Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Camping with dogs....

21 replies

averythinline · 02/01/2021 15:47

Just that really....am looking forward to nicer weather and thinking camping...I'm an experienced camper but have acquired spaniel who'll be 6months in March....just need to get my head around kit needed as may get stuff in the sales...
Am fairly minimalist camper usually and all my favourite sites take dogs just not sure really re sleeping etc..any advice welcome

OP posts:
nicky7654 · 02/01/2021 15:51

I slept with my two in my motorhome. An awning may help Incase of rain to stop the mud outside of door and a fabric fence to bang into the ground to keep furries safe Incase they do a runner or you need some space to cook etc. Good luck.

mooloop · 02/01/2021 15:54

We have a sort of screw thing that goes into the ground that you can attach a long lead to, so they can still potter about while you're cooking etc but won't be running off to enjoy other people's bbqs Grin

RE: sleeping, we just let our spaniel sleep at our feet usually. Or he crawls up in between our 2 sleeping bags if we're using those!

ArosAdraDrosDolig · 02/01/2021 15:58

Mine sleep in the boot of the car. I put a bed and blankets in there.

LionLily · 02/01/2021 16:02

I always took a good assortment of leads, and ropes with carabiners etc so that I could fasten him to anything such as a tree or the car (not a good idea to hook him up to the tent....).
And unless he's very reliable, a folding crate to sleep in either in the tent with you or in the boot of the car with a window cracked a bit.

moosemama · 02/01/2021 16:10

Not done camping in a tent with dogs, but have done a VW camper with two young dcs and two dogs several times.

We use a tie out screw and steel cable, plus a windbreak for screening off a secure area. Dogs slept in canvas collapsible crates in the awning with either me or dh. Kids in the van with the other parent. Only exception being when we had our Soft Coated Wheaten girl and I was heavily pregnant. She slept in the awning with me on an inflatable sofa! Dogs make great hot water bottles! Grin.

We did a 6 week tour of SW Ireland (myself DH, one year old Ds1 and our best friend) and took very little. In fact that time we didn’t even bother with the tie out screw pegs, we just tied the cables onto the bumper of the camper. 18 years ago now and still one of my all time favourite holidays.

I would say a decent doormat and absorbent towels are a must though, as obviously they can’t take their boots off at the tent entrance like everyone else.

SantasBritchesSpelleas · 02/01/2021 16:13

We have a sort of screw thing that goes into the ground that you can attach a long lead to, so they can still potter about while you're cooking etc but won't be running off to enjoy other people's bbqs

Yes, we had one of those - it's sold as a 'dog stake and line'. Most campsites require dogs to be on a lead or tethered.

We took his crate with us for him to sleep in - he slept in it at home so he settled down no bother. We kept the door shut so he didn't try to get out of the tent at night.

FraggleShingleBellRock · 02/01/2021 16:13

I've been camping with an old rotty and she was a dream. Just sat watching the world go by. Then.a few years later took my two yappers. Thank God I had a tent with s as seen in ground sheet because they would have been peeing all over the grass within the tent for print and rubbing away at the first chance to chase squirrels. I think it really does depend on the dog as well as the size of the tent and what you have planned.

Lovemusic33 · 02/01/2021 16:14

You will need a screw down tether thingy, most sites require your dog to be on a lead or tethered at all times (some are not as strict). We have only caped a couple times with a dog and it was a bit of a nightmare, that was with a Campervan and awning/tent. We have seen many well behaved dogs whilst camping but decided taking a dog with us wasn’t much fun as we like to eat out whilst camping and visit no doggy places but it ok if you stay on site and don’t plan on eating out.

CMOTDibbler · 02/01/2021 16:15

I camp with my lurchers. They sleep in a crate in the tent, and have a tie out stake for when we are sitting around outside.
A all in one rain suit thing is very useful so that they can go out in the morning dewy grass and then come back in the tent without being soggy, and even if you don't usually use coats, they can be good for the late evening and overnight as it gets so cold

suggestionsplease1 · 02/01/2021 16:36

I've been wild camping with my cocker spaniel and it has been....interesting! When he was young and crazy I took his fabric crate for him to sleep in and several sheets of tarp and used those to waterproof underneath and over it, securing them with tent pegs. It worked very well.

Now that he is 5 he is ok in the tent with me. I have an old size 8 NorthFace down gilet which I make him wear in cold weather at night. I think those are warmer than a lot of dog coats. The last time I went at the end of September (in Scotland) we had ice on the tent in the morning so it was definitely needed! I bring an old sleeping bag for him too but he tends to wriggle out of it and snuggle up to me, but even if they sleep with that underneath them it helps keep them warm.

scentedgeranium · 02/01/2021 17:41

It's rain that's the problem. We have a VW T6 conversion for the two of us (kids grown) and the thought of a wet golden retriever in there (they're like sponges) is too awful for words! We've taken him camping locally during good weather windows tho and he just snuggles under the rock and roll bed and doesn't even stir when I get up at 2am to leave the van for a call if nature.

BrownOwlknowsbest · 02/01/2021 17:52

Something like this www.a2zcamping.co.uk/caravan-accessories/tms-doggy-bag.html is really helpful for dealing with wet cold dogs in the tent if your dog will settle in one. Also take something to occupy the dog while you are setting up, kong, chew, marrow bone etc.

averythinline · 02/01/2021 18:33

Thanks for the tips so far think will take crate.and think I have some old sleepingbags in the loft can repurpose...I can even get a harness on him at the moment...but that allin one towel thing looks ideal for wet/mud living spaniel...hadn't thought about cold nights but yes cold in cornwall last summer!
Dog stake will order had seen those but not realised what they called.....

OP posts:
anyoldname76 · 02/01/2021 18:38

If you have a garden then camp there for a couple of nights 1st and see how he goes, our dog is scared of everything and doesn't camp well.

averythinline · 02/01/2021 18:55

Unfortunately our garden isn't big enough for our tent! But we have a favourite date only 30/40mins away so will try there first ...

OP posts:
Bayleaf25 · 02/01/2021 23:12

As per other posters the dog stake and long leash/rope were essential. Lots of towels for doorway. Dog just slept on our feet/on blankets inside the inner tent.

We did end up getting up at 7am as soon as first person needed a wee though as she assumed it was morning and wanted to explore. X

Honeyroar · 02/01/2021 23:17

Our dogs adore camping (must admit we caravan nowadays!). We use the corkscrew things for tying them up too. Beware one of our labs learned to open the zip on the awning and was heading over to the next tent to share their breakfast when we turned round!

JoannaDory · 02/01/2021 23:36

My dog loved camping! She is a good girl and would never wander far from the tent, just curls up by the entrance and watches what we are doing. I let her sleep on my sleeping bag and she could not believe her luck :)

averythinline · 03/01/2021 13:25

:) I'm using my sleeping bag in the front room as he cant go through teh night yet... he would love to get on/in it!

OP posts:
StillMedusa · 03/01/2021 22:08

I took mine at 14 weeks :) We camp every year. We have a tie down screw and the long line and she keeps her harness on to sleep.
As she never goes far from my side she sleeps in my tent pod with me :)
We did try a crate but she cried.
I have a little tent heater on all night and we stay nice and snuggly together . (DH sleeps in a separate pod ..too hot for him!)

Peace43 · 04/01/2021 22:00

We have a tie down stake, dog sleeps on my feet same as at home. He tends to take a day or so to settle and not want to be lying outside until 2am!!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.