Hi all,

We're borrowing my dads caravan and staying over at Tag agility show, this is the 1st time i have taken my dogs away (1st "holiday" in years). I was wondering if anyone has any tips / advise for us, things you've learned from past mistakes ......

Thank you in advance.

I would thoroughly recommend having something to make a garden with - I use the barrier netting that is used on building sites - as it means the dogs can wander around the garden when you are there with them and makes for a far more enjoyable experience. Remember to take covers for your car as well if you are leaving them in there whilst walking the course etc - caravans can get very warm and open windows can be a problem if you have to leave the dogs there alone at all.

A towel for wiping wet dogs down is a must and also wellies for you as first thing in the morning the ground can be very wet with dew. A large bucket of water outside your unit doubles as a drinking station for the dogs and for fire safety - usually the regulations iro camping stipulate that you must have either a bucket of water or a fire extinguisher situated outside your unit.

I have just started camping at agility shows in a tent and have camped twice so far (other 2 shows were cancelled due to the weather) and have another camping show booked for later on in the month and it is sooooooooooo nice not to have to face a long drive home after a day competing only to drive all the way back again the next morning.

I am sure you'll have a great time and good luck with your runs :-)

yes I agree that a 'garden' is useful, but the netting isn't particularly 'secure' so don't leave dogs unattended .... lot of people have the more solid gardens, although mine the dogs can go underneath (I have a houdini sheltie!)... basically try and be aware of others... I stayed over after Hare n Hounds and although there was a huge field a couple of people and quite a few dogs came to the back of my van to play frizbee with their dogs... why I had to ask them?  please don't let your dogs run through the camping area off lead and not even by the closest caravans to the exercise area, always pick up (I know I don't need to say this one) and don't use practice equipment anywhere near other dogs as it drives them wild (most shows have a rule against this) - but critically! enjoy!!

Excellent thank you both, i have windbreakers so i think i'm good for fencing :-) i'll remember to put the bucket in though just in case and i have a small extinguisher in my van, been and bought a little bucket for poops just in case there arent many bins. Must remember to put torch and wellies in :). Penny, we'll be using the tent next time but its nice and close so i decided to ease ourselves in gently with my Dads caravan :)

As PennyGC said netting isn't very secure but I never leave my dogs in the garden unattended and I think most shows say that dogs can't be left unattended in gardens? The netting is the cheapest form of enclosing a garden and doesn't take up a huge amount of room in a car which is a big consideration if you camp in a tent with all the associated gear that needs to accompany you but the other types of garden enclosures are brilliant but quite expensive. Don't forget to pack a mallet for hammering poles into the ground - luckily I was able to borrow one from another camper as my wooden one was fine for tent pegs but not much good for the fencing poles.

I think you will find there will be loads of bins around for disposal of poo :-) Agility shows are brilliant for ensuring there are lots of bins readily available and nearly everyone is great at making sure they pick up after their dogs - the only time I have ever seen someone not do so is a person who had a lot of dogs with them and wasn't watching them particularly well so missed one of their dogs performing but they did go and pick up when someone pointed it out to them.

The other thing I would mention - and I am sure you will already have thought of it as you have a tent yourself :-) - is that if you want to party in your caravan please remember those who camp in tents :-). Once it gets dark there's not a huge amount one can do in a tent so a lot of tent dwellers will go to bed but often end up sharing others' parties from the depth of their sleeping bags as it's amazing how far sounds carry. Shutting caravan windows helps a lot and I am sure than nobody means to involuntarily include others in their partying but it does happen :-)

I'd recommend a head torch so you have your hands free, and a collar with a light on it (I have the Leuchtie ones - expensive - but really excellent) for the nighttime.  If you are sitting around outside chatting and the dogs feel the cold a pair of pyjamas for them is really useful.  I've got an Animalarm, so if you need to leave the dogs in the caravan you can find out what the temperature is (and it will warn you if it gets too high) - very good for peace of mind.

Harness and long line is useful for exercising somewhere that dogs can't be off-lead.

Non-spill water bowl

Door mat to wipe feet - or waterproof box to put outside shoes in - then you can leave it under the caravan.

Pawplunger to clean muddy paws before going into caravan & towel to dry them.

Have a lovely time.  I will be picking my tiny campervan up next week & then off for a week's residential training.  I can't wait - having so much fun kitting it out - maybe I should have brought a bigger one!! 

"caravans can get very warm and open windows can be a problem if you have to leave the dogs there alone at all."

I have been caravanning with dogs for over 13 years now and I strongly suggest you NEVER leave any dog alone in a caravan, whether its hot cold or whatever.
Caravan fires are deadly to both humans and dogs and you would never forgive yourself if you went away leaving your dogs for just 5 minutes and came back to the 'van on fire with your dog/s inside!!  The Animalarm is no good if the caravan is on fire!

In fact if you go onto a camping and caravan club site or a caravan club site it is against rules to leave dogs alone within the unit.

Thank you all sooooo much this is great. Definately noted not to leave dogs in caravan (i wouldnt trust them any way TBH lol).

Going to print this off and check i have everything covered :)

I don't have a lot of experience of camping at agility shows, apart from visiting friends sometime, but I was at Hare and Hounds for Monday to Thursday last week helping search for Arthur the pug who has escaped from his caravan's "Garden".  It was one of the "secure" windbreak types, so please don't rely too much on the security aspect.  I did notice several things which differ between those camping at agility shows and those at Ch breed shows - at Ch shows they garden areas seem a lot bigger, maybe you are allowed more space?  They have bigger awnings giving more space for the dogs, and almost all have a gazebo too, attached to the awnings, often with puppy panels inside making a much more secure and shaded area, but which can have the screens open in good weather or put up for wet weather.

Many thanks to all of you for your suggestions and tips. We had a lovely weekend :)

Really pleased your weekend went well and you enjoyed your camping :-)