Taking the dogs camping, too?

[labdogs42]

Hi all!

I'm still kind of a newbie to this whole camping thing and I'm wondeirng if you guys can help me out. I want to take our dogs camping with us (two Labs and a Beagle), but I'm trying to figure out the logistics. I went camping a lot as a kid, but we didn't take any pets! So, if you camp and take pets, how do you do it? Do you use tie outs for the dogs? Do you take exercise pens and make a fenced area for them? What do you do if you are going to do some kind of activity for the day? Leave the dogs in the camper or take them with you in your vehicle? We have a Pop-up and a minivan if you need that info for your recommendations! The dogs are well-trained, but haven't been camping before. So, I'm just not sure how to acclimate them to the camping experience! Help!

BTW, we aren't headed to the Fort or anything that drastic yet, I'm just talking about a local (PA) weekend trip to start with!

 

[clkelley]

Every campground has different rules for pets. The most common rules are must be leashed at all times, you must pick up after them.

At Fort Wilderness the rules are as follows:

You should request a pet loop when making reservations for the Fort.

Pet loops are in every category EXCEPT partial hookup loops.

You can leave your pets in your camper while you are out IF you have a hard-sided camper.

If you don't have a hard-sided camper, then you have to kennel your dogs at the campground kennel while you are away.

There are certain areas where you can walk your pet, they must be on a leash and you must pick up after them. There is also an off leash dog park, but you must use your own judgement as to if your dogs are social enough to enjoy their time there.

As far as pens or tie-outs. I've seen both. BUT in most peoples opinions those are only acceptable IF you are sitting outside with your pet.

 

[BRDof3]

First, check the campground to check their expectations and regs.

We have a Shih Tzu that is mainly an inside dog, and a Lab mix that is primarily ouside, at least when the weather is passable.

The Lab spends her time on a tie-out. We can have it out to full length, or double it up, depending on how much room we have at the site. We try for sites with space on the door side or behind the TT as much as possible. She has a big water bowl that we set in the shade or under the TT to keep her from drying out.

She had a bad habit of barking last year, but she was just a baby. As the summer went on she got more used to camping and more mature, and the noise level went down.

At night, or when we leave the site for any length of time, both dogs are in their portable kennels inside the TT. The A/C and radio give them a little white noise, and we've never had neighbors tell us they were loud.

To be honest, even though they mean more work, I like having the security. I have no fears that anyone will be able to get in the TT, or walk into the campsite, without our approval.

Just pay them more attention until they get used to it and they will eventually enjoy the experience. And don't forget to take plenty of poop bags!

 

[4mickey2]

we have 4 bichons and we use xpens. we are always outside with them. when we head out we leave them in the mh. but ours can look out the windows so, we have to cover them so they don't see people walking by. the fourth one we got a year ago and he made us find ways to keep the blinds from being nosed open.

lots of walks to keep them tired and ready to settle in the mh. at the fort they ride with us. if we are on bikes, they have a bike trailer. if we are the golf cart they ride in a crate strapped onto the back. they love just being out and about with us.

good luck. they will get used to it.

 

[4mickey2]

forgot to say thanks for letting us see your photos. very cool.

 

[LarryJ]

Hi all!

I'm still kind of a newbie to this whole camping thing and I'm wondeirng if you guys can help me out. I want to take our dogs camping with us (two Labs and a Beagle), but I'm trying to figure out the logistics. I went camping a lot as a kid, but we didn't take any pets! So, if you camp and take pets, how do you do it? Do you use tie outs for the dogs? Do you take exercise pens and make a fenced area for them? What do you do if you are going to do some kind of activity for the day? Leave the dogs in the camper or take them with you in your vehicle? We have a Pop-up and a minivan if you need that info for your recommendations! The dogs are well-trained, but haven't been camping before. So, I'm just not sure how to acclimate them to the camping experience! Help!

BTW, we aren't headed to the Fort or anything that drastic yet, I'm just talking about a local (PA) weekend trip to start with!

1. Please if you do DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PETS OUTSIDE UNATTENDED AND UNSUPERVISED and either teathered or caged. Twice now in our last two visits we have had a large dog teathered run out as we were walking our two Yorkies on leashes which is the rule for pets at FW outside and either slip their collars or pull the post for the teather out of the ground. I was ready to do serious combat with the larger dogs, but it was not needed, but I would have no problem doing that should it be needed to protect my properly leashed and controlled dogs and the DW.

2. The Labs might be O.K., but please leave that beagle at home since more than once we have camped at FW where someone close to us had a beagle they left loose in their MH usually which would get up on the dash a howl at everything that came by when we were trying to just sit outside and relax ... very annoying and it's not the Beagle's fault since that is what they will do, but the owner's lack of respect for the other campers. Beagles might be cute, but are definitely not camper dogs to be left alone.

Larry

 

[LarryJ]

Every campground has different rules for pets. The most common rules are must be leashed at all times, you must pick up after them.

