Camping with a dog

[Shadrach]

We just got a dog ( a border collie cross ) and was wonder about what advise you could give me about takeing him with us when we go camping. I have a quad cab so he will ride in the back seat ( seat up ) with our daughter. He is well trained and doesn't bark much. There is room for him to sleep in the trailer with us. I have camped for years but not with a dog since I was a kid. Shadrach

 

[kenny61]

You will find they are much more enjoyable than the wife and kids... .

Just make sure you rememeber food, water, dishes,leashes, stake out. meds. copy of vaccinations and call ahead to make sure pets are allowed. Knowing a 24 hr vet number in the area could also be helpful. Make sure the dog is well labeled with a good collar and tag if you are going far consider chipping the hound

 

[ttbird]

Agree with kenny61 but must add that most camp grounds require that you pick up their bombs that they deposit. Some do have dedicated areas for walks. Not bad, and I have five Labs that travel sometimes with me. Just try to be considerate of others and you'll be fine.

 

[Ram4Sam]

I have broken in a number of camping dogs over the years, some dogs are good campers and others aren't. What I always did is make the first trip for the dog a short weekend trip to a local campground. That way you can see how the dog does and if it isn't going well with the dog, you can just pack up and go home. If your first trip in 500 miles away and a week or two long, and the dog(and his people) are having a rough time, it makes for a long miserable vacation for everybody.



Sam

 

[jelag]

I have 2 german short-hairs... one is 14 years old and the other is 18 months old. . both have been to the trainer... We've traveled with the older dog for the past 14 years... all the time we've had her...

We pick up after her... always have poop bags in a pouch on her leash... if necessary leave her in the trailer, and have left her in the truck with it running and locked on hot days where we can't take her with us... (into a store or for a meal)

We've never had a problem... we often leave her on a leash but not tied in camp when we are there... to meet the leash rule, but she won't wonder out of camp... that's the way she is... . Both dogs will heal on command without a leash and won't venture more than 2 ft away as we walk and will not go to another person, or animal without the point command...

The younger dog is not there yet... but very close...

We find the dogs much easier to care for than the kids when they were young... they (kids) are out of the house so it's just the 2 of us and the dogs...

We've never had a problem in a campground except for others who let their dog run... and end up in our camp...

Hope this helps. .

 

[AMink]

If you haven't, consider crate training you pooch. Our lab sits in the back seat of our Megacab in her crate. That way, if she is wet she's not dripping all over the kids and the truck. Also, the dog can't become a distraction to you or nuisance to the other riders. The crate you need is smaller than you think. My dog will go in her crate on her own; it is HER spot. If needed and the weather is cooperating, the crate goes in the bed and is strapped down. You can use the crate in your trailer with the A/C on if you have to leave him for a few hours. Ours will last hours in the crate. They won't mess in the crate unless you leave them there for a very long time. We don't do that. A lot of people, myself included to begin with, think that crates are punishment. If done correctly, it becomes part of the dog's routine. I think it is the best thing we've done with this dog.

On edit: My dog won't bark when in the crate, another bonus when driving down the road.

 

[Regcabguy]

It's good he doesn't bark much. I've had camping trips rendered miserable by a mindless barking dog and it's mind dead owner. Nothing better than a good dog in this world but then there's..... the other ones. :{

 

[Skydiver]

The crate training works. We adopted our newest love named Bella October 10th. She is half shih tzu and half chiwauwau. A hybrid breed called shi-chi and makes the perfect little lap dog. When my wife said crate training, I said "no way". I will not leave an animal in a small crate. Bella loves her new plastic home. She is only allow to roam in the non carpeted areas of our home. Bella gives our 4 y/o male cat he!!

When camping for the first few times a dog is lost when the door is opened and they see new territory. Any pet can be trained to heal and stay. My fear is that another persons dog might attack our little pet. Dogs want to remain with their pack/masters.

We never use physical punishment on our Bella. If she does wrong we just cup our hand over her nose while saying no. Within 15-20 seconds she will lick our hand and quickly beg for a hug. The biggest problem I see with dog owners is "the pecking order has not been established". A dog will naturally want to lead and must be taught to follow.

Before Bella came into our life, I thought those little lap dogs were for sissys. NO not true. I could type all night about our new pet. Lap dogs are cool.

