Camping With Your Dog: Making Your Next Adventure a Little More Fun
The tent goes up, the bags come out of the car and your dog knows something is happening.
They might not know exactly what, but they’re usually more than happy to be involved.
Then you arrive somewhere completely unfamiliar, open the car door and suddenly your dog has more important things to do than listen to anything you say.
There are smells everywhere. New paths to investigate. Birds making suspicious noises in the trees. Other dogs wandering around. And apparently every patch of grass needs a thorough inspection.
That’s what makes camping with a dog so much fun.
You get to see them enjoying somewhere completely new, and because you’re outside most of the day, there’s plenty of time to explore together.
It does take a little planning, but once you’ve got the basics sorted, having your dog along can turn an ordinary camping trip into a proper adventure.
The first few minutes can be quite entertaining
Getting to the campsite can feel like the end of the journey for you.
For your dog, it’s just the beginning.
While you’re thinking about where the tent should go, they’re busy working out who has been there before, what’s hiding behind the nearest tree and whether that smell coming from three pitches away needs investigating immediately.
I like giving them a bit of time to have a look around before getting too caught up in unpacking.
Once the excitement settles down, they tend to relax a lot more.
And if you’ve got a particularly enthusiastic explorer, you might find that putting the tent up becomes a spectator sport.
A familiar bit of home goes a long way
Camping is exciting, but it can also be a strange environment for a dog.
New noises.
Different smells.
People walking past.
Tents flapping in the wind.
Someone on the next pitch deciding that now is the perfect time to start making a lot of noise.
Having something familiar from home can make a big difference.
A favourite blanket or bed gives them somewhere they recognise, even if everything else around them is new.
Some dogs are perfectly happy sleeping in the tent with you. Others like having their own little corner.
If you’re looking for something specifically for camping, there are different options in the Pet Camping section, including things designed to make travelling and sleeping outdoors a little easier.
Then there’s the walking
This is probably the best bit.
At home, you might walk the same routes all the time.
When you’re camping, suddenly there’s a whole new area to explore.
You set off thinking you’ll have a quick wander and come back for breakfast.
Then your dog finds an interesting path.
You follow it.
Then there’s a field.
Then a bit of woodland.
Then another path that looks like it might lead somewhere interesting.
Before you know it, that “quick walk” has turned into a proper morning adventure.
It’s one of the reasons camping and dogs seem to work so well together.
It’s worth knowing what’s around before you set off, particularly if there are livestock, wildlife or places where dogs need to be kept on a lead.
Mud is almost guaranteed
You can check the weather.
You can pack a towel.
You can choose the driest campsite you can find.
None of this matters.
If there is one patch of mud within walking distance, your dog will probably find it.
And they’ll enjoy every second of it.
A towel near the tent entrance is probably one of the most useful things you can pack. An old blanket can also give them somewhere to sit while they’re drying off.
After a while, you stop worrying quite so much about the state of the dog.
The state of the tent is another matter.
Keep water within easy reach
A long walk, warm weather and all that exploring can leave your dog needing more water than usual.
I find it’s easier when their water is ready to grab rather than buried somewhere underneath half the camping gear.
A travel bowl is handy for walks too, particularly if you’re going somewhere where there aren’t many places to stop.
And yes, your dog may completely ignore the fresh water you’ve brought and head straight for a puddle.
You can only do your best.
The evening is usually when they finally slow down
After a full day outside, even the most energetic dog eventually runs out of steam.
That’s when camping gets really nice.
The walking is done.
The food is sorted.
The tent is up.
Everyone settles down.
Your dog finds a comfortable spot and gradually falls asleep while you sit outside with a drink and watch the light disappear.
It’s one of those simple camping moments that you don’t really plan.
You just end up sitting there thinking that this is exactly why you came.
Until your dog suddenly hears something in the bushes and decides the evening isn’t finished after all.
Let them enjoy the new surroundings
One of the nicest things about taking a dog camping is watching them experience somewhere new.
They don’t need entertaining every minute.
They’ll happily spend ages sniffing around, watching what’s happening and following every interesting smell they can find.
There can be a lot going on around a campsite too. Birds in the trees, squirrels disappearing into bushes and the occasional rustle that immediately gets your dog’s attention.
It all becomes part of the experience.
Sometimes the simplest trips are the best
There’s a temptation when taking a dog camping to pack everything.
Every toy.
Every blanket.
Every bowl.
Enough food for a small army.
Three different leads for reasons nobody can explain.
But you don’t necessarily need that much.
Once you’ve got somewhere comfortable for them to sleep, food, water and the things you normally take on a walk, you’ve got most of what matters.
The rest is about getting outside and enjoying the time together.
Pet Camping Checklist
Before heading off, it’s worth having a quick check that you’ve got the basics.
Food and water
Dog food
Treats
Plenty of fresh water
Food and water bowls
Travel bowl for walks
Sleeping and comfort
Dog bed or blanket
Familiar toy
Towel for muddy or wet paws
Extra blanket if the weather is likely to be cold
Dog tent or shelter if your dog uses one
Walking
Lead
Spare lead
Collar or harness
Poop bags
Dog towel
Water for longer walks
Just in case
Any medication your dog normally needs
Basic pet first aid supplies
Contact details for your vet
Identification details
A recent photo of your dog, just in case
Before leaving home
It’s also worth checking the campsite’s rules about dogs, finding out whether there are any nearby restrictions and having a rough idea of where you’ll be able to walk.
That little bit of preparation can save you having to work everything out after you’ve arrived.
The best bit is having them along
Camping with a dog isn’t always perfectly tidy.
There’ll probably be muddy paws.
There may be a wet towel hanging from something.
Your dog will almost certainly disappear behind a bush because they’ve discovered something fascinating.
And at some point, you’ll probably find yourself standing in a field wondering how a ten minute walk turned into two hours.
But that’s the adventure.
You get to explore somewhere new together, spend most of the day outside and come back to the tent tired and happy.
And once you’ve done it a few times, your dog will probably recognise the signs that a camping trip is coming.
The tent comes out.
The bags appear.
The car gets packed.
And suddenly you’ve got a very excited camping companion waiting by the door.
Which is probably all the encouragement you need to start planning the next trip.