How do people:
Introduce their dog to camping
Get on with keeping them tethered
Hi Mandsjh, we've kept german shepherds for years our old 2 used to whine their heads off if they saw us packing the car and weren't coming. We are grandparents now and I've always crate trained them so anytime they want their space (the dogs that is). Anyway now we have an 18 month old gsd, we've been leaving her at home for now but nearly had to take her the last time so I've started 'tent training her' at home. I've put up a little cheap 2 man tent (which she's eaten through the crate, no worries it can go in the bin shorty) and put her crate in. She'll go in her cage no bother but doesn't like the flapping material round her and whined when she first started. I've been feeding her and giving her treats and putting her in for part of the day till she sees it as just part of her daily routine. That's the plan at home, don't ask what she'll be like on-site with a hyper 2yr old
I used to take my father's German Shepherd camping and he loved it. He would spend most of his time following my friends' baby about as she crawled around the pitch. It was best if we had a basic site where we could pitch without anyone else around.
Bedtime was a problem. Our old spaniel simply concerned himself with getting as muddy as possible before burrowing into my sleeping bag. The German Shepherd would not settle unless the tent door was open so that he could keep an eye out on our pitch. I came prepared with a screw-in tether so that he could do so. I had not come prepared for his nocturnal patrols and was woken to found that he had created some sort of cat's cradle with the guy lines. After that I carried chicken wire and extra pegs that I draped over the guy lines to stop him from weaving in and out.
It was important to make sure that he had a plentiful supply of his regular dog food, I thought it would be convenient to take dried food on one trip and was faced with a canine hunger strike. If on my own I could go for a shower if I put him in the boot - that way he was happy that I was coming back (if still miffed about being left behind).
Camping really brings home the benefits of a well trained dog (or child for that matter) and towels, lots of towels.
Pilfred always settles when camping.. during the day he is happy to snooze the day away in the back on the car.. no fuss from him at all. At night he sleeps in the tent with us and again, no issues what so ever.....:)
------------- Emma and Pilfred the blind Greyhound (''')
Lifes for living not being tied to the kitchen sink :)
February North Yorks
2 nights
April North Yorkshire 5 nights
April North Yorkshire 2 nights
June Whitby 4 nights
July Cleethorpes 7 nights
August North Yorkshire 7 nights
What a lot of fab photos - happy, beautiful, lucky Dogs
I would just suggest you take something to cover the crate at night so your dog doesn't wake up as soon as it gets light
Quote: Originally posted by floppy-poppy on 11/3/2015
We had the same problem last year, we only had our Patterdale terrier 2 months - and he was 6 year old! So it was into the unknown we went. Bearing in mind that he had never gone on regular walks, never been to the beach, never (in his 6 years) been let off lead, had been left, caged, for up to 10 hours a day on his own - I could go on. So, I posted on here (I didn't go into detail then) and got some brilliant replies (as you have). Mainly the point came across was just to go for it - go prepared but go and he'll probably settle.
So, I posted a list that I thought was relevant - yup, it was good except I forgot poo bags - so not bad.
We caged him for the journey - oh yes, it did take up a lot of space - plus "the dogs' box" of toys, blankets, leads, food, treats, biscuits etc.
When we got set up we found was that he didn't like being caged during the day inside, so we had to buy a tether, once this was in place he was sooo chilled, as he could watch everything. And! for all his moaning about being in the cage the first thing he did was get settled in it!! So if he's cage trained, it is a good idea to take it - and (as already said) you'll need a tether.
Most campsites will not allow a dog on their site unless tethered anyway. One we went to last year highly recommended it, as the local farmer had shot a dog the previous week who had wandered in his fields. The campsite owner owns 2 dog himself, but sort of accepted it and did forewarn us.
I did take lots of tasty (long lasting) treats to keep him happy and his favourite chew toys.
At night, we went to a lot of trouble to move his cage into the bedroom, but knew he would cry/bark if he was "locked" in, so we ensure that the zips were fully done up and left the cage door open. I had taken a "dog blanket" for the bed and put it on the bottom, and as soon as we were settled he very cunningly snook out of his cage and jumped onto the blanket - but was as quiet as a mouse - until he started to snore!!
So, yes, I would say my little terror, sorry terrier settled in quite nicely. I am just hoping that our next trip (same campsite - we thought it wise for familiarity) will be as good.
We did go on long walks and, I must admit, he was absolutely shattered - tired? our dog? yup! He did bark occassionaly (but less than at home). As dk168 said, you are restricted where you can go, but just choose other, more dog friendly, places.
As OP said to me, go for it, he'll be fine - I wasn't so optimistic - but he was...
I know this post is a couple of years out of date, but I'm interested in your Patterdale experiences. Over a decade ago, we rescued a dog off the street and she came everywhere with us in our campervan. Wind on 12 years, a year after she died and we have rescued a 2 year old Patterdale. He stareted off well, but is now barking at other dogs on his walk and even barked at a man yesterday. I cannot see us taking this dog camping, we hoped we could as he is quite small. Your Patterdale was older when you got himband maybe had a worse start in life. Did you have problems with him barking on the campsite, or other negative behaviours? Thanks if you reply.
Quote: Originally posted by furryfriend on 05/10/2017
Quote: Originally posted by floppy-poppy on 11/3/2015
We had the same problem last year, we only had our Patterdale terrier 2 months - and he was 6 year old! So it was into the unknown we went. Bearing in mind that he had never gone on regular walks, never been to the beach, never (in his 6 years) been let off lead, had been left, caged, for up to 10 hours a day on his own - I could go on. So, I posted on here (I didn't go into detail then) and got some brilliant replies (as you have). Mainly the point came across was just to go for it - go prepared but go and he'll probably settle.
