Camping With Spot: Tips for Taking Your Dog With You.
We all love dogs. Well, most of us do. The sane ones at least. For everyone else, there’s cats.
There are few things better in life than spending quality time with your four legged friend. Dogs add color to our drab little lives; lives that are otherwise dominated by eating, sleeping, and working. A dog often provides the incentive (or excuse) to try new things, go on adventures, or just take a walk around the park. Their lives are inexorably bound up in our own, and their little worlds are only as large as we make them. Camping, or even just a day hike, is a good way to spend time with your little buddy and expand his world with a new and fun experience. So how do you do it?
training
This is not a dog training blog and it never will be. I am a man of many talents (including professional ant-lion timer and former rodeo clown stunt double) with a deep love of animals, but I am not a dog trainer. That said, there is something I cannot stand - undisciplined dogs. And I am not alone in this distaste. The vast majority of people in this life cannot stand an undisciplined dog. Dogs that bark constantly, don’t listen to their owners, pull on leash, or act aggressively should not be taken to busy public spaces until they are ready and able to comply with the commands of the owners. For all that they are our dearest friends, they are just as much our responsibility. The conduct of your dog reflects your respect for others. If your dog is a menace - that’s your fault. You chose to bring him out here, and you failed to ensure he had the discipline and training to be successful. Enough said.
So what kind of training should you focus on? I recommend making sure your buddy is a “good citizen”. The American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen test and training resources are an excellent goal to shoot for. However, not everyone has the time, knowledge, or dog to pass a good citizenship test. Some dogs are ‘reactive’, due to their nature or past experience. Does this mean you can’t take your dog with you? Not exactly. You just need to be prepared, and pick the right spot. This is called managing your dog (and being an adult). If you want to have a fun, relaxing, and rewarding experience for your friend and he’s reactive, then you need to manage and curate that experience so it’s beneficial for all involved. Trust me, I know from first hand experience.
However, even a ‘reactive’ dog can master the basics of obedience, and that is the threshold I recommend before taking your pet camping with you. You should also know that some dogs will never get there. That doesn’t mean you have to stop camping, but it does mean you need a good plan (pet-sitter or boarding) when you do go. So what to focus on? It’s a simple list; coming when called, sit/stay, “place” or bed commands, and walking on leash. If your dog can master those steps (or at least has a good foundation), and you’re comfortable with managing situations, then you can probably get started. If you don’t know if you’re ready, I recommend taking a dog training lesson and seeing how he or she does. It will become quickly apparent if you two are ready (or not).
Location
Location is crucial to having a good trip with your pup. Not all locations are “dog-friendly”, even if your dog is allowed to be there. It should be stated that a National Park is probably not the place to take your dog if you want to engage in any kind of outdoor activity other than just camping or viewing wildlife from a pullout. Dogs are prohibited from buildings and the majority of trails in almost every National Park. Life isn’t fair. Get over it. The National Park Service has an obligation to preserve wilderness and historical places for future Americans, and unfortunately the vast majority of dog owners own undisciplined and poorly behaved dogs. Poorly disciplined dogs quickly become safety risks in dangerous locations and destructive risks in fragile ones. This is why you can’t have your dog there.
However, there is another great American resource for dog friendly trails, and it’s known as the US Forest Service. USFS manages land for conservation, not preservation. As such, their mandate is ensure that the land is useful to the American people by promoting sustainable industry, wildlife, soil and water resources, and recreation. The USFS generally permits dogs on trails on forest land. This is a great wealth of resources for you to explore with Fido. Like the USFS, the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and Army Corps of Engineer lands are typically accessible to dogs. State parks and forests are also a good place to check out. The most important thing is to know before you go - is my dog allowed here, and what are the rules?
For those of us with reactive dogs, location is even more critical. You don’t want to take your reactive dog to a place where you’ll be surrounded by crowds or constantly passing or being passed by other hikers. Look for places that are less trafficked or harder to get to. Go at times of day when less people will be on the trail. Most importantly - have a plan of action that you’ve rehearsed. When you see another hiker or dog, enact that plan without fail. With smart preparation and the right tools, you too can have an enjoyable hike.
Uncle Biv’s boy on his water break.
Equipment
Equipment for your pup? You mean a leash and collar? Of course I do! However, you and your pup will benefit from a few extra pieces of gear along the way as well. Let’s talk about leashes. The majority of states, municipalities, and agencies require that your dog be on a leash at all times. Please notice that sentence is in bold. KEEP YOUR DOG ON THE LEASH. It’s that simple. It doesn’t matter what you want to do, it doesn’t matter how perfect your dog is, and it doesn’t matter what you think about that. Keep them on the leash. See the first paragraph in training for a reminder to be a respectful pet owner.
Since you have to have your dog on leash at all times, generally, get a good leash. You need one that the dog won’t be able to chew through and that is comfortable in the hand. It needs to be appropriately sized to your dog’s strength and it needs to have solid metal (preferably brass or stainless steel) connections. Water resistant leashes are a plus if you plan to conduct creek crossings.
