Whether you’re into car camping, back packing or RV-ing, sharing time with your pooch in the great outdoors can be a lot of fun. The key to maximizing your fun while minimizing troubles is to be prepared, so before you grab your tent and jump into the car with your dog, there’s some planning that needs to be done.
BE PREPARED
Call ahead to make sure your chosen campground allows dogs. Not all sites allow dogs and some sites have size restrictions on dogs.
Make sure your dog has the proper ID tags on his collar. Should he get away from you, having a collar with your contact info on him makes it a lot easier for him to be found. Bonus points if you also get your dog micro-chipped. It’s also a good idea to carry a spare collar and leash with you, just incase something happens.
If you are going to a place where you will need to provide your own drinking water make sure to bring plenty for your pooch. Drinking unpurified water from natural sources can be as bad for dogs as it is for people. So plan ahead and know how much water you’ll need to have with you.
Fleas, ticks and mosquitoes are not only nasty and obnoxious, but they can carry diseases, making them potentially dangerous to your dog. Heartworms and Lyme disease are transmitted by ticks and mosquitoes, so giving your dog some bug protection is a must.
CAMPING ETIQUETTE FOR DOGS
Keep your dog on a leash. While your dog might be friendly and easy going, other dogs and people might not be. Keeping your dog on a leash is the best way to make sure he stays safe and out of trouble.
Always clean up after your dog. Not cleaning up after your dog is not only bad for the environment, it is incredibly aggravating to other campers and is just downright inconsiderate. You don’t like stepping in dog poop and neither does any body else. So please clean up after your dog.
Don’t leave your dog unattended. Tethering him up at your campsite and then leaving is asking for trouble. You need to keep your dog under your supervision at all times.
Keep your dog’s barking to a minimum. Nobody likes a dog that is constantly barking. If your dog cannot be quieted down you run the risk of having campground management asking you to leave.
GEAR REVIEW
When it comes to camping, having the right gear for you and your dog can make a trip of “roughing it” a lot easier. Here are some great items to make sure you have on your next camping trip.
Rather than hauling around his heavy or breakable food and water dishes from home, pick up some dog bowls by OllyDog. They’re collapsible, lightweight, water proof and darn cute. www.ollydog.com SRP $16.00
Waste Management: plastic grocery bags will make do, but the baggies made by Oops I Pooped are awesome. Not only do they have a funny name, but the bags are black (to conceal the contents) and they’re biodegradable. www.oopsipooped.net SRP $8.00
Whether he sleeps with you in the tent or in the car he’ll need a place to curl up come bedtime. The Ruff Wear Mt. Bachelor Pad is a great traveling dog bed. It’s lightweight and easily rolled up. www.ruffwear.com SRP $49.95 – $59.95
If you don’t have a first aid kit for you or your dog, now is the time to make or get one. A few simple additions to your human first aid kit will make it canine friendly, but if you want a kit that is already put together, Ruff Wear makes a good K-9 first aid kit. Additionally, check with your vet to see what kind of medications are safe to include. Keep a list of these in your kit and include what doses to give and when to give them. www.ruffwear.com SRP $49.95
