We're planning to take a tent with 2 rooms and she sleep well in her carrier (thanks Lotti for that one) so there's plenty of space. We have a stake that, if placed in the centre gives her run of the tent and about 0.5m outside.

My worries are the same as in general life her barking and social skills - I have visions of us getting kicked out. We're going to try and get a private (side or corner) plot and hope to wear her out so she sleeps well.


Has anyone been camping with their dog? got any tips please?

we took ours and we let her sleep with us she was no diffrent

we took ours and we let her sleep with us she was no diffrent

We're trying to break that habit in 'real life'. Was wondering about only closing the mesh screens so she could see us.

We're planning to take a tent with 2 rooms and she sleep well in her carrier (thanks Lotti for that one) so there's plenty of space. We have a stake that, if placed in the centre gives her run of the tent and about 0.5m outside.

My worries are the same as in general life her barking and social skills - I have visions of us getting kicked out. We're going to try and get a private (side or corner) plot and hope to wear her out so she sleeps well.


Has anyone been camping with their dog? got any tips please?

We took ours and didn't have any major problems. It took her a day or two to decide the tent was her territory and after that she did bark if other dogs came near, but was very good about people (we were right next to the loos, on a festival site, so lots of comings and goings).

The main problem for us was that she constantly got her lead entwined in the tent (she tried to get out under the canvas rather than through the door), around guy ropes, chair legs, table legs etc, but that was ok when we were with her. We didn't leave her alone in the tent at all, as we worried she could get entangled and hurt herself, but if your dog is happy in the carrier you might be ok.

I think you will find having the stake in the middle of the floor a pain as she will constantly be moving across with her line at ankle height. Wouldn't it go through your ground sheet too? We put it to the edge near the door and shortened the line to a few feet, and took her for a lot of walks, rather than giving her loads of freedom in the tent, as that just didn't work. We also moved it inside and outside the tent to give her a bit more space to explore.

We took her bed and a couple of blankets to cover her with when it was very cold at night, and lots of towels to rub her down as she got very muddy in the fields.

Her bed got wet as we forgot to put it on a waterproof groundsheet, and the wet came up through the ground, so we had to use one of her blankets while it dried, but the weather was horrid all the time we were there - hopefully you will have better luck.

We found a windbreak was very useful as it formed a fence to keep her in, marked the edge of her territory, and hid a lot of the comings and goings of other people.

We took ours and didn't have any major problems. It took her a day or two to decide the tent was her territory and after that she did bark if other dogs came near, but was very good about people (we were right next to the loos, on a festival site, so lots of comings and goings).

The main problem for us was that she constantly got her lead entwined in the tent (she tried to get out under the canvas rather than through the door), around guy ropes, chair legs, table legs etc, but that was ok when we were with her. We didn't leave her alone in the tent at all, as we worried she could get entangled and hurt herself, but if your dog is happy in the carrier you might be ok.

I think you will find having the stake in the middle of the floor a pain as she will constantly be moving across with her line at ankle height. Wouldn't it go through your ground sheet too? We put it to the edge near the door and shortened the line to a few feet, and took her for a lot of walks, rather than giving her loads of freedom in the tent, as that just didn't work. We also moved it inside and outside the tent to give her a bit more space to explore.

We took her bed and a couple of blankets to cover her with when it was very cold at night, and lots of towels to rub her down as she got very muddy in the fields.

Her bed got wet as we forgot to put it on a waterproof groundsheet, and the wet came up through the ground, so we had to use one of her blankets while it dried, but the weather was horrid all the time we were there - hopefully you will have better luck.

We found a windbreak was very useful as it formed a fence to keep her in, marked the edge of her territory, and hid a lot of the comings and goings of other people.


Thanks, that's really great. Which festival allows dogs? I would love to take her to a festival eventually.

The tent is a bit like this: http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3408551/Trail/C%24cip%3D50353.Sports%2Band%2Bleisure%3EC%24cip%3 D50354.Camping%2Band%2Bcaravaning.htm, so when I say stake in the middle, I mean in the open bit. I take your point about her wrapping herself up.

Thanks, that's really great. Which festival allows dogs? I would love to take her to a festival eventually.

The tent is a bit like this: http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3408551/Trail/C%24cip%3D50353.Sports%2Band%2Bleisure%3EC%24cip%3 D50354.Camping%2Band%2Bcaravaning.htm, so when I say stake in the middle, I mean in the open bit. I take your point about her wrapping herself up.

It was HESFES (Home Educators Seaside Festival) in June.

