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Nothing beats exploring the great outdoors with your four-legged best friend. Camping is a great way to bond with your dog far away from the distractions of life at home. But before you hit the trail and pitch a pup tent for two, make sure you have all the supplies you’ll need for a successful camping trip with your dog.
Start with the dog outing essentials: leash, poop bags, and treats. Then, load up your camp pack with everything you’ll need to go camping with your dog (plus one extra just for fun).
1. Dog backpack
Ruffwear Approach Dog Pack, $59.95
Doggy backpacks are a wise investment for hiking with your dog, but even if your idea of “hiking” is “hanging out around the campsite all day,” a pack is a useful tool. Your dog’s backpack can help keep them busy and visible at the campsite, and it’s a handy, easily-accessible storage space for the aforementioned poop bags and treats. Ruffwear’s Approach Dog Pack has a comfortable, safe design with a padded harness; sturdy D-ring for leash attachment; and reflective trim for maximum visibility on the trail.
2. First aid kit
Adventure Dog Series Me & My Dog Medical Kit, $47.89
Camping with your dog is tons of fun, but there’s always risk of injury when spending time in the great outdoors. Chances are, nothing will happen to your pup, but remember the Boy Scout motto: be prepared. A good pet first aid kit will include antiseptic, bandages, tweezers, and tools to help treat minor injuries at camp.
You may also want to toss in a bandana to use as a makeshift muzzle if your dog is injured (they can wear it as a cool and cooling fashion accessory, too).
3. Portable food and water bowl
Ruffwear Quencher Cinch-Top Collapsible Dog Bowl, $19.95
Sure, your dog could eat out of a tin camp cup, but this cinch-top bowl/bag combo from Ruffwear is a wise investment because it’s the perfect, portable food container to take out on the trail. Just fill it with the amount of kibble you’ll need (remember to feed your dog extra on a tough trail day), cinch the top, toss it in your dog’s pack, and go. The Quencher is also the perfect water vessel; the waterproof liner ensures no leakage, and the larger size holds up to six cups, meaning one bowl full can quench all the dogs in your party.
Depending on where you’re headed on your canine camping excursion, reliably clean water may not be available. We recommend investing in a filter to keep human and pet water safe for consumption.
4. Dog bed/sleeping bag
NobleCamper 2-in-1 Ultralight Compressible Travel Dog Bed, $179
Keep your pooch cozy at night with a warm, padded sleeping surface. You could let them snuggle up in your own sleeping bag, or set up an inflatable sleeping mat on the ground, but for ultimate dog camping comfort, a doggy sleeping bag is the way to go. The NobleCamper feature water-resistant, lightweight material that compresses into a small pouch you can attach to your dog’s backpack.
5. Safety light
Nite Ize PetLit LED Collar Light, $7.84
One of the best parts of camping is enjoying the night sky way out in the wilderness, but it can get awfully dark out there. A collar light is an affordable way to keep your dog visible even in the darkest camping site. Nittier makes durable, water-resistant, clip-on LED collar lights with a long battery life for extra brightness.
6. Pet Camper
Straight Line Design Dog Trailers, pricing starts at $800
If you’re more into glamping than camping, a luxury dog trailer may be for you. Straight Line Design has a series of retro campers and trailers just for pets that are sure to make your camping trip memorable. Starting at $800, they’re not cheap, but can you really put a price on the camping trip of a lifetime? We didn’t think so.
Whether you’re hitting the trail for a backcountry adventure or packing up the RV for a relaxing weekend at the campground, it’s important to prepare for your dog. Pack your doggy camp kit with all the essentials to ensure a safe, fun camping trip for you and your dog.
Featured image via flickr.com/mary-land
