Building a Dog Run in Your RV Park: A Step-by-Step Guide

For those RVers that enjoy the company of their canine friends, a dog run is usually one of the top desired amenities. With their furry fellows spending long hours on the road, what better than a fenced playground where they can safely stretch their legs, play around, meet new buddies, and test their skills? 

With a relatively modest investment, you can build a highly appreciated amenity that will make your campground much more appealing to all pet-loving RVers out there. Here, we will walk together step by step through the process of building a dog run in your RV park.

But before that, let’s take a closer look at why building a dog run in your RV park can help you increase the number of bookings and improve your guests’ overall satisfaction. 

Why a Dog Run Will Attract More Guests

In a growingly competitive market, campgrounds need to go the extra mile to stand out against the competition. Building new amenities is one of the most important factors driving the attraction and retention of RVers. So it is important for campground owners to carefully plan for amenities taking their target market into consideration. 

A survey published by the RV Industry Association a few years ago found that 68% of RVers bring their pets along when they venture out. Among them, 92% percent are dog people. As the RV market expands and the public becomes more diverse, the number of guests looking for pet-friendly campgrounds is likely to increase too.  

We know how much pet lovers value their furry friends. Many consider them to be members of their families, as well as a vital part of their lives. So it is no wonder that, when choosing a place to spend an RV vacation, they take into account the comfort and pleasure of their pets.  

In the past, Roverpass users have shared with us how important it is for them that their four-legged pals have a place to run around and get some exercise. By building a dog run, you will be able to make the experience of staying at your campground much more pleasant for all of your guests… no matter their species. 

A Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Dog Run in your RV Park

1. Choose the right spot

The first step in building a dog run is choosing the right location for it within your RV park. 

As a general rule, you should use a minimum of one acre of land to build your dog run. If you have more land available, better still. You will be able to display more features and make both pets and their owners more comfortable. Guests will notice if your dog run was just squeezed into a spare piece of land. 

Keep in mind that dogs playing around can be quite noisy. You don’t want the barking to disrupt your other guests. Ideally, the dog run should not be too close to where your guests do most of their activities and rest. At the same time, it should be located within walking range of the RV sites. 

2. Choose the ground cover 

Though natural grass seems to be the most obvious option, it may not be the most advisable. Playing dogs tend to dig, roll, and tear up the grass. All this can easily turn your dog run into a mess, especially on rainy days.

Synthetic turf, fake grass, or decomposed granite are all pet-friendly options that both look good and require little maintenance. These alternatives may be initially more costly but prove more effective in the long term. 

Also, a dog run should have a few shaded areas so that dogs can get out of the sun whenever they need to. If shade is not naturally provided by trees, consider adding a cover or patio umbrella. 

3. Install the fence and the gate

There are many types of different materials you can use for fencing. Chain-link fencing is usually recommended since it is both affordable and sturdy enough to resist the strength of bigger dogs. To keep dogs from jumping over the fence, aim at a height of 5-6 feet. 

Double-gated entrances are the most effective to prevent dogs from escaping. Human guests will be able to secure the leash before they exit the park. Make sure the gate can always be locked for safety. 

Finally, don’t forget to keep up to date with the maintenance tasks. Your number one priority is to keep the dogs safe so you want to check for imperfections regularly to prevent unwanted issues in advance. 

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4. Include amenities

The whole idea of building a dog run is to provide a special touch to your park to differentiate from the competition. So within your budget possibilities, you shouldn’t hesitate to add amenities to amaze your human guests and make your furry guests happier.  

When adding amenities, consider them both. Install water fountains inside and outside the fenced area. It will allow your human guests to stay hydrated while they look out for their dogs. They are also more clean and safe than placing a few water bowls around the playground. 

Guests will want to hang around while their dogs are playing, so you should also install benches and picnic tables. Many campgrounds display a dispenser of waste bags and a garbage can as a reminder for guests to pick up after their dogs. 

Ponds where dogs can swim and splash are a fun addition to some campground dog runs. Many dogs also enjoy performing agility training. Equipment for these activities may include tunnels, bar jumps, see-saws, dog walks, weave poles, and more.

Don’t forget your pet policy

When you agree to accommodate guests with pets, you also need to establish a few rules to make sure everyone feels comfortable. Of course, you will apply the rules that better suit the needs of your park. 

The following list includes some of the most common rules used by pet-friendly campgrounds.

• Current vaccination certificates required at check-in
• Pets must be kept on a leash (while they are not inside the dog run)
• Owners are responsible for cleaning after their pets
• A maximum of pets per RV (usually one or two)
• Aggressive pets are not allowed
• Dogs cannot be left unattended
• Designated dog run hours must be respected

Make sure all campers are aware of these rules. You can display them on visible signs in your park and also upload them to your website.

Additional benefits

There are a few extra perks of having a dog run in your RV park.  

First of all, if you already run a pet-friendly campground, you are aware of one of the greatest challenges to be faced: barking. When dogs spend so much time enclosed in an RV it’s important that they get their energy out somehow. Wearied, well-exercised pooches are more likely to have a good night’s sleep. Rest assured your human guests will be thankful for that.  

For human beings, the relaxed state of mind provided by vacations contributes to making new friends. Pets are usually a topic that allows people to connect and make new friendships. So having a dog run will likely contribute to your guests socializing more with each other. 

Who knows? They may even make plans to meet up in the future (ideally, at your campground).

List your dog run and attract dog-loving RVers 

Dog love is a mighty force across all of North America. The RV market is, of course, no stranger to that force. This is the reason why, more and more, we are seeing RVs especially designed with canines in mind and dog playgrounds at RV parks.

As a campground owner, you will find that providing a special place where dogs can be dogs will bring joy both to the pets and their human friends. But you should make sure the effort you have put into building your dog run does not go unnoticed. 

If you have already created your campground’s listing in Roverpass Marketplace, make sure to add a pet-friendly tag. You can also describe the pet amenities your campground offers and detail your pet policy. 

Our mission at Roverpass is to provide RV park entrepreneurs with the most effective tips, tools, and solutions to grow their businesses. If you are interested in learning more about campground-related topics, keep reading our blog.