Many of you may be planning on camping this summer and bringing your dogs with you, but before you do there are important things to consider. We’ve compiled a list of our top tips every dog owner must read before embarking on a camping adventure.
1. Be considerate
Although taking your dog with you may sound like a great idea, it’s important to be realistic and considerate. If you struggle to control your dog and they can misbehave around other people and dogs, don’t take them. Camping is a relaxing activity for many people and it would be inconsiderate to bring a dog who is likely to bark excessively, especially in the morning or evening.
2. Find a dog friendly camping site
If you think your dog would be suitable to take camping, then the next step is to choose a camping site that accommodates dogs! Our top picks for dog friendly camping sites:
- Old Oaks, Somerset
- Wolverley Campsite, Kidderminster
- Hollands Wood, Brockenhurst
- Ashcroft Farm, Devon
3. What to pack?
It’s important to be well prepared when taking your dog camping, we’ve got a list of the top items to bring – some you may not have even thought of!
- Food; it can be tempting to simply feed your dog tit-bits from the bbq, but it’s important to maintain their regular eating habits otherwise it could lead to a poorly pooch tummy.
- Poo bags; you never want to be caught short and there can be severe fines for fouling on campsites.
- Towels; you’re likely to go on walks whilst camping and as a result dogs can get very muddy paws, bringing spare towels will save on a lot of cleaning!
- First aid kit; accidents can happen anywhere and so make sure to pack a dog first aid kit just in case.
- Extra blankets; just like us, dogs can get cold during the night so bring some extra blankets to keep them warm in the chilly evenings.
- Short and long leads; it’s important to have leads that can control your dog whilst on the camp site and also let them roam when there is open space.
- Stake; if you want time to relax, it’s a good idea to bring a stake or similar to attach your extendable lead on and let your dog wander in the close vicinity (no longer than 2m in UK campsites).