At Fort Wilderness the rules are as follows:

You should request a pet loop when making reservations for the Fort.

Pet loops are in every category EXCEPT partial hookup loops.

You can leave your pets in your camper while you are out IF you have a hard-sided camper.

You would have to double check, but I think dogs are allowed even in tent sided pop ups which was what DW was told when we checked in Nov 2008 with a loud unruley dog in a soft sided pop up. Tents are still a no no.

If you don't have a hard-sided camper, then you have to kennel your dogs at the campground kennel while you are away.

That used to be the rule, but might have changed based on what we were told in 2008.

There are certain areas where you can walk your pet, they must be on a leash and you must pick up after them. There is also an off leash dog park, but you must use your own judgement as to if your dogs are social enough to enjoy their time there.

Larry

As far as pens or tie-outs. I've seen both. BUT in most peoples opinions those are only acceptable IF you are sitting outside with your pet.

Larry

 

[motherwild]

I would try camping close to home for a weekend. See how they like it.
We travel with a Boston Terrier. She has a crate under the table. She love to travel. She is the first one in the mh.

 

[BradyBz12]

Another good, recent thread about camping with your dogs HERE.

 

[mreyes01430]

I also too would suggest try camping close to home!! The dogs will take up a lot of room in the pop-up! Have you boarded them before?? You may enjoy your camping vacation more without them with you!!!!!

 

[labdogs42]

I also too would suggest try camping close to home!! The dogs will take up a lot of room in the pop-up! Have you boarded them before?? You may enjoy your camping vacation more without them with you!!!!!

We have boarded them before. We used the camper about 6 times last summer and we did not take the dogs with us. I really want to get the Beagle used to camping. We got a smaller dog so that he could go along with us. If the Labs can't always go, that's OK, but I want to take them sometimes!

I would never leave my dogs tied out if I wasn't out with them, so don't worry about that!

We will try camping near home for a test run. If we ever do make it to the Fort, we probably won't take them along. I mostly want to take them on shorter trips close to home!

Thanks for the thoughts. I'll check out that other thread, too!

 

[KimIce]

Our dog is 1/2 Boxer and 1/2 Mastuff and we use to crate him inside the FW when we would go off somewhere, but he has outgrown all his crates so he will have the freedom of the FW while we are away. His new crate is like a condo and would take up 1/2 the FW so we won't be taking it camping. Also, We break up our day and go back during the afternoon to let him out a little before going off again.
When we are at the campsite, we tie him up with a lunge line that I use on my horses while we are outside, and he does fine. I keep it a certain length so he is limited on where he could go.
He actually is a whole different dog camping. He loves to camp and is well behaved as opposed to home where he is a lunatic (he is only 1).

 

[loveDmouse]

Our yellow lab is actually why we purchased our first motorhome. Might sound funny to some but we wanted to be able to take her with us on weekend trips. She loves camping and so do we. If you go near the motorhome she is barking letting you know not to forget her. Our other dog is a home body so his grandparents take care of him and our cat.

If she wants to be outside when we are out we have a tie out that my husband hooks somewhere under the motorhome. If it is hot out she likes to be in the ac. I usually leave the tv going with music on for her. We never leave her for long by herself. She only goes on local trips with us cause she gets a little green under the gills if she is in the vehicle for too long. Not a good experience.

At night we leave the fax running on our ac or heat pump if it isn't too cold. If too cold and we are using the propane we run the fan on the convection over. Helps cut outside noise for all of us. I sleep better myself since we started doing that.

ALWAYS make sure you check ahead with the campground and make sure you have your shot records with you for each dog.

 

[Judy in Texas]

Hi all!

The dogs are well-trained, but haven't been camping before. So, I'm just not sure how to acclimate them to the camping experience! Help!

I started practice camping really close to home... in the driveway. Numerous people on Disboard have commented that this is how they started camping with their pets, also. Ditto about the beagle. My Dora is old enough that I can leave her in the camper for an hour or two during her nap time. I think she would drive the neighbors bonkers if I left her much longer than that.

 

[mreyes01430]

Our dog is 1/2 Boxer and 1/2 Mastuff and we use to crate him inside the FW when we would go off somewhere, but he has outgrown all his crates so he will have the freedom of the FW while we are away. His new crate is like a condo and would take up 1/2 the FW so we won't be taking it camping. Also, We break up our day and go back during the afternoon to let him out a little before going off again.
When we are at the campsite, we tie him up with a lunge line that I use on my horses while we are outside, and he does fine. I keep it a certain length so he is limited on where he could go.
He actually is a whole different dog camping. He loves to camp and is well behaved as opposed to home where he is a lunatic (he is only 1).

I am actually camping next weekend the 5th with my Boxer and my Neoplitan Mastiff @ Lazy Days Rally Park - close to home - just a little R&R with the Monsters.... Let's see how it goes.......