Living on the Road: Full-Time Van Life with a Dog

Explore the best of nature and life on the road by embarking on a van adventure with your bff.

Picture this: you wake up in the Rockies on a brisk morning in September in your camper van. Your dog is looking up at you from his fuzzy bed, ready to go out and play. You throw on the kettle, grab a ball, and she’s off at a sprint before you can even throw it. When you’re done hitting the trails, you make a hot dinner and retire to watch the deep orange sunset with your pup at your side. 

Traveling around the United States and living in a van is fun enough by itself. Add in your best four-legged friend, and you elevate the experience to a full-on adventure. 

But it’s not pure pup cups and frolicking when it comes to van life with a dog. The fact is, living on the road comes with some challenges, and requires a bit of extra planning. 

If you’re considering van life with a dog, there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to maximizing comfort, safety, and joy. We’ve learned a lot from traveling in vans with our pets, so keep reading for some road-tested advice.  

Choosing the Right Van for Your Furry Companion

When it comes to choosing a vehicle, there are two major factors to consider: size and safety.

If you’re doing van life with a dog (or a cat, or a rabbit!) you need to have enough space for each traveler. This won’t be very difficult if you’ve got a pocket-sized pet. But if you’ve got a medium or large-sized dog, selecting a van that can accommodate the extra creature (along with all your stuff) is imperative. 

Fortunately, we’ve got you covered. 

At DM Vans, we offer three distinct Lifestyle Vehicles in a range of sizes– the LV3, the LV5, and LV7. Each one is built upon the Ram ProMaster Chassis. 

Each one of our vans has room for humans and pets. However, the model you select will depend on how many passengers and pets you’ll be traveling with and their size. 

For example, a solo van lifer and their medium-sized cattle dog named Dottie would thrive in the roominess of the LV3 or LV5. But a couple and a dog, or two dogs, is absolutely going to want the extra space that comes with the LV7.  

Check out the LV3, LV5 and LV7 Vans >>

Safety features for your pet

All of our vans are designed with key features to help keep your pets cool and safe. 

• DM Vans are built with non-toxic materials that are as safe for humans as they are for pets
• Every DM Van comes standard with both a roof-top ventilation system and an Air Conditioning unit. 
• DM Vans are fully insulated for climate control

The fully insulated interior of each van, combined with a standard ventilation system and air conditioning unit, allows for climate control that’s comparable to your at-home system (while connected to shore power at campsites). You might not imagine leaving your dogs in a car on a warm, sunny day, but you probably wouldn’t think twice about leaving them in an air-conditioned house or condo. Your Lifestyle Vehicle from DM Vans is your home on wheels, providing you with a climate-controlled space to leave your furry friends for short periods. When you have to run into the store to do some grocery shopping, or you pop out for an afternoon hike in a pet-free national park, it’s a great option for both you and your pet. 

As an extra precaution, we recommend installing a climate monitoring system, like this one from Waggle. It’s designed specifically for RV owners to keep their pets safe by notifying you when van temperatures rise or fall outside of a specified range. 

It’s never fun leaving your best friend behind; but it’s great having the peace of mind knowing that they’ll be safe and comfortable while you’re gone.

Pet-Friendly Interior Design

Beyond safety and size, every DM Van has a pet-friendly interior design that can accommodate the three necessities: (1) sleeping, (2) eating and drinking, (3) and living (aka lying down and chomping on toys). 

While the van is a comfortable retreat for humans and pets alike, the wide open world on the exterior of the van functions as the most amazing, ever-changing, and exciting backyard.

Sleeping

Think about how important a cozy, comfortable bed is to you.  the same for your pup!

For your dog to feel at home in the van, they will need  space (a dog bed) they can call their own. 

The space underneath the sleeping area, also known as the Gear-age, is an ideal spot to position a dog bed, especially for larger dogs. This area can even accommodate a dog crate if your dog is crate-trained. The space  between the two captain’s chairs at the front of the van is another good spot for a smaller dog bed.    

Eating and Drinking

While living on the road, your dog will need unlimited access to fresh water all day long and healthy dog food during meal time. If your dog is crate-trained, feeding in their crate may be your best option. 

Otherwise, putting out a small bowl of food in the van’s kitchenette area is another good option. 

Living

Where your dog chills out will depend on their personality. Some dogs may prefer their own space and relax in their bed, while others will want to sit on your lap and lay with you in bed. 

In addition, where they live will depend on the parameters you’ve set for them. You may set rules for them to stay off the bed and captain’s chairs. Or, you may have no rules, whereby your dog will likely learn to make itself comfortable in various places throughout the van. 

Mealtime Solutions for Your Canine Travel Buddy

Everybody has to eat, including your canine travel buddy. Here are some mealtime tips we’ve picked up over the years from our van life adventures with our dogs:

• Regardless of  location, try to schedule meals for the same times every day. 
• Plan ahead for your next resupply of dog food and treats before you begin to run low so you don’t end up isolated in an area without pet stores.
• After purchasing a big bag of dog food, transfer the food into a resealable and smell-proof container to keep the food fresher for longer. 
• Store your resealable container of food in the gearage while keeping a smaller container up front for easy access.
• Collapsible food and water bowls are super convenient for van living because they can be stored easily in the van, or packed into a backpack to go on a hike.
• The interior step is a good place for the water bowl, so all the splashing and slobber are isolated in one spot. 

