Camping with dogs

[FeelingLikeAnAlien]

Due to our usual holiday rental by the beach not being an option this year as all are fully booked, I have been persuaded into taking the dogs on a weeks camping trip! I am looking for tips from experienced campers please.

We have 2 dogs and the family we are going with / camping next to also have 2 dogs.

Ideas so far include - setting up a shared fenced space between the 2 pitches for dogs to play/ be free from their leads - is this likely to be allowed? I can’t imagine keeping hold of leads the whole time .

A crate for my younger one to sleep in - she slept in a crate as a puppy and happily chooses to sleep in one at home with the door open. Should be ok?
Old big dog loose in the tent - is this likely to work? He usually sleeps on the bed at home, never been crated and too big anyway.

How do you find your dogs do with the random noises on a camp site? Do they get disturbed/ bark in the night? Older dog can be a big woofy with postman etc at home, is he likely to go bananas?
Do they stay warm enough when used to sleeping inside?
I’ve thought of first aid kid/ fold up bowls/ chews/ tick remover/ towels.
I just want everyone to have a good time, I’m hoping doggos will be tired after being at the beach and sleep well…
Any more tips appreciated please.

[Pamelaaaaa]

We take the dog camping. We have a spike thing which twists into the ground which we clip her harness to so we don't have to hold a lead but she's safe.
She sleeps next to us but if it gets cold at night we put her in our sleeping bag.
She does bark sometimes in he night. Usually because she's heard something. We shut her up quickly but it's annoying.

[CaptainMyCaptain]

We take the dog camping. We have a spike thing which twists into the ground which we clip her harness to so we don't have to hold a lead but she's safe.
We do this but be careful - dogs can be very protective of their pitch.

[elQuintoConyo]

Would you have to pay for an extra pitch so you can fence it off for the dogs?

Would they jump the fence?

Would they have enough room all together?

What do the rules of the site say with regards to the control of dogs? Sites here (Spain) dogs must be constantly tethered and never left alone.

DDog sleeps in the zipped-up sleeping part of the tent with us, perfectly warm enough, three of us to choose to snuggle with. Be careful with claws and inflatable mattresses!

We have a box of essentials for camping with pooch: extendable lead, water+food bowls, tweezers for any necessary tick removal, bag of treats, her passport (shows her vaccinations, we've never had to show it, but it's there just in case), extra poo bags, phone number of emergency vets in the local area.

Sites here will ask the breed of the dog, a couple have asked for photos, as some breeds aren't allowed. Take muzzles just in case they insist.

You can get a kind of zipwire type thing to either tie between two trees, or peg into the ground, to attach the lead to so they have more space to move than just trying their lead around a tree.

DDog loves camping, loves the outdoors, loves snuggling at night, loves sniffing round the bbq area on a Sunday morning (Sat nights are huge for bbq nights) for fallen sausages!

You have to be vigilant that other camping kids keep away from the dogs, that the dogs are calmed immediately if they're barking, and that they have easy access to shade and water

Enjoy!

[Bebeschitt]

We love camping with our dog. The screw in thing is a must as most reputable sites will insist that dogs are on a lead at all times. We put a wind break up so she can't see neighbours too.
A wrap around dog towel or 3 are great.
The kids argue over who she sleeps with!

[icedcoffees]

Most camping sites won't allow you to have them off lead.

You need a tie-out post in the ground and a long lead.

[magicstar1]

We just brought our German Shepherd camping for her first time ever. We put a spiral stake in the ground beside the tent so she couldn’t go far.
She sleeps downstairs at home...never been upstairs to our bedroom. So we brought her bed and put it in the tent, just outside the bed area. She wanted to be closer so we put her bed beside ours....but she jumped in with us, and basically slept on our feet the whole time.
We zipped the tent up and thought she’d be fine, until we woke up the second night to hear her barking - to be let back in!!! She’d squeezed under the zip to go to the toilet and we hadn’t woken up. So for the other nights she wore her lead and I slept with it around my wrist.
It was a great experience for us all, and she really enjoyed it.

