Hi, Any advice on taking a dog camping? We have been camping loads of times before but not with a dog. We are going for 2 weeks and it's a 5 hour journey down to Wales.
We done our first camping trip with our 2 year old Yorkshire terrier and boy was it an adventure.
Firstly our pup hates car rides she threw up 5 times during a 2 hour trip and we where so stressed out before we even got to the campsite.
We had a spike and lead so we could leave her to explore while we set up. It was far to cold for her to sleep in her bed so she crashed with us on our bed.
She loved the exploring and new smells. Sometimes she would bark in the middle of the night when she heard someone close to our tent or anther dog barking.
I would highly recommend camping close to home no more than an hour away for the first trip with your dog then build it up from there.
On the way home the dog was cool as ice and never threw up once!!
Our girl travels really well so journeys aren't a problem - we're doing Manchester to Cornwall for a week then on to Oxfordshire for 4 nights & back home this year. Frequent stops for her to stretch her legs and have a drink & a tinkle. We always have a water bottle & bowl in the car.
She's never been a problem on a site - no escape attempts or anything like that.
We take a 'dry dog bag' to keep wet, muddy paws off the carpet (she's a spaniel so she loves mud & water!) & also her equafleece altho she rarely needs it.
They do tie you down - it's not as easy to go out for a meal etc... but cooking is part of the camping for us so it's fine. In the past we've used a local pet sitter who was recommended by a site warden so we could go off to a Wildlife Park for the day.
Our dog always comes camping in the UK, she's one of the family. Just be prepared:
Bottle opener
dog food
dog bed
poop bags
wet weather trips/activities that allow dogs
dog friendly pubs/restaurants - there are loads
dog lead
look up dog friendly beaches if heading to the coast
------------- Nick
2017
April - New Forest(9)
May - Dorset (9)
August - Camping Le Pin Parasol, Vendee (18)
October - East Mersea (8)
and five nights in the one man tent!
She loves her crate (cage) as she only ever really goes off duty when she's in there with the door closed. Otherwise she's on high alert all the time guarding us hoomans.
I will put the crate into the tent overnight. During the day I sometimes put it into the boot of the car with the boot open.
I use a tether and spike. And I also take her for lots of 'mini' walks as well as one main walk so that she can toilet away from the site.
It is difficult to find places that will welcome dogs. Some pubs will tolerate a well behaved dog and places like the Lake District are more welcoming. Most tourist attractions will not allow you to bring a dog. As it's virtually impossible to leave them in the car it means you can't go, or someone from the family has to stay behind.
Thanks, our dog is fine in the car. We will definitely do trial run though close to home for maybe a couple of nights.
The place where we are going for our main 2 week holiday we have been to before, St Davids in Pembrokeshire. Two dog friendly pubs, lots of beaches that allow dogs, only one that doesn't. We will be going on lots of walks on coast path and have checked that the local buses allow dogs.
The only thing is we are having to get a roof box as all our stuff won't fit in the car.
Quote: Originally posted by NickH on 28/3/2016
Our dog always comes camping in the UK, she's one of the family. Just be prepared:
Bottle opener
dog food
dog bed
poop bags
wet weather trips/activities that allow dogs
dog friendly pubs/restaurants - there are loads
dog lead
look up dog friendly beaches if heading to the coast
Great advice! We have two Saluki's and they are with us on every trip in fact, just got their passports and we are off to France in May. Crossing the channel via Portsmouth/Le Havre in a doggy cabin!
The only addition I would make is a couple of fleece blankets (Dunelm have some good offers usually).
------------- 2018 & so it begins.
April - please, just one weekend!
May - Who knows....
June - Tristram, Polzeath 10 nights
August - Dartmouth Regatta 4 nights
Mine loves camping, and he camped ever since he was a year old.
He started off with a crate, and he was fine without it.
He likes to come out to meet and greet everyone and every dog, and his action is not always welcomed.
Hence I tether him inside the tent as well as outside nowadays.
I use a Delta Dog Tether and find it to be very good compared with a cockscrew spike.
Wherever he can go, I go with him, which means sticking to places that are dog-friendly like beaches and walks, and pubs/restaurants.
It does mean missing out on certain attractions when I go camping with him, like museums etc... However, such is life of having a dog, and he is worth it.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Yes my two always camp with me. They are not interested in trying to escape. Just happy to be included with whatever i do. I usually do a bit of research on the area i am going to first to find dog friendly things to do but i enjoy lots of beach, cliff and hill walking so all in all no problem whatsoever. A site with a dog walk however small is good for first thing in the morning and last thing at night. I'm usually out all day.
As the dogs take up the boot of my estate car i have resorted to buying a trailer for packing most of my camping gear, although bedding and cool box usually end up in the car on the back seat. As soon as i start packing they are champing at the bit to come with me. Seem to love their camping holidays as much as their owner.
We were worried the first time we took our dog. We got him when he was 6 and he'd never been on long walks let alone camping. He's a Patterdale terrier so a bundle of fun and loads of energy.
But he loved it! Now he has his own chair and sleeping bag (Bob the Builder).
