Pets

Camping with dogs: the ten commandments

In the US alone, more than 30 million people each year take their pets with them while camping. However, when we started traveling in RVs with our dogs, we couldn’t find much written on the subject. Sure, there were the occasional magazine articles reminding us to wear pet identification tags, carry lots of water, and take their favorite toy with us. But in terms of providing genuine support or information on results, there was nothing out there. Since it was something we felt was urgently needed, we decided to write this article.

While there are numerous things to consider when camping with dogs, these are some of the most important.

1. Make sure your dog doesn’t miss:

It’s one thing for your dog to go free in your neighborhood. Another is when you are at a rest stop, nine hundred miles from home. Train your dog to come when called or make sure he is on a leash at all times.

2. Update all your shots:

If your dog has an altercation with another animal (or a person), the central problem will be his rabies shots. If you are staying at a campground that has a demanding pet policy, you will need to check your dog’s vaccination records. If you cross into Canada, you will need to confirm that your dogs have received their vaccinations. You get the idea.

3. Make Your Dogs Easy to Identify:

If your dog gets lost (unfortunately, it happens all the time), the ability to easily identify him will be critical. For permanent identification purposes, consider tattoos or microchips. At a minimum, make sure they wear labels that show your name, your current phone number, and the date of your last rabies shot.

4. Clean up your dog’s waste:

The biggest complaint of dogs has nothing to do with their barking, their bite or their behavior. If you pick up your dog’s droppings, you will be helping dog owners everywhere.

5. Learn how to give your dog first aid:

If a medical crisis occurs while you are at home, go to your local vet. But if you head down a dark road in a strange town, it will seem like a bad dream. Although there are ways to get help while traveling, it always takes more time. Meanwhile, your ability to provide competent first aid could save your dog’s life.

6. Involve your dog in everything he does:

If you really want your dogs to have a good time, include them in your activities. Take them with you on long walks. Buy a cheap plastic paddling pool and let them play in the water. Throw a ball Cook them a hamburger. If you do things like that, they will do cartwheels the next time you decide to take them camping.

7. Call the camps before you go:

Even if a park claims it is pet friendly, always call ahead to confirm its policy regarding your dogs. We hit the parks (with our two German Shepherd dogs) after a long day on the road and found that “pet friendly” means dogs weighing less than 20 pounds.

8. Go ahead for the unexpected plan:

Have a plan (for your dogs) in the event of a flat tire, a serious accident, or a fire in your RV. Start with some extra leashes, a pet carrier, and an extra fire extinguisher. Then, conduct a fire drill to identify potential problems.

9. Learn about your camp environment:

The United States is a huge country with a wide variety of dangerous wildlife, treacherous plants, unpredictable weather conditions, and demanding environmental challenges. If you don’t know what you are doing, you may inadvertently put yourself and your dog in danger.

10. Recognize and respect the opinions of others:

While some of us cannot imagine traveling without dogs, others cannot imagine traveling with them. If you keep your dog under control and clean up after him, you won’t give others much to complain about.

Happy Camping with Rover!

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