Why Pet Owners Should Keep Their Dogs Quiet at the Campground
There are a couple of different reasons that pet owners should keep their dogs quiet when they’re at a campground. First and foremost, the people around you at other campsites are likely there to enjoy some peace and quiet in a relaxing environment. But few things break the peace quite like a barking dog. Depending on size and breed, a dog’s bark can reach 100 decibels (dB). By comparison:
- Your lawnmower runs at about 80 dB
- A motorcycle runs at 95 dB
- Your favorite music concert can easily reach 100 dB
So as you can see, a barking dog can get very loud, and their barks can carry surprisingly far. If your dog barks for an extended period, it can become a serious annoyance for other campers. Even worse, for people who are afraid of dogs, those barks can easily cause them anxiety and distress.
On top of this, most campgrounds have rules about noise and controlling your animals. If you find yourself in violation of these rules and regulations, you’ll likely end up in trouble with management. That could mean a warning, fines, or even being asked to leave the campground. It’s very important to keep your dog quiet if you want to keep your neighbors and park management happy. Thankfully, there are plenty of things you can do to ensure Fido stays quiet.
How Pet Owners Can Keep Their Dogs Quiet at RV Campgrounds
There are many different things pet owners can do to keep their dogs quiet when at a campground. Let’s take a look at each.
Pet Owners Shold Provide Proper Training
All pet owners should ideally give their dogs obedience training. That way, your dog will respond to commands and be better behaved overall. But if you have a dog that’s prone to barking, then this training is especially important. Teach your dog commands like “sit” and “quiet” so that you can get them under control if they get rowdy. You can easily train your dog using a clicker and treats. Or, you can sign your pup up for classes where a professional will help you with the training process.
Provide Adequate Exercise and Mental Stimulation
Just like people, dogs can get bored pretty easily. But when dogs get bored, this is when some of their worst behavior comes out. If your dog barks constantly, destroys your things, and misbehaves in other ways, it’s likely your dog is acting out due to boredom.
To avoid this, be sure to take your dogs out regularly so they can get some exercise. Be sure to take them out at least once a day for a walk, and ideally, two or even three times if you have an energetic pup. If you run regularly, your dog will likely enjoy going with you as well.
Another option is a visit to the dog park. This is a place where your dog can be free to run around to its heart’s content. Plus, many campgrounds and RV parks have dog parks on-site. You should also be sure to provide your dog with stimulating toys and play. “Puzzle” toys where the dog must work to get a treat, like the SPOT Seek-a-Treat, are a great option.
Make Sure Your Dog is Comfortable
It’s important for pet owners to provide their dogs with a comfortable space that’s all their own in the RV or campsite. Ensure your pup has their own bed or crate with their favorite toys or blankets available at all times. This helps them remain relaxed, well-behaved, and quiet and lets them know they always have a safe place to go to.
Pet Owners Understand Their Dog’s Triggers
Pay attention to your dog and learn what causes them to get excited or agitated, causing them to bark. Other dogs, strangers, or specific sounds are all common examples of triggers. Then, take measures like positive reinforcement training to help desensitize them, or work to minimize their exposure to triggers.
Keep Calming Aids on Hand
There are many things that can be used to help calm your dog:
- Pheromone diffusers
- Calming sprays
- Wrapping them in a blanket or anxiety wrap.
These can help your dog stay relaxed, even in unfamiliar locations.
Stay With Your Dog as Much as Possible
If possible, avoid leaving your dog unattended for extended periods of time. This is especially important if your dog suffers from separation anxiety, which can lead to them barking in distress. Of course, you can’t bring your dog everywhere, but you can avoid leaving him alone for too long, too often. If you have a trusted friend at the same campground as you, consider having them keep your dog company while you’re away.
Communicate with Other Campers
If your dog is prone to barking, and you’re still working on improving their behavior, it might be smart to let neighbors know. Apologize and let them know you understand it’s frustrating, and you’re working to improve. By communicating openly, you can foster understanding and goodwill with other campers, and hopefully help them be more patient with you and your pup.
Keeping Your Dog Quiet at the Campground is Important for Being a Good Pet Owner
A barking dog can be a major annoyance for your fellow campers. But, with measures like obedience training, calming aids, and more, you can help keep Fido calm, quiet, and well-behaved. That way, you and your fellow campers can enjoy the peace and tranquility we all want from camping.
Little dogs are the worst violators. We travel with our two Old English Sheepdogs, most little dogs freak out when they see them or other large dogs. I feel sorry for the little guys because their owners have never trained them properly. Their little pocket dog go nuts and the owner picks it up and runs away with the little critter making a scene. That’s not training, that is awarding poor behavior. Our dogs have been taught to ignore little dogs. They hardly register. The two boys enjoy meeting other dogs and humans (especially humans) but the little guys always ruin a good time. It’s really annoying during quiet hours, the little dogs sense big dogs walking and start their barking. It creates an avalanche of noise.
All these tips are fine, but we’ve found that the worst offenders are those who leave their dog(s) in an RV while they sightsee during the day. Regardless of the rules prohibiting leaving dogs alone in the RV, people continue to do it. I was attacked by a German Shepherd when I was five. I was not really hurt but I’ve never forgotten and I’m not a dog fan. On top of that, add the annoyance of a barking dog, it makes my day miserable, is bad for the dog and is incredibly selfish and rude.