When you go camping with your dog it’s important to keep a couple of things in mind to keep things safe and enjoyable for your dog and other animals.
Keep them on a leash
There are lots of animals in forests and it’s important to keep your dog safe from them. There are bears, rattle snakes, wolves and more animals in forests that can easily hurt your dog. Even a squirrel can hurt a dog in certain situations. In addition to animals there are many different plants that can hurt your dog if eaten. It’s important to keep your dog close to you to protect them from these risks.
Give them lots of water
No matter what you are doing on your trip make sure you give your dog lots of water. If you are going on long hikes or spending the day in the sun make sure you keep them hydrated. If you won’t have access to a lake make sure you carry a bowl and water for them to drink from when needed.
Store their food how you store yours
Your dogs food can attract other animals so it’s important to make sure it is stored correctly. Make sure you never bring or leave their food into your tent. When I am camping with a car I store it in the car, out of sight of the windows with the windows up. When backcountry camping I store it in our food bag and hang it from a tree so animals can’t get to it. It is also important not to leave their food out in the bowl when you leave the site. Animal food can attract squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons, bears and many other animals and you don’t want to attract them to your site. They will get more comfortable with people and keep coming back if they are getting food there.
Evaluate if the activities you plan on doing are suitable for your dog
My dog loves doing most things I do when camping but it’s important to know their abilities and limits. I went on a long hike with him last year where he was getting tired much earlier than I was used to so now I try to keep hikes with him to a shorter distance and I make sure to give him lots of breaks and water. If your dog doesn’t like very long hikes, don’t bring them on very long ones. If your dog is very young or an elderly dog keep in mind they may not be up for longer hikes. My dog also loves going in the kayak with us and is a great swimmer but sometimes the waves get very large, making it more difficult to swim if the kayak were to tip. I now start using a dog life jacket for these situations. Every dog has different abilities, it’s important to know your dog and evaluate what they can do. Also, it’s good to note that some campgrounds, yurts and cabins have dog restrictions. Make sure you look up the limitations of where you are staying before you go.
Evaluate of the conditions and if they would be enjoyable for your dog
Look at the time of the year and the conditions of the area you are going to determine if they will be suitable for your dog. If it is really hot or cold out make sure your dog can withstand those temperatures. You don’t want your dog getting heat stroke on your trip. It’s also a good idea to think of the amount of bugs and the time of the year before going camping with your dog. Bugs still bite dogs and it is very uncomfortable and irritating for them. I would avoid bringing my dog backcountry camping in June to avoid the black flies and deer flies. I would love to hear about any ways to help deter bugs from biting your dog when camping!
I hope some of these tips help if you are planning a camping trip with your dog and I would love to hear some of your tips for camping with dogs!
