Tails from the trail and tips on training your human

Camping With Dogs | Camping with your dog can be a great way to make memories with your furry pet. You can pitch a tent under a starry sky and wake to a beautiful morning as you enjoy the scenic views. However, camping with dogs can be challenging as it is not an ideal environment for a pet. Your pet may love the indoors but they may not be suited to an open environment such as that of camping.

Therefore, here are some important tips to note when you’re camping with dogs. These tips relate to dog safety, preparation and camping time.

8 Helpful Tips for Taking Dogs Camping

Get To Know Rules and Regulations

Before you plan on taking dogs camping, make sure you have read up on your chosen campsite rules and regulations. You don’t want to reach the campsite, only to find that your dog is allowed in certain areas. Even if you think you know the rules, make sure to read an updated copy. Some campsites allow dogs in leashes but have strict policies when it comes to dog behavior.

Evaluate Your Pet

Not every furry friend will be suitable for. Make sure you know your dog completely, especially in these three areas:

Personality

If you fear your pet is too aggressive or has a tendency to get rowdy at the smallest inconvenience, then not taking it camping is a better choice. This depends on the dog breed and your daily interactions with your pet.

Breed

Some dog breeds require more maintenance. Therefore, they might have issues with the campsite environment. This is especially true for long-haired dogs that may find it difficult to make the long journey. Similarly, your dog may love this outdoor adventure if it’s athletic, otherwise, it may become lazy which is not suitable for this experience.

Health

A dog’s health is determined by its age and by the level of care. If your dog is a puppy, then it may not be in the best of healths. The same can be said about senior dogs who may not be so energetic anymore. Moreover, you should ensure your pet is in ideal health before embarking on this journey. Therefore, keep up to date with vaccinations and visit a vet before camping with your dog to rule out any health issue.

Train Your Dog

Once you have evaluated your pet’s personality, it is time to train your dog for camping. You can do this by creating a camping environment in your backyard by putting up a tent at night and sleeping in it. If you don’t have a backyard, a local campsite or an open space may work. The idea is to give your pet a glimpse of the environment so it can adjust easily.

Instill and Revise Commands

Taking dogs camping or anywhere outdoors is can be a difficult undertaking for new owners. To minimize this risk, dog parents should be prepared. One such way is by practising commands and making sure your pet remembers them. Go over basic commands before taking this journey and reward your pet if they remember correctly. If they don’t, then you know what command to work on before camping.

Pack Efficiently

Packing efficiently may mean different things to different campers. However, with dogs, a camping trip requires basic items and equipment your pet will need. This includes suitable clothing for your pet, a food and water bowl, a first-aid kit, a leash and other safety products. Don’t forget to pack extra treats and water.

Follow Camp Etiquette

The general etiquette for open spaces dictates ‘Leave No Trace.’ This rule indicates that campers, hikers or dog parents, in general, should not pollute or litter an environment. Thus, they should only leave behind their footprints while taking the memories only. Even though this rule applies to all campsites, make sure you are aware of any particular camp etiquette laid down by the authorities. It may have rules such as keeping dogs on a leash or limiting dog entries till a certain point.

Take Care of the Environment

Please make sure that you pay extra attention to the campsite environment. There might be flora and fauna native to that area, thus, making them very important to the ecosystem. Avoid petting animals or clicking pictures as it may startle and scare them. As for your pet, make sure it does not get into a fight with another animal or does anything to damage its home. Moreover, your dog may get curious about a plant, but make sure to keep it away as they can get allergies.

Dog Poop

Apart from flora and fauna, make sure you don’t leave traces of your dogs poop on the campsite or anywhere near it. Therefore, pack ziplock bags or biodegradable bags to collect poop in them until you can dispose.

Post Camping Care

Post camping care of your pet dog is important as camping is a challenging adventure, especially if it was your pet’s first time. Make sure your dog gets enough time to recuperate. Here are three ways you can ensure this:

Health Checkup

Schedule a health checkup with your pet’s vet to rule out any issue such as dehydration, infections, parasites, or even contagious diseases that may be present on the campsite.

Rest

Make sure your pet is given ample time to rest so it can regain its energy. Give it some time to laze around or sleep at its own will until they are ready to bounce back to its normal routine.

