Let’s make camping better, let’s talk about camping with your dog. Here are 15 items to bring with you when you go camping with a dog to help you make camping with your doggo, the best trip ever.
Camping is already fun, it’s even more fun when you are camping with your dog. Let’s look over the items you will need so you know how to camp with your dog. You’re probably wondering how to go camping with your dog, the right way? Here we provide you with 15 tips to make your camping trip with your pup a great one.
Is this the only way? Nope, but this comprehensive list will definitely put you on track to camp with a dog.
Gear Checklist For Dogs When Camping
1. Sleeping Pad
Unfortunately, there isn’t enough room in the sleeping bag for a dog. When tent camping, your body heat can be quickly reduced by sleeping directly against the tent floor. Because there is no thermal barrier between your body and the ground temperature, there is a rapid loss of core body temps in cold environments. Your dog will experience the same issue when sleeping on the tent floor.
A simple sleeping pad or even a folded-up tarp under your dog’s sleeping area will greatly reduce the loss of body heat and allow there to be an area between the ground and your dog that maintains a comfortable temperature. No to mention, it’s much more comfortable. Would you want to sleep directly on the floor? Neither does your pup. Here’s a great option that is surprisingly good for the money:
- PET FRIENDLY DESIGN: The bed features a traditional open mattress design that gives pets plenty of room to sleep in a variety of positions; its an ideal choice for both cuddlers and sprawlers alike
- WATER-RESISTANT: The kennel pad cover is made from durable polyester canvas with water-resistant coating that protects against spills and accidents, making this bed an ideal choice for both indoor and outdoor setting
- PRODUCT DETAILS: Green & Gray; Large, 36 x 24 x 1.25
- AVAILABLE VARIANTS: The bed comes in Green & Gray, Chocolate & Blue, and Blue & Poppy; its also available in Extra Small, Small, Medium, Large, and Jumbo
- EASY CARE: Pets can present some unique cleaning challenges, which is why Furhaven made sure that the removable dog bed cover is easy to clean for your convenience
- CUSTOMER ASSURANCE: The product comes with a 90-day limited coverage against material defects and may also qualify for our 60-Day Worry-Free Program; but restrictions apply: purchases from unauthorized third-party resellers may not be covered by Furhaven
- NOT SUITABLE for pets with excessive teething or destructive chewing behav
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2. Blanket / Bed
If your dog is anything like mine, they like to sleep with your blanket, regardless of your approval or not. Some dogs have a certain blanket they love and makes them comfortable. Other dogs just want ANYTHING to lay on, including you. On your camping trip, bring your dog’s blanket that they are not only comfortable with, but also give them some extra cushion when you get inside the tent at night. While your dog will likely love camping with you, it may be a bit stressful on them and having their blanket will act as another level of comfort.
2. Leash or E-Collar
Leashes can often be overlooked, for two reasons. One, is you’re so busy packing the vehicle and you just forget it. Also, because people often think they will be in the wilderness and their pup can run free. While this is true in some areas, you will still need your dog on a leash when on most hiking trails in state or national parks.
This will keep your dog nearby and under control, if the area you are in requires it. I keep a leash nearby and our German Shorthair Pointer does great on an E-Collar, both have their place and both do well in a camping scenario. I’ve gotten to the point where I have at least 4 leashes. It’s nice to have one around when you need it.
- FOAM HANDLE: no rope burns anymore, the Ladoogo dog leash inspired from fitness facility to added an ergonomic and comfortable foam handle that helps you maintain firm and comfortable grip without digging into your hands even when your dog pulls hardly
- PERFECT LENGTH: 5 ft length dog leash is a perfect balance between freedom and control, it gives enough freedom for your dog but everything in your control
- DURABILITY: Made of strong 1/2-inch diameter rock climbing rope and durable 360o tangle free and rustproof swivel hook that are stronger than other standard dog leashes
- REFLECTIVE: Highly reflective threads keep high visibility at night for safety
- 100% MONEYBACK GUARANTEE: All purchases are backed by a 12 months hassle-free warra
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3. Anchor Point
I’m not saying you need to tie up your dog and forget them, but, have you ever tried to set up a tent with a dog on a leash in your hand? Not fun. Camping with a dog requires thinking ahead. Having an anchor point to tether your dog for just a few minutes while you set up or use the bathroom can be a big help. Also, there are always other hikers, mountain bikers and wildlife not too far away.
The last thing you want is your dog off making new friends (or enemies) without your knowledge. Or, I suppose you could just put your dog in a backpack while setting up camp. I once attached my dog’s leash around a tree at Rocky Mountain National Park while I set up a tent. Within a few minutes, I had a ranger come tell me it was bad for the trees to have a leash on them. Rather than sort that out, I removed the leash politely and learned how valuable it is to have an anchor point available.
