Camping with canines can be fun!
If you have never taken your dog camping, there are some things to consider before heading out into the wilderness. While camping with canines can be fun, it can also turn into quite a challenge if you and your dog are not prepared beforehand.
Knowing your furry friend’s personality really helps when it comes time to select the type of camping experience. Is your dog an athlete who would enjoy a hiking or backpacking trip? Is he more laid back and likely to prefer to lounge around a family style campground with a doggie park?
How well does your proposed camping companion interact with other dogs and people they have never met? Do new surroundings or activities make him anxious? If you are not sure just how your dog will adjust to camping, a test run is advised. Take a few day trips and/or picnics before planning a camping trip.
Start with your camping preferences
How about you? Are you the type camper who enjoys “roughing it” or do you prefer the luxury of an elegant lodge? Will it be just you and your dog or will an entire family be making the trip?
If you have never been camping, it is best to determine what does and does not work for you before adding a canine companion to the mix.
If you are a veteran camper with loads of experience, camping with canines can be fun! Of course, there are a few things that you need to do to make sure that it turns out to be fun for everyone involved.
Research dog-friendly sites
“Is my dog welcome?” This is not a question you wait to ask when you arrive at your camping site. Walking into the campsite to register and finding a No Dogs Allowed sign at the desk is not the best way to start off the adventure.
When researching campsites online or calling ahead, be sure to address this topic first thing. Take the time to find dog-friendly campsites. Nothing else matters if a member of the family is not allowed.
If you can’t find a dog-friendly campsite that fits your needs, another option is to go backcountry camping. Many dog owners prefer to camp in undeveloped areas. They tend to be very dog friendly and the United States Forest Service (USFS) has plenty of camping opportunities.
Contact the USFS regional office in your area for information. Each state or national park has its own dog regulations. These can be found on the individual park’s website.
Private campgrounds have their own requirements so you need to call ahead to make sure your dog is welcome. Some may require a deposit fee. Be sure to ask about any veterinary certificate or vaccination requirements for all locations.
Some campgrounds have limits on the size of the dog allowed or on the number of dogs per campsite. It is always better to know the campground’s pet policy before you leave home.
Beyond the basics, what do you need to know?
Ask about the actual campsite as well as the amenities and other potential restrictions. A few to be considered are:
- Are dogs allowed on trails?
- If you go horseback riding are they allowed to tag along?
- Can they accompany you to the fishing dock?
- Is there an on-site kennel if you need to leave them for a few hours/days while engaging in activities where they are not allowed?
- What are the leash laws? Are there any areas where off-leash dogs are permitted?
- Are any of the regulations seasonal? Off and on Season rules do sometimes vary. You may find them to be more dog friendly in the offseason as compared with the peak summer camping time.
Before leaving home, be sure you do not forget to:
- Take your dog for a pre-camping trip vet visit to make sure that your dog is healthy enough for the trip. In addition to making sure that their flea and tick medication is up to date, obtain a copy of their medical documents. Up-to-date license and ID tags as well as any papers that verify their current vaccinations should be included.
- If your dog has a microchip, be sure it is up to date. Your contact info as well as the dog’s health history and a recent picture should be part of your documentation kit. Both animals and nature can be unpredictable so being prepared for emergencies is advisable.
- Make sure you refill any prescriptions or medications before you head out on your camping trip. Don’t forget vitamins, training treats, and heartworm meds if traveling to an area that puts your dog at risk. You may ask for a referral to the area where you will be camping. Emergency vet services are often hard to find when traveling so being prepared is a wise move.
- Ask your vet what to include in a travel first aid kit for your dog. At the very least, a basic pet first aid kit will include antiseptic, bandages, tweezers, and tools to help treat minor injuries.
What else should you pack to make camping with canines fun and safe?
Your dog is probably more like you than you may think in very many ways. One of these ways is the degree of comfort desired at a campsite. Our furry friends will appreciate having familiar things around them, especially when in unfamiliar surroundings.
A few items I highly suggest that you pack for the camping trip are:
- Crate or dog bed with favorite blanket. Either a traditional crate or a lightweight, portable, fabric-walled crate will provide a safe place for confinement when needed.
- Food and water to which his tummy is familiar as well as bowls for each
- His favorite toys for chasing or chewing on.
- Treats for rewarding good behavior.
- Any medications they may need along with a canine first aid kit.
- Night light for the dog’s collar.
- A flashlight.
- Runner or a stake with cables that allow for safe movement yet prevent them from wandering into the campsite next to you.
- Leash, tether, and stake. Keep a leash on you at all times as unexpected things can happen along the trail that may require you to have complete control of your dog.
- A doggie backpack if you will be hiking. Food, water, collapsible bowls, and a first aid kit can be carried in these.
- Poop bags and items needed to keep trail and campsite free of your dog’s waste products.
Is there anything else you must do before you go camping with canines?
Regardless of where you will be camping, your dog will need a reliable recall command. You not only want to keep her out of danger, you want to be a good camping neighbor as well. Remember, not all campers are comfortable around dogs that they do not know.
Another valuable command you should drill into your dog before camping is the “leave it” command. If you should run across a snake, bear, skunk or other wildlife on the trail, you will be glad you took the time to do so.
There are other outdoor training sessions that help make camping with canines fun as well as safe. You can find several of these in the ASPCA guide to training your dog for outdoor adventures.
Once you have arrived at the campsite, be sure to practice good campsite etiquette.
In a nutshell, just be considerate of your fellow campers.
- Use a leash when needed to keep your dog out of strangers’ campsites.
- For both safety and enjoyment, keep your dog near you at all times. They should never be left unsupervised in a vehicle, on the trail or at the campsite. Nature, whether in the form of weather or wildlife, can change in a heart-beat.
- Supervised confinement is occasionally required and a crate-trained dog is often both safer and happier when confined.
- Pick up and properly dispose of your dog’s waste. Not only is it more sanitary, if helps prevent unwanted wildlife from being attracted to your campsite.
- Remember that a well-exercised dog is less likely to keep you and your neighbors up with his barking all night.
If you will be crossing international borders with your canine camping companion, there are additional things you need to know.
In addition to the certificate of health issued from your veterinarian within ten days of travel, you will need to have proof of current rabies and distemper vaccinations. Be sure to contact the Center for Disease Control’s website for regulations on bringing your dog back into the United States.
If these regulations are not met, your dog will not be allowed directly back into the United States. It would be a shame to ruin the memories of a great camping trip. Can you imagine how your dog would feel if he had to be left for weeks with strangers in quarantine?
Can you imagine how guilty you would feel if it could have been avoided by your checking this out before making the trip?
Heeding the call of the wild can be a great way to bond with your dog.
Camping with canines can be fun when you are prepared and have chosen a dog-friendly location. Escaping the distractions of city living and every day responsibilities to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature is best when enjoyed with a friend.
Our furry friends especially enjoy the time spent outside with their best human friends. Looks like a great opportunity for lots of fun and for making memories of a lifetime. Be sure to take a camera to capture pictures of all those great moments spent camping with your canine.
Photos courtesy of Pixabay