MMM – September 2019

176 Need technical advice?[email protected] 2019

TECHNICAL My Project

INSIDE THE ’VAN
Space is at a premiumin most
motorhomes butit is beneficial that
dogs understandwhich space is theirs.
Our dogsknowthat the cabis their
space andweput aboardacross to
preventthemcoming intothe main
area.Theycould jumpthis, butthey
knownot to.
Toalleviate boredom inthe ’van,
games lik e hiding atreat forthe dogto
sniff out,orsimply a few toystoplay
withwill all help.
Wehavea list of all the necessary
things tobring –leads, leads for
outsidethe ’van,brush, towels,
beds, toys, dogbags, food, bowls,
medication,vet numbers, IDcollar, etc.
Inanideal sit uation, the dogs
would travel in acrate. However, our
motorhome wouldnot accommodate
that sowe use harnesses,with the
leads attached tothe seatbelts onthe
dinette seats. The dogsthentravel in
the areabetween the seats, with room
tolie down, butstill securely attached.
Werecently got a labradorpuppy,
Fernand, astheyseemtowriggle out
of most things, harnesses inparticular,
we havethe added precautionof

What I spent

How lngit tok

Project summary

We find harnesses, securedby strong

leads to a seatbelt, to be best when

travelling.The board separating the cab

from the rest ofthe motorhome is an

extra safetyfeature. Giving thedogsa

bed and some toys enablesthem to

settle quickly and quietly. Using

extending leads works outside andwe

always placewater within their reach.

Makingthe boardtook 30 minutes,

while fitting and securing theharness

takes around 10 minutes.

The wooden boardwe had already.

Fern’s harness and extending lead cost

£48. The cost of apet passport differs.

Submit yourDIYproject to help other readers improve

their ’van and earn some extra money motorhome.ma/diyproject

HAVEYOUR PROJECT FEATURED

placing aboardbetween the main

motorhomeandthe cab area.

Toexpect dogstotravel happily,

it is essential toexercisethem

adequately before andto ensure they

have hadthe opportunity todrink

water.Plentyof stops onthe way fora

drink, walk, playandperhaps asmall

amountof food, is vital.

If a dogtravelsbadly it is best

toavoid fooduntil the journeyis

complete, but putting insometoys

andchews, plusa familiar blanket

willhelp. Sometimes, pullingthe side

windowblindsdowncanalsohelp a

nervous dog.

ATTHE CAMPSITE

Dogs areexcited to arriveandare

eager toexplore. Wefinda walk

aroundthe campsite, avisit tothe dog

walk areaand general familiarisation

helpstosettle the dogs.

Our dogs are attachedtoleads

outsidethe ’vanand, havingtwo dogs,

theycanget tangled up together,or

one gets a leg caught in a loop and

looks forlornly upat usuntil wecome

tountangle them.

Wesecurethe dogssotheycanlie

byeachother, buttheirleads are set

apart. Weoften have one onthe step

andone onthe tow ropeattachment.

Dogsshould never beleft secured

outsidethe ’vanunattended.

Onher first outing, our puppy

barkedwhenpeople approached –we

did not wanther todothis so, when

she wasquiet,wepraised her, gaveher

a treat andencouragedher to focus

onus. Now,at ninemonths old she

watches the goingson aroundher and

quietly wagsher tail at passers by.

DOG ESSENTIALS

þLeads, harnesses,extendingleads

þDog bags

þBed/bedding

þMedication

þFood– tins/biscuits/treats

þTo ysand chews

þInsurances

þTickhook

HELPFUL WEBSITES

petsathome.com

defra.gov.uk

Care needstobe taken when tethering the dogs outside toavoid tangles