Camping with dog tips

[Jinglejinglejingle7]

Thinking of camping again in summer. Haven't for 2 years,but got all the stuff and dc older now- 11 & 13 next summer. But we now have a spaniel. Thinking of doing a weekend or even garden set up first as dog never been in a tent not sure how he would be. Any tips for camping with a dog? The tent isn't blackout - we wear eye masks- concerned he will wake very early!

Does he sleep to a good routine now? In with you? Does he have his own bed? These would all be good things to get him in the habit of. We use those massive hook things you drill into the ground to tie them up during the day so they have a bit of space when we’re all chilling out around the tent. A weekend or time in the garden is a great idea. It can be fun, especially waking with the birds!

I’d go somewhere local first for one night.

slightly different as we have a camper van, but our dog took to it very easily.

he absolutely loves going in the van now, and when we start packing it he will sit on the drive way in fear that this trip won’t involve him!

Oh hes a velcro dog, cones to bed with me, gets up with me, in his own bed next to our bed. So he would do the sane camping imagine. Yes will definitely try him out first- hoping he wont bark at every movement,burst the air tent, steal too many socks or wake us all at 5am!!!

I put the tent up in the garden over several weekends so mine could get used to it, and also to see it going up and down.
I also made sure she had loads of exercise during the day so she was knackered at night, she had her equifleece and lots of blankets (a dog trying to get into your sleeping bag is not fun!) and plenty of “snacks” as mine goes off her food easily, also pitch in the corner of the site if possible so fewer people are walking past to minimise disruption and barking.

Not much you can do about the light but dogs are used to sleeping in the day so not like they need eye masks.

1. A garden sleepover is a genius first step. It lets him safely get used to the weird tent noises and echoes at home first.
2. Since it’s not blackout, he will absolutely wake up with the sunrise. Try draping a light sheet over his dog bed or crate to create a cozy, dark den for him, or just accept the early starts!
3. Bring a long tie-out stake for the campsite, lots of chews for distraction, and a familiar blanket from home.

I think barking at every movement and waking up at 5 am will just happen?

Ours walks a lot on holiday so usually sleeps well but we do have black our bedrooms.

We also try to go for the remotest pitch on the campsite. We once had one where near the entrance to the dog field so every dog walked past at least once a day. That was a big mistake.

We have a spaniel and she's an amazing camping dog. You can buy a spike to put in the ground and use a long rope to keep the dog in your area. Being a spaniel we'd go out all day so she'd run miles and miles and then be shattered by our feet in the eve, usually in a pub.
She's always slept fine down the end of our bed while camping, never have her in bed at home and she doesn't mind the transition.

They're perfect camping dogs in my opinion!

My spaniel has been great camping... We use a crate (was crate trained from pup).. which has a cover over and also vetbed for insulation under goes on a picnic blanket on top of carpet...its just by the door of tent ..she takes herself off to bed wen she's had enough..helps with early waking and not barking at things going past.

I didn't want my expensive sims or groundsheet damaged by paws... Or mud on the carpet!

Doormat/towel at entrance essential for when wet...
this plus long lead/spike combo works really well..
If a busier time/site take a windbreak and position as blocker ..
She's not a barker usually but likes to protect her house..so people walking past can be barked at...

We usually go to quieter sites and try and get as isolated a pitch as possible...but equally have been to busy festival type sites like Eweleaze and been fine..

Thanks all.hes not much if a barker so hopefully wont start too much. Will get a spike and long lead. He will run all day so just have to hope he sleeps!

There is a fantastic Facebook group called camping with canines