Summertime camping is one of the best things you can do, not only for your family but for your dog! My dog, Lily, absolutely loves camping. She immediately knows what is happening when we start packing up the camper. As soon as our wheels touch the campground, she is all smiles and excitedly crying. This post is for the camping canines, like Lily, and how beneficial the outdoor time can be for dogs
Outdoor Enrichment
Being outdoors most of the day, while camping, is so beneficial for the doggie brain. The smells alone can relieve boredom in dogs for days to come. Take your dog on a nice walk around the campground and let them take in all the sniffs. Walking and sniffing is such a great exercise for the dog’s body and mind!
Even better than around the campground, take your pup on a hike! There are many more smells on a nice hiking trail. One of my favorite things to do is bring a long line while hiking and allow the dog to go off the trail and sniff in and out of the wooded area. Letting a dog track is so fun for them! Just make sure to be respectful to other dogs also using the trail and reel your pup into a shorter leash to walk by.
Another great enrichment exercise for your canine friend is swimming! There are lots of campgrounds that have swimming areas for your dog. Get a long line and some tennis balls and get a game of fetch going in and out of the water! It is also a great way to cool off on a hot day!
Camping Canine Socialization
Campgrounds are always filled with other dogs and humans who love canine companions! If someone asks to pet your dog, and as long as your dog is comfortable, allow your dog to say hi! Take the opportunities so your dog can meet as many new people as possible. There are so many different types of people so it is great socialization for younger, and older, pups.
If there is a neighboring camping canine, you can always ask the owners if your pups can play! There are even some campgrounds in the United States that have dog parks within the grounds. Check out this post on puppy play to help make sure everyone plays appropriately and respectfully.
Finding New Dog Friendly Businesses
When my family started camping together back in 2018, we started off camping in a tent. The rules of the campground were that you could not leave dogs unattended, in a tent. So whenever we wanted to take a day trip, everyone got to come. Because of this I learned that there are so many dog friendly businesses out there.
If you are in a new area, research the local small businesses and see if you can bring your furchildren along. One of the most dog friendly types of businesses is wineries! There is often a dog friendly patio and it makes for a relaxing day to sip some wine on a shady patio with the pups.
Lily, Gryffin, and Remi’s favorite spots have to be the ice cream shops. There is always a pupsicle on the menu for doggies! This is especially yummy after a long hike on a nature trail!
Training Time
As a dog trainer, of course I am going to throw this in here! Training with your dog in a place that is out of their element is a great way to test their skills. So many distractions and new things! Taking them on a walk where they are getting new commands throughout the exercise really tests their limits. Your dog has to focus on your and what you are going to say next instead of the barking dog or laughing children.
One of the most fun things is working with your dog on a jungle gym. There will always be a children’s playground and if the jungle gym is free, work with your dog! Have the pup go up and down the stairs, jump off platforms, or walk through the tunnels! If you have a confident adventurous dog, even try teaching them to go down the slide! Agility-like exercises like this makes one confident camping canine!
Best Camping Canine Supplies
Camping Canine ID Tag
A durable ID tag is a must. My lovely Dalmatian has slipped his harness twice now while camping so he could go visit the neighbors. If we did not realize he was on an adventure, his ID tag would have sent him home very quickly. Make sure it is clean and legible. My personal preference is to have a flat style ID tag so that there is a smaller chance of the ID tag getting caught and breaking off the collar. Putting multiple numbers on there is very helpful because there are multiple people who can be contacted if your dog has been found by a good samaritan.
Stake and Tie-Out-Cable
While camping, your dog needs to be secured to something. Even if they have the best recall, campgrounds will not allow a dog to just be loose on a campsite. Having a ground stake and cable line is perfect for any style site. If the ground is soft enough, you can put the stake into the ground and then hook the dog to that. For those sites where the ground is full of rocks or mostly a concrete pad, the cable line can be hooked to the camper or a tree. There are many different sizes for each kind of dog as well!
Crate or Playpen
When it comes to tent camping, the space is quite small and air mattresses deflate quite quickly if there is too much weight. Having easy collapsible and lightweight crates makes for a great sleeping spot for your dog. The best one for camping would be a soft shell crate. This way there is a lower risk of tearing a tent floor. They are also very easy to store and move around. A crate can also come in handy for a quick trip to the bathroom, so your dog is away and secure when not on your campsite.