 

[AMink]

One more thing you might want to look into is Frontline tick repellent. Where we live, ticks aren't a problem. But when we go to the northwest or California, ticks can be bad. Prevention is better than cure.

 

[Superdawg]

For the last 10 years we have brought our Australian Shepherd on almost every camping trip (not the Colorado River in the summer). The only downside is that sometimes National Parks don't allow them on certain trails. This dog only barks for really good reasons and is good natured w/ most people and most dogs. If you didn't see him, you probably would never know he was there. I second the sentiment he is easier to care for than the wife and kids.

Do keep your dog leashed. I don't appreciate other persons dogs in my campsite. Do clean up after your dog.

This dog also seems to want to go outside at 2:30 AM almost every night. That was okay when I worked swing shift. Not so fun camping.

Also, he usually doesn't eat for the first two days when we go camping. Same food, same dishes. Whatever...

Aussies are happiest when they are with their family, wherever they go.

 

[kenny61]

One more thing you might want to look into is Frontline tick repellent. Where we live, ticks aren't a problem. But when we go to the northwest or California, ticks can be bad. Prevention is better than cure.

If anything do it for the fleas... nothig worse than a flea infestation in a small tin box

 

[DWeiler]

Start em young---our dogs over the years love to camp(American Bulldogs),they don't take to kindly to strangers but this is our choice as when you are out in the sticks---who know whats out there/animal or human. We now have a permanent (RV lot)place that our trailer sits at all year long for 4 season enjoyment and i have no problem with the wife heading up early if i have to work. Our "Bailey" passed in early spring last year and now we have Wrigley----love to camp but he know the boundaries,usually on a leash but i will let him run free around the fenced lot if i'm outside---he does know not to leave the upper deck. This dog is really protective of my wife,loves to camp and is a part of the family-----rides with me everywhere. If we are heading out to the lake for some r/r all i have to do is start to pack the cooler and he heads to the Dodge Dually Mega waiting to go to,usually rides shot gun if the Mrs is not there. If you have a good dog---cherish them/love em and you have a buddy as they are only here for a short while but leave you with memories that last a life time. DW my 2 cents.

 

[Shadrach]

Thanks guys. Good advise. Fleas and ticks aren't a problem up here ( we get mosquitoes ) and we don't stray too far from home just yet. I don't like noisy dogs, or loose running dogs, anywhere especially when out camping and we won't let ours be like that either. Shadrach

 

[wcjp]

We have an onboard generator. More than once I've fired it up for AC for the dogs while we went inside. Also, "spillproof" water bowls. Many places have rules about dogs on leashes unattended. We've also taken them to Disneyland to hang out with Pluto. Definitely take a full record of shots with you for just in case.

 

[DaveHess]

We have travelled with our half german shepard/half yellow lab for the past 7 years. I am with all the suggestions listed in the previous posts. You can get the spill-proof bowls from camping world. I really like this one since she is in a kennel and refuses to sit or lay while travelling. I know some of you will be hating on me for this one but "Connie" rides in a kennel in the back of the truck no matter the weather. She will not enter a crate even when enticed by food but she'll go right in to her kennel. I have a plastic tarp all rigged up that I can cover the sides, one end, and top in inclement weather and I keep the kennel at the cab end of the bed. She is too excitable and sheds incessantly to ride in the cab. As for the camping portion, I do notice that she doesn't eat or (sorry guys) poop like she does at home for a day or so until she gets used to her surroundings when we are on the road. We let her roam the TT during the day with the air on and at night and she has not had an accident or been "naughty". I hope she likes going camping because she is one of the family (except for riding in the cab) and we include her in as many activities as possible.

 

[Crazy Horse]

It's all about the dogs :-laf. Only advise I would give is keep em on a leash, so they can grow old. When traveling one year we saw a small yellow lab puppy running loose at a camp ground get hit by a car passing through . Also pack some bags with you to clean up after the dog. So many times I saw people walking their dogs either in the am or evening and look the other way when the dog drops a load. That is why some areas of the country do not allow dogs and it's a shame.



Buck and Tye's camper.