So, I posted a list that I thought was relevant - yup, it was good except I forgot poo bags - so not bad.
We caged him for the journey - oh yes, it did take up a lot of space - plus "the dogs' box" of toys, blankets, leads, food, treats, biscuits etc.
When we got set up we found was that he didn't like being caged during the day inside, so we had to buy a tether, once this was in place he was sooo chilled, as he could watch everything. And! for all his moaning about being in the cage the first thing he did was get settled in it!! So if he's cage trained, it is a good idea to take it - and (as already said) you'll need a tether.
Most campsites will not allow a dog on their site unless tethered anyway. One we went to last year highly recommended it, as the local farmer had shot a dog the previous week who had wandered in his fields. The campsite owner owns 2 dog himself, but sort of accepted it and did forewarn us.
I did take lots of tasty (long lasting) treats to keep him happy and his favourite chew toys.
At night, we went to a lot of trouble to move his cage into the bedroom, but knew he would cry/bark if he was "locked" in, so we ensure that the zips were fully done up and left the cage door open. I had taken a "dog blanket" for the bed and put it on the bottom, and as soon as we were settled he very cunningly snook out of his cage and jumped onto the blanket - but was as quiet as a mouse - until he started to snore!!
So, yes, I would say my little terror, sorry terrier settled in quite nicely. I am just hoping that our next trip (same campsite - we thought it wise for familiarity) will be as good.
We did go on long walks and, I must admit, he was absolutely shattered - tired? our dog? yup! He did bark occassionaly (but less than at home). As dk168 said, you are restricted where you can go, but just choose other, more dog friendly, places.
As OP said to me, go for it, he'll be fine - I wasn't so optimistic - but he was...
I know this post is a couple of years out of date, but I'm interested in your Patterdale experiences. Over a decade ago, we rescued a dog off the street and she came everywhere with us in our campervan. Wind on 12 years, a year after she died and we have rescued a 2 year old Patterdale. He stareted off well, but is now barking at other dogs on his walk and even barked at a man yesterday. I cannot see us taking this dog camping, we hoped we could as he is quite small. Your Patterdale was older when you got himband maybe had a worse start in life. Did you have problems with him barking on the campsite, or other negative behaviours? Thanks if you reply.
We had a reactive dog and were concerned about his barking, well we needn't have worried he loved it, and didn't bark at other dogs who walked past our pitch, because we have a cut down seaside stripey windbreak in front of the tent, poles same height but fabric cut off about 3ft high I think, can't remember but we can clearly see over and are not being unsociable and he couldn't see what was passing by.
Although he has sadly passed we still use it with our current dog, it helps with all the new noises etc and as you most probably have seen , some numpties think it's perfectly ok to have their dogs off lead!
We have a springer. He was 4 when we first camped but he just totally chilled the minute we arrived. We put him on a stake and he just sat or stood watching everything for hours - never made a noise. Including watching the kids play without whining. We worried about bedtime a bit as he's crate trained and we didn't want to take the big crate. So we got him a basket and got him used to it before we went. Once there and when inside he just lay in his basket. Never budged all night either. As long as he knows where we are he's happy. He just loved it from the first second. If one of us went to the loo he'd just station himself where he could see and lay down never taking his eyes off where one of us had disappeared to until he saw us come back. Such a faithful boy.
We have a Patterdale who camps regularly. At home and on walks he can bark at other dogs and isn't the most friendly to dogs but great with people and kids etc. Although he always barks at the postie or anyone coming to the door. When camping he is quite happy watching the world go by and doesn't seem to be at all bothered by people walking by the tent or even other dogs, we keep him tethered and an eye on him when other dogs go by but generally he's better than at home. I think it's a territory thing - the campsite isn't his territory so he's not as bothered about others invading it, while at home and even on walks at home he is more protective. We also manage to tire him out when camping so he's happy just to sleep in the evenings. Give it a go what's the worst that could happen?...
Our Staffordshire Bull terrier loved his cage in the back of the car so much I never wanted to come out of it! As he got older (I know this will shock people) but we did used to leave him in the car even when we used to go out. I would like to say in my defence he always had plenty of water, the car parks we parked in were either multistory or in the shade, we had windows open and shades. I thought that better than dragging the poor old guy around in the blazing sun. The only criticism I got for having him in the cage was we had taken him on a walk and he was lying down in his cage panting and looking done in - a women walked past and said in a very loud snooty voice oh look at that poor thing, putting him in that cage. Lets just say she didn't know how common I was.
Blue had his own bag, with his bowls and water containers and biscuits. He was really weird cause he didn't eat anything except biscuits when we were camping.
I would say the only thing that would upset people is a dog that never stops barking or is not tethered and the owners not bothered what its up to.
We got a small folding camper last year so we could take our rescue Staffy away with us. He loves it because he can sleep with us . We both have a bed each and he chooses who he’s going to sleep with each night. And during the day we just use the cork screw type tether with plastic covered wire tether. If it’s a quiet site, we don’t always bother as he never leaves our side.
We thought he might bark at night ( he’s a very quiet dog, even at home) if he heard an animal, but he’s been a star. We’ve even had cows 6 feet away from us and he’s not even twitched an ear.
He’s so laid back, we’re convinced he’s part cat. He sleeps most of the day
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Topic: Tips for taking a dog?
