There’s not much better than being outdoors with your pup, and camping really takes the cake for ultimate outdoor adventure. Your pup can enjoy the freedom of the great outdoors, and watching their joy as they frolic amongst wildflowers and swim in lakes is simply the best. But you can’t just show up to the campground and expect everything to be perfect, it takes discipline and prior preparation. You’ll need to plan well ahead and should take extra precautions for a successful adventure!
Medical
First and foremost, you should already be familiar with the basics of medical coverage and make sure your pup is up to date on all their medical needs before you decide to take them camping. As part of your preparation, it’s important to account for camping related medical resources such as tick treatment and regular check-ups.
Getting regular check-ups and stocking up on medical supplies before you head out will ensure that you’re fully prepared for emergencies on the trail and that you won’t discover any underlying health issues while you’re far away from home. This is particularly important if your pup is predisposed to genetic illness or has a known condition.
Pet-friendly campgrounds
Do your research! It’s important to make sure that the campground allows pets and is appropriate for dogs. Most informal campgrounds do but if you aren’t sure, try to get in touch with the campground host as they’ll be able to confirm if your pup is welcome. They might even be able to recommend the best trails for you to hike!
Things are a little trickier if you plan on visiting National Parks, where pet restrictions are in place to protect wildlife. Fortunately, you can use the NPS pet service map to double-check whether your pup is welcome at a park before you pack up and hit the road.
Getting the right gear for walking
Some dogs love roaming far and wide and will go dashing into the undergrowth as soon as you let them off the leash. Sometimes, this laissez-faire approach works and allows you both to relax and enjoy the great outdoors. However, letting your dog off-leash while camping can potentially be dangerous, and requires great discipline on the part of you and your dog.
Judging whether or not your pup is ready to go off-leash is tricky. As a general rule, your pup should be a constant companion while you’re camping and hiking. If they go missing for more than a minute or they regularly escape, they aren’t ready to explore freely. Ideally, they’ll stay well within eyesight for the duration of your adventure, and will immediately respond to any commands you give them.
Putting your pup on a leash while camping might sound restrictive, but many dogs prefer being on the lead and it also helps to ensure that your pup won’t disrupt the environment around them.
Sleeping time
While we all know sharing the bed with our pup can feel more like trying to squeeze into their bed when you’re at home, figuring out where your dog sleeps when camping is a completely different concept. Most campers like to share the tent with their pup (as long as you clean their muddy paws first!). Sometimes pups may feel comfortable on a blanket outside if the weather is warm or more secure in their own tent. It’s important to figure out what situation is most comfortable for both you and your pup to enjoy the camping experience together!
Don’t forget the poop bag!
Pups don’t know that they’re in “nature.” This means that you have to be an excellent pet parent while camping with your pup and be extra vigilant to pick up their waste and properly dispose of their food and water. The best practice is to bring ample poo-bags with you and pack it all out with you at the end of your trip to make sure you’re not disrupting the natural environment. If this isn’t possible, you should bury your pup’s poop at least 6 inches deep and far away from any potential water sources.
Enjoy the outdoors together!
Your pup will love spending time outdoors and sleeping under the stars. However, camping with your dog requires great responsibility on your part, as you’ll need to ensure that your pet is safe, comfortable, and isn’t harming nature in any way. Start by planning your adventure early, and only visit campgrounds that are pet friendly. Keep your pup on a leash and maintain a close eye on them at all times to ensure that your camping trip is a success.
Want to get outdoors with your pup? Share your favorite adventure stories with us at whatthepup@spotandtango.com!
