We are holidaying with my brothers family and they bought a dog last year and he's around 9mths old. He's a lovely dog but a bit lively and excitable as you would probably expect for a pup. It's his first camping trip in a tent and it will be whit week so a very busy site. Can you give us any advice on how to keep doggy and our fellow campers happy? He wont be left alone at any point we wouldnt do anything like that.
We camped with my SIL and their 4month old collie puppy last year.
It was hilarious she was like a wriggly worm, when she escaped a couple of times everyone loved her and she was a star, she was crate trained which made it a bit easier but she loved it.
We were on a dog friendly site which had a separate camping area for non doggie people so everyone where we were had dogs or liked dogs.
She has been camping since with no escaping antics and recall has been mastered.
He will probably love being out in the open and in the company of you all. If he is exciteable when people pass the tent or you want to stop people coming up and petting him (which is guaranteed with a cute pup!) then it might be worth investing in a windbreak, it will also give him a shaded area if it is warm and sunny. Make sure he gets lots of exercise during the day and he'll then be ready to sleep at night. Hopefully the site you are going to will have an exercise area or at least walks nearby for early morning and last thing at night visits to the loo for him. We take Bailey's own bed with him and he lets us know when it's bed time, he just slopes off to his bed - or more usual than not DH's bed!!
Take some of his toys too, we always have a bag for Bailey with his food, treats and toys in, and he usually comes home with more as we often pop to a local charity shop and buy him a new teddy - he loves soft toys! Another thing we do on the pitch, especially if it's warm, is fill a trugg bucket with cold water and throw his ball into it, he loves that and it helps to keep him cool.
Remember it's his holiday too and do lots of things together, most of all, just have a great time!
PS you've probably already considered it, but be careful with pup near stoves and BBQ's.
------------- May/June - Spring Valley
Aug/Sept - Leekworth
We took a folding crate for our dog which means he had somewhere to go if he wanted peace and quiet. We could also put him in there to keep him safe while we were cooking etc. He's nearly 14 now and a getting a bit rickety so he stays at grandma's now when we go camping but he did love it when he was younger.
We have a couple of corkscrew ground anchors, so that Comet can be outside with us. By having more than one, we can move Comet if we move with the sun (but also ensuring he has shade if he wants it), without moving the anchor every time.
Windbreaks help, as not only do they mean that Comet can not see everything that is going on, or other dogs, who he would want to play with - he sees the world as his friends and can not understand that other dogs may not want to play with him, and not everybody wants to be bounced by six stone of pup, who want to give them kisses.
Comet sleeps at home with me, so sleeps with me when we are camping - which is why I have to have a double sleeping bag.
A couple of years ago, when Comet was still only a pup, we camped with non doggy friends, and in the evening, we would sit around the BBQ, and the kids would go off to play - but I found that once the kids all came back, it soon got a bit much for Comet, so I would take him into the camper and sit with him. If I tried to leave him by himself he got upset (even though we were right by the camper) - but if I sat inside with him, he would just curl up and go to sleep.
We took our rescue dog Bailey for his first camping trip last year,he absolutely loved it,we take all his "stuff" with us,bed,blankie,ball etc,so its not all foreign. We always get a a bone from the butchers on our way so he has a new bone to chomp on while we set up,we had the corkscrew tie out but have got a delta one now as he keeps getting tangled (its a Bailey thing,he does it at home too,as we live on a holiday park and have to tie him out here too in the busy season). The best thing you can do is just relax,if you seem on edge then the dog will sense it.
As has been said,plenty of exercise will ensure a sleepy dog at night.
------------- March- Padstow
April- Forest Glade
June-Grizedale
July-Jedburgh
and lots more besides
We had to take our dog on her first camping holiday when we were let down on kennel care. It worked out fine - despite being a very excitable collie who's aim in life was to love everyone. She was quieter on holiday than at home although she took a dislike to a german shepherd on the same site which was mutual. Both sets of owners treated it with a smile - no problem.
I do recommend the Delta dog tether. We found that she kept getting tangled up in the corkscrew type. Delta is much better and firmer.
we have just got back from our 4 day camping trip, with our 5 month old black labador sprite and a toddler-not a bad combination if managed kept occupied.
we did a little work with both dog and toddler before we left.
basic obedience training -sit,stay,comeback,lead work- for both.
believe it or not we went to "go outdoors" a few times dog on lead and let him go in and out of the tents and have a few treats to tempt him if needed.
go out on day trips- so dog used to travelling
we then set up a tent in the garden and let dog go in and out.
set up tie down point in the garden and attach dog to it if he/she never used one before.-alternatively a 4x4 is more then suitable (ground to hard.)
Dog and toddler and I camped in the garden for a few nights before going,using most of the equipment we would use/need.
We took his normal dog stuff food,bowls,clicker,dog sacks,leads etc including the crate he sleeps in as thats his home so feels safe there worked the same for the tent sprite sleeps in his crate at end of bed normally.
buy a new toy and bone we got him a bumper which floats and we had lots of trips/walks to the rivers and seaside with him which keeps him cool and burns off some energy.
sprite was never a fan of water now we cant keep him out of it.
it is hard work but rewarding the whole family bonded The wife has finally admitted she loves the dog.
Do some research on campsite,campsite rules,walks,know where a vet is incase of emergency and in our case be aware of grooming checking for ticks etc we stayed on exmoor.
you will love it its good fun and you do bond with mans best friend
We took Dave,our 6 1/2 month old Neo Mastiff cross camping for the first time last week and we had him on a tether (except when he escaped a couple of times, so apologies to any of our fellow campers that he might have woofed at or badgered for a bacon sandwich!)
He was as good as gold and the tether worked fine.
He came camping with my late partner and I when he was less than a year old, and we put him in a small travelling cage in the living area of the tent at night. During the day he would be tethered up using a big karabina and a couple of pegs.
When I started to go camping on my own with him, I took a folding travelling cage with me, however, he never needed to use it, and was very happy to sleep on his little bed made up of a small SIM and fleece blankets. Or he would sleep on the spare side of the double airbed if used.
He now sleeps on his own large Breezy Bunk bed, with or without fleece blankets, depending on the weather.
When I go to the facilities block, I would leave him zipped up in the inner tent, and then zip up the tent door as I leave.
I used to have him tethered in front of the tent when I went to the facilities block in the past. However, he loved to interact with other dogs and people and barked when excited. Hence I zip him up in the inner tent nowadays.
Luckily, he does not like to dig, unusual for a BT as they are supposed to be escape artists.
He is tethered to the Delta dog tether, or tied up to my camping chair whenever he is outside with me.
He is a great camping companion.
DK
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We used to use the corkscrew but our lively girl got so tangled with it and we kept tripping over it. Also, she managed to pull it out one day. We saw the delta dog tether and bought one. We have found it better - no tangles, no tripping and it is solid as a rock.
Came back last night from my first camping trip with Kiya, he loved it. My previous dogs have camped from being pups but Kiya is an extremely active 8 year old rescue Working Cocker. I thought I may have had problems but he settled in like a seasoned camper.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Dogs first camping trip.
