RV Dog-tech!




Larry executing a perfect pooper-scoop...see left hand carry!

There  are two unbreakable rules for camping with dogs...#1.  Pick up their poop and #2. No barkies!  Barking can make a German Shepherd look aggressive and it can disturb the peaceful existence of neighbors; both offenses are grounds for exile from the campground!  And poopies...are just plain rude!  Unfortunately, the Belikoff pack has had no training in this sort of etiquette...they have had the run of a big yard and they bark whenever they feel like it. 

The poopie rule was mostly training for us.  But, we could not bring ourselves to use recycled plastic grocery bags like other responsible dog owners.  One day at PetSmart, we found the answer to our prayers...Dispoz-a-Scoops.  They are little bags with a cardboard handle that contains a perforated pop-out pusher/ handle.  There's no hand-to-poop contact and it's biodegradable!!! 



We just ordered a case (250) of these!

The "no-barkies" rule was a tougher problem.  Our very nice neighbors here at Bella Terra did not want to complain, but they did tell us, very tactfully, that Gus and Vada bark when we leave the Bus.  One day, it was particularly bad because it was warm enough to open all of the windows and our neighbors had friends over.  So Vada barked because of separation anxiety and Gus was defending his territory from the party-goers!  Besides barking in our absence, we were tired of yelling at them everytime they heard something outside.

I guess it is really quiet on Sweet Hollow Road; they don't do this at home.   We had to do some research.  The problem was that most no-bark collars are triggered by the sound of barking, so they won't work with two dogs.  Poor Vada would have been shocked by big-mouth Gus.  Then we found the  "Sportdog 10R"...Gus and Vada's lives were about to change! These collars are sensitive to each individual dog because they are triggered by both the sound of barking and the vibration of the vocal chords.  Luckily, our dogs are used to e-collars; we use them in Schutzhund training.  Vada got the message after only one shock, but Gus had to "game" the system.  In the "training mode" the shocks get progressively stronger if the barking continues, but if there is no barking in 30 minutes, it goes back to the lowest setting.  It took Gus a few hours to figures this out (the booklet that comes with the collar said it takes most dogs two weeks to "test" this feature.)  Gus would wait 30 minutes, then bark, then wait. We advanced him to the continuous setting and it has been quiet here ever since then.  In fact, we only use the collars when we leave the coach.  Our verbal "no bark" commands seem to have new meaning, when we have to use it at all.  And the new no-bark regimen during walks has had the pleasant side effect of de-escalating aggression toward other dogs.  Apparently, barking is the root of all evil, except in Schutzhund protection training...let's hope Gus has not forgotten how to bark on command. But, even if he has, he's a more polite pet...and camper now!        KB