Shotglass
Posts:1
 | | 08 Feb 2008 2:18 p.m. |
 Alert | | I've read in at least one magazine various letters concerning people taking dogs with them into caravan parks. Personally, I don't have a problem with dogs in parks - they add great atmosphere and my experience with them is that owners go to great lengths to ensure their dogs are not a nuisance. What are others' views? | | | |
| Alison
Posts:3
| | 15 Feb 2008 6:45 p.m. |
Alert | Ah, dogs in parks, a never ending problem. As a park owner you either love them or hate them. What it comes down to is this, very rarely is it the dog itself that gives you grief, it is usually the owner. We take dogs on our park, in your own accommodation. Why that restriction, because it can take at least 1/2 an hour longer to remove all traces of dog from a cabin when it is being cleaned particularly if the pooch has been allowed to sleep in the bed - and they are - believe me. Imagine my annoyance when I saw a customer sneeking their dog out of a cabin one morning last week. Luckily the cabin was due to be closed down for spring cleaning because it needed it after just one night with a dog in it.
So, if you are a dog owner and you want to take a dog onto a park, please have a nice well behaved dog, obey the park rules and keep the dog with you at all times, do not take them into accommodation unless it is one of the very rare dog friendly cabins, and have pity on the people (like one of my kids) who are simply violently allergic to dog fur (hair is OK fur is a killer). | | | |
| MJS
Posts:23
| | 08 Mar 2008 5:58 p.m. |
Alert | Yeap, I agree. It's rarely the dogs who are the problem - it's the owners. A dog shouldn't bark if it is:
1) walked regularly (for exercise, as well as to relieve itself. Dogs like to look around too!)
2) not left tied up all day to amuse itself while the owners go off doing the touristy thing
3) given lots of attention, i.e. the basics - food, water, a comfortable and sheltered place to lie down/sleep (it's own DOGGIE bed for example), and love.
Really, just the same basic requirements that make us happy campers, although some owners need to be tied up all day to experience what that's like!
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| catman
Posts:8
| | 10 Mar 2008 5:19 p.m. |
Alert |
We vanned with our little dog a few years ago and will do again soon.
The only problems we found were limited vacancies and that the info in the doggie holiday magazines was not correct in a lot of cases.
We would like to see someones travelling with dog agenda that has been successful. | | | |
| Trojan
Posts:2
| | 21 Mar 2008 8:51 p.m. |
Alert | We have a small dog, an Australian Silky Terrier, and she travels with us most times.
We are due to retire in the next couple of years and she will be part of our plans. We keep her on a lead, always clean up after her and stop her from barking. She doesn't walk through other people's sites, ride bikes full bore around the park, or ride through sites. She also doesn't party until the wee small hours, yelling, shouting, drinking and being obnoxious. She does encourage us to take her for a walk around a new park - so she knows where she is.
We now look for parks that will take dogs and generally give the parks that don't a miss when we are travelling without her. Big 4 rarely gets a visit from us, but independent parks and Family Parks do. There are lots of people who want to travel with their dogs and are looking to be accommodated.
Responsibility is the value.
Di
PS She has hair,not fur. :) | | | |
| Razor
Posts:1
| | 10 Apr 2008 2:29 p.m. |
Alert | I am also on the verge of retiring and wish to include my dog in my travels around Oz. As my wife passed away four years ago, my dog is my only companion that I have and has been a part of the family for the past 11+ years.
I agree that responsibility by dog owners and respect for other park users is essential.
Ray | | | |
| Jeffrey D
Posts:3
| | 17 Apr 2008 11:51 p.m. |
Alert | Hi All,
It does not worry me if there are dogs in caravan park as long as they are under control & the owners clean up after them.The only time it annoyed was in Longreach at a show in the van park & two couples on different sides with small yappy dog barking at each other would not leave and spoilt the show for everyone.
Jeff | | | |
| cwands
Posts:7
| | 17 Apr 2008 11:53 p.m. |
Alert | We have been caravaning for 14 years with our dog, he always loves his holiday, except when other owners forget the rules, eg. always keep your dog on the lead.
If your dog isn't friendly forget taking it, we have had dogs chase our son while walking our dog on the lead, (3 dogs with one owner who thought he owned the caravan park and his dogs were above the rules and when I complained to the caravan park owner he stated he'd had a problem with them before). I have been bitten by another dog (with the owner sitting beside it) as I walked passed. And then there is the dog owner who doesn't clean up after their dog!
As a person who travels with a dog we appreciate the park that will accept us and never abuse this privilege.