[StillMedusa]

We camp. They are not allowed off lead. TBF where we go they have a dog field specifically to allow an off lead run but otherwise..always on lead.
We have a tie down stake and long line. And wind breaks as our girl is nervous so for the first day or so we need to shield her a bit.
Ours would sleep outside if allowed..she loves it! But she happily flops down in the main tent (the harness and long line stay on the whole week) Being in fresh air all week tires her out beautifully!

[LawnFever]

We tried camping with our dog, had the spike for in the ground so he could roam a little bit but be safe.

It was a nightmare!! He hated the tent, chewed the guide ropes, wouldn’t settle at night, kept jumping at any noise and barking.

He hated it, we got no sleep, nightmare all round, he goes to the kennels if we camp now.

[Honeyroar]

Another vote for the spiral/corkscrew thing. Our lab learned how to open the tent door too. Ours wuff a little at noises, but settle down if told it’s ok/shh. (There’s always someone with a dog that never stops yapping though!) Ours usually sleep in the kitchen but love being “in with us” when camping.

[Honeyroar]

I wouldn’t bother with cages. We take a bed with us (they have a camping bed that is lightweight and easy to pop in the car.
Those drying oats or a fleece are good to get the moisture off them if they’re wet from a walk.

[AcrossthePond55]

Towels. Lots and lots of towels. Old (or cheap) ones that you don't mind getting muddy or stained or full of burrs (throw those ones away). Not just for drying and wiping down the dog, but put in one inside the tent in front of the flap to catch muddy paws.

We tried the spiral stake. All that happened is that WE got wound up in or tripped over the leash. We like a 'run line' much better. Tie a thin rope between two trees and hook a carabiner to the end of the leash and clip it on the line. Put the dog in a harness rather than a collar if you do this. The dog can roam back and forth without getting tangled up or their leash tripping anyone.

Good flea and tick protection. And a good pair of tweezers for tick removal. Remember to do a thorough 'tick check' before the dog comes inside.

I don't know if you have 'foxtails' in the UK, but if you do be sure to check between toes, in ears, and also the nostrils for them a few times a day. Nasty buggers.

We camp where there are moose, elk, deer, bears, coyotes, and other predatory wildlife. I know you don't have bears and such, but if there is any wildlife where you camp, never let your dog out of your sight, even on a leash (ie under bushes, behind the tent). It only takes a second for something to happen.

[FeelingLikeAnAlien]

Thanks for all the useful info, I’ve kept a note of any bits I hadn’t thought of. Sounds like most people and dogs manage pretty well, so fingers crossed. Young dog will be fine as she sleeps anywhere her bed is but just hope older dog doesn’t go on security alert and settles ok. He’s pretty chilled most of the time and hopefully after the busy days
on the beach and all the fresh air he will sleep well squishing me as he does at home🤞. At least he doesn’t chew so that’s one thing we don’t have to worry about!
They are used to going away to lots of different places so I’m hoping they enjoy the change of scenery under the canvas!
No predators here in Wales thankfully, bears are one thing I do not have to worry about .

[FAQs]

We tried it last year and it was a nightmare, day time ok, but nighttime she seemed to go on self appointed guard duty, slightest noise she would bark, she also sipped out under the tent, so we had her in a pod after that zipped in. We tried the spike but she likes to sniff everything and ended up wrapping at around the tent, the car, the tables, we found a airbnb after 7 nights and this year back to a cottage! She is a inquisitive terrier though so you might have more luck! I do look back on it now though with affection.

[Bayleaf25]

We also had a nighttime escapee, so make sure tent is well zipped up with openings out of reach.

[0ntheg0again]

We always takes our dog camping and he loves it but we always make sure we are away from playgrounds, toilets and any entertainment/restaurants. He can be reactive (barking) to running screeching small kids which obviously are plenty in campsites so as far away from the buzz!!

And even if they have to be on the lead in the campsite, we find that there is always lots of lovely places away from the campsite where you can let them off.

We bring his bed and he either sleeps in that or come up to us or the kids at night. Also have the screw thing but once he took off with it and followed the kids so make sure it's securely buried