Best Dog-friendly Tents – So you’ve decided to take your dog camping on vacation I’ve heard that yes, camping with your dog seems more viable than trying to stay in a hotel with your dog, and it’s generally cheaper to take your dog camping than staying in a hotel. Welcome to the club!
The first time we took Kirby on vacation, we decided to go camping First time camping with dog and boy, learned a few things from the trip
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So in this post I’m going to show you how to survive dog camping for the first time and avoid some of the pitfalls that I went through the first time!
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I would highly recommend doing a trial run in your own backyard If you’re not sure how your dog will react to camping, don’t just worry about the unknown This will expose the dog to tentacles, tied up for long periods of time, etc
We did an experiment in my backyard and set fire to the whole nine yards in food to see how Kirby would do.
Camping in the rain or heat without a dog is no fun, so it will be much worse with a dog Obviously, you can’t guarantee what the weather will be like when you book a camping date, but it’s a good idea to make sure it’s not too hot when you plan to camp because you’ll be outside all the time.
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At the very least, your dog needs shade, cooling mats, or shade equipment If you know it’s going to be hot, it’s a good idea to fill up a kiddie pool so your dog can splash around and cool off.
So it’s big for us Our first camping trip with Kirby, I booked a spot near the water fountain and immediately took him to the bathroom. At night, people would come to our site to use the restroom, and Kirby would roar in noise and flashlights. I won’t go…
I recommend getting a site that backs into the woods or a corner site where you won’t have a lot of people walking past your site to get something. Yes, it can be a little inconvenient if you have to walk further to the bathroom, but it will make it easier to keep the dog quiet at night.
I posted an example of camping and which sites would be good (site 321) and bad (site 392).
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Camping gear is a lot of fun to collect and buy Shopping for dog camping gear is even more fun I have a separate post for dog camping gear for more in-depth product recommendations, but here’s what you should do:
The first time we camped with Kirby, we forgot to cut our nails before the trip, so we were constantly worried about people poking holes in our tents and air mattresses. Save yourself the stress and trim your dog’s nails before the trip
We also put a folded blanket behind the air mattress to protect where Kirby sleeps on the bed You can get him his own bed, but if the dog sleeps in your house, good luck trying to get him out of bed in a tent.
If you are worried about your tent getting scratched you can place a towel or outer layer on the tent floor.
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Make sure your dog’s travel “seat” is at the picnic table, fire pit, and your dog can see you. You have to make sure they can’t run into the tent or step on it or get tangled in other things within a six-foot radius. The reason I say a six foot diameter is because most campgrounds have a policy that your dog must be on a 6′ leash at all times.
I recommend that you prepare the area for the dog before you start pitching the tent That way you don’t have to worry about where they focus when setting everything up Provide access to water as much as possible
It is mandatory The first time we camped with Kirby, we arrived in the dark, pitched our tents in the dark, and tried to get people to do business in the dark. He doesn’t like it He wouldn’t go away and woke me up every 2 hours throughout the night telling me to come out, he just wouldn’t hang around. It was a nightmare.
Now I make sure to take her to the potty area during our stay Once he finds an area he likes, I always take him to the same familiar spot Because they can see and understand their surroundings during the day, they won’t be scared or unsure later
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You will find many children at camp, or at least not Children are less polite when they come to your dog, so make sure you pay attention to your dog, so if children come to your site to meet your dog they don’t get lost. If your dog is not very friendly or starts to get anxious, I would put a sign on the tree that says “Do Not Disturb Dog”.
After a day or two, your dog will acquire the camping area and may become more vocal in defending the area
Since your home away from home is now outside, it’s important to make sure your dog stays hydrated and cool. Check the weather forecast before your trip and pack accordingly
We make sure we have access to coolers, shade, and cool water at all times If it’s a really hot weekend, you can even find a kiddie pool to fill up and let your dog cool off.
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Kirby has some outdoor toys that keep us entertained while cooking or washing the hammock
In addition to getting your dog used to the tent before the trip, it’s also important to take a few extra steps to ensure your dog is comfortable in the tent and doesn’t disturb you at night.
We have air mattresses in the tent Since Kirby sleeps in our bed at home, there is no way to prevent him from sleeping on the air mattress. To protect the air mattress, we brought a large blanket that was folded and placed behind the bed
We have a dog sleeping bag pillow that we put on the tent floor in case Kirby decides to jump up and sleep on the floor.
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As long as your dog isn’t paying attention to the world around him, he’s growing up listening to noises outside the tent at night. Therefore, it is very important to choose a place that does not interfere with the bathroom or the water feature, so that no one cuts into your space.
As mentioned above, we have a sleeping pillow for Kirby so he knows this is a place or “place”. When your dog is in an unfamiliar place, having an area or something he understands on his own can help him feel happy and relaxed.
We really like that they are durable and machine washable for easy cleaning after your trip
This should be done without warning, but never keep your dog in the tent The tent is not the most stable structure and if your dog is scared, he may try to pull the tent and get out You don’t want this and you don’t want your dog to get hurt
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This is also common for other people camping nearby If your dog is lonely and scared, he will probably smile Take turns with your partner or friend when going to the toilet, shower, etc
Camping with your dog is cheap traveling with your dog Once you get the hang of it the first time, it will get easier and easier We hope this survival guide helps you enjoy your first camping trip with your dog! Let me know in the comments how it goes Pin this post for later!
Architect by day, writer by night and when I travel By the grace of God, coffee makes all this happen, let’s do it
