Introducing the Magellan® RoadMate® Pro 9165T…The Ideal RV Travel Companion.

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our E-mail Digest or RSS Feed. We will then send you the stories that are posted each day in an e-mail digest. We use a service called Feedburner for delivery of these emails. You will receive an e-mail from Feedburner after you subscribe and you must click on that email to activate your subscription. Thanks for visiting and enjoy all the information! RV.Net Blog AdminMagellan GPS,  the Good Sam Club and Trailer Life RV Parks & Campgrounds Directory have teamed up to offer the all-new and exciting RoadMate Pro 9165T, a robust GPS device that is specifically designed for those who love to RV. This new GPS device combines the core strengths of Magellan, Good Sam and Trailer Life Directory. Magellan Roadmate Pro 9165T GPS Receiver Powered by the Directory, this is a must-have tool for RVers, providing over 11,700 comprehensive listings for the U.S and Canada which include Wi-Fi and Internet access, pet-friendly campground locations, Good Sam Club discount locations, Trailer Life’s exclusive triple rating system and other points of interest specific to RVers. The extra-wide, high-definition 7-inch touchscreen offers large vehicle and RV settings to customize routes based on vehicle height, width, length and weight, allowing drivers to plan safe routes in advance. And, with an extremely versatile Heavy Duty Extension Mount designed for vehicles with deep dashboards, you can easily make adjustments to get the viewing position... Read more

Is Your Dog Insensitive When You Visit Different RV Parks?

Is Your Dog Insensitive When You Visit Different RV Parks? I wrote in my first book, “Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer!” (available exclusively at DogProblems.com) about the Three Keys to Successful Behavior Modification:  Timing, Consistency and Motivation. Last week I covered Consistency, the second key. The third key is: Motivation. Motivation as it relates to dog training means that: Whatever you do with your dog (either praising him for desired behavior or correcting him for unwanted behavior) it is done with meaning. Have you ever had somebody attempt to compliment you for a job well done… but their compliment was offered in a lethargic tone, with no enthusiasm and no expression? Did their compliment make you feel good? Of course not. With my approach to dog training, a compliment (praise) that lacks any real meaning is what we refer to as: not motivational. It’s the same with a correction: The example I used in my book is the story of the police officer who gives you a ticket for speeding in the fast lane… but the ticket is only for $1. For most people, this isn’t motivational enough to get them to stop speeding. For the police officer’s ticket to be motivational for you– he needs to write you a ticket that is going to be just motivational enough to get you to adjust your behavior. Does Your Dog Drive An RV? If your dog could drive an RV, would he drive a 2.5 million dollar Prevost? Or would... Read more

Why Consistency Matters, Especially When RVing With Your Dog

Pretty much everybody is familiar with the concept of consistency as it relates to dog training. But frequently, dog owners don’t keep it clear in their own head. Consistency means that your dog perceives the same outcome to a behavior– every time he does that behavior– until you’ve burned it into his brain as a conditioned response.  And this is especially important to the RVer who travels with their dog as the very nature of RVing means we’re constantly exposing our dog to new and exciting environments. And that’s why consistency matters. Example: While you’re getting ready to leave the RV with your dog , your dog gets excited and jumps up on you. And so you use one of my techniques to correct this behavior. Later in the day, you’re talking with another RVer about the benefits of a Class C vs. a Travel Trailer, while your dog is running around your picnic table. But you’re so engrossed in your conversation that you don’t realize your dog has now come over to you, jumped up with his front paws on your pants… and now you’re scratching behind his ears.  (All the while still engrossed in your conversation). Unfortunately, your dog will never extinguish this unwanted behavior, because he’s not receiving clear communication from you. One time, he’s getting corrected for jumping up. Another time, he’s getting his ears scratched for jumping up. Your dog can’t tell the difference!... Read more

RVing and Training Your Dog? Here’s Why Timing Is Important

I wrote in my first book, “Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer!” (available exclusively at DogProblems.com) about the Three Keys to Successful Behavior Modification: Timing, Consistency and Motivation.  These are three concepts that are especially important to the RVer who travels with their dog, because we’re consistently putting our dogs in new and tempting situations where it’s important to be a good ambassador to the general public, as both an RVer and a dog  owner. Understanding how these Three Keys work together is probably the single most important concept you must learn, if you wish to get inside your dog’s head and understand how the dog’s mind works. Even if your technique is not perfect, you can use the Three Keys to analyze and figure out how to fix pretty much any dog behavior problem… especially important if you travel with your dog. Timing The first key is Timing: Timing is your dog’s ability to associate either a positive or a negative outcome with any behavior. (Or, as the result of any behavior).  Since dogs have a very limited use of logic and reason, they are unable to associate cause and effect beyond what happens in the immediate present. That is, whatever happens as a result of their behavior (good or bad) must happen pretty much instantly. For example: If your dog smells the pan fried steak you’re cooking and jumps up and puts his front paws on the hot stove: your dog’s association... Read more

Mark’s RV Garage Episode #4 Released

RV Education 101 releases Episode #4 of the brand new Internet based RV How-To series titled “Mark’s RV Garage.” The new episode is available for viewing at www.rvconsumer.com and on You Tube On this episode of Mark’s RV Garage: * The vintage trailer project is taken apart down to the bare studs.  * Rescuing Roxie, watch the story of a dog Mark & his family rescued last year. * Discover an easy installation for your RV that keeps the dirt at the door.   * Find out what you can do to win a free copy of Microsoft Streets and Trips. * Discover what www.rv4thecause.org is all about and how you can register for some free information packed webinars.     If you missed previous episodes of Mark’s RV Garage they are archived at www.rvconsumer.com for easy retreival and viewing Episode # 5 will be available for viewing on 4 April 2011. Happy RV Learning, Mark Polk www.rvconsumer.com  Read More →

