Camping with your dog-not for the inexperienced, but can be a lot of fun!

July 9, 7:02 PMSt. Louis Pets ExaminerMary Bushnell

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Taking your dogs on vacation can be lots of fun and/or a real pain, depending on your situation.  Starting about 10 years ago we started taking vacations where we could take our 70 lb boxer mix. We wanted to do the boating, resort thing in the Ozarks. That was a REAL challenge. I bet I contacted 30 resorts before finding one that would take a chance on Dugan. He was over 30 lbs which complicated things. But finally, tired of my begging, one resort relented. Dugan was on his best behavior and no problem at all. He is invited back anytime. We stayed in a cabin overlooking the lake; the owner even picked Dugan and I up every morning in a golf cart so he could go swimming with her dog!  Great trip.

That was in a cabin.  Tent camping and RV camping can be an entirely different experience.  A couple of words of caution here-make sure you are experienced campers-don’t take your dogs on your very first camping trip. Make sure the people/person you are camping with are on board with the idea. It is a lot of responsibility as someone has to be at the campsite at all times unless the dogs are with you. NEVER leave them alone. Make sure you like camping. If it is your vacation choice of last resort-don’t complicate it further by taking a dog to take care of. You will all be miserable. I spoke with my sister and niece recently.  They went on their first camping trip ever and had 3, under age 3,  babies with them.  Their men took them to a primitive camping facility.  No water, no toilets nearby.  They had a MISERABLE time and will never go camping again.  Understandable.  Many bad choices made.  So know your limitations.  We did the primitive thing, before kids, and before we took more than one dog.  Now I am more the pop-up, flush toilets nearby, electricity type of girl.  My dogs and I do fine with those amenities. 

Since our first trip with Dugan he has been back to Missouri, Kentucky, Arkansas and several locations in Illinois. Some fishing/boating type facilities, some campgrounds. Never a problem. Biggest problem we faced was finding a place to get him in the water. Off shore isn’t safe due to fish hooks. Most dock areas and beach areas won’t allow a dog swimming there. We have found some that let us if we went when no one else was there, under cloud cover, with our doggy “bag” to pick up messes. It was worth it the first time my daughter coaxed him to jump from the dock into the lake behind her. We had my in-laws with us and my father-in-law told that story until the day he died, he really enjoyed that.
 

Since then we have added on to our traveling family. We got another dog and so did our daughter. The last camping trip involved the planning and responsibility for 3 large dogs, plus another extra large dog that belonged to our son’s family, a mastiff. After talking to the park rangers we were able to find a secluded area to let the pups swim-the joy they experienced was absolutely a delight to behold. I’ve never seen two pups have more fun.
 

Now since that trip, we have our Pit Bull, Grizz. So my husband and I will have 3, and then my daughter will have her dog, and who knows who else. But it will work. You have to be responsible (there is that word again), and really enjoy your dogs.
Items that are a must:

• Water & food bowls
• Tie outs
• A portable pen for them to sleep in-unless your dogs aren’t afraid of the dark, like mine. They sleep in a pen in the screen room.
• They have to be on flea & tick preventative.
• Life preservers if going on a boat.
• Shade-portable cover of some type
• Leashes
• Baggies for you know what
• Be sure and check before you go-on required pet restrictions and policies. Don’t assume.
• Toys and rugs or blankets.
• Towels for drying off.
• First aid kit
• Animal approved bug spray

Most of all, make sure your dogs are socialized enough to take somewhere. No one wants to go camping and listen to barking dogs. That is a big social plunder.  Also, when you travel with dogs, especially big dogs, plan ahead.  We research sites when we are getting ready to go, making reservations if possible.  We choose campsites that are somewhat removed from other campers.  End camping spots are good.   Don't  book yourself into campgrounds where the spots are right on top of each other.  That is just asking for trouble.  When you see a spot you like, write the campsite number down for future reference.

When approaching a resort, whether it is a cabin or RV resort, be sure and be honest about your pet. They usually require shot documentation and will have to be on flea preventative before they are allowed in any cabin, anywhere. You might have to pay extra, but it will still be less than boarding them. Most cabins will not allow you to leave them unattended without being in a crate so plan ahead.

Have fun!  We start putting the camping gear together around here and the dogs go nuts. Be sure to have a reputable caregiver for those pets you don’t take. We would have to travel on a circus train to take everyone….so make sure those at home are kept healthy and safe.
 

Thanks for reading!   keepsake16@yahoo.com

Here are a few places that have information about camping with your dogs.
http://www.petplace.com/dogs/going-camping-with-your-dog/page1.aspx

http://www.petswelcome.com/

http://www.lovetheoutdoors.com/camping/Tips/Dog.htm

http://www.dogfriendly.com/server/travel/guides/camp/camp.shtml?gclid=CObz3NjdyZsCFSRPagodk0LmKQ