Sienna Brick Road

Editors note:  Siennabrickroad welcomes the following article by R.Hudon from For Healthy Dogs.com

Your camping list for your dog depends on the where you are going camping and how long you will be camping for. Will you be in a campground with other people and animals? Will your dog be allowed to run loose? Is there danger of wild animals? What are the weather conditions? Will you be hiking to your destination? Where will your dog sleep at night?
Depending on your individual situation the items you need for your dog may vary. Here are the most important camping supplies you will need for your dog in any situation.

Food Container You will need an airtight, water proof storage container that is big enough to hold all the food your dog will need for his camping trip. If your dog eats fresh or raw food, put it in an appropriate container that will fit in your cooler and keep on ice. If your dog’s food is in a can remember to bring a can opener!

Food & Water Measure out your dog’s daily feeding portions times the days you are camping, plus one extra days portion just in case you may need it. Depending on where and how you are camping you are either bringing your own water or there will be water at the campsite. Either way, just remember to always have enough for your canine companion and a container to put it in.

Food and Water Dish If your dog eats out of a ceramic bowl I wouldn’t recommend bringing his dish camping. You can either purchase your dog a travel feeder or travel dishes or just pack a couple big plastic bowls, one for food and one for water. If you have more than one dog, bring one big container they can share water in. Stainless steel bowls are the best bowls for camping as they are durable, lightweight and easy to clean. I would recommend getting the kind with a sturdy base that is not easy to tip.

Collar and Leash Don’t leave the house without this one! This is the second most important thing your dog must have to go camping besides food and water. Your dog is bound to get dirty so it’s best to use a durable, easy to clean leash for camping. You can buy LED dog collars that illuminate in the dark which is a great idea for camping at night with your dog. Make sure your dog is wearing an identification tag on his collar with his name and contact info.

Tie-Out Cable, Long Lead or Rope If you are camping in a public campground you are usually required to have your dogs securely tied up at all times. When we take our dogs camping, we always bring a long tie out cable and secure it to a corkscrew stake strategically placed to minimize barking at fellow campers. If your dogs don’t chew through rope like mine do, then tying them to a tree with some rope attached to their collar works great too. Just make sure it is completely secure and there is no way your dog can escape.

Bags for Clean-Up A must have when camping. You can use plastic grocery bags if you don’t have anything else. If you want to help the environment out you can purchase biodegradable waste bags for your dog’s outdoor clean-up.

Crate or Bed This all depends on your dog’s sleeping arrangements while camping. Some people bring their crates or the bed they have from home if possible. Depending on the size of your dog sometimes that’s not possible. Give your dog his own warm blanket to curl up under if he is sharing a tent with you. You can also buy soft crates that can fold down to almost nothing for easy travel. These crates are a popular item for camping dogs and come in a variety of styles and designs.

Toys Don’t forget toys for your dog’s enjoyment. If your dog will be going in the water make sure you bring water toys such as floatable frisbees or balls. If your dog is able to run around bring some good throw toys if he likes to fetch. Bully sticks are a great for chewing while relaxing by the campfire. If your dog has a favourite toy that you are not worried about getting dirty, wet, or possibly lost, then pack it as well. A fun idea for dogs is to bring bubbles and blow them and let your dog chase them and pop them. Our dogs go nuts for this when we are camping. We buy ‘dog bubbles’ specifically made for dogs. They taste like peanut butter and they last forever.

Raingear If you’re lucky you won’t have to worry about rain but if it does happen it’s nice to be prepared. If your dog is going to be outdoors for a long period of time while camping there are a few things you can do to protect him from the rain. You can buy raincoats especially made for dogs which provide great protection from the rain. You can also buy portable shelters and tents for dogs which are very easily set up and can be used to shelter your dog from the sun and heat as well.

Old Towels In case your dog gets wet and muddy either from swimming or being in the rain, it’s always good to pack a couple of old towels.

Medications If your dog is on any medications remember to put them in his bag.

Insect Repellent If there is a possibility your dog may be bothered by insects while camping, you should bring an insect repellent that is safe for dogs. Do not use human insect spray on your dog. You can buy dog insect repellent or make your own. Clove oil works well as a natural mosquito repellent. Neem oil, citronella and cedar oil also make great insect repellents for dogs.

First Aid Kit for Dogs You can either buy a first aid kit for your dog or you can put together some items and make a basic one for minor emergencies. Find a container (even a large Tupperware would work) and put in some bandaging material such as gauze or roll cotton, gauze pads, tweezers, gauze tape, scissors, wound cleanser or saline solution, hydrocortisone ointment, emergency hot/cold pack and always have an extra blanket handy for emergencies. Depending on where you are camping think of the possible dangers and situations that could arise that might cause your dog to need first aid and try to pack accordingly.

Extras Items for Camping
Brush or Necessary Grooming Items
Warm Jacket or Sweater (if you have a small dog)
Dog Carrier (for small dogs)
Extra Collar & Leash
Life-Jacket
Backpack
Sleeping Bag
Portable Water Bowl (for walks)

Find all the supplies on the Complete Camping List on our Camping Page for Dogs at http://www.forhealthydogs.com

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