- Keep your pet TOTALLY SAFE and SECURE. SURFACE-LOCK ELIMINATES side-to-side MOVEMENT providing SUPER STRONG HOLDING STRENGTH!
- Raised platform RESISTS TANGLING and ELIMINATES BREAKING SWIVELS commonly used on other tie out stakes. Made from 10 mm SOLID chrome plated STEEL.
- EXTREMELY DURABLE CONSTRUCTION. Clip the dog tie out cable right onto the metal stayk. You can also hook the clip onto the ring that is attached to the shaft.
- Rust Resistant. EASY and CONVENIENT to take with on a CAMPING TRIP or an outing!
- FAST AND SECURE INSTALLATION! BUY ONE NOW FOR PIECE OF MIND THAT YOUR PET IS SAFE AND SECU
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4. Collar Light
When thinking about how to camp with a dog, let’s remember, they are still dogs. Your dog may run off, may get lost, or just get out of your sight at night. Collar lights are a great tool to have on your pup when camping. Once night falls, you may not see your pup in the complete darkness when camping.
A simple collar light can be found cheap on Amazon and gives you an easy spotting ability to see your pup at night no matter where they roam, just look for the random bouncing light in the darkness. This one here I have been using for years, it’s inexpensive, waterproof, and keeps on working!
- CARABINER CLIP COLLAR LIGHT FOR YOUR DOG - This large push button light attaches easily to your pets collar using the integrated stainless steel carabiner, making your four-legged friend instantly visible
- MICRO USB RECHARGEABLE - This light has a run time of 10 hours and fully recharges in 1. 5 hours using a micro USB cable (not included)
- CHOOSE YOUR COLOR OR ENJOY COLOR-CHANGING DISC-O - This unique model uses Disc-O Select technology which lets you choose from 4 different colors with the press of a button, or to leave the light cycling through Disc-O mode
- PUSH BUTTON ON/OFF - Easily activate the SpotLit with a push, and save the rechargeable batteries by turning it off the same way; You choose your color in the first cycle of Disc-O mode using this same button
- BUILT TO WITHSTAND THE ELEMENTS - The SpotLit is weather-resistant and has a durable stainless steel carabiner, so it can withstand even the rowdiest mud-loving pups shenanig
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5. Collapsible Bowl
Your dog will need to eat, but you don’t want to be packing multiple bowls and containers to keep your pup fed. A hiker’s collapsible bowl works well with food and water. It packs down flat and lightweight and can be taken on your trip with ease over the alternative of full-size bowls. It’s such a simple idea but comes in handy on the trip. This one is nice because of the food and water options, check it out here.
- ????DESIGNED FOR DOG TRAVEL: ★Not for Long-term Water Storage★Collapsible, clean easily, and dries fast. Ideal bowls for providing an easy way to give your dog food and water on the go. Different colors are designed to be easy to distinguish.
- ????LARGE CAPACITY: Size: 7”(w) x 7”(l) x 5” deep, Capacity: 2000ML water/ 1KG food, big enough for medium / large Dog. Perfect for all dogs.
- ????ECO-FRIENDLY & NON-TOXIC: It’s made of food-grade materials to ensure your pets safety. The grease-resistant fabric is to keep your dogs food fresh outdoors.
- ????WATERPROOF: It is waterproof within about 2 hours. The 900D oxford cloth and waterproof fabric interior holds water very well and ensures no leaks. Great for pet feeding and drinking during a journey. Lightweight and easy to store in your pocket or backpack. Easy to clean and dries fast.
- ????FUNCTIONAL ELASTIC STRAPS: Use the handy elastic straps to hold the bowl up or attach the bowls anywhere you need, you will never lose your travel bowls! We stand behind the quality of our produc
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6. Toys / Chews
One of the best things about camping is getting away from the masses and just sitting by the fire and relaxing. Tossing your dog a natural chew or tossing their ball will work out some extra energy is a great way for you both to relax. This will definitely make life better when camping with a dog. Speaking of the fire and your dog here is an excellent article about fire pit safety from FirefighterGarage.com that’s definitely worth your time.
- DURABLE, LONG-LASTING – Super chewer? Bring it on. Benebones are tougher than real bones and last for weeks.
- REAL BACON! – We use only 100% REAL BACON for flavor. Trust us, dogs can tell the difference.
- EASY TO PICK UP AND CHEW – The Wishbone is curved for a paw-friendly grip so your pup can quickly grab it and get a good chew going. Think about it: dogs don’t have thumbs.
- USA MADE – We make and source everything in the USA. Chew toys from China? No thanks.
