Traveling With Your Dog
Your dog may be a little bit anxious when travelling by car, so it's worth making sure your dog has everything it needs to stay as comfortable as possible, the most important thing to remember is that your dog is legally required to be suitably restrained, as per rule 57 of the highway code. If you're planning on traveling for a considerable distance and your dog is not used to traveling by car, we suggest you start taking them out as soon as possible on small journeys so they can get used to the motion and surroundings of being in a car.
When heading out on your adventure we recommend planning to stop somewhere along the way so your dog can get some exercise, have a toilet break, rehydrate and even have a snack.
Arriving On Site
Time to get your tent set up. Now is a good time to feed your dog (or let them play with something like a Kong) in order to keep them occupied for the time it takes you to set up your tent. It's good practice to have a go at assembling your tent at home before heading out to a campsite, so that you can quickly pitch your tent in the event of any rain. Plus, spending an evening camping in your own garden is a great way to get your dog used to the environment, on top of your own practice.
If you are going to be camping in the rain, make sure you put protection down from those muddy paws straight away in order to prevent water and dirt finding it's way into your tent, also make use of your travel towel to dry off your dog as much as possible before letting them inside.
Entertaining Your Dog
As mentioned earlier it's worth seeing what dog-friendly facilities are available at your chosen campsite, whether they have a lead-free area, dog-friendly beaches or even dog agility courses you need to be sure that your dog will be entertained. Given that you're free to explore a whole new area, your dog will love to join you on your adventures. However with that in mind, you don't want to overdo it. You can use our handy dog walking calculator to make sure you're walking your dog for an appropriate amount of time and distance.
It's also worth bringing your dog's favourite toys for them to play with during downtime.
Keeping Your Dog Safe
Safety is the most important thing and keeping your dog safe is no different, we have listed the important factors you should consider to ensure your dog's safety
Tether
Using a tether will stop your dog from being able to run away and can be great for securing your dog on certain occasions such as when your cooking a BBQ.
Id Tag
Make sure this is up to date encase the worst-case scenario should happen.
Zip Up Your Tent
At night time your tent must be secure so your dog can't escape.
Check For Nearby Emergency Vets
Be aware of who and where the local vet is, we also recommend keeping hold of their number in case of emergency. It's also worth bringing a first aid kit just in case.
We hope you found our guide on camping with dogs useful. Check out the camping section of our blog for even more helpful camping guides. Otherwise, if you're off on a camping trip with your pooch, we hope you have a wonderful time!
