Tips for Camping with Your Dog

It's time for Summer get-a-ways and family vacations.  If your vacation plans include camping with your dog along, here are some tips and links that you might find helpful!

Safety First 

• Make sure your dog's vaccinations are current and that you have adequate supplies of any medications he may need.  It's the great outdoors and the Fleas, Ticks and other biting insects will be plentiful, so preventative applications are going to help.  
• Put together a Doggie First Aid Kit with items like: ear & eye drops, tick tweezers, bandages, antiseptic, rubbing alcohol and poison absorb gel for pets.
• Take precautions in case your dog gets lost, keep identification on him.  Make sure your dog is tagged with contact information. at the very least.  Micro chipping or tattooing is a much better method as collars and tags can become damaged and lost.

Keeping Tabs on Your Dog

• Consider a "Play Pen" for your dog.  There are many options for folding wire pens to give your pooch room to play, yet keep them away from campfires, etc.
• Bring extra leashes and ropes.  If you are in a campground, you will be required to keep you dog on a leash.  You can also make a zip line tying a rope between two trees and suspending a leash from it.  *It is recommended to use a harness with the zip line, as your dog may pull and choke. NEVER tie your dog up with a choke or pinch collar on.

Food & Water

• Avoid upset stomachs by bringing plenty of your dog's regular food.  Make sure you have packed enough clean drinking water for everyone, including your dog.  Our dogs can get sick from drinking lake, stream or puddle water, so don't encourage it.  Bring a container to pour bottled water into if you are out hiking or playing.  Also, if you are getting lots of exercise from hiking, etc., you are building up an appetite and so is your dog.  He may need extra food to make up for all the fun you are having!

Bring Familiar Items for Sleeping and Play

• Having familiar toys and blanket/sleeping pad will help your dog feel better about being in a strange place.

Plenty of Exercise

• Exercise is a stress reliever for all of us, including our dogs.  Plus, the bonus of a well exercised dog...he's tired!  Get out and explore.  If you are camping in Western Crawford County, PA..come visit us at the Conneaut Lake Bark Park!

Need more information? These links just might make your tail wag!

• Your Dog in America's Campgrounds
• How to Camp with Your Dog
• Instructions for a "Trolley" System Zip Line  I couldn't find a direct link to instructions using a leash but, just make sure you slip one of the ropes ends through the leashes looped end before securing the rope to the tree.  I don't agree with chaining up dogs for any extended period of time, but this method will keep your dog safe while providing him with some room to move and enjoy his immediate environment.
• Hiking or Backpacking with your dog

Do you have some "Camping with Your Dog" tips to share? Post them in the comments!