CARAVAN TRAVELLING WITH DOGS

How it all started for us

We can remember the day when we picked up Ozzy like it was yesterday. That little bundle of energy came to us on the 9th of November 2019. It was instant love. Two years later we decided that we want to travel around Australia in a Caravan. In December 2021 we picked up our new Jayco Journey Outback caravan and our caravan travelling adventure started. Ozzy took to travelling and caravan life like a duck to water. He is our best travelling companion, and we never go without him. We love him like mad and always make sure he is alright first. If he is happy, so are we.

Plan your trip Before you go

Research your destinations.
Make a list of destinations and places you want to visit.
Write down the vet’s phone numbers and addresses at places you plan to stay, just in case you need it in a hurry.
Ensure your dog is fully vaccinated and its registration is up-to-date. Don’t forget to actually take the vaccination paper with you.
Don’t forget to take any medication your dog requires with you (in our case Ozzy is on a monthly NexGard SPECTRA and we have forgotten to take it with us in the past).
Check that your dog’s name and contact details are clearly marked on a name tag attached to the collar.
Make sure you got enough plastic bags with you for picking up your dog poo.
Don’t forget to take a collar and lead with you (It is the most obvious, but you be surprised, as sometimes the most obvious items get left behind).
Pack enough food for your dog and don’t forget to include some treats or bones.
Another imported item to take with you is enough toys for your dog to play with.

ON THE ROAD

Make sure you have a safe place for your dog in the car and it cannot interfere with you when driving.
Make regular stops, this is for us every 2 hours so Ozzy can have a toilet break and can stretch his legs.
Always pick up any dog droppings
Make sure they do not get overheat or get too cold. With every break, we always check that the temperature is right, as Ozzy stays in his cage at the back of our car.
Keep the water up. With every break, we get Ozzy some water to drink. We always have at least 1.5 litre of water for Ozzy stored beside his cage.
We store some of his toys beside his cage as well. This way we always have a toy handy for him to play.

Staying at a caravan park or any campground (incl. free camps)

Respect the caravan park’s rules and regulations!
Be considerate of your neighbouring camper’s and don’t allow your pet to invade their space.
Always pick up any dog droppings (There is nothing more annoying, as when you rock up to your campsite and there is dog poo laying around. Honestly, it’s not hard and for a dog owner it should be common sense.
Always keep your dog under control even if that means that you have to keep the dog on a leash.

Where to find Pet sitters

Local veterinary sometimes have day care facilities or they have information on local pet sitters.
Download a pet sitter App. They are many on the market (madpaws, the rover, PetCloud just to name a few).
Local visitor Information Centres are also a great source of information
Lots of caravan parks have information on available pet sitters
There are lots of different travelling with dogs groups on social media with helpful information on pet sitters in different towns. They sometimes even have feedback on the pet sitters which can be very helpful.
Local dog boarding kennels often provide day care options.
There might be another camper with dog that can look after your dog and the next day you look after their dog. Win win situation for everyone.

Our experience

It always was very clear to us if we are travelling than only with Ozzy. He is a family member for us. After one year travelling, we honestly can say that we wouldn’t change a thing. We visited lots of National parks, museums, cafes/restaurants, did lots of hikes and so on. We never missed out on something we wanted to do. We always found a way to make it work. For us it works 100 percent, and it is just amazing to have him on our side while travelling. We didn’t want it any other way. Travelling with Ozzy gives us so much and more.

Ozzy sleeps inside the caravan in his comfy bed under the foot of our bed. It was Ozzy’s choice to sleep there. Sometimes in the morning he is allowed to come onto our bed for a cuddle (At first we said that is never going to happen but who can resist those eyes). We also have a stretcher for Ozzy that we usually set up under the caravan awning. He is really good on a lead tied up to the caravan. We just make sure we do lots of walks with him. That way he can use up his energy and is happy on the lead afterwards. To make it a bit more interesting for him, we make up some games, for example where he must find something. There is no limit to your imagination. By the way, a bit of exercise is doing us good too.

Ozzy stays in an aluminium cage (we did bring it with us from Switzerland) in the back of our car when we are on the road. He feels safe in his cage and if he is unsure about something he retreats to his cage.

Importend Information

If you're travelling Australia with a dog or cat, then you should be aware of ticks.

A few quick tick facts:

There are 2 main ticks of concern for dogs in Australia - paralysis ticks on the east coast and the Brown Dog tick in central and northern Australia.

Only paralysis ticks are a concern for cats.

Brown Dog ticks carry the deadly disease Ehrlichiosis in northern WA, all of the NT and northern Queensland.

Tick prevention to prevent disease is similar but different depending on the area.

Tick numbers are highest in the warmer months (Spring, Summer and the wet season up north), a wet Spring like this year brings a fast explosion in numbers.

Not all ticks cause problems for cats and dogs, for example, bush ticks, cattle ticks and kangaroo ticks. So it's important to remove any tick from your pet as soon as possible and see your vet for a check up and tick identification.

Treating travelling, resident and community pets all over Australia for the last 4.5 years, Dr Tania has a unique insight into the challenges faced by travelling pets. She is always happy to answer questions about whether your dog is on appropriate tick prevention for your intended destination/s.

Want to know more?

Ask a question below, send us a DM or head to our website for blog articles on ticks written by Dr Tania. Vet in a Van

🚨 Ehrlichiosis Warning for Dog Owners

Ehrlichiosis, an often deadly tick-borne disease, has been reported in parts of Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and northern South Australia. If you're traveling with your dog, please take precautions!

Another member's vet has suggested using tick collars like the Seresto collar for added protection.
Please remember, this is not medical advice. Always consult with your vet before travelling to affected areas to ensure your dog is fully protected. Stay safe and keep your pets healthy! 🐾