Camping with a dog

[marmiteandhoney]

We're looking to get a (probably rescue) dog/puppy in the next few months.

We tend to go camping in the summer (tent camping not caravan camping, if that makes any difference). Any tips on camping with a dog? I've seen dogs in tents nearby ours before, but still not sure about the practicalities of it, much like camping with a baby when you never have before!

Also- would we be wiser to wait until September before getting a dog? so that we wouldn't have to take a new dog away in a tent and possibly confuse it.

Or- would it be a good idea to take a relatively new dog camping, so they see it as 'just one of those things my new family does' and just something normal that we always do?

We take our lurcher camping but he can tend to get excited when he can smell the rabbits outside at night. Make sure your dog is warm enough and cold/wet cant get up through the ground. We take a cork screw to tie him to so he can wander on a long line. We have a new troublesome puppy too and I think we will be taking her crate IF we can fit it in with all the other gear!

Happy camping!

We took 2 dogs and 2 young children away camping for a month in Eastern Europe. For the dog, you will need food and water bowls, a lead and possibly a long line, something to attach it to. Make sure you are up to date with flea and worming treatment and vaccinations. Also make sure your dog in insured. So far, bog standard dog stuff. It is particularly important to pick up poo when you are away. If you know where you are staying, it helps to know where the local vet is. You can look up walks on parish websites(Ordnance Survey maps). Always be aware of dogs around livestock, and be careful about your environment (dogs falling off cliffs/running into roads...).
We have been away with the dogs lots of times without problems. If going away is part of your life, then you will be prepared!

What do your dogs sleep on when camping? Do you squodge their normal bed in with all the other camping things, or do they sleep on something else?

Normal bed on top of tarpaulin as we do not have a SIG. But he has been too cold and started whimpering so a blanket or dog coat might be useful depending on how hairy your beast is!

Oh and DH says to remember the dog often takes up half your normal boot space!

We take out boy often. We have crate in the awning for him, a long line at the front of tent and he sleeps inthe camper with us in the night.
Do find out local vets number, sadly we needed it when our dog got kicked by a wild horse. Take insurance details and find out about beach dog rules.
Most pubs let you take a dog as do some tourist stuff.
Personally I would wait till sept, because if you have supply that whimpers all night your neighbours will be none too happy.

Our dog slept in with us - grand at the start of the night, by the time we woke up in the morning, he had his head on the pillow and was blissfully stretched out. We were hanging on to the edge of the mattress!

I'm sure it'll be OK to take the new dog camping, as long as he's with you he'll be fine, and most likely have a lovely time!

We have a waterproof dog bed for camping purposes, dog sleeps on it in the tent at night with a fleece blanket, and in the evenings he can lie on it while we're all sitting round the fire, so he doesn't get chilly lying on the cold, damp ground (he'd probably be fine tbh, but I do worry!). If it rains heavily during the day we put his waterproof coat on (don't normally bother with this at home) so he won't be damp all night.

In the warm weather he sleeps in the porch area of the tent, but on colder nights we've had him in the sleeping compartment with us - it's a bit cramped with the three of us in there, but at least he's warm and dry.

Agree with finding out where your nearest vet is, in case of emergency, thankfully we've never needed this but I feel better knowing it (funnily enough we usually forget to check out the nearest hospital/doctor, but never forget about the vet :))

Check what your campsite allows when it comes to dogs on leads, if they have to be on-lead you might find it useful to have a long line and a stake to stick in the ground, otherwise you'll get very fed up holding the lead all the time!

We discovered that we needed roof box when we went camping with the dog because the space she takes up in the car.

She did tend to creep onto our bed by the morning - just what you need a 28kg lab trying to snug into the sleeping bag .

Thank you all. Some really useful advice. Will look into corkscrew tether things, and waterproof dog beds. And check dog-friendly campsites.
:)
Here's hoping I get a dog who'll enjoy camping as much as the kids!

Just lurking, but it's also our first time camping with a dog. The long line and tether are a great idea, but I'm not sure what to get. Do you have just a nylon lead or one of the cable type one. My pup's a chewer, so I need something that's strong.

(sorry to hijack OP!)

We got ours from the range. It's metal line covered in plastic shaft. We find it easier to put a broom handle into the cork screw top to screw done in hard ground

Thanks