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Post Info TOPIC: What would attract you to a caravan park if you were travelling with your fur friends?


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What would attract you to a caravan park if you were travelling with your fur friends?


Just testing the waters and thinking about buying a caravan park, I have travelled with my two dogs, one large one small and was considering what I like about a park, though most of the time I freedom camped.

What I was thinking to introduce if I bought a park:

A place to toilet and walk the dogs off leash, away from vans and campers.

A dogwash area if water availability permitted.

Day minding of well behaved dogs if owners wanted to go out for the day (at an added cost)

Wondering what others would have on their wish list for a pet friendly park? Will be interesting to read what other travellers would want.

 



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An information sheet showing activities/places to visit that can be done with and without dog's in the local area.  EG Dog friendly Cafe's, Off leash Parks & Beaches, Local Vet, Dog Grooming services.

Doggy Poo bag dispensers around the park.

Don't charge a dog bond.  There's a park in Albany WA that say's it's pet friendly but charges a $50 bond.

If you've got onsite vans or chalets make a couple of them Dog Friendly too, for the traveling public.

If I think of more I'll let you know....



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A couple of fenced off leash areas, one for big or high energy dogs and one for smaller or low energy dogs, pooh patrol equipment included
Info on local dog parks.
Info on where to buy good fresh and dry food locally
Hydro bath...do it yourself
A pet friendly happy hour area.
Doggy day care or day rent kennels
A dog blanket/bedding washing machine
Clear rules that if you are not in a dogs off leash area your dog must be on leash!

Annie


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Thanks for all the great ideas, keep them coming. A pet friendly happy hour area is a great idea, I missed out on a lot of socialising when I travelled with my dogs because of most places having a no pets rule.

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I disagree with having to supply doggy Doo bags, freezer bags are cheap and easily sourced. But a bin to put them in is often my biggest problem....

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Hello Hokianga,

Great to hear someone has a positive vision for people travelling with their pets. We have two dogs, one small and one that was meant to be small but he is now a small medium. Great watch dogs and because of their breed, Foxie, will bark at approaching strangers. They respond well to verbal commands and can be controlled. We travel with a portable fence which we erect around the piece of turf we are allocated in a caravan park, but only around the van and annexe area. Light weight and of medium strength plastic, we can secure it around the perimeter with plastic stakes and velcro ties and allocate a gate area. All can be purchased from Bunnings at a very reasonable price. Our dogs cannot escape, can have access to a cooler area underneath the van in the heat of the day, can move around unrestricted and are better behaved when not constantly on a lead. Minutes for two people to erect.

Our dogs associate their harnesses with going for a walk only, not used as a restraint in their own backyard. Although we have a fully off road van, we chose to carry the fence, as these days, finding an isolated campsite is not easy. If we visit children/grandchildren in towns or a city, we usually have to book into a caravan park. If I was in the market for buying a caravan park, I would encourage people to carry a fence suitable for their pet and instead of providing doggie poo bags (nappy bags from the supermarket are better, cheaper and are deodorised) maybe rent to caravaners with pets, portable plastic fences at a very reasonable price, even if it is only large enough to fit around the awning area and along the onside of the van. Good luck with your venture, creative thinking will reap rewards.

Cheers, Robyn



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Robyn and Phillip


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Thanks for more great ideas, yes I travel with a pen for my little one, the big boy just gets tied to the caravan and can go in and out of the van as he pleases.


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Poo bags, such as you can get in council areas, have the added advantage of being biodegradable which I believe makes them worthwhile.

The pet friendly happy hour is a great idea.

Somewhere to wash a dog is also an excellent idea. Currently we wash our dog in a mop bucket when we are away, but as she's a Silky she's small enough to fit in one. :)

Di



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Molly really needed a bath after being out bush.  We called her " Red Dog"   She is really as white as her nose.   But she really loved it.  

What I like, is a place where she is welcome.   Some places accept dogs, but you don't feel like they should be there and should keep them out of sight.   



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Thanks for all the positive ideas, I have a magnet on my fridge which reads "one paw away from crazy dog lady" I will be providing a place where dogs and their owners do truly feel like they belong. Of course, that doesn't mean letting dogs run everywhere and pee on other peoples things, which i have also observed in my travels.
On my definite list at this stage is

Leash free fenced area for socialised non agressive dogs.
Dog washing area, probably a hydrobath but not plumbed as that would be very expensive, at this stage we have to be careful with our budget.
Dogs welcome happy hour area.
Doggy day care for little dogs if visitors want to go out for the day. Either leave with us or we will check on your dog if you want to leave it with your van (small charge for this)
An pet friendly onsite caravan and basic cabin (but have to check with council about any rules not sure why more parks don't offer this?)
Doggy poo bags issued on check in.
Clear rules as to where you and your dog can go and where it can't.



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I would love to be able to leave her in the van for a short time just to go down the shops and have a coffee. I could leave all the vents and windows open and the fans going if it was warm and she would be quite safe. Less stressfull for her than being in a strange place with strangers which is why I am a bit worried about leaving her in kennels. I wonder if this would meet council approval as you can't leave animals (or kids) in cars.

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Hydrobath is not necessary. There was one in a van park in Alice. I was worried about the cleanliness and what issues the dog who had used it before may have had. Just somewhere out of the dirt with a tap would be good.