Exercise and Playtime on the Road

Exercise and playtime are critical components of a healthy and happy lifestyle for both you and your dog, especially if they’re a large or active breed. Try to make both a priority. 

When it comes to exercising your dog, routine is everything. When your dog learns to expect playtime or walks, he/she will know when they can burn off that extra energy, and when it’s time to rest.  

The good news about van living is that the world around you is your playground. Having the great outdoors so accessible makes itsuper easy and enjoyable to exercise your dog. Dog parks, campgrounds, municipal and state parks, hiking trails, and other dog-friendly areas are all available to you on the road. 

Dog-friendly places can be tricky to find

Even though we’re van life enthusiasts, we have to admit that setting aside playtime to exercise your dog can also be tricky. There may be times when you’ve got a long stretch of driving before the next destination, or you find yourselves in “the middle of nowhere” with no dog parks or green spaces to be found. 

For moments like these, it’ll be important to research and plan ahead where you plan to park so you can exercise your pup. For example, some rest stops and gas stations have dog parks while others don’t. Or, you may stop off earlier than you would have to take advantage of a good-looking city park before hitting the road for a long haul. 

Potty Breaks and Waste Disposal

If there’s one guarantee about having a dog, it’s that they’ll need to pee and poop on a daily basis. These breaks will look different without a doggie door or a backyard at your home.  But, potty breaks on the road will become valuable times for you to get fresh air, stretch out and take some steps, especially on long driving days.

Just like with eating and exercise, routine is everything. Always make sure to take your dog out of the van for routine potty breaks throughout the day.

If you have a puppy in the van who may still be learning to control their bladder or bowel movements, you may consider puppy potty pads. Potty pads can also come in handy for senior dogs who have the occasional accident.

For accidents, we recommend always having a roll of paper towels, a bottle of stain remover and an odor eliminating spray on hand. 

Equitable Waste Disposal

Regarding waste disposal, we recommend always using a nearby trashcan, like at public parks, rest stops, or gas stations. However, if there is no equitable place to dispose of your pet’s waste, don’t just leave it! 

We recommend keeping a separate, small receptacle in the back of the van for used poop bags (and potty pads). Then, when you get access to a trashcan or dumpster, you can empty it. 

Ideally, your waste bin will have a lid to contain the odors. You can add a few drops of your favorite essential oil or room spray to mask any odors. 

Handling Anxiety and Stress in a Dog Friendly Way

Living on the road can be stressful and anxiety-inducing. (Heck, living at home can be, too.) This is especially true for high-energy dogs with anxious personalities. So, if you know your dog gets anxious, here are some tips to help them feel more comfortable:

• Practice traveling in the van with your pet over short durations before committing to van life.
• Before long travel days, thoroughly exercise your dog to take the edge off. 
• Stick to a familiar routine regardless of your location. This includes eating, drinking, and going to the bathroom. 
• Leave a toy like a puzzle feeder or some other comfort object for your dog to chew on or play with during travel time.
• Try out a pheromone spray to help your dog maintain calm.
• Equip your dog with a dog-friendly weighted vest to help them feel safe and secure.
• Take lots of breaks to let your dog go to the bathroom and exercise outside. 
• If all else fails, consider consulting your veterinarian about over-the-counter products like dog friendly CBD prescription medication to help manage anxiety. 

Extra Challenges that Come with Living in a Van with a Dog

Living with your furry friend on the road is a lot of fun, but it comes with some extra challenges. So if your van life dreams have always included a dog, consider the following so you know what you are getting into:

• If your dog sheds, get ready. Vans are small. ‘Nuff said. 
• Overprotective and easily excitable dogs can get defensive around the van and start to bark a lot while parked, which can disturb other campers or blow your stealth camping cover.
• No surface is safe from muddy paws. 
• Don’t leave your dog alone for too long. Thanks to the A/C, overheating won’t be a problem for short stints— but power may run out, and your dog may get restless and/or nervous, resulting in accidents and property damage. 
• If your main goal with van life is to visit national parks, having a dog will be a challenge because many national parks do not allow dogs out of the parking lots or off paved roads and trails.
• Not all dogs are cut out for van life, especially those who thrive in routine. High-energy, anxious, reactive, or overly protective dogs may not be able to cope with the nomadic nature of van life. 
• Living in a van can make finding a reliable dog sitter difficult. For example, if you want to visit your bucket-list national park, you may need to leave behind your best friend for the day. This requires some planning ahead. 

Living on the Road in a DM Van is not Just for Humans

If we could design class-B lifestyle vehicles for dogs, we would do that. But considering dogs can’t drive, we’ll stick to designing epic vehicles for human van lifers and recommend bringing your dog to enhance the experience. 

But in all seriousness, living on the road with your furry companion can be a super rewarding experience, much like traveling with a significant other. 

However, we’d be remiss not to mention that it does come with some additional challenges and lifestyle changes to make it possible. Nonetheless, if you’ve got an adventurous dog who loves to be by your side and would embrace the freedom of the open road as much as you, then go for it!   

See you (and your dog) on the road. -Dave and Matt