Camping with dogs can be great, but if you’ve never done it before it can also take a bit of getting used to! It’s a fab holiday option for those of us who want to include our dogs in everything we do, it’s outside and there’s plenty of space to keep us all happy. Here’s my dog camping tips for newbies and seasoned campers alike.
8 tips for camping with dogs
Here’s my tips for a camping holiday with dogs – many of them are fairly common sense tips, but worth repeating!
- Look for dog friendly campsites and go with your own instincts about what kind of place is going to be good for you as a group. Do you like more quiet sites, adult only sites? Perhaps you want to be close to a walking area? Check out these campsites at Cool Camping and be sure to check the reviews.
- Always make sure that your dog has a dog tag with your mobile phone number attached. You’ll be around unfamiliar territory and if they wander off you’ll want to make sure that you’re reachable. There’s no point if his tag has a home phone number when you’re not there!
- Have a steady supply of dog poop bags and be sure to be extra careful and vigilant. Again, this is so common sense and something that people should be doing anyway, but if you’re on a campsite you need to be extra respectful of the others around and make sure it’s all cleaned up.
- Speaking of being respectful, make sure your dog is well behaved and able to handle other people being around. If you have an aggressive dog or one that barks constantly it will not only be worrying for the other people on the campsite, but you’ll be spending all your time fretting as well. If you’re not sure how it will go, take them camping somewhere quiet and close by for the first time and see how you all do for a night or two.
- Try and have your own territory around your caravan or tent. If you can also fence it off with some windbreaks then you’ll not be worried about people accidentally getting in your space and freaking your dogs out.
- Always be aware of your surroundings and keep your dog on a leash around livestock. In new areas it’s especially important to be in control of your dog, you don’t want to be the person who causes havoc and turns a dog friendly campsite in to a no dog campsite!
- Make sure that your dog’s vaccinations and flea and tick treatments are up to date. It’s a good idea to pack a first aid kit too and have the number of the local vet to hand in case you need it.
- Always make sure that your dog isn’t too hot. Tents can get sweltering inside so if you can, create some shade with a tarpaulin or a beach shelter and always have plenty of water on hand.
If you’ve any tips to share I’d love to hear them, have I missed anything? And if you need some advice on the best dog camping gear then check out my post here.
