Today’s campers want to bring their pets along for adventures more than ever before. In fact, Go RVing found that over 64% of campers now travel with their dogs. As more customers browse your RV selection with their pets in mind, you’ll want to ensure you’re prepared to accommodate both them and their furry friends. In this article, we cover pet travel insights and ways to drive more pet-loving RVers to your door:
According to the 2025 APPA National Pet Owners Survey, a whopping 94 million households own pets across the United States. And when it comes to travel, 78% of American owners bring their animals along. Whether that’s for leisure or to avoid the cost of care while they’re away, the increasing popularity of pet travel is not something to ignore.
RVers are 20.8% more likely to bring their pets than other types of campers. With an RV, traveling with pets is easy and comfortable, especially for owners of spacious Class A vehicles. There’s plenty of room for pets and any other necessities such as food, crates, and toys for the trip. Another clear benefit is RV owners don’t have to pay an additional fee to bring their pets on the road. The same can’t be said for air travel, which requires pet owners to spend extra money and deal with crowded security checkpoints, busy airports, and cramped flights, all while managing their pets.
Positioning yourself as a pet-friendly dealership is essential to win over dedicated pet parents. Here are a few ways to attract more of these potential customers:
1. Welcome Pets on Your Property — What better way to appeal to pet owners than to allow them to bring their pets RV shopping? As they explore your lot and consider their options, having their pet by their side helps them envision life on the road with their furry companion in one of your RVs.
2. Have Pet Supplies on Hand — You can add to the customer experience by keeping a few pet supplies at your dealership. For example, if a customer brings their dog to your business, you can offer some treats and lay out a water bowl. Even if the owner doesn’t accept the treats or water, they’ll be grateful for you thinking of their pet.
3. Post Online — If a customer brings their pet during a dealership visit, consider posting about it on your social media platforms (with the owner’s permission). You can even post about events such as National Pet Parent Day to boost engagement from pet owners with your dealership. By sharing RV and pet content, you can show off your pet-friendly environment to other pet owners. Plus, a lot of your non-pet-owner customers would love to see adorable furry friend content too!
4. Provide Campground Recommendations — You can support your customers’ post-purchase experience by recommending campgrounds that allow pets. To go the extra mile, provide your customers with a list of the closest veterinary facilities. Should something happen to their animal during their RV adventure, they’ll be more prepared to address the problem. This effort will demonstrate how much you care for your customers’ experience and their pets’ well-being, building trust and respect for your business.
5. Sell RV Pet Accessories — Offering a variety of pet accessories for sale at your dealership allows you to meet more customer needs and include additional items in your deals.
With lots of pet owners searching for the right travel accommodations for themselves and their furry friends, take the opportunity to engage these customers and build brand loyalty for your dealership. Highlight how your RVs are the perfect option and support your pet-loving customers before, during, and after their purchase.