Animals Beauty

For many people, putting their beloved dog into kennels or even leaving them with family when they go on holiday can take the edge off the trip. Add to that the cost of kennelling, and suddenly taking Fido with you seems a good idea. But what about camping? Can a camping holiday work with a dog? What are the pros and cons?

First of all, check that your camping site allows dogs. Not all do. Most will insist on dogs being kept on leads, which is good news if you don’t want other dogs approaching yours but bad news if your dog is not going to take kindly to being restrained all day.

If your dog is a camping virgin, it may be an idea to try him out in a tent in the garden. Put up your tent in the usual manner, complete with all your camping accessories and camping equipment. After all, it is better to know that the idea is doomed at home rather than several hours’ drive away. If your dog is going to bark all night at every little rustle in the undergrowth you could find yourself being asked to leave.

Some nervous dogs will be highly suspicious of tents, especially if they flap about in the wind, so it can help to leave the tent up in the garden and get the dog used to it, using bribes if necessary!

Like cars, tents can be hot places in good weather, so never be tempted to leave the dog alone in one. This can obviously be a drawback if you want to go out for the day to a place where dogs are not welcome. Bear in mind that not all beaches allow dogs, especially in the peak season.

Wet weather too can prove tricky for dog owners in a tent. Unless you have a porch where they can be left safely you may find all your belongings covered in mud (or worse if they are prone to rolling in unpleasant substances)!

Last but not least, make sure you clear up after your dog.