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Hi guys

Has anyone any experience of camping with a new puppy, She will have had all her jabs and fingers crossed will be toilet trained before we go, but just wondered if anyone had any suggestions as to how its done so as everyone can still have a relaxing time ( especially puppy as hopefully she will soon be a fully fledged camper too!)

This is our Coll at 18 weeks away camping for the first time and at a UKCS Meet.

Really the only thing that I did then that I do not do now was to keep him on a long lead even when he was in the awning.

He was just too inquisitive and had no common sense once he got outside. I was constantly reeling him back in when I was suddenly aware that all I had was a jerking lead and no puppy.

As for toilet thingies, well Coll was so thoroughly exhausted after each walk and playing with all the kids on the site that wanted to be with him, that when he came in he fell asleep and so it was easy to get him out again when he woke.

If he had any toilet issues before that camp, he certainly was well trained by the time we got home again.

We took Dyson (Westie) for his first camp at 4 months of age - The Warren, Folkestone - he too was absolutely bushed with the walks/runs on the beach and also had to be woken up for the next walk - We also kept him on a short tie out (3m) and he had his 'cage' to sleep in of an evening - they soon get into a routine  

Now he is coming up for two he has a 3 or 5m tie out (dependant on site regs) and quite happily snoozes between walks in his own tent!

http://www.pet-supermarket.co.uk/products-Trixie-Tcamp-Tent-For-Dogs_CA4068.htm

Thanks guys will let you know how we get on later in the year!!

p.s dyson & co, this maybe a silly question but do you pitch his tent inside yours or outside? (it's very cool by the way!!)

Outside, we have it for daytime use only - come bedtime he has his own cushion and sleeps in the gap between our beds (lots of campers out there are shuddering right now - I know........ you shouldn't sleep with dogs......... but he doesn't snore as much as OH)

Admittedly during the night he makes the move and curls up at the bottom of one of our beds - resulting in very restricted foot movement - difficult to kick a dog out of bed when your feet are trapped! 

We did put it up in the tent on the first night - he just looked at us as if we were stupid, pulled his cushion out and settled down in the bedroom where he was used to his training cage being on previous camps!