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| cannylass
Posts:20
| | 25 Apr 2008 12:45 a.m. |
Alert | | There is always a few who spoil things for other dog owners, We travel with our Golden retriver he is well behaved dog loves people, we take him out of the park for his walks, pick up after him ,my husband carries a bag in his back pocket when ever we are out with him.He never barks never left alone always on a lead outside our van, he even sleeps in the van at night with us. So please dog owners do the right thing and pick up after your dog.I noticed when we were at Broken Hill folks were taken the dogs out but the pavement was full of dog pooh... | | | |
| hexrunt
Posts:18
| | 26 Apr 2008 2:07 p.m. |
Alert | We have been travelling with our two little dogs for approx 4 months (on and off) over the last 15 months. They always come with us - we wouldn't have it any other way.
For us, we find kids more of a nuisance than other dogs as per the previous comment. (Eg, Using your site as a run-up to bowling a cricket ball, etc).
We always do the right thing; dogs on lead, pick up poo, etc. Unfortunately, we have come across a large proportion of people who will not obey the rules. As soon as they turn up in a caravan park the dog gets let out to wander and crap.
Apart from Family Parks, other chains to consider are Oz Parks and Top Tourist. Although they don't all take dogs, a number do. But not BIG 4.
When we go on holiday, it's always a doggy holiday. All holidays are pre-planned as to where we can take the dogs. (General rule of thumb; National Parks (No), State Forests (Yes), everything else is a maybe so you'll need to checkj on the internet or some other source). You can do your research on the internet or (quicker and easier) go to the Tourist Information centres in most large towns and ask them for rail trails, dog-frienhdly beaches,walks or bike tracks in the area. We usually do both these days; some initial research on the internet then drop into the information centre for the details and maps.
So, our holidays are basically walking the dogs. We don't go to restaurants, wineries nor adventure parks or other venues. You'd be surprised that once you start looking there are always nice places that you can take your dog. We have had lots of fun with our little dogs and they just love it. They get so excited when we are about to take off on another trip. When they pass away then we'll do the whole lot again and this time visit the places that we couldn't go to when the dogs were around.
Cheers | | | |
| gunado
Posts:29
| | 28 Apr 2008 1:02 p.m. |
Alert | WE HAVE A CAVALIER / POODLE CROSS IF OUR DOG CAN'T GO WE DON'T GO, IT IS ALWAYS THE MINORITY THAT MAKE IT HARD FOR THE MAJORITY. SOME TIMES I OFFER THE PARK MANAGEMENT A DEPOSIT FOR OUR DOG .WE HAVE HAD NO PROBLEM.BIG 4 IS THE ONE THAT MISSES OUT
PETER & PAT | | | |
| bundymum-lh
Posts:8
| | 24 Jun 2008 9:36 p.m. |
Alert | | Thats all well and good but what about times when you come across people with dogs the size of horses and they have more than 2 dogs and they are sleeping in a tent and when they bark they bark, small dogs are fine cause you can put them in your vans and keep them under control but not large size dogs and 2or3 of them in a tent, there has got to be some bounderies set some where. leanne | | | |
| ozjohn0
Posts:154
| | 27 Jun 2008 2:05 p.m. |
Alert | Dog friendly parks (Conditions apply)
www.ozparks.com.au | | | |
| mduiker
Posts:3
| | 27 Jun 2008 5:29 p.m. |
Alert | I read some of these comments about pets and some how children are put in the same class as pets??? I have heard views from pet lovers and non-pet lovers. I have seen the enjoyment that people have with their pets and the sheer terror and allergies some people have with pets.
Let me tell you about myself.
I have both owned a park were pets are allowed and managed ones were pets are not allowed. I have camped at both national and caravan parks with a pet and without a pet.
I am a child (human kind) and pet (animal kind) lover and owner. I see the pros and cons for both owners of a park and campers.
I believe that holiday parks could allow pets If you have your own accommodation. (Site only)Fee applies.
The cleaning associated with parks accommodation is very costly. On the other hand if you have a pet in park accommodation maybe a fee can be charged for extra cleaning and possible a pet bed and enclosure to.
As for the parks that don’t allow pets, why don’t you ring them or write to them, band together to express why they should allow pets in there parks?
I know one of the (BIG4) chains did do a survey on if they should allow pets in there parks and majority of campers (that’s you people) ruled a no pets policy.
If you don’t like it its up all you pet lovers to band together and change it.
One last note: To compare pet with children to me is rather disturbing
We were all children once. If there sense of fun and inquisitive nature is not to your taste or bothers you then staying at a holiday park is the wrong choice for you. We have holiday parks so all can enjoy the space and facilities on offer.
