Camping with Dogs
If we go camping, our dogs go camping. The dogs are our family, so we take them with us whenever possible. They’re the reason we got a camper in the first place: we wanted to go lots of places, but we wanted to bring the dogs along. Camping in our own RV makes that possible.
Camping with dogs is the best!
Before You Go
Before you go camping with dogs, make sure your dogs are up-to-date on their vaccines, bring their records just in case, and give them flea & tick treatment. Make sure the dog is wearing a collar with an ID tag with your cell phone number. And to be on the safe side, know where a nearby vet is – just in case the worst happens.
Make sure you pack lots of food, water and treats for the dogs. Our dogs have their own bowls for food and water in the camper and we pack a collapsible water bowl, a big bottle of water and lots of treats in a backpack when we go on adventures.
Do Your Research
Something like 50-percent of people who go camping bring their dogs along. Most campgrounds are dog-friendly, but always confirm the rules and policies before you go. Some campgrounds prohibit specific “aggressive” breeds – typically Dobermans, Rottweilers and Pitbulls. I know plenty of sweet dogs in all of those categories and I think breed-specific rules are basically doggie discrimination, but make sure your dog isn’t prohibited. Also make sure you understand the rules at the campgrounds. Can you wrap a tie-out for your dog a tree or picnic table or put a stake in the ground?
Are you allowed to leave well-behaved, quiet dogs unattended in the camper for any time? Some campgrounds say yes, some say no – if you think you’re leaving the dog alone that’s an important rule to know.
Leaving Dogs Alone In the Camper
There are plenty of great dog-friendly breweries to visit and hikes to take with dogs all around the country. But, dogs aren’t welcome everywhere, neither one of my knuckleheads will get into the bike trailer, and Toby’s arthritis makes it hard for him to take long hikes, so there are times on some camping trip they have to stay behind, alone, in the camper.
Toby keeps an eye on all the camping activities from his perch on the couch.
Sound Control and Temperature Control
When we’re heading out for a bike ride for a couple hours, the dogs stay behind in the camper. We take them for a good, long walk first (Buddy gets at least an hour, while Toby and his arthritic knees only need 20 minutes). Then we close all the windows, turn the air conditioner (or at least the fan) on high and put on the dulcet voices of NPR on the radio.
Buddy sometimes barks for a minute or two when he realizes I’m outside and he’s inside (he has separation anxiety and his nickname is Velcro) but he settles down pretty quickly once he can’t see me out of the window. Toby just climbs onto his couch and takes a snooze. Between the sound of the fan and the radio, they both sleep and stay quiet.
Once we head out, I make a quick stop at the office to let someone know we’re leaving and the dogs are alone in the camper with my cell phone so someone can get in touch with me if there are any problems.
Obviously, if you’re tent or car camping leaving the dogs behind isn’t a smart or safe choice. Never put your dog in unsafe situation, remember how hot it can get in a car, even with the windows cracked.
When we first started camping, we left the dogs alone for under an hour at a time to be sure they were behaving. Know your dog, know the surroundings, check the weather, and be smart.
If the campground has unreliable electricity, I would never leave the dogs alone in a hot camper.
Leash and Clean Up After Your Dogs
Always keep your dog on a leash at the campground. There is nothing worse than a dog wandering over to my dogs and starting a bark-fest, followed by some indignant owner with the audacity to act like my dogs were the bad ones because they barked at a random dog in their faces. Just because your precious pup wouldn’t hurt a fly doesn’t mean every dog is the same. Keep your dog safe and on a leash. If your dog hates being on a leash, a campground isn’t the place for you, I’d suggest looking into boondocking where there aren’t other people or dogs around.
And for the love of God, clean up after your dogs. Pack lots of poop bags, carry multiple bags with you on every single walk and pick it up right away. Don’t ruin it for all of us.
Be Quiet
If your dog is a barker, work on that before you take him camping with you. Most campgrounds may ask you to leave if your dogs are disruptive. Obviously dogs bark, no one expects them to be silent all the time (well, some grumpy, non-dog people do) but make sure your dog can be quiet.
Have fun!
Our dogs love the adventure of camping – as soon as they see the trailer on the street, they go nuts with excitement. They get lots of exercise, get to smell so many new, interesting things and they get to meet new people. Spend time doing things with your dogs and enjoy the time together!