It depends on the weather really, the open bit in your tent could be the only place you have to do your cooking, eating, sitting etc, if the weather is unfavourable.

We had a motorhome as well, the tent was only ancillary accomodation, so I didn't have the problem of trying to cook in the tent. If you are cooking in the tent you will have to be extra alert that your dog doesn't twine itself around the stove and knock it over, burn itself or swipe the food! In fact I think I would put the dog in the carrier or move the stake outside when cooking to be certain as stoves are low to the ground and could be a big danger for a dog.

I hope you have a good time :)

It was HESFES (Home Educators Seaside Festival) in June.

It depends on the weather really, the open bit in your tent could be the only place you have to do your cooking, eating, sitting etc, if the weather is unfavourable.

We had a motorhome as well, the tent was only ancillary accomodation, so I didn't have the problem of trying to cook in the tent. If you are cooking in the tent you will have to be extra alert that your dog doesn't twine itself around the stove and knock it over, burn itself or swipe the food! In fact I think I would put the dog in the carrier or move the stake outside when cooking to be certain as stoves are low to the ground and could be a big danger for a dog.

I hope you have a good time :)


Good point! We've got a small single ring stove but I'm not sure we're taking it. We'll probably only stopping one night or two so it might be nicer to eat take away (I know, not proper camping).

Thanks, I hope we do too.

sent you a pm GQ

sent you a pm GQ

Thanks much appreciated ;)


I've been looking at other advice on the internet, it wasn't until I read about the danger of bears that I realised it was an American site (I hope)

I tie mine up on a stake outside and have bed outside on a waterproof mat to stop things getting damp, although if raining we go inside. I find once they have walked the perimeter of the field and have fully seen where everything is they are fine i.e. we take them to the toilets when we go and one waits outside the first few times so they know where we have gone when we go without them. Also we never leave them alone one of us is always with them. When it's cold we put the dogs on their beds in the car when we are sat outside wrapped up chatting, drinking etc. They go to sleep and are fine and then we take them in with us at bedtime.

We love camping and have a great time i think the dogs secretly like it to, although Albert pretends to hate the cold and his camping coat hehe

Oh by the way our dogs are a biggish heavy set lurcher cross and a medium sized cross-breed and we manage ok. It feels a bit chaotic and panicky at first and i am a terrible worrier but they cope ok so i do now.

Hey, thanks for all the advice - we just got back (couldn't post the exact dates as its an open forum). She was really good most of the time.

She's pretty small so is mostly an indoor dog. She has her own little room in the tent which she was closed in (using mesh door) during cooking and nights. I'll post pics later but she was seriosuly spoilt, it had her blanky, dog cushion and carrier/bed.

During the day she was staked - either at the edge when she was allowed the run of outside or in the middle to keep her indoors. Even when she went out she sat in one spot and just watched the world go by - barking at the odd dog or toddler (its cute when they bark back). Only time we had trouble was when I left to go to the toilet/water - she barked until came back. Shall have to try the taking her with us trick next time.

The other dogs on the site were nice too. There was a lovely little black cross across the way - debates of origin Border, Jack Russel and Lowland Terrier - she was tiny and really playful with the family. I wish Maisey was more into ball games. Further down there were too chocolate labs - 10 month old and good as gold.

We definately enjoyed it and now we know she does too we're going to go longer. Need to get her socialised with dogs and kids first though I think. Pics to follow shortly.

Glad it worked out geckoqueen - the other half suggested we try camping but Im not sure how dramaqueen dobe would react. Knowwhat you mean about going tot he loo and leaving your dog - if Im out with Ailsa alone I wont leave her outside in case someone nabs her, but its great fun trying to coax a big daft dobe into a tiny cubicle with you when its been designed by someone who obviously never asked a woman what dimensions to build a ladies loo!

Glad it worked out geckoqueen - the other half suggested we try camping but Im not sure how dramaqueen dobe would react. Knowwhat you mean about going tot he loo and leaving your dog - if Im out with Ailsa alone I wont leave her outside in case someone nabs her, but its great fun trying to coax a big daft dobe into a tiny cubicle with you when its been designed by someone who obviously never asked a woman what dimensions to build a ladies loo!


LOL, I took turns with my OH so never had that one, they were quite posh loos for a campiste so I'm not sure she would have been allowed in. When I had my nephew for a week I had to do it with a pram though, not fun.

All the people we met said their dogs loved camping but you know her behaviour. I suppose you have the additional problem of where people think Maisey barking is cute they might react different (wrongly) to a dobe.

Glad it went ok for you. We are off again fairly soon and i cannot wait!!!!!