Hi all, we are going camping tomorrow and this will be the first time for us all including our 7 month old border terrier pup. Does anyone have any advice about what we could take to make the experience more comfortable for all. We will be taking the dogs crate and also one of those screw things that go into the ground for the lead to be attached to. Our pup will have her crate in the tent with us at night and will be out with us all day but If any experienced doggy campers have any advice on anything else that might be useful, I'd be grateful. Many thanks

Camped with my two and previous two for many years, Maisy-Moo, always had a great time. We like a small tent, easy to move on in, but always had a porch area for the cage at night. We never let the dogs in the bedroom bit cos apart from them often being damp from the grass their nails could easily damage the groundsheet. During the day we would move the cage outside with a reflective silver type ground sheet spread over it and pegged out to the side to create plenty air flow round their shelter which we left open and long leads tethered to a peg. We also sometimes used a beach type wind shield to create an area outside the tent. Take plenty of towels for drying the dogs off (no electric hairdryers :)), sufficient bedding to be able to give them dry stuff while any wet is drying may need a bit more in their bed as the tent will be colder than your kitchen at night and remember to ensure the dogs cannot reach the camp stove. Happy camping !!!

A torch, tin-opener, matches and more clothes than you think you actually need!

Oh fun, camping :D :D :D
Trust me, I've done this more than I can count :D :D (Mt. Rainier, Germany, Grand Canyon: North AND South Rim, France,Switzerland etc...) It's supposed to be fun :rolleyes:
No matter how nice the weather was when we left, it changed :D Garmisch had snow on 8 July 2000 :D My motto: Always prepare for the most dire of circumstances and you canna go wrong ;) I usually pack the kitchen sink and we USE it. ;)

Tried and true suggestions:
*RAINGEAR!!!! and waterproofing spray/seam sealer for the tent -- no matter how "water-resistant" it is, it is NOT waterproof when new :( You will find this out in the middle of the night ---murphy's greatest law ;)

*Towels, Towels, towels... Extra blankets/throws for you.
small hand broom/dustpan for tent. You'll be fighting dirt as your enemy :rolleyes:

*More food than your 7mo. puppy would go through during same time at home. Double, just in case. She'll use up more energy keeping warm, and being awake.

Do you have a puppy sweater? Being a short haired breed, night and early morning times are damp and can cause chills. Don't be surprised if you end up with her in your bed/sleeping bag despite a crate with blankies. She's used to being inside. Even if the daytime gets very hot, night time is a shocker.

(mine usually end up sleeping around my feet keeping me nice and toasty--but they do a quiet woof if someone walks up to the tent :D)

*Tie-out + leash to lash to chair --- some type of plastic w. blanky put on top for her to lie on outside with you.
*Harness for above (best not to hook a line to a collar)
*Restraint for car (do you have a doggy seat belt? ;))

*Flea/tick spray + the clamp tweezers for same...just in case. Even though you might use the neck dab stuff, it will keep them from dropping on her and bringing them into the tent.

*Scissors --so you can trim pads if hair gets sandy/sticky/muddy etc... :)
*treats/chewies/ball --something to do :)
*towels, towels, towels (versitile and make good blankies in a hurry)
*waterbowls (one small one for hiking/travelling/when you leave campsite) + one that remains.

Camera :D :D :D
for you --take a hairdryer in case the campground does have electricity. It dries clothes out and you'll feel wet hair worse than at home. Don't know why, just is :)

You didn't say how long you'll be, so some of this could be a bit much. We've usually gone for 2+ weeks and I hate being uncomfortable. I've brought floor matts and Pavillions + chairs and tables for outside. So I don't know what makes you comfy.
Have a great time and tell us all about it when you get back :D

toodles
did I mention -- towels? ;)
forgot two other very important items:
a box of large plastic garbage bags --the big ones. versitile, esp. if raining when putting tent away. Throw everything in bags and sort when getting home :rolleyes: Works in a pinch to protect from drips, for dirty clothes, oh and trash. :)

IMPORTANT --- BUG spray for yourself :D biting flies + others nasties always appear when least convenient :D :D :D gotta love the great outdoors :P