On the campsite there are usually rules that say "dogs must be tethered at all times". There are various reasons - other dog, children even adults who do not like dogs. Also, the first camp site he stayed on said that a dog had been shot the week before by a farmer (the dog had wandered into his animal farm). Mind you he is so tired after long walks he sometimes actually asks to go to bed!!
Out and about, as someone says, they do tie you down but do (as someone else said) google dog friendly beaches, pubs and days out. (Most beaches have an area that dogs can go on - but not all of it).
We do have a cage, although these days he prefers his chair, so he's tethered inside. Spiral and long tether is a must.
Take his favourite toys, treats and chews, blanket and try and find him his own space in the tent where he can go and settle or just be out of the way. Hard I know, a chair is a good thing as they are high and you're not treading on them! Don't forget towels for wet/muddy paws and take water for after their walk.
At night, well, you'll just have to see, just make sure he's secure and happy. If he sleeps with you or in your bedroom at home - do the same. Some people let their dogs sleep with them only when they're camping - our does sleep with us (he's also like a hot water bottle)
On the journey, yes, the only thing you can do it stop often.
Main thing, don't worry too much as the dog will pick up on this and wonder what's going on.
Anyway, you'll be fine.... enjoy!
------------- May - Dorset
July - Saundersfoot
September - S. Wales
October - S. Wales
We used to camp with the dogs. Started in 1993. 3 labradors and 1 Jack Russell corgi cross. They loved it up until one extremely wet and cold July in Scotland where they insisted on climbing on top of our camp beds at night (one broke under the weight of my husband and 2 labs!) and in the end refused to get out of the car. That was when we bought a caravan. Since then our various dogs (now 1 lab x and 2 russells) have been all over Britain, Ireland and France. They without exception have all adored the caravan and are good travellers in the car. Its important to have their own beds, blankets, dishes, usual food etc. Dogs love routine and familiarity. They tend not to want to eat much on long journeys say to France, so we offer them light snacks when travelling. (cheese, carrots, chicken, dog biscuits) A non-spill water bowl is a good purchase. When they settle they start to eat again. We don't tether them at the caravan as we have them trained not to stray from our sides when outside the caravan or car. Takes a bit of time and practice and we do this on quiet sites in winter with new dogs as they come along, but is worth doing. We walk them off site or in a dog walk area if there is one, and then they are happy to lie in the awning or close by our chairs (the 'smalls' have their own chair) watching the world go by. As they become more used to camping they should cease to react to children, other dogs, loud noises etc. and this will make your (and those around you!) holidays more pleasurable. Until you reach that point you will be best keeping them on a tie line or lead. It depends on their age and personality. A windbreak is a handy thing with an excitable dog to block of their view of another dog or children playing etc. Some people enclose their whole pitch with windbreaks which looks like a good idea.
------------- Sometimes You're the windscreen; sometimes the fly
I go camping with 4 dogs, mostly at dog shows. I use barrier fencing to make a fence round my tent and car. And have a gate from croft puppy pens. If a smaller area I use puppy pen panels to make a secure area off the tent.
A non spill road refesher bowl is handy for in the tent, and lots of towels!
Hello, we've just come back from our first camping trip with our new dog. We're in a camper van. He loved the mini walks to the bin, the toilets or just around all the time. He didn't understand tethering to start with. He wasn't sure if he was waiting for a walk or inside. He liked the picnic blanket to sit on and it helped keep the mud off his belly. He loved being with us and slept well.
The biggest problem we had was travel sickness. We chose somewhere 50 mins away and he was sick after about 46 mins. On the way back, we went somewhere else and it was 1 hour 15 mins. We stopped twice but he looked totally miserable in the van.
From a different perspective...
I'd recommend (or plead) that you follow the site rules where dogs are concerned.
If it states "Dogs on leads at all times", "Dogs to be kept under control at all times", or any similar wording , please stick to that.
Personally, as long as the dog isn't doing it's business near (or on) my tent, I'm not too fussed, but some folk, children and adults alike, are actually scared of dogs, particularly when they come bounding towards you!
You and I both know your dog is a big (or little) softy, wouldn't hurt a fly, and is only wanting to play, but like I say, some folk actually can, and do, get scared!
Not only that, but big dollopy playful hounds have been known to knock beer over... as we were sat immediately at the front of our tent, under our tarp, in our nice comfy chairs, with table betwixt, minding our own business!... and I'm only allowed four bottles per camping weekend!
Of course, if the site allows dogs off lead, then it's up to the scaredy cat to know that in advance, and go camp elsewhere, as there is no room for complaint!
Ultimately of course, it lies with the site owner to ensure rules are adhered to, but we can all help, by playing along.
PS:
For the record, the general consensus of opinion amongst non dog owners is that 20m of flexible, uncontrollable, retractable (but never gets retracted!) plastic coated wire does not constitute a "lead", or anything resembling "keeping a dog under control.
PS:
Also for the record, my favourite UKCS dogs are Bailey & Borda... in no particular order!
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Topic: Camping with a dog
