Camping with your dog

Spending a whole week or two, camping in the great outdoors, with your canine companion – what could be better? Being prepared prior to beginning your adventure is crucial. Here, we list some of the key considerations, along with items you should bring, to make your trip the best it can be.

The first thing you should do when deciding to take your dog camping with you is to research dog-friendly sites. Do this prior to your trip. Make sure any campsite you are looking to visit welcomes dogs. Research online and call ahead to confirm dog are allowed.

Sleeping – ideally, you will have a large tent, which allows for plenty of room for both yourself and your dog to relax. A separate sleeping compartment for your dog is ideal, so long as you can ensure the dog stays within the tent at night and doesn’t somehow escape!

What to bring

• Collar (with your contact details) and leads.
• Ground spike, to ensure your dog remains in your camping area, and so you don’t always have to hold onto them!
• Food – take your dog’s regular food, it’s best not to change their eating habits.
• Water – make sure you have enough bottled water for both the drive down to the campsite, and then any day trips you make whilst there. Water may not always be readily available.
• Dog bowls
• Poop bags (most campsites that accept dogs will have a suitable disposal area)
• Towels
• Dog bed – something familiar from home to help them settle, their favourite toy may also be a good idea.
• Blankets – night time when camping isn’t always the warmest, so make sure you have some extra blankets for your dog, as well as yourself.
• First aid kit – just in case something happens whilst you are out and about.