A playpen is always a great thing to have when camping with small dogs or puppies! This way they are nice and secure with a smaller amount of yard to hang out in. Most outdoor playpens come with ground stakes so the walls are secured into the ground.
Raised Outdoor Dog Bed
Sometimes you will get to a campsite and the ground will be full of rocks and gravel. Having a raised outdoor dog bed will make your pup so much more comfortable when they’re outside lounging around. They are easy to store and so lightweight! I don’t think I can go camping without my dog’s outdoor beds.
Water Resistant Dog Bed
When it comes to those days inside, campers or tents do not have a lot of spots for your dog to lounge around on. Having a dog bed dedicated to those camping days is nice for your dog to snooze on after a day of playing in the sun. I suggest a water resistant type because they are easier to clean and can be used outside without getting damaged.
Water Jug
Throughout my years of camping, the water bowls have always been a struggle. They always get extremely dirty or tipped over. Until I started using a water dispensing jug. Having a jug for the camping weekend water supply is great because it is too heavy to tip over by the longlines. Also you only need to fill it once or twice a weekend rather than everyday if you were using a bowl. They stay pretty clean as well, being a little elevated off the ground!
Hiking Harness
Having a durable harness that is comfortable for your dog is a must if you are going to go on nature trail hikes. When it comes to it, having multiple hook options is so beneficial. This way you can hook your dog to the front or the back, plus have left over hooks for your camping canine to carry their own water bowl or first aid kit.
Hiking Leash
When it comes to hiking, there are two options for leashes. If the trail is easy to maneuver and more of a leisurely stroll, then using a regular leash is fine. When it comes down to mountain hiking or intense trails, you may want to go hands free. Having a hands free leash is perfect. There is a belt that goes around your body and then a leash that clips to you and your dog. There is even bungee material in the leash so the dog can pull a little and not get injured.
Long Line
Like I talked about above, having a long line when hiking helps your dog get right into the woods and use their tracking abilities! It is a great tool to have for an enrichment activity, for sure! Just remember to keep the dog safe and courteous to other dogs in the area.
Clip On Light
At night, campgrounds can get pretty dark! Not all of them have lights on the roads and a lot of sites are tucked back into the woods. Having a light hooked onto your dog is a great idea because it will be easier to keep track of them at night. It is also a great safety device if you are walking on the road with your dog past sunset.
Poop Bags and Holder
Buy poop bags in bulk. I’m telling you, you will use them if you are a regular camper. I will share with you my favorite poop bag holder, here. This holder can hold up to three rolls of poop bags so you never have to worry about having the last bag. Also it is so secure it doesn’t bounce around during a walk or hike, hitting your knuckles or becoming loose and falling off. Also it comes with an amazing holder for used bags. So you never have to hold a bag full of poop again!
Collapsible Water Dish
These water dishes are a must if you are going hiking! Get a couple different sizes and ones with carabiners on them. This way you can hook it right to your camping canine’s harness. They are so easy to pop open, fill, clean, and be on your way! You could even get extra large ones and use them for your dog’s meals.
Camping Canine First Aid Kit
Better to be safe, than sorry. Always, always, always have a dog first aid kit handy. I have two first aid kits. One I keep in the camper. It is a large heavy duty kit for real emergencies. Then I have a second smaller kit that clips onto one of the dogs for when we are going on a hike. Another important part of your first aid kit is to have Tick Tweezers. These come in handy if your dog is ever bit by a tick when hiking or camping.
Cleaning Supplies
There will come a time where your dog gets dirty while camping! Either it is raining and they make a run for the mud or they get dirty while hiking. Having spare towels in the camper or tent for your dog is a quick and easy way to dry them off. A portable paw wash cleaner is a must have when camping. Just add water and a drop of soap then push your dogs paw in and out to clean their feets!
Tennis Balls
What dog doesn’t love tennis balls? These toys are so handy to have when camping because fetch is such a great exercise and they are disposable. If you lose a tennis ball, it only costs you a few cents. You can play fetch in a big field, the water, or on your campsite. Don’t forget your tennis ball launcher! What is fetch without a good throwing assistant!
Chair to Share
After a long day of camping fun, there is no better way to end the day than sitting by a fire. Your dog would agree and why not get them a chair of their own to relax in? My favorite is the loveseat camping chairs. One side for you, the other for your camping canine.