- HAPPINESS, GUARANTEED – Have an issue? Want to chat? Reach out to us directly and you’ll get a real person whose sole job is to make you and your pup hap
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7. Treats!
First, its fun to give your dog a treat, but also it can be a handy tool to help coax them into something you may need to be done while camping. Trying to get the perfect photo of your pup? Maybe hang a treat up by the camera and watch them pose perfectly focused on your camera for a great pick.
- A Savory Combination Of Five Flavors That Dogs Love Most
- Treats Made From Rawhide And Pork Hide, Then Wrapped With Real Chicken, Duck And Chicken Liver
- Natural Chewing Action Helps Reduce Tartar Buildup
- Great Source Of Protein
- Satisfy Your DogS Natural Urge To C
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8. Pre-Measured Food
Here’s what you don’t want to do when camping with a dog, don’t bring a 40lb bag of dog food where you camp. Take a freezer sized ziploc bag and measure out enough food for your planned trip. Throw in an extra day or two’s worth just in case the trip gets extended beyond what you expected.
- Custom mealtimes: Schedule mealtimes down to the minute to serve your pet up to 5 meals per day
- Feeder capacity: Each compartment in the removable tray holds up to 1 cup of dry or semi-moist food; Use this feeder to give your pet treats throughout the day
- Helps manage pets weight: Schedule smaller meals throughout the day to help keep your pet healthy; Best for cats and small to medium dogs
- Feed now option: If you’d like to feed your pet an extra meal (or snack) simply press the feed now button to rotate the tray; Pressing this button does not cancel the next scheduled meal
- Suspend feeding option: If you and your pet aren’t home, you can use the suspend feeding option to stop the feeder from feeding the next meal without losing the programmed schedule
- Top-rack dishwasher safe: Remove the BPA-free plastic tray and place it in the top-rack of the dishwasher for easy cleanup
- U.S. based customer care: Let our pet product experts help
- Quality guaranteed: PetSafe brand has been a trusted global leader in pet behavior, containment and lifestyle innovations for nearly 30 years; We help pets and their people live happily toget
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9. Water
Bring water when camping is essential for both you and your dog. Many people often think the dog can drink from local lakes and ponds when they get thirsty. Keep in mind, many stagnant water sources carry many different parasites and bacteria that may be harmful to your dog. A best practice is to keep a 5 gallon just of freshwater in the vehicle. Generally, this will keep you both hydrated for a few days out camping as well as having enough extra water to refill your water bottles and brush your teeth.
- It Is EASY to USE: Exclusive patented design, according to other brands improvement, U2mug design dog water bottle and water bowl two in one. The fold cap acts as a water bowl, and you dont need any external bowl to give your hairy buddy water to drink anymore. Press the water bottle with one hand, and the water will flow into the bowl. Fold back after drinking. It is that simple.
- No WATER LEAKAGE: The top rotational buckle is designed to ensure that water does not return. The whole idea is to prevent the remaining water in the bottle from getting polluted. The sealed silicone gasket inside the cover helps to ensure that there is no water leakage, you also dont need to worry about getting your travel pack wet; the bottle can also be squeezed without wasting water even if there is only a little quantity of water in the bottle because it has a built-in water pipe.
- SAFE and LIGHTWEIGHT: The compact dog water bottle is made of HDPE stock, the water bowl is produced with food standard silicone; it is BPA Free, it has no smell, and it is ecologically friendly and recyclable; the parts are detachable and easy to clean; only 0.3 lb. / 140 g.
- LARGE CAPACITY: 18 oz / 520 ml volume can give safe, fresh, and healthy water for your hairy buddy’s puppies at any time during, especially during travel, trekking, and some other open-air actions. It is highly fitting for small and medium dogs.
- Friendly Reminder: Please confirm the cleanliness and hygiene of drinking water before filling the water to avoid the damage caused by drinking unclean water for your pets health. Specificati
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10. ID Tags
While I like to think I have complete control of my dog at all times, sometimes a rabbit running by will take over all my dog’s focus and he may not return to me until he has a rabbit in his mouth or once he gave up on finding it.
Attaching an ID tag to your dog’s collar will be a nice insurance policy that whoever finds your dog (if you don’t) can call or text you to let you know they found your pup.
- Same day shipping if ordered by 1pm ET. Engraved and assembled in Kentucky, USA.
- Lifetime guarantee. Jingle free, low-profile, snag-free, corrosion proof, and laser engraved. Great for dogs, cats, and horse bridle.
- Include loads of info such as pet’s name, your name, multiple contact numbers, and medical info.
- Small will fit 1/2 to 3/4” inch collars, Medium/Large will fit 1” inch collars.