*towels, towels, towels (versitile and make good blankies in a hurry)

Then camping's for me :D

Loki
xx

thank you all so much for your advice. I am getting quite nervous as we have never been before but wait for it....... we are only going for 3 nights!!!!! Add to that the fact that we are only going down the road to Dartmoor and you can see that I really wanted to break us all in gently. I've heded your advice about the towells and have now packed every towell we own plus dog has 5 of her own. I have also packed the bin bags. Great tips everyone. corkscrew has definately been packed. I#ve read the forecast and it's supposed to rain all weekend but at the mo is just hazy. I knew if I didn't book, I'd chicken out. I hadn't even thought of flies and ticks and fleas but you bet I'll be thinking all about them when I'm sleeping under the stars tonight!!!!!!! Any more tips???? :)
ooh, forgot to say that the pup will be sleeping inside the tent but in her crate at the front. We have 2 inner liner/bedrooms but I was worried about them being torn by pups claws/crate so she will be in the front of the bedrooms but still
inside the tent.

Ooh and one final thing, she is due to start her season any minute now and I have therefore packed some of those tablets which are supposed to disguise the smell. I have visions of her coming into season tonight and we will be surrounded by ever dog in the neighbourhood and barricaded in our tent!!!!! :) :)

Take Good solid sandals that you can easily slip on + a brolly/rain poncho when you make the midnight/3am trek to the loo!! You won't want to fuss with shoes/socks/real clothes when nature calls. And it seems to be worse re: immediacy when camping Cheap Poncho is great for covering up in a hurry :D

I usually take a door mat and leave shoes in doorway....socks/sandals only in tent. protects 'floor' and keeps mud out. My dogs never really 'walked' around in tent. We usually threw them on the cots or in their bottom crate shell (under a cot) and there they'd happily stay :D :D :D

Have a wonderful time. 3 days is short enough to realize what to do for the next time... Oh--
***** DUCT TAPE and Parachute Cord will save the world someday. FIXES EVERYTHING!!!! :D :D If you can get a hold of both/either they will help in any pinch.
toodles

Yeah Amanda, How did your camping trip go???? Didtcha have fun or what????? Of course, the best part is bragging about how 'tough' it was ;) ;) :D :D :D
toodles

We survived blizzards:( and storms:( and hurricanes:( It was tough - but we made it!!;)

Please tell me how you got on. I too am planning my first camping trip with husband, 5 year old son and our Great Dane "Shadow". We are hoping to go down to Devon/Cornwall for about a week in late August. We have bought 2 small 2 man tents and the idea is that I sleep in one with the dog and my husband and son in the other. Shadow is quite a nervous dog and tends to bark at people (usually men) that he is unsure of. If they walk towards him he will then run away so we know he must be tethered down at all times while outside the tent. He will sleep quite happily inside the tent as I have done a trial run with him and son together in the back garden for a couple of nights recently. The only thing that worries me is that we obviously can't leave him in the tent alone at any point and we are unsure about how we will manage with him out and about during the day with regards to eating meals out and taking him on beaches. We also get a lot of attention when out and about with him due to his sheer size. Hopefully we'll live on pub grub and most pubs tend to have gardens - so long as it doesn't rain!! Any other useful tips would be great.
Thanks for reading.

Lynne,
Usually the manufacters grossly over estimate the size of those tents.... I imagine your Dane can take up one completely on his own :D :D :D
I have a cabin tent that is 'supposed' to be for 8 people. Hah, in someone's dreams. :D BTW, you might consider picking up a small tent just for your 'cooking/food/clothing supplies'. It sounds as if you'll be very very cramped. Little luggage locks fit on the tent zippers and will keep things 'safe' from the casual wandering easy 'thief'. Sure, you can cut through with a knife, but it looks very suspicious. Just don't use the locks at night. You'll never get out in time for the loo :)

What you can possibly do to settle your Dane a bit, is train him to lie down on a towel that you'll take to the pubs, cafes, outside relaxing whatever. It gives him some padding + defines his 'space' that he's to fit in. A security blankie. :rolleyes: We use one towel for our two small dogs. As soon as I lie it under the table, they're right on top of it. They're happier for it. :D

good luck and have an enjoyable time.
toodles

Thats great advice, thanks alot. Might look into getting another tent for all the gear. Never even thought about luggage locks - my husband had this great idea about keeping everything in the car to be safe - wat a laugh!! Love the idea of a blankie too. Only just weaned my son off his. Wonder if its big enough to give the dog!! Then again a new one might be easier. Can just imagine dog and child fighting under a pub table as to whose turn is it to lie down!!