 

[surfbeetle]

My cousin and wife travel with their dogs, they are their children. Usually when they leave the campground, they'll leave the dogs in the fifth wheel with the Air Conditioner on. On one trip, they left the campground in this manner and came back a few hours later to find that there had been a power issue at the campground that shut off the power to their spot on a hot day. Fortunately, their dogs were okay but it could have been worse. Now they are looking at a system for their trailer so that the generator will auto start when set if the shore power fails. Other things to think about are the safety harnesses for the dogs that attach to the seatbelts. Dogs will fly just like an unbuckled human in an accident.

 

[CRuth]

Mine has been camping with me since I first got him. Sixteen now and he still gets excited when he sees me packing up the gear.



One thing to remember is to stop every couple hours. Just because you went before you left the house doesn't mean he/she did.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

The border collies I've had have been beyond description for how much they have meant to me both for work and for home. I spent a lot of time during the last decade "camping" with two border collies as my main companions both on the job and for personal pleasure. Since you indicated you have a border cross I'll pass along a few things mine taught me, with the caveat that dogs, like people, are different.



BCs are work dogs first and foremost. For many years they were bred solely for how well they worked and not what they looked like. That is why they can look so different. The old saw is "you will give your border collie a job to do, or they will find a job to do". So be proactive and find that job for them and think it through.



I do not throw balls for my dogs and thank God they haven't become ball dings. If you want to spend countless hours throwing balls, having balls, rocks, sticks, and etc. laid at your feet and stared at, have at it. If you start down that road you will live with it. Tug of war isn't a suitable job either. And if you have kids, you will need to be very attentive to what becomes a job for a border collie.



I haven't always thought through some of the "jobs". One of my girls is so hardwired to work that the cute puppy "chase the snow shovel as you are trying to shovel the fresh snow" has now become just one of HER JOB obsessions. The same has become true for if I move the wheel barrow, she is right there WORKING that front tire. Or if we go for a ski or a bike ride it is her JOB to watch those skis or the front bike tire with every fiber of her being. She just KNOWS she is doing the JOB she was BORN TO DO. However, now that I have resign myself to knowing that I have unwittingly allowed this to become a JOB, I control it. A little work is okay, but when I say "That'll Do", it means you have done a good job and now it is done unless I tell you to "walk'em up".



On the positive side they have been wonderful with the horses and mules, albeit it is a very good way to have a short life. They have been good for bears. They have been taught from the get go, that elk, moose, and deer are not part of their job, and that is just plumb fine with them, just because they know it isn't part of the job. Try and teach that to a hardwired hunting dog.



Secondly, they are still considered to be the smartest dogs, bar none. I have the cover from an issue of National Geographic on Animal Intelligence with the picture of a BC that I have framed and hung on the living room wall. Given that, they can be sensitive as all get out, so keep that in mind... before you act hastily. I have had to find a new home for a couple of border collies that I got from rescue organizations because they were thunder shy. Unfortunately, they would leave me in the back country and head for the trail head during a thunder boomer. I really hated to part company, but they would not have survived otherwise. I'd suggest getting them use to loud sudden noises when they are younger. Because you can almost never unlearn that fear after they are grown. Record some thunder mp3s and play it softly and over time louder when they are occupied with playing or eating. Take a "fun filled" walk during a thunderstorm. Take a 22 caliber pistol along on a hike. React like everything is normal and do not coddle or console them if they react to the noise, rather, ignore it like everything is absolutely normal.



Also, since they are smart as the dickens, they want to know what to do. My dogs will wait at the fork in the trail or road, BECAUSE they expect and want to know which way? Gee? or Haw? When a vehicle comes down the road they expect to be told "move out, gee... . down... ... " and they will stay laid down right there off to the side of the road while I ride on down the road a good ways... . until they are released with a hand signal and a whistle. Don't disappoint your dog by not telling it what you expect. Remember he/she is a work dog and expects that from YOU.



Well, I know I've rattled on (like usual), but I'm passionate about my friends and if I could pass anything along that would make your partnership with that border collie cross as outstanding as I've found mine, thanks for bearing with me. Oh, and buy a brush, mat breaker, oster shears, mane pick, and etc. for all those burs

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Another thing... . fireworks. If I find myself in the city during the 4th, or new years, I take the dogs for a "fun walk" when the fireworks are going off. Why ain't it just great to be out here and I don't hear a thing out of the ordinary, type of walk. And I'll put a radio near their sleeping location to help distract from the fireworks, too.