- XLarge will fit 1 1/4” to 1 1/2” inch colla
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11. Paw Protection
We have all seen the funny videos online of a dog trying out their new paw protection. While funny, some terrain can be tough on a dog’s paw. Here in Northern Colorado, the ground has sharp and rugged rocks with tons of scattered cactus that WILL end up in your dog’s paw pads if they run off-trail.
A simple solution is to buy a pack of paw covers that are built to travel off-grid. These are cheap, convenient, and your dog will thank you for this little extra level of protection when you do go camping with a dog.
After about 5 minutes they don’t even notice them. I tried a few of these as my dog hunts and puts a lot of miles on his paws of rugged terrain. These here seemed to do the best.
- ⭐【Size】Size 7:（3.22x2.91)(L*W) for 66-90lbs.Great for Medium Golden Retriever;Large Samoyed;German Shepherd;Labrador etc.Please refer to the picture size chart,You can choose the right size for your dog for the most comfortable fit.
- ⭐【High-quality materials:】 High quality fabrics,wear resistant,to bear or endure dirty, Have cute pet paw embroidery, soft and hand washable, fashionable yet durable.Durable soles,tough anti-slip sole provides stability and traction,Helps dogs with mobility and stability on tile and the sand .
- ⭐【Comfortable:】Soft and breathable to paws，so allows the boots to be used indoors or outdoors, hot and cold in wet and dry conditions.Protection from sharp thorns and hot pavement.Effectively protect dog claws from heat, stones, glass, etc. It protect the weak paw from snow, ice, salt during winter.
- ⭐【Safe And Adjustable:】Easy to put on / off ,the dog shoes are fastened firmly by 2 straps, which are long and adjustable , capable to prevent slipping off and supply a customized tightness for secure closure and have reflective straps,reflective lines enhance visibility all the night ,also make your love dog safe .Please try to tighten the straps after wearing,which can effectively prevent the shoes from falling off the dogs claws.
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12. First Aid / Meds
While I don’t go out expecting to have medical emergencies, I do try to prepare by keeping a quality First Aid kit in my truck and another in my hiking pack. The same effort should be taken to protect your pup in the event of a medical issue. Dogs can get into all sorts of trouble when they get to run free.
From running through a barbwire fence to a wild encounter with a porcupine, your dog may need some first aid. Also, if your pup has any sort of daily medications, remember to pack those for the trip. I recommend grabbing one that packs up small enough it’s easy to take along but also has the right items you need. Something like this works very well.
- Close serious wounds in the field when far from medical care
- The LED headlamp allows your hands to be free to administer first aid to your dog
- Reduce swelling of sprains and strains with the emergency cold pack
- Easily wrap injuries with this self-adhering bandage which doesnt stick to fur
- Includes guidebook that provides instructions on the basics of emergency pet c
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13. Hiking Trail Research
Hiking with your dog is really fun for both of you. It feels good to go outside and it feels just as good to take that hike with your dog. However, many trails will have posted signs regarding dogs on the trail. Some trails are no leash, some are leash required and many trails say no dogs at all. Research this BEFORE you go to make sure you get to enjoy the outdoors together on this trip out. If you are not sure where to start, check out our write up on 20 Apps Every Adventurer Needs
14. Crate or Kennel
So, you went out, you had a great time and now you’re headed home. But, your dog is really dirty now. The thought of your dog on your pretty interior of your vehicle may not sound great. If you have room, bring a crate to keep the dog on the ride. Or if you don’t have the room, bring a cover of some sort to act as a barrier between your dog and your car’s interior. If you haven’t seen it yet, check out this review on the Canvasback interior liner.
- This cargo liner covers the cargo area & back of 2nd seats and 3rd seat if applicable. Comes in either 4, 5, or 6 pieces depending on your configuration.
- Images are NOT VEHICLE SPECIFIC
- Please Allow 2-3 Weeks for Deliv
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15. Campground Research
While Many campgrounds are dog friendly, some are not or have strict rules. Camping with a dog still has some limits. Campgrounds being big on. So, like the hiking trail research mentioned above, also consider researching the campground you plan on visiting for your trip. The last thing you want to do is plan the trip, pack up, and hit the road just to find out the campground isn’t going to welcome you when you arrive.
Conclusion
Welp, there it is, your essential list of gear when you head out camping with your dog. Hopefully you found some value in this and it helps make your next camping adventure with your pup, a great one. Now go get outside!
Mike is a Colorado resident, a combat veteran, and a former Police Officer, and an avid outdoorsman. Mike has camped, hiked, and Overlanded all over the United States. From backpack Elk Hunts on Public Land, solo truck camping to Multi-week Overlanding adventures with his family, Mike is very familiar with these outdoor topics.