Camping is a family affair but one member sometimes gets overlooked a little too often. But it doesn’t have to be so, camping with a dog can be a fantastic and rewarding experience.
One of our favourite trips would have to have been when we went to Cape York along the Old Tele Track with our kelpie. Swimming with him in all the creeks and jumping off ledges into crystal clear water was a blast.
Along the Birdsville Track, a quick stop to stretch the legs and have a play.
He was a bit of a celebrity amongst the other campers along the track who were missing their own dogs – they all knew his name and wanted a pat. Getting a photo with the whole family at the tip of Australia is something we will always cherish.
Splashing around in Canal Creek on Cape York’s Old Telegraph Track.
It’s a dog’s life
Being able to take the family dog away has so many positives. Taking a walk, going kayaking or swimming is a great way for everybody to get some exercise. Playing games like chasey, or throwing a stick is good entertainment that you don’t have to plug into a powerpoint.
He just wants to get the ball. Having a play is better than looking at a screen.
Being able to take your dog camping is a big positive, especially when there is a strong family bond. Plus, it means you don’t have to feel sad, or guilty about leaving them at home.
A bond is formed forever on Cooper’s first camping trip with our daughter.
The best parts of camping with your dog
It’s a great way to meet new friends too. Everyone loves to pat a dog and without a doubt, he’ll be at the next camp making friends. It’s an easy way to break the ice and make staying in a campground more enjoyable.
Bringing your dog camping means it’s easy to dispose of your food scraps after dinner, and you don’t have to organise someone to watch your dog at home which makes life a little easier. Pet motels or dog kennels can be expensive long term and probably not as enjoyable for your dog as a camping trip with the family.
Waiting for leftovers, he eats better than us sometimes.
Another big benefit is the extra safety and companionship of having a dog with you brings, more so when travelling solo. Dogs have great hearing, smell and night vision.
They can be great at early warning against crocs, dingos, feral pigs and snakes. Also against things that go bump in the night, mainly other people who should not be so close to your camp.
Dogs give you that safety and companionship.
Dog-gone-it – cons of taking your pooch camping
There are some cons to taking your best mate along with you. Depending on the size of your dog, they can take up a fair amount in your limited room inside the car. Roof racks and trailers are an option in making up that lost gear storage space.
It’s important to keep your dog safe when you’re driving, we keep Cooper secure in the rear of our car behind a cargo barrier and beside the fridge slide. When he was small enough to be in the back seat, we used a harness through the seat belts. For more details on travelling with dogs check out this resource here.
Having a dog can also limit where you can stay. National parks and nature reserves are out, but some state forests, private campgrounds and lots of free camping spots are dog-friendly.
One of the biggest fears is losing your best friend. Having them microchipped and a tag with your details on their collar is a must. Keeping treats in your pocket should be enough to keep your dog from wandering too far. Having them trained to come back when called is a command you should have mastered so your dog can have a little freedom around camp.
Cooper gets a thick foam mattress for trips in the car.
Depending on the campground and your dog they might need to have a lead on too.
Getting tangled up with guide ropes is so frustrating, the moment you untangle them, they are stuck around another 3 poles and ropes. A screw/hex peg is the perfect solution so that they can be tethered out of reach of awnings and tents. Just make sure they always have water and shade. Having a guy rope trace spring on the peg should stop your dog from hurting themselves and pulling the peg out of the ground.
Picking up their waste isn’t pleasant but it’s something you have to do, otherwise, sites will ban dogs from being able to stay. Keep biodegradable bags with you at all times, do the right thing and keep the campgrounds clean.
Going for a walk around camp at Bigriggan, a long lead gives Cooper a bit more freedom.
10 essentials for taking your dog camping
- Bed to sleep on at night
- Camp chair or mat for lazing around on during the day
- Dog food and bowl plus treats for good behaviour and training
- Glow sticks, on the collar at night time so you can see them
- Long and short leads
- Screw/hex peg with a guy rope trace spring
- Collar and tag with names and details
- Biodegradable waste bags
- Toys to play with and chew on
- Dog suncream/glasses – especially at the beach
A bit of luxury, having somewhere comfortable to sit in the shade.
How to find places to camp with your dog
There is fantastic information published to find places to camp. Some of our favourites include Landcruiser Mountain Park, North Stradbroke Island, Bigriggan and Neurum Creek Bush Retreat. Guide books like Camps 10 details whether or not dogs are allowed at each campsite.
There are lots of resources to use to find suitable camping spots.
Online there are Facebook communities, sites like Wikicamps and Find-a-camp or you can just google the area you’re interested in.
Make sure you understand and respect the different rules for each site. If it’s not what you’re looking for, find someplace that is.
Landcruiser Mountain Park has plenty of room to run around, but he’s always keeping watch.
Extra things to consider when camping with your dog
Never leave a dog locked in the car, even for 5 minutes with the windows down a crack. Not only is it dangerous but could land you in court with a big fine. Find a safe shady spot if you have to and make sure they have plenty of water. We always keep a collapsible bucket in the car.
Make sure your dog is up to date with vaccinations and tick treatments. Speak to your vet if you’ve never taken your canine camping if you’re unsure. Always check for ticks or strange bumps especially around the face and legs, if their bark or walk is not right after a trip away, get to the vet ASAP. We’ve never had a problem but be diligent.
Don’t leave your dog alone in a car.
Check out any fire pits around your campsite for heat. I’ve seen our dog stand in one straight after jumping out of the car, thankfully it had no heat.
