Take a break from your computer or mobile device and look next to you. What do you see?

Are you looking into the sweet eyes of your dog who’s eager to spend some more quality time with you?

We all know that dogs need attention and with our busy lives, it becomes harder to care for their needs.

One of the best solutions is to take your dog camping. But before you and your dog get off your feet/paws, you want to make sure you’re prepared.

Here are our tips for going camping with your dog:

1. Take a Tent

Dog tents are ideal to constrain your dog but also give them a comfortable space to sleep in. If you wish, you can also buy an extra dog camping bed. You can place this bed inside the tent.

These are ideal for protecting your dog’s body while they sleep. It’s especially ideal if you’re camping in cold weather.

2. Take Photos of Your Dog

While you’re a responsible dog owner, things can always go wrong and your dog might go missing. You have to be prepared for this eventuality and how you’ll find your dog.

Make sure you take a good closeup of your dog. You should also take a few full-body shots from all angles. Make sure you also photograph any distinguishing marks that your dog has.

Print out several copies of these photographs and bring them along with you. You might have to pass them around or hand them to the local police station. You should also keep digital copies of these photographs on your phone.

When traveling with others, make sure they also have these images on your phone. You might have to circulate these images in the locale until your dog gets found again.

As a side note, you might want to microchip your dog if you haven’t already. This is the easiest way to track them when they get lost.

3. Go to the Vet

Before you go camping with your dog, you must take them to the vet first. They’ll let you know if your dog is ready for camping. They can also make some suggestions on how to protect your dog during the trip.

You’ll need to bring a First Aid kit along with you. You’ll need to learn how to take care of your dog in case of injury. You’ll especially have to take precautions with their paws.

Ask your vet if there are any medicines they suggest. In case your dog gets ill, you want to be able to take care of them without leaving the campground.

4. Packing Food

When you’re going camping with your dog, you can often be more flexible with food. However, make sure you learn the rules of the campground. Some campgrounds might have rules about leaving meat lying around, etc.

You need to think about how much food your dog will need each day. Make sure you pack this amount plus a bit extra. For example, let’s say you’re going camping for 2 days.

Now let’s assume that your dog has 3 servings of canned food per day. You need to have at least 6 cans of dog food with you. To be safe, bump this up to 8 or even 10 cans.

You should also bring 2 dog bowls with you. You should have one for dog food and another for water. It’s also best to bring a large bag to carry dog food in.

Make sure you keep this bag under a lock. This ensures that your dog doesn’t try to get their food when there isn’t time.

For meat, make sure you wrap it in a plastic bag first. You might also have to bring oil and salt to preserve the meat.

Always buy fresh meat before your camping trip. Never bring along meat that’s been in your fridge for a few days.

You must also bring at least 2 gallons of water. You can’t always expect the campgrounds to have a water supply.

You might have to be careful with how much water you give your dog. You might have to ration it out when you take your dog camping.

5. Practice Before Taking Your Dog Camping

If your dog hasn’t been camping before, you might have to take it for practice.

While dogs might love being outdoors, many of them might not be able to adapt to camping. You have to help them adapt to being outdoors for a long time.

There are many things you can do about this. First, you should take them out for a long walk. While you probably already take your dog for walks, they should be longer.

During a camping trip, your dog might not get to rest as often. Make sure to get them acclimated to several hours of continuous walking.

Another step is to spend more time outdoors with your dog. Even when your dog is resting, perhaps they should rest outside.

You might want to take your laptop to your patio to do your work, for example. Your dog will be by your side and will become more comfortable being outdoors.

Depending on the campground you choose, there might be other visitors with their dogs. Take your dog to the park to socialize with other dogs. When you have guests over, make sure they meet your dog.

You want your dog to feel comfortable around others. This ensures that they’ll enjoy the campgrounds and that they won’t become aggressive with others.

Follow these tips and you’ll have no problem preparing your dog for the big day!

Enjoy Your Camping Trip

Now you know how to take your dog camping and how to make the most out of the experience.

Your first step should be to take a travel tent for your dog. This is where they can sleep and stay protected.

Make sure you take photos of your dog in case they go missing. Your vet can also ensure they’re healthy before the trip. Follow our steps to bring enough food and prepare your dog for the camping adventure!

But don’t start packing just yet. You may want to check out our other pet and travel tips on our website.