Happy Camping to ALL.
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| IanL
Posts:3
| | 05 Sep 2008 1:16 p.m. |
Alert | | Hello all. Just adding my 2 bobs worth after returning from NT 2 weeks ago travelling with 2 small dogs. Both my wife and I believe that those dog owners who think that they are beyond the rules, and that their little darling is loved by all and should be free to roam or squat anywhere are a problem that will eventually kill off the dog friendly park for all of us. In fact, we spoke at length about this one day, and would not stay in dog friendly parks when we no longer have our dogs, because of these people. These people need to start following the few simple rules that will keep parks available to us all. On another matter of travelling with dogs, it would be great if a listing or booklet could be compiled that gave details of kennels available, in the parks local area, that provided day care or overnighting for dogs. We used Doggy Day care in Darwin, and this freed us up to see some great sights, without worrying if the dogs were bothering anyone at the park. To the park owners who read this site, if you could get this information locally, and keep it at your reception, it would be a wonderful service to us, and would help to make your park a favoured site amongst pet owners. | | | |
| Sandbar
Posts:1
| | 13 Oct 2008 4:51 a.m. |
Alert | Grey Nomads who travel with their beloved pets lets unite by contacting NRMA who have now purchased caravan parks formerly owned by Big 4:
‘Big 4’ as we pet caring nomads know exclude us entry because we travel with our beloved pets.
I have contacted NRMA only to be advised their newly acquired parks will remain pet free as ‘majority of guests voted to keep these
parks pet free’.
Also they have had suggestions for a subdivided area in these parks and are looking into whether it is feasible based on the layout of the parks.
Being members of NRMA and having supported this organization for the last 30 odd years, are denied entry to these new parks. Yes there are other parks that allow pets, but why should there be any member discrimination in this organization especially since it is our and your support over many years that has helped them to progress, and we also would like to receive the members discount .
Grey Nomads are responsible people who love their animals and have them on leads, they clean up after them, more than we can say for many parents. So please responsible pet caring grey nomads lets band together and ring, write, email NRMA Alan.Evans@mynrma.com.au
in the hope this animal free policy in newly acquired and future purchases will be amended in the way of subdividing or abandoned.
Sandbar
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| Muffin
Posts:4
| | 02 Nov 2008 4:11 p.m. |
Alert | I agree with you Sandbar, we have been with NRMA for the last 25 years and we are also members of BIG4 and we would love to travel more with our pets, but are limited to where we can stay.
Just recently at the Penrith Caravan & Camping expo, I spoke to a women in regards to BIG4 parks taking dogs and was told it would never happen because as far as they were concerned dogs and kids don't mix.
Lynda | | | |
| hexrunt
Posts:18
| | 22 Nov 2008 5:46 p.m. |
Alert | As I mentioned above, we have 2 little dogs and belong to Family Parks, OzParks and TT. Personally, I don't care if Big4 doesn't take dogs - it's their loss. And besides I think that people who don't like dogs should have a choice. We stayed at Queenscliff (Vic) recently where they are just trying out allowing dogs on a trial basis (but only between May 1st and Nov 1st). If they would not have permitted dogs they would have been empty at that time (mid Oct) as there were only 4 caravans there and they all had dogs. So, I imagine that due to financial incentives a number of parks may be relaxing their no dog policy in the future so as to attract more custom. The balance to this is that there are the selfish element that just don't want to obey the rules so some parks will be doing the opposite.
Cheers,
Hexrunt | | | |
| nasho
Posts:4
| | 30 Dec 2008 6:20 p.m. |
Alert | | We take the dog and had a bit of trouble finding a park at Tweed Heads the doggy park there was full the others were not doesn't that tell the caravan park owners something and who wants to stay at big 4 anyway they are usually more expensive than all the rest | | | |
| Nikki
Posts:5
| | 22 Jan 2009 3:52 p.m. |
Alert | Hey FOLKS . . . Given there is somewhat of a stance on the subject of pets (dogs) in holiday parks perhaps it's time to have a PET & OWNER register - this is just an idea but all feedback is welcome.
Online people could register themselves and their pet, put alittle bit of information about themselves and then highlight the Parks they have stayed at. Parks could respond - most likely only if they have had a bad experience and the pet and owner would recieve a rating.
This would allow well behaved animals and owners to have a great rating and perhaps have the opportunity for more parks (not normally Pet Friendly) to accept them and those that don't have a good rating, no access or even less access.
Your thoughts???
Nikki
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