LOL Lynne at the kid/dog fighting over the security blanket :D :D :D :D

Well, I hope someone can get some use out of our camping 'tricks'. :) We've pretty much had enough of the tenting adventure. My ankle and hubby's back just couldn't deal with the damp mornings anymore. And yes, we wimped out and have a tent heater too. :P

This past vacation, we used 'Holiday Apartments' to stay at. While my husband's back still didn't like the sleeping accomodations, I didn't have to deal with him fussing over the tent's tightness, the pavillion's ropes, and all sorts of annoying distractions, including the wet. :D :D It was nice kind of just getting up and going....well, a bit easier. Still have to pack the kitchen sink, just not the tent :rolleyes:

But just when I got it all down to a complex comfy system of tenting, we're changing lifestyles again. :D :D
I'm just laughing at the idea of curling up to a big Dane. At least he's warm, but I bet he still hogs the covers :d :D :D
toodles

Have to admit Shadow is great in bed!! He has his own bedroom at our house with double bed and duvet. If my husbands snoring gets out of control then I quite often jump in with Shadow. He lies under the duvet and doesn't move all night. Nice and cosy!! Wonder if I'll need to buy him a double sleeping bag for the camping trip.

Well, my two 'girls' sleep around my feet in a single sleeping bag with me. It's nice and toasty. It's a long/wide cot, so there's plenty of room down there. I get chilled easily when I'm camping, so I vote for being able to share with the puppy ---whatever the size :D :D :D So get the larger bag. ;)

OK....... "Shadow is great in bed" - I had to go back and check the previous postings :p Isn't that just the ultimate accolade for any male of any species though??

Watch it, IF he were a man, he'd be strutting around right now, looking very smug !!!!!!!!!!!! :D :D

Beth (sorry about my basic sense of humour but it almost made me fall off my chair !!!!)

I'm still smiling that Shadow has his own room + made up bed. Hey, at his size, he sleeps where he wants to :D :D :D Still the possibilities abound for witty repartee. :) :)

And Beth, you know your sense of humour is ALWAYS welcome :P

Hi just a small tip buy one of those steel corksrew thingys to screw into the ground and a longish un chewable lead or I find a couple of benching chains are ok put a collar on him and you can tether him whilst your eating etc we go caravanning a lot and take our pups from babies our dogs are happy on the screw whilst we are busy yet somehow its not the same as being on a tether at home.Our dogs love camping adore it even :)
Good Luck

Hi all, well we all survived!! I did try and let you all know earlier but good old aol threw me out 3 times! We had a fab time despite rain on the first night and inner tent/bedrooms remained dry. Pup was fantastically behaved and soon got used to the fact that she couldn't reach everyone when tethered to one of those godsend twisty scewers which we positioned right outside the tent. She settled down beautifully and came everywhere with us.We spent the whole time exploring the moors and climbing the tors.I now feel very confidant about going again and just wanted to thank everyone for their invaluable advice. Will take a bucket next time though as taking 6 year old daughter to toilet at 5.00am was not something I wanted to repeat. Funny how the old bladder plays tricks on you when you have so far to go to the loo!!!:) Nights were very warm and pup slept in her crate inside of the tent but outside the bedrooms with blankets/towells without so much as a wimper until we got up. To the lady who is going camping for the first time with children/dog, I would say don't worry. Once you've done it once you'll be fine. The best bit is not having to do any cleaning etc. I had the most relaxed time ever and yet I had been worried sick that it would be a real struggle. One thing we did have though was a lovely little children's park right outside our tent which kept daughter amused and pup who could watch all those interesting little children strolling past whilst husband and I sipped wine. Pefect!!