Some people may want to have pet insurance should the worst happen. Ask your insurer if their dog is covered when camping or travelling and what they are covered for.
Camping just west of Birdsville, these two are inseparable.
Some of our best memories of camping have been with our dog
The most memorable camping trips we’ve been on have been with our kelpie. The hardest part has been trying to convince him to jump out of the car when we get home as he just lays in his spot with these big brown sad puppy dog eyes wanting to go back camping.
Stopping in for a look at Ilfracombe on the way home from the Gulf of Carpenteria.
So, don’t leave your best friend at home on your next trip, do some research, make some room in the car and go and have an adventure together.
I still laugh when I think about the time Cooper ate Lara’s sandwich that was on the camp table, what’s your funniest experience camping with your dog?
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It is possible to book your dog into a kennel for a day or two while you go to a National Park.
Park visit over, you pick them up and contiue your travels together again.
My dog loves being at my side and tends to be near my knee unless told to “go for a run”. His recall is excellent.
He also likes the comfort of his favourite soft toy, Mr Stretch, to cuddle up with, as well as an old slipper he likes to play with and pretend he has prey.
I also have a hands free leash that clips to a belt, which is a boon for camping sites that require your dog to be on leash. It means we stay tangle free, while setting up. I then put his regular leash on once we are just relaxing again. My dog has long been trained to the hands free leash as he comes birding with me and knows to freeze when I get the camera out. I also accustomed him to Kangaroos at a friend’s farm before venturing to places with lots of kangaroos for his own safety. He knows to leave them alone.
Travelling solo with a dog has other demands. No one to hold pooch while I pop into a public toilet, so he has to come too. Shopping if its hot is another, potential problem, so very glad supermarkets are open in many places after dark, otherwise there are times we might have starved, as I will not leave hiim outside a shop tied up on a leash for his own safety!
There have also been occasions where I have asked total strangers to hold my dog for a few minutes, while I go and buy an icecream or similar; you have to trust your instncts on that, or go without!
I have also trained my boy to wear boots to guard against burning the pads of his paws on hot roads and similar places. If the ground is too hot for you to comfortably hold your hand on it, it is going to burn your dog’s paw pads. That is when the boots come out.
Being a whippet, my dog feels the cold and coats need to be ready for chilly or cold weather. All are practical, rather than flash. He has a fleecy, to stay warm at night, a light reflective raincoat and a wool lined heavier coat that can be worn in conjunction with his fleecy if its really cold. To check if your dog is cold, feel their ears. If their ears are cold, they will be feeling cold.
He also has his own towel for cleaning muddy paws.
Sometimes he will roll in something gross and need a quick bath. I use a chamois. Wet it and add a dob of dog shampoo. Wash him over with that, then rinse off the chamois and repeat the process with clean water to get rid of the soap residue. Works a treat to freshen any dog up!
A well secured folding dog crate with a comfy matress, is probably the safest place for a dog to travel, as they can so easliy be thrown forward if you have to brake suddenly. At least if crated they will not be thrown a long distance.
That said, by boy is most relaxed when beside me in the passenger seat, wearing his seat belt. The crate can also serve as an outdoor kennel for shade or wind protection, if it has a cover.
I also find I stop every hour and a half to ensure he gets a toilet break and drink. I get more leg streches myself as a result and we limi the time we will be spending in the car, to no more than tree or four hours in a day.
The small canvas water containers are great to pop in your pocket if going hiking or for a long walk together, as are pop up bowls for water to save space during travel.
My dog is also well accustomed to sitting at my feet at cafes and restaurants. I take a lightweight mat for him to have some padding and be comfortable.
He has also been made welcome in many non food trading shops on our travels, from antique and bric a brack shops, to florists and up market clothes retailers. I always ask first, but have found many shop keepers in small towns often welcome a dog inside.
My dog is an accredited Therapy Dog, so does the rounds of a local hospital when we are at home, so his temperament testing has been super thorough as a result. I even travel with our photo ID, to prove his therapy dog status.
I have been truly amazed at how welcome we have been made by so many businesses and other campers, when we head off travelling together!
I also recommend using a martingale collar, that will slightly tighten, if your dog is likely to be a collar slipper, like a whippet, whose head is narrower than their neck. Nothing would be worse than to lose your dog as a result of it slipping its collar, so if it has ever slipped a collar at home, make sure you purchase the martingale collar before you leave to go camping or travelling together. BlackDog Wear is an Australian company that makes them and they are available online. On that same note, carry spare leads and a collar, just in case!
Always take care to check relevant websites to see if any baits have recently been laid by local councils or land management people for wild dogs, in areas where you will be travelling with your dog. If so, go elsewhere if possible, or if you cannot avoid the area, keep them close to you and do not let them scavenge for food.
Carry a basic dog first aid manual and also make sure your vet knows you will be travelling with your best friend, so they can make sure they have any necessary parasite preventatives. If your dog does have a pre existing condition, carry a letter from your vet, detailing previous treatments and tests. Most vets will be happy to advise regular clients via the phone, in the case of minor health hiccups.
Most importantly, enjoy the times made happier by a dog you love at your side!
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Always take our Kelpie/Huntaway cross sheep dog with us. Apart from being a top sheep dog, truck, pen or paddock he just loves travelling. Fishing is his favorite pass time. Excellent guard dog, but very friendly if you are doing the right thing, especially loves kids. Would not leave home without him. Like you say national parks are about the only place you cannot take them.
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