Are you worried about leaving your dog when you go on holiday? 

We, humans, love our holidays, but when you get a new pooch, holidays can become a bit stressful. 

What do you do with your beloved 4-legged best friend? 

Do you have friends or family look after them? 

Are you prepared to put them in a kennel? 

Or can you not bear being without them for a week or fortnight?

One excellent way around this is to take them with you. Problem solved. You will probably need to tweak how and where your holiday.

What’s the best holiday for humans and their doggie? 

Camping, of course. 

If you have never camped with a furball before, then here are some tips for you. We will presume you are using a tent, but you can apply most of the information to Caravans, Campervans, Motorhomes, and Glamping:

Health

Before you go, make sure your pet is fully vaccinated. It is unlikely that campsites will demand dogs to be vaccinated, but it is good to practice doing so. You will be outside a lot in, and in an area, you may be unfamiliar with, where your doggo is going to meet lots of new people, other dogs, animals, and critters. So, it is wise to make sure they are as protected as possible. Also, make sure you are on top of things like de-worming and tick prevention. 

Where to go

You will be surprised at how many campsites there are, so pick somewhere you and the best friend will enjoy. If you are both fit and healthy, you could choose somewhere in a mountain range, if you both are both getting on a bit, then pick somewhere beside a lovely river where you can relax in the sun but still be close to nature.

When to go

If you are new to camping and want to see if it is something you will want to do regularly, then do it in the weather you enjoy. For most people, this will be the summer. You can camp all year round depending on the weather and where you are going, but the more extreme the weather is, the more equipment you will need. As you will need to make sure your dog is safe, secure, and warm. 

How to choose the campsite

Nowadays, a campsite can be anything from a muddy field on a farm to the height of luxury in a holiday park. Find one that you like the look of, has the standard of facilities you want, and make sure it is dog friendly. Most campsites are dog friendly but not all, so it is best to check. Especially as the term “dog-friendly” might mean different things, in some places, the dogs are more welcome than humans, and some should be described as “dog-tolerant” rather than friendly. 

How to choose the tent

This depends on the size of the dog or dogs you are taking. My general rule is how many people there are, then add 1, then add one for every dog you have. If there are two adults, two children, and one dog… then I would recommend a 6-man tent. There are many shapes and sizes of tents, so decide what you think best suits which are going. 

Sleeping

It is best to try to mimic how the dog sleeps at home as best as possible; this will mean they will feel safe and less likely to get scared and anxious at night. If they sleep in a crate, then try to take a box. If they sleep on your bed, then let them sleep with you in the tent. Our recommendation is to have a tent that has a separate sleeping compartment to the main tent. This means you have a bedroom enclosed with a zip; then you have the living area with another zipped door. It is unlikely a dog will be able to escape from a tent like this. You will also need to make sure they are warm enough at night, so check the weather forecasts to know what the temperatures might drop too, and make sure they have enough bedding to stay warm. After all, you will likely be in a cozy sleeping bag.

Camping is great fun for all the family. It gets everyone out into the fresh air and gets you back to nature. 

And it means your beautiful dog can come along on the family holiday too; after all, they are a part of the family. 

Dogs love spending time with their owners, and they love new places to sniff, so camping is a win-win. 

However, just like in any circumstance, it is your responsibility to keep them safe. With a little pre-planning and the right equipment, this is very easy to do.