Vanlife - A Man And His 2 Dogs

I have two Galgos Español (Spanish greyhounds) both were abandoned - which is one downside to living in rural Spain, because once they are of no use to the hunters they're turfed out or even worse. Anyway, it's coming up to five and four years respectively that Issy and Poppy have been with me so I suppose you could say they are part of the family. A man and his two dogs.

There have been other rescues... Toffee, a male short-legged cross, who now lives happily in the West Midlands of England with friends of mine. Maisey, a gorgeous young pup who we found in a tree hollow. She is now enjoying her new life in Córdoba, and, then Rocky, who was dumped on my doorstep but now lives with friends of mine and their animal family in a nearby village.

Getting back to my camper van. With two long-legged hounds, it's important to consider floor space. Issy and Poppy each have a two seater sofa at Casa Adora where they spend most of their time out stretched and dreaming about chasing rabbits. My van is 6 metres (20ft) in length, which may sound like a lot of space but once you have deducted cab space, bathroom, kitchen housing, and bed space then there's little floor area.

To counter this we changed the full bathroom to a WC only (there is an outside shower*). The double bed to two single bunk beds and we decided against rear passenger seats. The driver's and co-pilot seats swivel into the living area.

*In Spain quite a few petrol stations offer hot showers for around 3€ if you don't want/need to check-in to a campsite.

Of course, living in southern Spain I hope most of our 'living' will be outside. The van has an awning, and the outside table and chairs are stored under the bed. I have a portable gas hob and a twig burning stove, should camping and fires be allowed. Hopefully, I don't have to cook inside during a heat wave!

When the weather is inclement (it does rain in Spain occasionally) the floor space will be much appreciated as well as when we are travelling or sleeping.

Meanwhile, I have been researching 'vanlife with dogs' and there is lots of good advice and information online but as we have been 'travelling' in my estate car for the past several years I think my dogs will be quite happy in the van.