We know that sometimes your home away from home is a trailer hidden in the woods. And you can't feel like your second home without your dog by your side. With summer in full swing, we've compiled the ultimate safety guide for camping with your dog! Camping with your dogs requires some preparation and safety precautions so you and your dogs can enjoy a safe and fun outdoor adventure, but we are here to help! We've covered important health and safety precautions as well as how to lay the right foundations of safety and comfort for your beloved furry family members, and we'll equip you with important safety tips and information to keep your dogs safe in and around your campsite.
In This Guide You Will Find:
Before You Go: Health Checks and Safety Supplies
Preparation for Your Dog
Best Practices Safe for Dogs at the Campground
Before You Go: Health Checks and Safety Supplies
This section covers all the before you go information, preventative veterinary care tips, and more to consider before planning a camping trip with your dog.
First things first: schedule a visit to the vet for a checkup. Ordinary camping hazards can quickly turn into serious hazards if your dog's health is not optimal, so you should discuss your camping plans with your veterinarian. If you plan to take your dog on a backpack, you will want to make sure your dog is physically ready for the task. Dogs that are aging or chronically ill may not be able to keep up with a physically intimidating walk, so in such a scenario it may be wise to leave your dog with a trusted groomer.
Check your dog's records or double-check with your regular veterinarian to make sure you're on top of all preventative care, such as basic vaccinations like the rabies vaccine, as it's possible your dog has encountered a wild animal with the disease. great outdoors.
Take a Trip to the Vet
Pests such as fleas and ticks are common in woodland areas where most people choose to camp. Consider getting your dog vaccinated for Lyme disease and make sure they are treated with flea and tick prevention. Additionally, heartworms are transmitted through mosquito bites, so for optimum protection, make sure your dog's preventive heartworm treatment is up to date.
Pack a first aid kit with the essentials. A few must-have items for dogs include:
Coated aspirin for pain. Use with caution and only give the recommended dose (between 5 mg and 10 mg per kilogram of body weight). You can also consider a safer alternative, but your best bet is to talk to your veterinarian before your trip for specific advice.
Tweezers or tick removal tools and scissors
Butterfly bandages, gauze and/or bandages designed for pets to cover wounds.
Applying alcohol or antiseptic to clean wounds.
First aid gel or spray designed for pets.
If your pet regularly takes medication for a chronic health condition, take enough medication for the duration of your trip and for at least a few extra days. You never know what you will encounter in the wild, so it's better to be safe than sorry. Make copies of your dog's health records, including his vaccination history, and locate the nearest veterinary clinic to your campsite before you leave. Save or print out the phone number and instructions for easy access in an emergency. Finally, make sure your dog is microchip registered. It is up-to-date and has a tag with complete and accurate information for your pet so that finders can easily find you if your dog is lost. If you know ahead of time that you may not have reliable wireless service, you may want to consider adding your veterinarian's phone number or the contact information of a trusted friend or relative.
A leash corgi with a harness walking on a rocky trail.
Packing For Your Dog
This section covers the essential packing list for camping with your dog, including supplies for nutrition, water safety, and entertainment only.
For a camping trip with your furry friend, of course, you'll need more than just first aid supplies. Unless you're camping in a location with a readily available fresh water supply, you'll want to pack your dog's food and water containers as well as enough fresh water to last for the duration of your trip, plus a few more days. Keep in mind that if it's going to be hot, your dog may need to drink more water than usual. Get plenty of your dog's regular food and treats, too. Your dog will need to do his business as usual, so you will need a good supply. You will need a dog waste bag to keep your campsite free of waste and avoid disgruntled campers.
Also, the foam You'll want to pack a leash or two along with the supplies you'll need to strap your dog on when you're out and about. Make up your dog's bed so he can get a comfortable night's sleep. Some dogs prefer to sleep in their crates, but it's a good idea to get a dog crate or carrier regardless of whether you need to cover your pup. If the weather will be cooler in the evening, pack blankets or a dog jacket to keep your furry friend warm in the weather. If you're going anywhere near water, a dog life buoy is a good idea, plus plenty of extra towels to dry your dog off after a swim.
Do not forget about enrichment. Does your dog have a favorite toy? Get a few trinkets like balls, frisbees, and squeaky toys to entertain your dog. Other items you need to collect for your dog depend on your plans. If you're planning to go for a walk, for example, you'll want a portable water bowl that you can easily stash in your backpack to keep your dog hydrated throughout the day.
Be careful when swimming with your dog. Consider a life buoy for a dog that cannot swim well or is older.
Best Practices Safe for Dogs at the Campground
This section provides helpful tips for monitoring your dog's health and providing a safe environment for your dog and fellow campers.
Many campsites require dogs to be on a leash at all times. If you are going to a managed campground, make sure you know and understand the rules; some even specify the maximum cable length allowed. Some campgrounds ban dogs altogether, while others set limits on the size or number of dogs allowed. You need to research before you go.
Take care of your dog's health throughout your journey. If the weather is hot and humid, you can bet your dog is feeling the heat too. Watch for signs of heatstroke such as excessive panting, excessive drooling or foaming at the mouth, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, or seizures. If you suspect your dog is suffering from heatstroke, wrap your dog in a towel dipped in cold water and take him to a veterinarian immediately.
Ideally, you've already spent time training your dog, but if your dog isn't the best trained puppy in the pack, it's a good idea to start slowly and take a few short trips to see how it progresses as your dog is exposed to the many new experiences your dog will have over a period of time. camping trip. Many sights, sounds, people, and smells can put even well-trained dogs into a flurry of excitement, so learning how to work with your dog to test the waters and manage behavior will ensure not only his safety, but his safety as well. other campers and animals, both domestic and wild.
At a minimum, your dog should obey a few basic commands such as "sit", "stay" and "leave". If you do not know how your dog will react to strangers, especially excited children, be very careful in new situations until you are satisfied with your dog's temperament. These commands will come in handy in situations such as encountering poisonous plants or other dangerous substances; "Leave!" A dog that obeys your command. command will be much more easily manipulated than a dog who can't think of anything other than swallowing delicious-looking leaves or fruit. To be proactive in keeping your dog away from these dangerous plants, you should do your research to know which plants your dog should avoid and how to identify them.
First of all, have fun! A camping trip is a great opportunity to rest and relax. When you take the appropriate precautions and prioritize safety, a camping trip is an enjoyable bonding experience for humans and dogs alike.