The only thing better than spending time outdoors with your dog is watching how much your dog enjoys it. To make sure that you and your dog have a successful camping trip together, make sure you pack this essential gear.
Food, water, dishes
Your dog needs to stay fuelled on your adventures. Be sure to pack extra food and water, and don’t forget to take dishes.
Collapsible bowls are a great accessory to pack when hiking with a dog, but I prefer using stainless steel bowls around camp. I find that the collapsible bowls are flimsy and easy to knock over.
If you are leaving camp or going to bed, make sure that you take the same precautions with your dog’s food that you would with your own food:
- Store the food in air-tight containers
- Feed your dog away from camp so that the smell doesn’t attract wildlife
- If you are in a campground, store the food in a vehicle or hard-sided trailer
- If you are in the back country, hang the food in a tree at least 4 metres off the ground and a metre from any tree trunks that a bear could climb — should be downwind of your camping spot (100 metres away from camp is ideal)
- Don’t leave food out and pack out your trash
Leash and harness
Even if your dog has great recall, you’ll want to keep them on a leash or tether. Your dog could be the friendliest dog in the world but might not appear that way to the child in the campsite next to yours — or worse, to a predator. A short leash is nice for walks and a longer tether is great for around camp. You’ll also need something to tie the leash too, so be sure to bring a harness.
It is always a good idea for your dog to have some sort of identification in case it wanders off. The classic way to do this is with a collar, but if you want something permanent, a microchip is easy to get implanted during your next visit to the vet (and is relatively inexpensive).
Play time camping essentials
Make sure to pack your dog’s favorite toys — whether it is a plush toy, something squeaky, or a few tennis balls. Toys are important accessories for keeping your dog stimulated, which is key to preventing bad behaviour and is going to make your camping trip so much more enjoyable for both of you.
Even if your dog is not a swimmer, it can be handy to bring a towel. You never know when your dog might find a nice mud puddle to roll around in.
Wherever you are playing, keep an eye out for wildlife. A snake could be in the grass or a bear could be in the bushes.
Don’t forget the treats — no better distraction than having something to chew on!
Quiet time camping essentials
Your dog will need a comfortable place to lay down at the end of the day. Whether your dog is sleeping in a tent or a trailer, you just need a bed or some blankets for your dog to cuddle up in.
If you have a dog that gets… excited… you might want to consider somewhere for it to relax. A reactive dog might appreciate a quiet place to calm down during the day, like a crate with a blanket over it. Make sure the crate doesn’t become too warm.
It can get cold as the day winds down. I have a simple fleece jacket that fits my dog like a harness. I didn’t think that she would enjoy it, but she gets so excited to put it on. I think it’s because of all the attention she gets. A reflective harness or collar is nice for keeping an eye on your dog during a midnight pee.
Leave No Trace
Speaking of bathroom trips, pack baggies and be sure to clean up after your dog. Even though dog waste is biodegradable, practice the principle of Leave No Trace and don’t leave anything in the wilderness that wasn’t there before you arrived. Besides keeping things nice, this is also important because the waste can transmit pathogens and attract other animals to your campsite. And please throw out the bag after — you’d be surprised how many people leave their plastic-wrapped dog waste behind.
First aid
Just in case, create a wilderness first aid kit for your dog that includes the following:
- Gauze, bandages, adhesive wrap
- Tweezers
- Antibiotic ointment
- Styptic powder for bleeding nails
- Tick comb and removing tool
Before you head out, talk to your vet about options for flea and tick prevention, and about bringing along Benadryl in case of allergic reactions.
Crossing the border?
If your camping trip takes you over the border, you’ll need to bring your dog’s documentation. To cross the Canadian/US border, you need a valid rabies vaccination certificate. If you are crossing a different border, be sure to check the requirements on both sides.
Your dog’s camping trip packing list:
- Food, water, dishes
- Harness, short leash, long tether, collar
- Toys, treats, towels
- Bed, blankets, jackets
- Poop baggies
- First aid kit for dogs
- *Optional* – Vaccination records (if travelling internationally)
These are my dog camping essentials — do you recommend any other accessories? Let me know below. I hope your camping trip together is paw-fect!
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