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Camping Tips For Your
Friend!
Probably the most important item I can stress is keeping your
dog on the leash. It is for his benefit as well as the environment's.
Wild animals, (snakes, mountain lions, bears, coons, skunks, etc.)
can hurt a curious or playful dog. There are also ticks, fleas,
foxtails, burrs, etc. that can cause your dog to become sick.
Keep your dog safe. The dog should be with you, or in a car
parked in the shade with the windows down about an inch. The tent is
not safe; nylon rips. The dog is not safe left tied alone; if someone
tries to pet the dog and it bites thinking it is protecting your
property, you are still liable for the damage from a bite. If someone
else's dog is running loose and attacks your tied dog, your dog is
likely to lose since it is tied. Yep, the owner of the loose dog
should pay for any vet bills, but it is surprising how many dogs in
that situation have no owner... If you care for your dog, you will
not worry about rain because the dog will be in the tent with you or
in the car.
Take along a copy of your dog's shot record. If the dog bites
someone and there is no shot record, the person (usually a child)
must undergo something like 14 days of shots.
Be prepared to clean up after your dog. Especially in a
campground filled with other campers. Buy a box of pooper-scoopers,
which are available at most grocery stores in the dog food section,
and at select retail stores.
Break your dog of barking before taking it to a park. Campers
with a yapping dog will be asked to leave the park. You should also
try to socialize the dog before taking him to public places.
If your dog runs off, leave your jacket or shirt the last place
you saw the dog. Usually it will return there and lie down on your
clothing.
Make sure you have a tag on your dog that has his name and your
phone number.
Bring enough food and water. ALWAYS carry water for the dog if
you are hiking in an area where you don't know if it will be
available.
Check the dog thoroughly for ticks, burrs, foxtails, etc. when
you return home. You are less likely to see these if your dog was
leashed and you stayed on the trail, (if camping for extended time,
you may want to bring a brush along).
You will always want to check your dog (and yourself) for ticks
anytime you've been outdoors, especially in grassy or shrubby areas.
Not only are ticks a hazard, if your dog gets into poison
oak/ivy/sumac, the oils on his fur can be bad news for you if you are
allergic.
Tips
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