Tips for Camping with Dogs

If there's one thing Jasper and I love doing outside together, it's sleeping under the stars far away from the crowds. I've been bringing Jasper on camping trips with me since the week I brought him home, I knew I wanted him to be familiar in a tent & sleeping outside. Some of the best nights we've had together have been in the wilderness or in a campground. We're not experts, but we think we have some tips that could help you if you're looking to get into camping with your dog!

1. Come prepared, bring the essentials.
When you're packing for you and your dog, there are a lot more items you have to bring with you for a successful trip. Depending on what activities you plan on doing during your camping trip, you might want to consider the following items:

• Dog Booties - Great for snow or really hot days on hot surfaces
• Doggy Pack - Great for backpacking
• Lots & lots of water - Especially if you're camping without water nearby, you never want your dog to be dehydrated, or yourself!
• More than enough dog food (in case the trip unexpectedly last longer than planned) - Just be sure to keep it safe from wild critters
• Dog Energy - If you're going to be hiking long distances, consider bringing a dog meal bar like Turbo Pup
• Poop Bags - Always pick up after your pet & pack it in, pack it out!
• Leash - There are lots of temptations your dog will want to leave camp for, make sure they stay by your side by bringing a leash or hitch system
• Dog Bowl - We love the collapsable Bivy Bowl from Ruffwear, they pack down small and go everywhere
• A Collar Light - This will ensure you can always see your dog at night
• Dog Sleeping Pad - This is super important if you're camping on snow, more for comfort in the summer months
• Dog Jacket - Jasper doesn't really need one of these, but pups with less fur will in colder temps
• Tick Remover - Always check your dog before going to sleep and be sure to have a safe way to remove if they do get a tick
• Doggy First Aid Kit - These have all the essentials in them, we love ours from Adventure Medical (it also has a tick remover!)

2. Research locations before your trip.
Not all locations allow dogs, so do your research before you bring your dog camping. Most National Parks allow dogs but in a very restricted manner. Depending on the park, you can usually only have dogs on paved roads/trails, in campgrounds and in parking lots. Which means you can usually camp with them, but if you're planning on hitting the trails during the day, you may not be able to bring your dog & therefore may want to look to other areas for recreation. Most Wilderness & National Forests allow dogs on trails as long as their on the leash, and therefore you can hike in with them to camp in dispersed locations - just make sure you do your research before planning any big hiking/camping trips and make sure your dog can join! 

3. If your dog has never camped & might be scared, start small.
Jasper has been camping since I adopted him at 4 months old, so he's insanely comfortable sleeping outside, but some dogs aren't and they might not do well on their first trip. If you want to bring your dog into the backcountry, but aren't sure how they might do, start somewhere close like your backyard or a campground close to town. This will help both of you get used to camping together! 

4. Enjoy your time together!
As I mentioned before, some of my best trips have been camping outside with Jasper. We cuddle hard at night, hike to beautiful places during the day and take thousands of pictures & share memories that will last a lifetime. Be sure to enjoy the trip and make sure your dog is too! ​