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Remember dogs need immunizations too, ours fully inoculated but is yours? Distemper germ can live in the ground for years.



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Cheers Peter and Sue

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Fortunately canine distemper germ only lives for a max of three hours, it is the parvo germ that lives a long time, up to a year.
Yes, you are right, to protect our pets we should have them vaccinated. I can't imagine having to cope with my furboys being ill whilst on holiday.


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Don't sweat the small stuff in life.

 



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Yep, sorry parvo ment. Neither are nice diseases.



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Cheers Peter and Sue

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No, I'm not busy, I did it right the first time.

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Hydrobaths do not have to be plumbed in, all you need is a power hook up and a hose and if the proposed van establishment is in a cold climate maybe some hot water, but then many hydrobaths have a heating element in water holding tank anyway. Hydrobath cleanliness is up to person using to spray and wipe- a bond system could be used with this too, the old hose on a hard stand may work with some dogs but not with the really small ones or with the really heavily coated ones who need the hydrobath jets to ensure the water gets 'in' to the coat.
Why dog pens for small dogs only? Larger dogs travel too and would also be in need....if they are large enough to accommodate 2 dogs it would be a good idea as many travel with 2 pets......make them available for a small fee and a larger bond and when owner comes to collect dog/s you can check that they do the clean up and only then return the bond!
Fenced dogs off leash area for social dogs and a fenced dogs off leash area for one at a time....for those that are scared of other dogs or are maybe not so social but still need an off leash run. No one should enter a fenced off leash area before asking anyone already using the area if their dog is ok with other dogs....
annie

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We stayed in a pet friendly park once that had each individual caravan site fenced. The cabins also had their own little yard. They had fenced off lead play areas and a doggy wash. If the dogs were anywhere else, they were to be on lead. It was a great set up, but a bit pricey

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Where are you looking at buying?



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G'day. If you wish to be known as a pet friendly park do just that. We have stayed in so called pet friendly parks where you are parked right down the back away from all facilities. Agree with most of the posts above. Doggy bags should be the pet owners responsibility. If they don't have them to use in your park what do the use else ware. Don't think hydro bath is necessary (most vets have this available for little cost) Dog wash area is good as well as a dedicated washing machine for their blankets and winter woollies . Good luck with your venture and be sure to let us know where you set up.
Cheers
.

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I would be attracted to a park that required a considerable bond for each dog. Responsible owners would not fear such an arrangement and the less responsible would stay away and not cause trouble.

Iza

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Thanks for all the positive comments, we are looking at all areas of country victoria,  high on the list is changing one of the cabins to being pet friendly with a small fence around it, it wouldn't keep a large very agile dog in but we are hoping most well behaved dogs wouldn't jump out.



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We went into a caravan Park once and they asked to see our dog's vac certificates.  I had no problem with that. Not a bad thing to ask for.  Also, I did not mind paying a bond - any responsible pet owner should be OK with that.



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Thanks for all the input, we are pleased that so many have replied. Our offer has been accepted now we are waiting on finance, fingers crossed.

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Good luck!



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Cheers Peter and Sue

"If I agree with you we'll both be wrong"

No, I'm not busy, I did it right the first time.

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Good on you.  All the best.

 

Di



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BruDi


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We are very excited that the sale is going through and from the 20 July we will be the new owners of Ibis Caravan park in Kerang. First priority is to fence the off leash area for dogs. Then, fencing a cabin for guests with pets, so you can drive your car in, shut the gate, and let your furfriend out, and of course, bring them inside the cabin as well. As money and time permits, we will also fence off a few sites so you can have your pets loose and not have to tie them to your van or put them in a pen.
We are going to offer a "park up" only rate, for those guests that just want as safe place to park but don't need to use any park facilities, you can still use the fire pit area, pool, recreation room or laundry.
The rates we have in mind are unpowered $22 Powered $26 Park up only per two visitors $15 Solo parkup $12
Doggy day care $15 which will be in our home and fenced off yard area. This will only be available for dogs that are social with other dogs. We may in future have fenced off individual kennels for dogs that don't mix well with other dogs. We have a large huntaway dog of our own plus a miniature yorkie. We also usually have a foster dog from an animal rescue group, rehabilitating them and getting them ready to be put up for adoption.
We are placing a minimum vaccination requirement of C3 which covers parvo.
If you do drop in and mention that you have seen this thread we will offer you a ten percent discount on your stay. We are really looking forward to offering a truly pet friendly destination and look forward to meeting other pet lovers.
Cheers and happy travels
Heather and Ross


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Sounds really great and fees, to me, are OK. Bout time we got a park run by true animal lovers, love the foster bit. Good on yah and I wish you all the luck in the world.



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Cheers Peter and Sue

"If I agree with you we'll both be wrong"

No, I'm not busy, I did it right the first time.

Self-powered wheelie walker, soon a power chair (ex. Nomad)



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Thanks ontos45, love the pug and sausages photo.

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I am made up of flaws stitched together with good intentions.

 

Don't sweat the small stuff in life.

 



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Wonderful news. Have told our travelling companions and we'll definitely stay when we travel that way. We need more CP like yours. Well done.

Di

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BruDi


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thanks BruDi, word of mouth is some of teh best advertising, I hope we can make travellers stays a great experience.

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Don't sweat the small stuff in life.

 

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