Camping Safely – You and Your Dog

December 16th, 2009 Posted in Camping

Camping is a pastime that can be enjoyed year around in many locations and because many dogs love to be out doors, combining your love for camping and your love for your pooch can be simple with a little preparation and a few easy steps to keep them safe.

K9′s, regardless of their size and breed, can be highly susceptible to temperature. It is important, when camping with your dog, to choose a campsite that caters to their needs . For instance, if it is particularly hot outside , select a campsite with plenty of shade. Conversely, a campsite with some exposure to sunshine should be selected if it’s cool, so they can get warm.

It is great enjoyment to sit around an open fire, while camping. This particular pleasure , however, poses significant danger to dogs that may unintentionally get too close. Particularly when they’re playing. Long tails can swish across the flames and the next thing you know you’re chasing a flaming dog. That’s not fun.

Be sure to place a brightly colored vest on your dog, and it’s a smart idea to wear one yourself, if you are camping during hunting season, or in and around hunting areas. You wouldn’t want a hunter to mistake your dog for being a deer.

When you are camping in public camping areas, it is important to pay attention to leash laws and keep you dog close by at all times. People and other dogs, even if you if the best dog in the world, can cause trouble . Your dog can become seriously hurt, and besides, fights between dogs are scary.

Although it is still important to keep a close watch on your dog, if you are in an open area camping, then a leash isn’t necessary. A dog, that thinks he’s just having fun, can be hurt by deer, moose, bears, skunks, and other animals.

A first aid kit. Going camping with your dog means you should always have a first aid kit for your dog.  Here are some items your kit should include:

* Coated aspirin
* Bandages
* Septic powder
* Small nail scissors
* Ear and eye ointment
* Tick tweezers
* Waterproof surgical tape
* Snake bite kit
* Benadryl
* Antibiotic ointment

You won’t have to worry about your dog wandering off if you will pack a stake and a long leash so they can have some independence around the campsite. A portable pen functions well too, if you have a smaller dog. 

Pack plenty of food and treats. Most of what we eat is not right for a dog’s digestion, and some of it can even be poison, so while it is tempting to feed your dog the food you’re eating , to avoid ants crawling around their dog food bowl while camping, you should not. Smores, for example , are delightful but the chocolate can be toxic to your dog and honestly, they don’t need the sugar. Make sure to feed your dog on its regular schedule, and stick to your dog’s food.

Pack water, lots of it. Water should be made available at all times to your dog. Water helps keep them cooled down, as it’s easy for them to get overheated. Also, you don’t want your dog lapping out of puddles, rivers or lakes because of algae, which can be toxic not to mention parasites, which are often present in untreated bodies of water.

Baggies for waste. It is unpleasant for other campers, and not natural for dogs to be in that environment, so don’t be tempted to let your dogs go au natural and leave dog waste on the ground when camping. Use appropriate materials and tidy up after your dog. And keep a close eye on your dog to make sure they don’t get into the waste of other animals. Dogs have a strong sense of smell and it sometimes gets them into trouble . A dog that has consumed animal waste, or rolled in it, is the last thing you want.

Bedding. This is for both comfort and safety. Bedding will help your dog regulate its body temperature at night when it gets cool .

Doggie life jackets. It is important to make sure you have a doggy life jacket if you’re going to be in and around water. Your dog may love to swim, but does not have the ability to tell you if it becomes tired quickly . You can make sure your dog is safe on the water by simply using a life jacket for him.

Flea & tick repellant. We all know that fleas and ticks cause numerous diseases and they’re prevalent outdoors. Protect your dog from these insect born sicknesses by utilizing powder, spray, or a collar.

You both can have a magnificent time while camping with your pet. It’s a chance for you to enjoy the out of doors and it’s an opportunity for your dog to explore new areas, scents and experiences.Your dog can have a healthy and fun camping experience, when you take the time to prepare and pack accordingly.

{Stop Dog Aggression | Dog Food Aggression | Stop Puppy Chewing}