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RVing with our dog, Carmen is so rewarding for us! We love watching her explore a new place for the first time or stick her head out of the truck on the open road. She is enjoying this RV adventure just as much as we are (if not more, actually).
Must Have Items For RVing With Dogs
After years on the road, we’ve discovered some essentials that make RVing with dogs so much easier. These are our top 10 must-have items if you’re going to bring Fido along on the adventures!
1. Pet Hammack or Doggy Seatbelt
Now that we travel with Carmen in the car weekly, we purchased a pet hammock for the backseat. This is a great accessory because it keeps her safe in one area, off the floor, and protects our seats.
If you can’t dedicate the entire backseat of your car or truck to Fido, at the very least get a doggy seatbelt for their safety.
2. Camping Poop Bags for Dogs
I shouldn’t have to say this but we’ve seen plenty of RVers without poop bags. Not only is it rude to not pick up after your dog, but it’s also bad for the environment. Seriously it is, read this article if you don’t believe me.
Don’t be the most hated neighbor in the park and get yourself some poo bags. Part of RVing with dogs is being responsible enough to clean up after them.
They even have cute poo bag holders that attach to the leash so you don’t forget them.
3. Outdoor Leash
If we’re blessed with a large campsite (and the campground allows it) we love to sit outside and let Carmen roam. She has free range but is still safe with our 30-foot cable lead.
I have to mention we never leave her outside unsupervised even with the lead on, and you shouldn’t either. They can get tangled or be a nuisance to other dogs being walked nearby. Not only is it dangerous, but by leaving your pet unsupervised, you’re most likely breaking some camping rules.
Pro Tip: If you want to make sure you don’t break any other rules, read 10 Camping Rules You Should Never Break According to Campground Owners
4. Flea and Tick Medication
When RVing with dogs, you will be exposing your pup to many new insects (and diseases caused by those insects). We recommend investing some time researching your different flea and tick prevention options so your dog is protected.
We always have Carmen visit a vet in the general area we’ll be traveling in each year. This helps us gain awareness of local diseases and any additional vaccinations she might need.
5. Dry Skin Shampoo
When you full-time RV with dogs, you expose them to different weather elements. Each pet is different, but Carmen had a small adjustment period in those dry winter months and in the desert states. We were able to get her through it comfortably with a good dry skin shampoo.
6. Portable Water Bottle
We understand you want to bring your fur baby along on your outdoor adventures. That’s one of the best parts of RVing with dogs! However, don’t forget they need to stay hydrated to keep up. We love our portable water bottle for hiking with Carmen (and she does too!).
7. Kongs
For those times that Carmen can’t come on the adventure, we make sure she has some Kongs to keep her busy. We shove a cookie in there and she’s good to go. Working for a treat is good for your dog’s brain and keeps them occupied. For a little while, at least.
8. Treat Dispenser
We also have a Kong Automatic Treat Dispenser for those times we’ll be gone longer than a few hours. We’re able to put up to four Kongs inside at once. The dispense option releases every one hour or every two hours. We also put extra special Kongs in for these rare occasions (filled with wet food, sealed with peanut butter, and frozen).
These special treats keep her busy because they take a lot longer to get through. She gets so excited when she sees us bring out the automatic treat dispenser!
9. Temperature Monitoring System
RVing with dogs can occasionally cause some stress, especially if you have to leave them alone. A remote monitor will help ease your mind when you do have to leave your pet in the RV. The Waggle Pet Safety Temperature & Humidity Sensor will immediately notify you on your phone if the temperature, humidity, or heat index goes outside of your preset range.
Being notified when something is wrong will give you the heads up you need to get back to your pet immediately. Having a remote temperature monitor could be the one product that could save your pet’s life.
10. ID Tag and Chip
Last but definitely not least is to make sure your dog has an engraved ID tag. Ensure it is engraved with their name and your phone number (a backup phone number on there is a good idea too). When RVing with dogs, you never know if they’ll manage to sneak out. You will want to make sure if anyone finds them, they can get in touch with you.
Even better? Get your dog chipped. That way if they manage to get out and lose their collar, a good samaritan will hopefully get them to a vet to scan for a chip.
Pro Tip: It’s always a good idea to have a savings account set aside for any pet emergencies. If you don’t have one, looking into pet insurance is another great alternative to make sure your dog is protected on the road.
RVing With Dogs Makes For The Perfect Camping Experience
Well, those are our top 10 must-have items for RVing with dogs! We’ve found each and every one of these items to be extremely beneficial while RVing with our dog. Anything else you think we should add to the list? Let us know in the comments!
Last update on 2026-08-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
