Q for campers with large dogs

**Dancing Lotus** · 03-22-2011, 06:31 PM

We are going on our first camping trip of the year this weekend, also our first trip with our new dog.

The park allows dogs but says they have to be on a 6 ft leash at all times. However it says they can not be tied to a tree, a table, a post ect. Basically if it's a fixer you can't tie the dog to it.
We have a tent not a camper so we can't tie her to that.
I know they make things that screw into the ground but it's soft sand and she is a large dog, that's not going to hold her. What the heck do I do I tie her too??

**savvy_sniper** · 03-22-2011, 06:49 PM

Contact the park and ask them what is allowable. We have used the screw in the ground stake you are talking about.

**Dancing Lotus** · 03-22-2011, 06:51 PM

Savvy - how large is your dog? Ours is 65 pounds of muscle

**savvy_sniper** · 03-22-2011, 06:53 PM

one is 100 lbs and two 55 lbs. We have never taken all three camping though! The 100 lb. German Shepherd has been camping though.

**frugalwarrior2** · 03-22-2011, 07:02 PM

It has always been that you cannot leave a dog unattended at campsite or take the dog below a certain point on the beach.
You can and will be asked to leave if your dog is barking.

We use a crate. We have a tarp for the crate and a fan that comes w/ us IF we take the dog. Certain power dogs like pits and doberman are prohibited here. We have a sheperd (100#). The other is Beagle 50#. And A belgium sheperd 84#.
Dogs tied to trees tear them up and some can pull the tables.
I have kenneled the last few years. I want a vacation where I can go out to dinner,swim and not get kicked out because my dog barks. Just a suggestion.

**Spirit Deer** · 03-22-2011, 07:10 PM

Ask the park for clarification. They may mean you can't tie them up and then leave them.

Be sure to follow all park rules. People who don't are eventually going to ruin it for the rest of us who do. Pick up after the dog (bring your own bags, most parks don't provide them), don't leave it alone, don't let it approach strangers, don't let it bark too much. Common sense stuff, for the most part, but it's surprising how many people think the rules don't apply to them.

Have fun! We camp with two dogs who have been all over the midwest with us and logged 9,000 travel miles in the truck just last year. They are great companions who make friends wherever they go.

Madison Campground, Yellowstone, June, 2010:

**frugalwarrior2** · 03-22-2011, 07:25 PM

Spirit Deer your dogs are gorgious. Wish we had a camper. We just have a tent. Nothing like camping w/ a wet dog and crate in the tent. Thanks for reminding about picking up. Forgot some people don't.
Sorry for the slight hyjack.

**Spirit Deer** · 03-22-2011, 07:46 PM

Wet dogs don't smell so great in a camper, either, and it takes forever for a husky to get dry, especially in cool weather. They smell even worse in the closed cab of a truck all day long!

We almost took our tent to Yellowstone but were talked into taking the trailer by some people on the camping forum I frequent. It worked out well, since the highways into and out of the mountains were a piece of cake.

Our wild, hyper huskies on the way to Yellowstone:

These two dogs are the world's best camping/traveling dogs. It's almost like not having dogs along!

It took us an hour to get off the boardwalk at Old Faithful. People from all over the world wanted to pet and have their pictures taken with the 'snow dogs'. It was so much fun meeting all those people and our girls loved the attention.

**Dancing Lotus** · 03-22-2011, 09:30 PM

I'm not worried about my dog's behavior , she is an excellent companion. She is not a barker. We are responsible dog owners who always pick up after her.

We don't have a kennel as she doesn't need one at home. She is fully and properly trained. But I may have to look into one for camping.
This park is only an hour away from home so if it doesn't work out and worse comes to worse we could bring her back home and ask a friend to care for her. For this trip we may just have to tie her to our bumper.

**Dancing Lotus** · 03-22-2011, 09:35 PM

Originally Posted by frugalwarrior2

It has always been that you cannot leave a dog unattended at campsite or take the dog below a certain point on the beach.
You can and will be asked to leave if your dog is barking.

We use a crate. We have a tarp for the crate and a fan that comes w/ us IF we take the dog. Certain power dogs like pits and doberman are prohibited here. We have a sheperd (100#). The other is Beagle 50#. And A belgium sheperd 84#.
Dogs tied to trees tear them up and some can pull the tables.
I have kenneled the last few years. I want a vacation where I can go out to dinner,swim and not get kicked out because my dog barks. Just a suggestion.

I understand what your saying and there will be times she is kenneled. We disgusted this before getting her and we felt that we always intended to take her with us the majority of the time. She is family and for our family camping is about being together , unplugged. For the most part we stay at our sight and play games, we never go out to eat when camping.

**ravenmaniac** · 03-22-2011, 10:07 PM

We had the screw in thing but my boxer, 85 lbs, pulled it out. My sister's boxer, 65 lbs., Petey's mother pulled her's out. Boxers are very strong. Sometimes the ground at the campsite isn't the best either.

How about the trailer tying her to the trailer tongue?

**OOwl** · 03-22-2011, 11:53 PM

Had you thought about a exercise pen? Even large dogs will stay in them, especially one so calm and well trained as your dog. The ex-pens fold up flat and can be stored easily for travel. They make extra tall ones (mine is 48") and you can even add extra panels if you have more than one dog (as I do), and because they're large enough for them to walk around, they don't really have enough take-off room to jump out of them (and if you're right there that isn't going to happen anyway) but it would allow your dog to be contained without being tied up. Something to consider. Here's a link to one in case you're not familiar with them. Petsmart carries them, too, but mail-order is cheaper.
ProSelect Goldtone Exercise Pens | PetEdge.com

**frugalwarrior2** · 03-23-2011, 12:25 AM

Ann K- thats the thing . Everyone has their idea of camping. We are 1/2 an hr from a park we stay at sometimes. 1 day we will take 1 and the next the other. We simply run home to let them out. No kennel needed. And I forget some dogs can Chill. "beagle" is 13 soon and barks like a seal. Then the other 2 start. And yes he went to 2 years of obedience school.lol

I was picturing you being miles and miles from home. We travel 300 miles up North when we go. We call what your doing a staycation. Once it rained so we stayed at home and then spent the day there. Our state has awsome parks. My DS wants to be a park ranger.

**wanderlusting** · 03-23-2011, 06:00 AM

We've gone tent camping with our dog many times. When we would take our dog, it was always at a campsite. Most of the time one of us would always hold the leash- after a while you just get used to holding it.

Or if we really weren't able to , we'd put him in the back of our SUV with the back window lifted for air. We were always with eyesight and he didn't stay in it too long- so he didn't overheat.

Have fun camping!

**Dancing Lotus** · 03-23-2011, 07:01 AM

I like the exercise pen idea. I have a 20% pet co coupon waiting to be used.

and just so ya know I can't take credit for her training, she came that way. We really lucked out. I expect she will sleep most of the time.