dogs and camping - tips please

[traceyinrosso]

We are taking our new addition to the family camping with us - a 2 year old labrador ! We have never taken a dog on holiday with us before and so want some tips on how to cope eg with a day on the beach or eating out (if this is possible with a dog). Also any suggestions for a product to tether her when on the site. Thanks in anticipation

We've always used one of these for tethering dogs on site.

Eating out isn't too difficult, you can usually find a pub or tearoom with a garden that allows dogs, or there's always fish and chips.

Double check that sites allow dogs- sounds obvious, but some don't. Many have dog walking area on or close by site- essential for toileting. Get a twirly stake thing ( argos cheaply) that you can push into the ground- although it will get tangled round chairs/ table every so often if your dog is as daft as ours!

Some beaches don't allow dogs- partic in high season- again worth a checking.

For eating out - we normally go to an outside table and dog is at feet. Many pubs leave bowls of water outside, but we always keep some in the car with a bowl just to be sure.

Also, as a thought, there may be a local kennel that you could use for a few hours if you want to visit a museum or something. Ask at the campsite what they recommend. Therefore take any certificates to show that the dog has upto date vaccines. We did this last year so we could visit an air museum and it was great.

Make sure you pitch your tent with shade-tents get really hot in the day and you need somewhere to put their bed in the shade. Our old
Boy loves sleeping in the boot of the car woth it open during the day.

It does stillget cold at night, so we tuck our old boy up with a cheap sainsburys duvet and blanket otherwise he shivers all night :)

Lots of sites have dedicated dog walk areas which are great!

Have been camping with 3 dogs, now we are down to 2.
They love it.
At night we zip them up in the bedrooms with us, they definately keep you warm! I would have frozen to death last August (boiling hot days, freezing cold nights) had it not been for my dog to cuddle.

We have never yet found a beach that has refused the dogs - what the beach wardens do say is to move 500 yards to the left or right of the main beach entrance. Then you can even let them off the lead.

When back at the tent in the evening, they are that knackered, we zip them up into a bedroom pod and they crash out ( roll back outer layer of the zip up bedroom door so the dog can see you through the mesh) we then don't have to worry about watching them. Then at bedtime, a quick lead walk for a last wee and thats it.

Eating out, if its nice, eat outside, if not lots of places let dogs in. Can recommend a couple of dog friendly campsites if you want - one in Derbyshire is great and lets dogs in the bar where they serve meals.

Thanks everyone for the advice - I was beginning to think it was going to be very difficult but feeling much more positive now

Lovesdogsandcats would appreciate some dog friendly site recommendations especially Derbyshire as we are not far for a weekend from there

The one in the Peak District we loved is ]]www.rivendalecaravanpark.co.uk/ here]] there are LOADS of walks through the countryside, the Pennine Way walk is a few mins away and if you ask on the desk they will tell you a nice walk to get to the River Dove, your dog will love it.

Another good one near Morecambe where dogs are welcome, its across the road from the beach with dogs allowed on it all year round, has a cafe, is here

And here is a brilliant one in Anglesey, again dogs welcome here, its near several beaches, and a short walk to the town with shops and a chippy here

ooops let me do the first one again here

Thanks a lot