AROUND THE GROUNDS IN QUARTZSITE

 By Barry & Monique Zander, the Never-Bored RVers  We returned to the Quartzsite show area Friday, where we took in dozens of booths that we hadn’t seen in our first three days.  Hard to imagine, but that’s how big it is.    There's Somthing for Everybody at the Flea Market © All photos by Barry Zander. All rights reserved In case the thought of all that humanity and products to look at overwhelms you, don’t be put off by it.  You really don’t need to see it all, but we’ve got the time, so we’re doing lots of hiking right here. First, responding to a question from yesterday. The RV portion of the show ends its 9-day run this Sunday.  There are several other shows that run either concurrently or before or after the RV show, which is one of the reasons to check out the website, http://www.quartzsitervshow.com/.  It’ll tell you lots more and probably give you next year’s dates. – I’ll respond to the other question at the end of today’s blog.   Is It Dog-Friendly? Lots of Folks Would Say 'Yes' We started the day Friday by revisiting inside and outside exhibitors at the big tent, mainly to chat with vendors who had become friends or for more information about what we looked at or had already bought.  Need a Bead -- They Have 'em Here Then we headed back to the flea market, since we had only looked at booths on six or seven aisles, roughly half.  The vendors were there to interest us in RV-related items, jewelry, Native American... Read more

Here’s What Every RV Owner With A Dog Should Know: How To Teach Your Dog To “Potty” On Command

When you’re setting up your RV, does your dog embarrass you by “pottying” in places he shouldn’t? It’s funny, but it’s also embarrassing. Without an “Elimination Command” your dog is left to guess where and when you want him to “potty”. Here’s how to teach your dog to eliminate on command: The trick is to start associating your command word (we use: “Get Busy”) with the behavior your dog is already doing. What you’re going to need to do is: Set up a strict feeding and watering schedule. If you’re not currently traveling, then take your dog out to your backyard on leash, to the same spot and – right after a meal, walk him back and forth and keep repeating the command, “Get buys, Get busy, Get busy” until he eliminates. Praise him lavishly, as soon as he finishes his potty break. Your goal is to start building an association to the command. To start linking the command phrase, “Get busy” with the act of eliminating. After a couple dozen times, your dog will begin to develop a conditioned response when he hears you begin to repeat the “Get busy” command. We’re able to take our dogs pretty much anywhere, and within a couple of minutes of giving the command, our dogs will potty– knowing exactly where WE want them to do it. This command is simple to teach and from the dog’s perspective, it’s just an extension of housebreaking. Here’s a short video I made that demonstrates how it’s... Read more

Gr8LakesCamper: Holiday Roads and Traveling with Fido

Tiny, a 7-pound poodle, peers out the RV door between the legs of one of six Great Danes she lives with in the RV with their owners, John and Sharon Butts of Burlington, Pa. (Associated Press) Over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house we go. No doubt, millions will trek to the abodes of family and friends as the holiday season approaches. Just how many are traveling with Fido this holiday season? In a recent survey of more than 7,000 pet owners worldwide, www.PetRelocation.com discovered that 63 percent of pet owners say they travel at least 50 miles with their pets during the holidays. From a safety perspective, unrestrained pets in autos are responsible for more than 30,000 accidents every year according to the ASPCA. FIDO Friendly magazine shares a ‘Holiday Road Warrior Survival Guide’ as we take to the highways and byways for holiday gatherings with family and “fur-ends.” This Thanksgiving were visiting my brother and his family in New Jersey, but we’re leaving our dog, Chewie, behind. That said, we nearly always bring Chewie with us on our camping trips. And, as more and more of us RVers also travel with our pets, some of the following advice is of good use for us as well. Many of these are simple common sense, but as we all know — and one of my earlier posts about world’s worst campers Elvis and Ozzie illustrated all too well — we have all camped next to people who either lack common sense or the initiative to use it. Vaccination... Read more

Every RV Owner With A Dog Should Know These Two Commands

If you travel with your dog, knowing how to teach these two commands will make your life 1,000 times easier.   Here’s how to give your dog the “bread and butter” education that every dog owner with an RV needs to know: The Come Command: Imagine being able to take your dog off leash, anywhere you go… and know that your dog will come back to you– every time you call! How can you achieve such reliablity?  Well, aside from the fact that I spent almost an hour explaining the details of this technique in my dvd (available at Amazon.com) called, “How You Can Get Your Dog To Come, Every Time You Call!” – the real secret is this: Keep a training collar and a long line on your dog, everywhere you go.  As in: Every type of place you might want to eventually take your dog “off leash” – instead, let him drag a long line behind him.  It’s a mind-trick for the dog.  See, your dog has limited logic and reason.  So, if you do it right your dog won’t know the difference between a 30 foot line he’s dragging and a one foot line.  If you’re consistent about making him come, every time you call him … he’ll get conditioned to come immediately.  Now that you have a way to make your dog come, he’ll eventually realize it’s easier to come the first time you call, then to get a correction for not coming… and then get made to come, anyway. The Down Command: Being able to put your dog into a down-stay... Read more

Here’s What To Do If Your Dog Is Too Territorial Of Your RV

Alice wrote to me about her 2 year-old mixed-breed dog named, “Bruno” and wanted to know how to fix incessant barking problems, while still letting her be territorial if unknown people approach her RV. “We have a 2 year-old mutt, rescued from the animal shelter when he was 4 months-old. He now weighs 48 lbs., he’s strong as an ox and he runs fast as greased lightning. The shelter told us he is part Collie, but that is about all I know,” wrote Alice. Read more  Read More →

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