Camping With Dogs

Where To Camp With Your Dog

The first thing that you need to realize when tent camping with dogs is that not all campsites are going to be dog friendly. In fact, dogs are actually banned from many campsites. This might sound shocking, but there actually is a valid reason for this. If a campsite is located on a preserve, dogs may be banned in order to protect the natural wildlife. If the environment is already sensitive, allowing dogs in to scare off game and romp with careless abandon is not a good idea.

So, the first thing that you need to check is whether dogs are allowed. The second thing you need to check is where they are allowed. Once again, you might be surprised to learn that some campgrounds will allow you to have a dog at your campsite but not on trails. Since you are usually not allowed to leave your dog unattended at camp, you can imagine that this could put a serious damper on your fun and make your trip rather boring.

Lastly, you should check on the rules for animals at your campsite. Most rules are going to be pretty universal, but some parks are different. In general, if you keep your dog on a leash (6 foot) and pick up after them you will be following the most important rules.

More Common Sense Rules

A good dog owner is one that will care about the other campers around them. Keep in mind that not everyone is a dog lover and there will be other campers around you. Camping is a hobby that has become increasingly popular since the pandemic, so the days of empty campgrounds are long gone. You should still feel at ease bringing your canine friend, but there are some common sense rules that you should follow to be courteous.

Keep Your Dog On A Leash

Your dog should be on the leash the entire time that you are camping. This might seem restrictive, but your dog is camping and happy, they will get over it. Being on a leash makes sure that your dog does not bother a non dog lover. It also serves to protect them from getting over stimulated and running off.

Even if your dog is the type to never leave your side, keep them on the leash. It will make others camping near you more comfortable and you will have the ability to quickly pull your dog away from danger, if needed.

The type of leash is very important as well. Most parks require a standard 6 foot lead, no retractable leashes.

Clean Up After Your Dog

There is nothing worse than stepping in a pile of dog poo, especially when trying to navigate a campsite at dark. Don’t be one of those pet owners. Make sure that you clean up after your pet and this does not mean burying the waste. Bag it and take it out of the park or dispose of it in an approved location.

Keep Your Dog With You

Never leave your dog alone at camp, even if you feel that they are securely tied up. There are just too many variables in place and your dog is not in a location that they feel comfortable. If your dog has never been an escape artist, just wait until you leave them tied up at camp by themselves. They might just great you on the trail or worse yet, run off.

Keeping your dog with you at all times is your best option when camping with a dog and is probably a rule of the campsite.

Choose Appropriate Excursions

You do not want to spend all of your time at camp. Camping is about exploring the nature around you and that often means hiking. Before you set off on a trail though, make sure it is appropriate for your dog and know what to expect. For example, horse trails and mountain biking trails might not be the best place to take your dog. Too many potential surprises around every corner.

Contain Your Dog

If your dog is on a leash at all times, this should not be a problem, but it is worth mentioning. There are a lot of scents and sights at a campground and your dog will want to explore. Keep them in your area to keep them safe and to avoid bothering other campers. Also, try to keep the barking down after dark because you are not the only one vacationing.

Bring The Right Gear For Your Dog

Now that you have the basic rules down, let’s not forget about the gear.

Food & Water

You already know that your dog will need to eat and drink at camp but this can go one of two ways.

One, they will be super excited and not want to eat much. Don’t worry, this is perfectly natural and your dog will likely resume normal eating habits at home. If you are concerned, give them a special treat or even some human food to wake their appetite up.

Another possibility is that your dog will be so active that they eat and drink much more than normal. This is also very common, so don’t hold off on giving your dog some extra rations. Of course this means that you should bring extra food and water, more than they would normally eat.

Treats & Toys

This camping trip is supposed to be a good time, so why not bring some treats. YOu are surely bringing some nice snacks for yourself, so why not take care of your dog as well. That favorite chew toy or a ball to play fetch are nice to bring as well.

A Blanket

If your dog has a blanket that they sleep on at home, bring it. The smell of home and comfort a blanket provides will give them some comfort at night. This will benefit you as well since it will allow the both of you to get some sleep at night.

Medications

If your dog is on any medications, don’t forget to bring them. Also, before your trip make sure that they are up to date on flea and tick meds. Just about every place you can camp will expose your dog to fleas and ticks. While you are at it thinking about your dogs health, grab a copy of your dogs vaccination records, just in case.