Tent camping with a dog?

[rose angel]

We have a new dog! We would like to take him camping with us, but am unsure of the logistics. If you have camped with your dog, could you share your wisdom?
Thanks
Karen

[greenmagick]

I used to go camping with my dogs all the time, but I am not much help as it was private property so the dogs just ran loose. It rained a couple times on us and it was funny...two of them kind of laid out in it and tried to get under the car where my crazy pyscho but very smart dog went into the woods and built herself a little tent or something....the next morning when she came out she was totally dry...the rest of us were all soaked.

I never let them in the tent....there are ticks everywhere there.

[Norasmomma]

Our one dog likes to lay right in front of the tent or if she can she sleeps in our van. Our old dog also lays by the tent.

[Frogmorest]

We have a HUGE tent so we just bring their beds along and they sleep either on TOP of the kids or on their beds

[Sailor]

Tent camping works very well until 1. it rains/pours, 2. you get caught in the rain and mud. At which point, there is just no way to clean the dog from the mud 100%. Moreover, your whole tent will smell, intensely, of wet dog.

In good weather, though, camping with dogs is like camping at any other time. My dog sleeps in the tent, at our feet. I wipe his paws with a damp cloth before letting him into the tent. I also brush him before letting him into the tent (not an issue if your dog doesn't shed - mind does).

Generally speaking, when camping with a dog, I prefer to do it without a tent. Sleeping out in the open is WAY better than a tent. My dog is trained incredibly well ... so I don't ever worry about him leaving me. It's just not an issue.

So, if I can avoid the tent, and sleep outside - I do that. As much as I love my dog, I will NEVER again take him camping with me to wet places. It took weeks to air out my sleeping bag and tent to get rid of the potent "wet dog" smell.

[2boyzmama]

We have camped with one of our dogs. We didn't let her in the tent, it was a tiny pup tent, and aside from the space issue, I was nervous about her claws putting a hole in the tent. She was off-leash during the day, stayed near us very well, but we did chain her at night because she is the type that would chase animals at night. She just dug herself a "den" out of brush and leaves and got comfy. The first night she barked a lot, lots of coons and deer around I bet, but after that she was fine and would even start to gather her sleeping "supplies" just before sunset, knowing it would be time for bed soon!

[lifeguard]

Well my dog would not be content to be outside a tent all night if we were inside. But she did fabulously in the tent. I always make sure to bring an extra foam pad for her (we have one designated for her now), otherwise I wake up half way through the night on the ground while she snores happily on my pad!

[rainsmom]

When we tent camped, I had a small toyota truck with a shell, so the dogs slept in there. Another time they were in the tent with us (this was before our dd). Now we have a pop up tent trailer, and they sleep in there with us. My 14yo border collie mix loves to hang in there after a long hike.

When our dogs were younger and we were still tent camping, we used to bring a tie out with us....just in case. they would never take off, but you never know if they saw a squirrel, they might go chasing after it.

[SammysMama]

We tent camp with our dogs, it's really fun.

Make sure they have ID tags with your cell # not your home #, it makes for an easier return if lost.

At night, our dogs sleep in the car or in the tent with us, which ever is more comfortable for me.

During the day, we always use tie outs and ex-pens. When we camp for a long period of time, we set up a close line with a tie out for a "run" it works great. IMHO, puppies and small dogs do best in the Ex-pens with a bed, just be careful not to put them too close to the campfire, they don't like the smoke either

[Shera971]

I've only been camping in Provincial Parks where dogs must be leashed at all times. It works out well for our Huskey because he goes after ANYTHING small and furry. He slept in our tent and we still had him on the tie line because he seemed awfully curious about all the night time noise.

Ooo, just remember to bring enough poop bags. I had to ration once and that is just blech! I'd also recommend bringing a small first aid kit for the dog. We had just arrived at our site after a four hour trip and our dog rips his nail off by jumping out of the truck. Man, I've never heard a dog scream before and I hope to never again. Luckily a Park Ranger was walking by and he administered first aid. Then it was back in the truck to find a vet.

[just_lily]

Ours just find themselves a corner or the end of the air mattress and settle in for the night. They would completely flip out if we tried to leave them outside or in the vehicle (one has really bad seperation anxiety) but they sleep really well in the tent.

We keep them on tie outs all day, which is a pain because they are always getting stuck, but every campground I have ever been to has had it as a requirement.

We are going in two weeks and we will have four adults, one toddler and three large breed dogs in one tent. Thank goodness it is HUGE!!

[Lisalee2]

This thread is great. We're going camping in August for the first time with our 1 yo German Shepherd. We are planning on letting him sleep in the tent with us as he has always slept inside and I think he'd bark/whine too much if left out of the tent.

We'll definitely have to clean his paws well before he gets in though! And a good brushing will definitely be in order. He's a shedder!