Description
This article is from the Canine
Activities: Camping with Your Dog, by Jayne Cravens with
numerous contributions by others.
02 Preparations
* _Vaccinations and License_
It is of absolute importance that your dog's vaccinations be
up-to-date, as dogs often encounter unvaccinated animals while
camping. Dog licenses should also be current. Also ask your vet
about the areas where you will be camping, as some carry
additional health risks for dogs and may warrant additional
precautions. For instance, when I went across country with my dogs
in May 1996, from California to North Carolina and back, I
informed my vet of my travel plans, and he switched my dogs to a
stronger heartworm medication for the trip.
* _Physical Demands_
While camping with your dog is not nearly as physically-demanding
as hiking, for many dogs, camping will mean some increase in
physical activity, however slight; there will be more
opportunities for walking, running and exploring than are usually
found in their day-to-day routine, and the terrain may be a little
more challenging. A visit to the veterinarian to evaluate general
health is a good idea before your dog camps for the first time.
See the appropriate section on Hiking/Backpacking with Canines
page for more information on evaluating your dog's physical shape.
* _Training_
No matter how well-behaved you think your dog is, it is both
impolite and dangerous to other campers not to have your dog
somehow restrained at all times. Your friendly, unleashed dog
could wander into a campsite where there is a dog-aggressive dog
(like mine), or a dog-aggressive person (yes, there are such
people), and the results can be disastrous and even deadly. Don't
chance it -- keep your dog leashed.
* _Notify a Friend, and Sometimes, a Ranger_
This isn't a tip for camping with your dog -- it's a tip for
camping in general, and it's too important to exclude from this
tip sheet: let someone know what your travel plans are. If you are
entering BLM land (Bureau of Land Management Land) to camp, it's
also a good idea to let the nearest ranger station know you are
going in, particularly if you are alone. You may be more at risk
for adverse encounters with wildlife or people when you're on your
own. A cellular phone can provide some measure of security, but
don't rely on it; coverage is not the best in many areas and
technology is never perfect (batteries die, phones get dropped and
break, etc.). Also make arrangements to check in with a friend
upon your return, and let them know when that is supposed to
happen; the check-in is essential because, if you often forget to
check back with them when you get home, then when you're really in
trouble it may take an extra day for them to realize that there's
a problem and notify searchers.
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