Should I Take My Dog Camping?

With pet hotels and kennels so widely available, many people don't think about taking their dogs with them when they head out into the wilderness. However, plenty of people have a great time by taking their dog along with them into the woods - and what could a dog enjoy more! If you are thinking about bringing your dog along with you the next time you hit the road, take a look at both the pros and cons.

Pros of taking a dog camping:

The best reason that you should bring your dog is for much the same reason that you are going: he'll have a great time! Dogs get bored the same way that people do, and you'll find that he will love the woods. It's full of new things to smell and hear and see, and every dog, even city dwellers, love to run and explore and sniff!

If your dog is with you, you won't be worrying about him as you try to relax yourself. We all know how hard it is to enjoy ourselves if we are worried that our dog is pining away. Some people don't trust other people to take care of their pets and bringing them along is a good solution.

When you bring your dog along, you never have to worry about lacking company, and they certainly make walking more fun.

A dog can also provide a bit of extra safety from curious animals or other campers. Sometimes they can even show you interesting things that you would have missed along the trail!

Cons of taking a dog camping:

Bringing your dog camping can actually be quite a hassle if you are unprepared. You should be aware that your dog will be very excited and might be rowdy or difficult to control when exposed to the great outdoors. They also might be frightened of the new spaces and older dogs might be easily exhausted by the newness of it it all.

You will also find that you may worry about your dog getting lost, which can be extremely stressful, and you will need to keep in mind that your dog needs to be checked on routinely. Similarly, keep in mind that your dog might be noisy at night and may even get hurt by falls or wild animals.

Having your dog along will impose some restrictions on where you camp. Some parks prohibit dogs in the camping area entirely. If there are animals about - and of course there often are on a camping trip - you must be sure that you can keep your dog totally under control.

You will have to take more supplies with you. At a minimum you will need his water bowl and food bowl, cans of food or kibble for him, and plenty of fresh water. If you are walking with a backpack you will need to be able to carry everything comfortably.

Finally, does you dog sleep well away from his normal environment? If he is happy to settle down on his blanket or beanbag, you shouldn't have too many problems. If he likes to be in his crate, you might need to consider before hiking off into the wilderness!

Make sure that you think about all of these factors before you take your dog camping.

Ideally, you will think about your dog's personality and his inclination to obey and these will in a large part affect your decision. Remember that if you bring a dog camping that you need to do your utmost to make sure that he is safe and happy!