Taking your dog with you on a camping trip is so exciting. You will have him with you all the time, and you can build a strong bond with him. And he will be happy because he is with the people he loves. Here are a few things that you need to do before the actual trip.
Booking
- Do proper research before you book space at a camping site.
- Make sure that dogs are allowed at the site and that it is dog friendly.
- Find out what the policies and procedures are, what the area looks like and what the possible dangers for your dog will be, so you can plan how to prevent any accidents or incidents.
- You need to know if wild animals roam free on the property and what types of animals you can expect to encounter.
- Also find out if there are any emergency veterinary clinics close by, just in case something happens to your dog.
- If there is a dam or river close by, you need to find out exactly how far it is from the camping site and take that into consideration.
- Also find out what the average expected temperatures are for the season you are travelling in and if rain can be expected.
One month in advance
- Make sure that your dog’s vaccinations are up to date, especially the rabies vaccine.
- Also make sure that his tick and flea preventative programme is up to date by the time you leave for the camping trip.
- If your dog is not yet microchipped, you should seriously consider getting him microchipped. He could lose his collar with his name tag, but a microchip is permanent.
- If it is the first time that your dog will go camping with you, do a few trial runs before the actual trip. You can practice in your own backyard. This will allow your dog to get used to the idea of a tent and the activities around the campsite.
- Make notes of everything that you need to remember to pack and do while you’re on the trial run.
- To ensure the safety of your dog at the camping site, it is highly advisable to keep him leashed at all times. Do this during the trial camping trip as well, to see how he copes with being on a leash for extended periods.
- Plan your route and choose one where there will be plenty of safe stops for your dog to burn off some energy and relax out of the vehicle.
