Date:         Mon, 9 May 2005 12:32:41 -0700
Reply-To:     Paul Thomson <pthomson@GORGE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Paul Thomson <pthomson@GORGE.NET>
Subject:      Re: managing your dogs?
In-Reply-To:  <200505091941.j49JfC6x066960@mcnary.gorge.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Hi Chris & all,

Finally something I can provide input on :)
I have two labs that ride with me all of the time. Mostly they sit in the
back but sometimes one will sit in the passenger seat if it is not occupied.
I don't put a barrier between the bench and the way back. They don't really
want to go back there anyway...I always keep a queen sized blanket over the
back seat. I also put a pet bed down on the back floor so one can sleep on
the back seat and the other can sleep on the floor while on long driving
stretches. I also have a center console that keeps them away from the
shifter...

At stops, if it's raining, I have a shadyboy awning up, put down a blanket
on the ground under the awning, then I use about 20' of cable w/ connectors
on both sides, looped through the front table tube (I don't have a front
table), one side connected to each dog. This works to keep them either under
the awning or in the van, with a little slack on either side.



Date:    Mon, 9 May 2005 11:10:25 -0700
From:    "aircooledchris@eucasafari.vendioweb.com"
         <aircooledchris@EUCASAFARI.VENDIOWEB.COM>
Subject: managing your dogs?

listee's

I was wondering how you with mutiple dogs manage while camping and any
tricks or tips you may have on keeping things clean as well as managing
space and keeping the whole crew happy.

Thanks for anything you feel like sharing.

so far, this is what ive done:

new vinyl upholstery for the front seats as well as the rear, to help with
washing off fur/slobber/etc.

things id like to do is add rubber flooring all around, to also aid in the
cleanup process.

my concerns now are just where the dogs sleep and how to manage where to put
stuff when you have two larger dogs in the back.

do any of you use a gate to keep them in the way way back? I was actually
considering doing the opposite, where we store our bulky gear in the way
back and keep them separated from this area where one can use the floor and
the other can use the bench seat.

one last concern ive considered addressing is just mounting a bowl somewhere
easily accessed, where nobody can kick it over and they can get to water
anytime they need some.

best,

cr