What about collars? I am a fan of collars to have your dog’s rabies tags on. In many states, it is a legal requirement to mount rabies verification to your dog when you go out in public. However, when hiking I prefer to put my dog in a harness with a handle. Why? Well, it’s more comfortable for them. It also gives me a handy grab point in case they are headed in a direction I don’t like - that’s called managing your dog by the way - without having to yank on the leash. I also find it assists in telling your dog the difference between walks around the neighborhood and hikes. For my dog, our neighborhood walks are obedience training events. Leash and collar, on heel, and focused on me. When I break out the harness, he gets excited because he knows that it’s his time to be able to play and sniff everything along the way. Dogs are perceptive and used to rhythms, patterns, and routines. I use the harness to help communicate those routines to my dog. A side benefit is that some harness are designed so the dog can help carry their own food and water.
Speaking of, let’s talk food and water. I carry a collapsible water bowl for my boy. He gets hot easily, and I’ve taught him to drink out of a water bottle and camelbak just like a professional football player - squirt the water in his grill. That said, a bowl is a good thing for him on rest breaks as it lets him get enough water in to keep cool. Any excess I pour directly on his head and back on hot days. He also has “cooling bandanas” which are designed to evaporate water away when wet and assist in cooling. I’m not sure if that works, but he looks good in them so we keep putting them on. For food we carry a plastic dish and a cereal keeper where his kibble goes, with a measuring cup to make sure we portion it appropriately.
What about back at camp? Many people car camping or RV camping will set up a dog run or lead. An anchor goes in the ground or between two poles or trees to allow your dog freedom of movement while staying secured. Others prefer a longer lead (20 feet or so) to give the same freedom while maintaining security. If you use a ground lead, make sure that the dog remains inside the confines of your camp and is secured, and be prepared for near constant untangling. Others, with small dogs, prefer a larger collapsable fence that will keep their little friends in the camp area. Consult the regulations and know what you can and can’t use. Worst case scenario, he’s on the 6 foot lead with you sunup to sundown.
Which brings us to beds and other soft goods. I always bring a bed for my dog because he is a wussy who prefers sleeping on the bed to the ground. Your dog may not care, or may actively disdain a dog bed. You know them better than I do, so bring what makes sense. I have yet to take my boy on an overnight hike, but a dog bed is probably not realistic for him there. I would recommend rolling up a dog blanket to use in its place. I also bring a dog blanket for the night, in case he gets cold. As I’ve mentioned before, my dog is a bit of a weenie and he loves a good blanket to cuddle with when the time comes to settle in. I complement this with a light jacket that I can put on him when it’s cold. My dog is used to the hot weather and appreciates having a little jacket, but some won’t tolerate it and others (like huskies) will sleep out in the snow as happily, or more so, than in the bed at home.
Lastly, I always bring a couple of chew toys to keep him occupied while I cook or when I need a minute, and he has a fanny pack. I wear that when he’s actively attached to me and it contains his electronic collar controller, electronic collar, and “wag-bags” for his poop. Don’t just leave poop out there! Pack it out. I am a fan of the e-collar and my dog and I train with it. E-collar usage is your prerogative, but I’ve found mine to be a beneficial tool when paired with solid obedience fundamentals. My mom packs a citronella bark collar for her dachshund, which helps her dog respect the peace and quiet of the campground (see shhh….for more details).
activities
The most obvious dog activity is to go for a walk. Isn’t that what your kid promised he’d do when you got him this dog in the first place? As I talked about in the locations section, make sure you can take your buddy out on the trail with you before you hit it. Other dog activities include visiting designated off leash areas (if your dog is friendly and has perfect recall), playing in open fields (fetch anyone?), and even going boating or for a swim. Again, make sure your dog is allowed to participate in these activities before you jump right into it, and you may require more gear based on what it is you’re trying to do. For example, it may be a good idea to invest in a GPS tracking collar for off leash areas with a beeper for recall, or a dog life vest if going boating. Other than that, the world is your oyster. If you want to do it, have a plan, are responsible, and it’s not forbidden, then go have fun with your dog in any way you can imagine. We’ve all see the scuba dogs and the skydive dogs, the skateboard dogs, and the dogs that can hunt for antlers and mushrooms. Have a blast - just be prepared.
basic care & first aid
Lastly, before you hit the road on your adventure, make sure you consider basic care and first aid. Do you know where the nearest vet office is? Has your dog been vaccinated for rabies and heartworm? Is he on flea and tick medication? I recommend getting with your veterinarian, or searching “hunting dog first aid kits” to read about what to bring along in case of injury. Your buddy is counting on you to be prepared so that he can go out and have a good time, because Lord knows he’s not going to worry about it - that’s your job.
With all that said, the most important thing is that you go out and enjoy the outdoors with your best friend. Stay safe, take a few photos, and make some memories along the way. Is there anything better?
Have a question about camping you need answered? Ask Uncle Biv. Want to submit pictures of your pup in the field, or stories about the best (or worst) camping dog experiences you’ve ever had? Send ‘em on over. The best and worst stories may even get featured in the Big Blog or our newsletter (which you can sign up for here).