Hydration

If you’ve camped in the summer season, then you should ensure your dog is well-hydrated upon return. Keep its water bowl in sight and keep refilling it after intervals.

The Bottom Line

Camping with your dog can be made exciting if you and your pup are prepared. It may seem overwhelming, especially if you haven’t camped with a dog before. But with these helpful tips, taking dogs camping can become easy. Over time, you may also discover your own tips that work well for your furry friend.

by Bobby J Davidson

We are in business to provide great products for the outdoorsy hikers, campers and their dogs; and to help clean our parks, rivers and oceans for a better planet earth for hikers and their dogs.

Parks Clean

Parks are high-traffic areas in most cities. This means that trash is bound to show up in and around your park and playground.

When discussing ways your family can help clean your local park, don’t overlook a literal cleanup! Picking up trash will make a huge difference in the appearance and vibe of your park. A clean area will encourage others to keep the park pristine. When picking up trash and debris, make sure to wear gloves to protect yourself, and put trash in appropriate receptacles or lawn bags. You can also contact your local trash company to schedule a pickup when you are finished.

Rivers Clean

The storm drain on your street collects the water from your roof, driveway, and sidewalk and funnels it directly in your local lake or river. Nutrients from grass and leaves, pet waste, and fertilizers “enrich” our lakes and streams — feeding algae blooms and harming fish. Chemicals from washing your car in the drive and household chemical spills add up, taking a nasty toll on our favorite swimming areas and fishing spots. Soil can also be picked up by runoff, reducing the clarity of water and hurting fish.

So as you prepare your lawn and garden, here are a few helpful tips to keep our lakes and rivers beautiful and safe for all of us.

Use mulch and vegetation to keep soil from washing away.
Sweep or rake grass and leaves away from street curbs.
Mulch and compost grass clippings and leaves.
Keep paved surfaces to a minimum.
Capture water runoff with a rain garden and rain barrels.
Wash your car on the grass, where the water will get filtered.
Keep chemicals away from storm drains.
Collect your pet’s waste.
Aim your rain-gutter downspouts onto grass.

Beaches Clean (do it for the ocean)

In 2007, the United States Senate and House of Representatives passed the National Clean Beaches Week Resolution to recognize the value of beaches to the American way of life and the important contributions of beaches to the economy, recreation, and natural environment of the United States.

Clean Beaches Week, celebrated annually July 1-7, offers the perfect opportunity to encourage stewardship and volunteerism along our coastlines. But where do you even begin? Follow these tips to get started.

Identify a clean-up site. Choose a place that needs some TLC, making sure that volunteers can safely access the site. Get permission, if needed, for your clean-up event, perhaps from the local parks agency.
Choose a site coordinator. (That might be you!) A beach clean-up takes a lot of work and needs an organized person to keep everything on track before, during, and after the event.
Visit the site in advance. The coordinator will need to know where to set up a volunteer check-in station, where to leave trash and recyclables, and what area(s) volunteers will clean.
Gather supplies. Depending on your location, you’ll need supplies such as trash bags, a first aid kit, hand sanitizer, wipes, and large coolers of water. You should also provide (or ask volunteers to bring) items such as reusable work/garden gloves, reusable water bottles, sunscreen, and bug spray.
Plan how to handle the recyclables. Reach out to recyclers in your area (and perhaps your community’s solid waste departments) to make arrangements for accepting any glass, plastic, and aluminum that you collect.
Line up event partners. Contact local businesses for donations of drinks, food, and supplies. Ask a local solid waste hauler to donate their services for trash removal.
Plan for handling hazardous waste. Determine how you’ll dispose of any medical and sewage waste you might find. One solution: A wide-mouth container with a tight-fitting lid, such as an empty laundry detergent bottle. Clearly label that it contains hazardous waste.
Get volunteers to help. Recruit friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors. Create an event on Facebook and ask volunteers to sign up online. This will give you an idea of how many people to expect and will help communicate event details.
Stay safe. Be prepared for a variety of health emergencies, from minor cuts and scrapes to heat stroke.
Take photos! Post pics online to share the success of your event and recognize volunteers for their hard work.