Last Updated on 9 August 2024 by Colette
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We’ve been taking our dog camping for a few summers now and whilst she doesn’t really need much equipment to be able to camp with us, there’s a few things we’ve added to our arsenal along the way to make sure that she’s comfortable and enjoys her camping experience!
Until recently we’ve always taken Poppy’s crate camping with us to give her a safe and familiar place to sleep – this also means she isn’t able to wander around the tent and get into mischief. On our most recent camping trip we left her crate at home (as it obviously takes up quite a bit of space both in the car and in our tent) to see how she’d manage and she was actually fine. She slept really well in her normal dog bed in the main living area of the tent and didn’t even bother to get up if one of us went for a wee. Realistically I do still feel more comfortable if we have her crate with us but if we’re stuck for space we know we can manage.
If you’re thinking of taking your dog camping, have a read of this post first: Taking your dog camping for the first time. In terms of camping kit for dogs, you’re mostly just going to need the things you have at home that make your dog feel comfortable and safe – a familiar place to sleep, some toys and their usual dog food – but there’s a few extra bits of kit that we find really helpful when taking our dog camping.
Dog Tether
Most dog-friendly campsites will insist that your dog remains on a lead at all times unless you’re in a designated dog-walking field which some campsites have and I’d recommend looking out for when choosing your campsite. Obviously you don’t want to have to hold your dog’s lead the whole time so a tether is a complete godsend.
The hook screws into the ground and allows you to fasten your dog’s lead to it so that they can have some freedom but are safely tied up – most tether’s come with a really long cable that you can attach to the dog’s collar but we tend to find they’re a bit too long for use on a campsite and tend to stick to just looping their lead over instead. Make sure you park your pup away from the guy ropes so that they don’t end up tangled up!
PACMAT Solo Thermal Mat
Typically when we’re camping, we’ve given Poppy an old blanket to lie on but on our most recent trip when the ground was damp and the temperature quite cool, I was conscious that her blanket was getting damp and dirty and not really keeping her warm so I treated her to a PACMAT Solo Thermal blanket. As a family we have quite a PACMAT collection now with our patches being the most used.
The PACMAT Solo Thermal is machine washable, features a waterproof base, thermal lining and quick-dry water resistant top layer (and packs up far smaller than a blanket ever could!) making it perfect for Poppy to lie on outside when we’re camping or for under her bed at night for extra protection from the cold ground. (It’s also super handy for in the car when you want to protect your back seat from muddy paws!)
The first time we used Poppy’s Solo mat was on a very wet and muddy camping trip – and whilst her mat was quickly covered in muddy paws, it stayed dry and washed up like new when we got home.
Equafleece
Whilst we’re on the subject of keeping your dog warm and dry when camping, our latest investment has been an Equafleece Tankie – Poppy has had a few jackets and jumpers but they’ve never quite fit properly, or in the case of her hoodie, just wasn’t enough to keep her warm (which is unsurprising really considering it was about £6 from B&M). When Dave accidentally ripped her hoodie on our last camping trip, I jumped at the excuse to get her an Equafleece Tanki – 100% rainproof, breathable, warm and washable – the Dog Tankie should keep her much more comfortable when the temperature drops (and with it being rainproof, it doesn’t matter if she choose to lie on the floor instead of her PACMAT as her jumper will stay dry!). The Dog Tankie comes in a different sizes so do make sure you use the guidance on the website and measure your dog to make sure you get the best fit.
Collapsible drinking bowls
When it comes to choosing camping kit, I’m always looking for equipment that takes up as little space as possible – both for transport and for storage. Poppy actually has stainless steel bowls which stack inside each other so they take up very little space and would be difficult to damage but if you’re dog has a heavy ceramic dog bowl it’s worth considering in an alternative bowl for camping such as collapsible bowls (if you’re using unfamiliar bowls, it’s a good idea to give your dog chance to try them at home first as, if they’re sensitive like Poppy, you might find they don’t want to eat out of them!)
So, as I said, I don’t think it’s necessary to invest in lots of specialist dog camping gear when it comes to camping with your furry friend, but we absolutely recommend adding these things to your kit list before your next adventure to help both you and your dog enjoy camping in the great outdoors!
For more camping related content, check out these posts next:
Camping kit we recommend investing in
Tips for packing unpacking after camping
A camping packing list for families
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