Im a new dog owner (well 2 to be exact) and not exactly a seasoned camper.
I had high hopes for taking the dogs and me on camping trips around the UK, but after sleeping in my tent at Endamagarden for a few nights and thinking things through, I realised it might be difficult.
So for those with dogs who camp, please can I ask the following:
1. What do you do with the dogs when you want to shower or go for water etc
2. Do you put the dogs in crates over the night?
3. Any other recommendations for keeping the dogs safe and my sanity in tact?
Thanks in advance for any advice
------------- Taken a step into the unknown with a full blown caravan. Done the towing course and packed him up. Now to the Weigh Bridge, before going on my first actual trip!
We've tented (without a dog) and now a caravan (with a dog) but I would say crates are the best thing if yours are happy to be in them. Put them in there when you go off to facilities etc and at night. Even cover them up if it stops them barking and watching for you.
Get a tether to fasten them up outside tent.
Take them out for good long walks to stimulate and wear them out so you have some peace (and for fellow campers too) of an evening to relax. If ours gets techy, we take her off site, there's nothing worse than a dog barking constantly for upsetting your neighbours!
Loads of folk talk dogs, it's part of the appeal and I'm sure others will offer tips, just remember your neighbours. They soon adjust to the camper life and will love it I'm sure.
It is a long time since we camped with a dog, but the rule was, it was our dog’s holiday as well, so everything was arranged around her. Remember th old motto, a tired dog is a contented dog. We even continued camping with her in her late life when she had become disabled.
First time I took my dog camping was to a organised rally long w/e for owners of dogs from the rescue charity I got mine from.
An 18 month old hyperactive rescued Border Collie surrounded by about 4o other dogs - I truly questioned my sanity at agreeing to such a venture as the w/e approached!
Reality, she was as good as gold, and so were all the other dogs! Only incident was when she escaped the tent unnoticed by me, an escape route that she identified within nanoseconds of seeing! The body of my 5 berth tent has a sewn in ground sheet and can be considered secure, but the porch may well have a zipped tight door, but with no SIG my little Demon discovered she could sneak under the mudwalls whilst I was distracted cooking breakfast! Only alerted to her antics by my neighbour calling her name and trying to catch her (took half an hour and a LOT of sausages!)
A crate is pretty much essential IMHO. Any time you need to leave the tent, or any time the tent is open so as to be insecure, pop the dog in the crate. Crates are NOT cages or prisons, and are not cruel, if you teach your dog that the crate is their special place, it becomes their den where they are happy to retreat to and feel safe there. I used to pop mine in the crate overnight, because I didn't want her poky claws puncturing my airbed when she joined me on it as she would have done. A cover over the crate often calms them. But beware, a tent interior in even fairly weak sun can become dangerously hot for an unattended dog!
If the weather is fine, and not too hot for them, a ground anchor and wire tether can be satisfactory to leave them outdoors, but beware many are poor quality and weak, even a modestly strong dog can break them if it puts strain on them. Buy quality! Most of my doggy friends construct 'dog gardens' from windbreaks, it both restricts your dogs view of most things that would get it agitated, and restricts other dogs seeing your dog which often prevents reactions from either of them.
My dog is now a seasoned camper/caravanner and loves it. As Ancient Uncle said, it's the dogs holiday too, keep it happy and both mentally and physically exercised and in all likelihood it'll be fine.
None of our dogs had a crate. If necessary, they'd go in the car by the tent, but usually happy to sit/lie there attached to a tough ground anchor, especially if food was potentially in the offing. We did have a windbreak out for the young Border Collie on two trips when he was very young but we could soon dispense with that. I did worry on my solo trips at first about having the night visit to the loo but I soon found that the wee darlings thought my sleeping bag preferable to their own and they were not tempted to wander. However, all the dogs had really good long walks all day so weren't inclined to overt exert themselves.
------------- " When I die I don`t want my life to flash before me in an instant, I want it to be a 3 hour epic !"
Just a note on tethers, we gave up with the groundspikes and use one of these now screwed to a piece of wood used as a corner steady pad, but can easily use the wood under a car wheel - tether
My 2 do use crates, but can I be confident that no one would break into the tent and take them while I was showering?
I see a lot of FB posts about dogs being stolen at the moment.
Maybe Im being a worryninny
They did love running in and out of the tent while I was camping out so think I do have to give it a go at some point.
Wish me luck :D
------------- Taken a step into the unknown with a full blown caravan. Done the towing course and packed him up. Now to the Weigh Bridge, before going on my first actual trip!
Quote: Originally posted by deany70 on 20/9/2020
Thanks all for the feedback.
My 2 do use crates, but can I be confident that no one would break into the tent and take them while I was showering?
I see a lot of FB posts about dogs being stolen at the moment.
Maybe Im being a worryninny
They did love running in and out of the tent while I was camping out so think I do have to give it a go at some point.
Wish me luck :D
Make friends with your pitch neighbours and ask if they are ok to watch over your pitch and dogs whilst you nip for a 5 minute shower? Getting aquainted with your neighbours is useful in many ways.
I started to use a crate for the dog when he first came camping with me.
However, he was a good boy and did not need it, and slept in his own bed next to mine instead.
He was zipped up in the tent when I went to the facilities block in the morning when it is cold, or tethered outside if it was warm.
With my 2 tents Dutch pyramid tents, he worked out that if he head-butted the location when 3 zips met hard enough, he could get out of the tent. So I started to tether him inside the tent to the main pole using a long fabric training lead.
Each dog is different, so what worked for mine may not work for others.
If I were to get a different dog in future (mine is 13yo+ now), I would definitely start with a crate first.
I highly recommend the Delta Dog Tether from the makers of Delta Ground Anchors, as they are much better than the corkscrew ground spikes with no issue with the chain/lead wrapping around the spike.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
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We have something similar to Cliff. We used it as a doggy play pen but also when we have the awning up it allows the dogs free run off the caravan and the awning. It would also be useful for a tent. We did use a crate when we camped with our Cairns
Quote: Originally posted by cliffbrown on 09/10/2020
Ours are Cavalier king Charles any fear of them being pinched, like Nicebob we to take it in turns to shower etc
Sadly its not possible to clone people just yet so cant really do that when camping alone :D
------------- Taken a step into the unknown with a full blown caravan. Done the towing course and packed him up. Now to the Weigh Bridge, before going on my first actual trip!
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: Camping with Dogs
via mobile 17/9/2020 at 4:21pm
