Taking your dog camping can add a whole list of benefits to your camping trip. The kids can enjoy hours of fun exploring the bush with their four legged friend and you don’t have to stress about leaving your dog alone at home. They will happily guard the campsite and your camping gear and would love nothing more than to be your loving companion for the whole trip. But with pet friendly campsites being harder to find and additional restrictions being put in place, what do we need to know before we take the family pet camping? How do we adequately prepare to ensure the experience is memorable for the whole family, even the pooch? With a little extra preparation, the right camping gear and a few simple techniques you can safely enjoy a memorable camping trip with whole family including your best mate!   

EQUIPMENT

Preparation is the key to a happy trip away with your dog. There are a few basic essential bits of camping gear required to help your trip run effortlessly smooth. Dogs will inevitably require a lead and collar for legal and safety reasons at some stage on a trip away so it’s wise to also pack spares. Dog waste bags are essential when touring public areas and be sure to carry plenty of food and treats as dog food may become harder to find when you’re travelling. Allowing extra water is essential especially during warmer conditions, but a great idea is to actually keep a jerry can and water bucket easy to access specifically for your dog. Specific equipment may be required for the terrain or climate you intend on travelling to. For example, a cold climate may require a dog coat, thick bedding and an enclosed kennel to keep warm. With this in mind it’s wise to take the time to plan and pack specifically for your pet. Nobody wants a destructive pet when camping so try bringing a few chew toys to keep him occupied.

We’ve all been guilty of losing the camp dog for a few minutes at night, especially if the dog is dark in colour. A great way to keep track of their whereabouts is to attach a glow stick to the top of their collar. It’s a cheap and simple way to make camping with dogs just that little bit easier.

LOST AND FOUND

If you do happen to lose your dog, it’s a good idea to leave a piece of your clothing on the ground where you last saw them – hanging off your camping gear. The dogs can follow the scent back to the clothing so check the spot every hour or two as you may find them sitting there waiting for you to return.

CAMP RESTRAINTS

After camping with your dog a few times you begin to realise the importance of a reliable pet restraint around camp. A lead rope attached to a secure mounting point on your 4WD or camper trailer is a great way to do so as long as there’s plenty of shade and water available. But restraining dogs on leads unsupervised is not recommended as tangles are a huge safety concern if left unattended. For longer time periods a dog crate, kennel or even a portable dog yard for smaller dogs is the preferred method but this will depend on your pet’s particular requirements. At the end of the day, you need to provide a safe location to secure or house your pet when you are not able to provide adequate supervision.    

Dogs by nature are protective animals. I know for our pups, at the first hint of another animal or person walking around camp he’s the first to make a fuss. It’s a great sense of security if you’re in croc territory or somewhere with dangerous animals, but can be a pain if you’re down at your favorite beach sharing the waterfront with other campers – and other dogs.

Every time we go camping our dog sleeps on the back seat of the ute. It’s comfortable, out of the weather, secure and it’s isolated from other animals. You’ve got to exercise a little common sense here – if it’s in the middle of summer and the temps are climbing you might need to think of an alternative. But apart from that, it’s a worry-free solution and a great night’s sleep for you and your pet. The right camping gear taken along with you will make all the difference to your pup’s comfort.

BASIC TRAINING

Taking a well behaved dog camping can be great fun, but bringing an untrained dog along can be nothing but trouble. Basic training and socialisation is crucial to a happy camping experience. Simple commands such as come, sit, lie down and stay will prove to be more valuable than you think. But investing the time into some extra training for things like staying away as you prepare food or eat and going to bed on command will be greatly appreciated in the long run. A dog with good manners is a pleasure around camp and usually welcome around other campers. However excessive barking, dogs allowed off-leash or dog waste around camp is sure to cause problems.

JUST GET OUT AND DO IT!

As long as you get the basics right, and you’ve got the right camping gear for dogs, then there’s not a whole lot that can go wrong. Camping with your dog can be incredibly rewarding, and you’ll know that they’re having the time of their life too, instead of being stuck at home. A parting thought – remember to always check for 1080 baiting before you let your dog out, and of course keep their flea and tick medication up, particularly if you’re coastal camping or somewhere humid. Once you get a few camping trips with your dog under your belt, they’ll become as essential a part of your camping gear as your swag!