Enthusiast III
OB Approved Overlanding/Camping with a dog
- Thread starter adventure_is_necessary
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Influencer III
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- First Name
- Rex
- Last Name
- Drake
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19540
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- KI5GH
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My copilot came to live with us on New Year’s Eve. In two months she’s been camping twice and enjoys it. This past weekend she was able to see cows, deer, and sheep. Being a cow dog crossed with a sheep dog, she was instantly on duty!
I’ve deleted part of the back seat, so she has a full time bed/seat of her own in the rig.
I’ve deleted part of the back seat, so she has a full time bed/seat of her own in the rig.
Enthusiast III
Advocate III
he goes with me almost everywhere that is dog friendly. loves to camp.
Influencer III
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- First Name
- Rex
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- Drake
- Member #
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19540
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
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- Air Force
My dog is a Beagle, so he is always on the hunt and may decide to ignore my my calls when in the field if I dont have a hunting gps collar on him (which I dont when I hike). So when i hike, i have a 15 - 20 foot rope i tied to a leash so he gets a fair amount of space but cant run off. I can reel him in as needed. He is never off leash unless I'm at a Beagle club.
I've driven with my dog from Boston to upstate NY, Prince Edward Island, the White Mountains of NH, Florida, out by Burlington VT, Niagara Falls and in the fall I'm planning to drive out to Bozeman Montana. Riding with Scout ensures that I stop every so often for feedings, leg stretching and restroom breaks for both of us.
In terms of vehicle safety, I highly recommend the Kurgo Tru-Fit harness. No plastic clips. All metal "nesting" slip-throughs, like the old linesmen used or repelling. There is a short leash that will connect to the harness and clip into your seatbelts receiver, or you can get one that wraps around the seatbelt and through its own loop. It's also crash tested. Gives him room to get up and look out the window of the truck, wander part of the back bench seat and lie down. Best dog harness I have ever encountered.
Incidentally, get a U -channel style seat protector too. Clips around both back seat headrests, tucks into the crevasse and either drops down from the knee or can clip around the front seat headrests if you need to protect the back surface of your front seats. A wise investment if you like your dog on the back seat.
I always pack his food in portions ahead of time so I dont have to take time to measure on the trail. And I always pack a whole extra day of his food. I bring a big hug of water in the truck and always hike with between 1 and 4 Nalgenes, depending on duration of hike. Collapsible water bowl is optional IF you have a frisbee with you. A frisbee is quadruple use. Dog food dish, dog water dish, toy, or can keep rain off your head.
Dogs can use human Neosporin, and human topical diphenhydramine (Benadryl). I keep him up to date on vaccines and always have a collar, tags and his Rabies vax certificate. Hadn't thought about venomous snakes as we dont have many in New England but I'll sure look into that since we are headed through the Badlands later this year.
I'm not a clothes on my dog sort of guy, but when it is well enough below freezing, I have a coat for him.
Dont forget Mushers Wax!!! Keep those paw pads liberally coated in cold weather. Protects thier paws from chapping and cracking. And in the city, makes a great barrier against sidewalk salt!
I've driven with my dog from Boston to upstate NY, Prince Edward Island, the White Mountains of NH, Florida, out by Burlington VT, Niagara Falls and in the fall I'm planning to drive out to Bozeman Montana. Riding with Scout ensures that I stop every so often for feedings, leg stretching and restroom breaks for both of us.
In terms of vehicle safety, I highly recommend the Kurgo Tru-Fit harness. No plastic clips. All metal "nesting" slip-throughs, like the old linesmen used or repelling. There is a short leash that will connect to the harness and clip into your seatbelts receiver, or you can get one that wraps around the seatbelt and through its own loop. It's also crash tested. Gives him room to get up and look out the window of the truck, wander part of the back bench seat and lie down. Best dog harness I have ever encountered.
Incidentally, get a U -channel style seat protector too. Clips around both back seat headrests, tucks into the crevasse and either drops down from the knee or can clip around the front seat headrests if you need to protect the back surface of your front seats. A wise investment if you like your dog on the back seat.
I always pack his food in portions ahead of time so I dont have to take time to measure on the trail. And I always pack a whole extra day of his food. I bring a big hug of water in the truck and always hike with between 1 and 4 Nalgenes, depending on duration of hike. Collapsible water bowl is optional IF you have a frisbee with you. A frisbee is quadruple use. Dog food dish, dog water dish, toy, or can keep rain off your head.
Dogs can use human Neosporin, and human topical diphenhydramine (Benadryl). I keep him up to date on vaccines and always have a collar, tags and his Rabies vax certificate. Hadn't thought about venomous snakes as we dont have many in New England but I'll sure look into that since we are headed through the Badlands later this year.
I'm not a clothes on my dog sort of guy, but when it is well enough below freezing, I have a coat for him.
Dont forget Mushers Wax!!! Keep those paw pads liberally coated in cold weather. Protects thier paws from chapping and cracking. And in the city, makes a great barrier against sidewalk salt!
Overland Bound Community,
My name is Lucas and I am here to talk about Overlanding/Camping with a dog. While it is an easy decision to bring your 4-legged companion along, there are some things to consider before you do.
#1: Is your dog healthy enough for travel and the adventure? I.e. Up to date on vaccinations, no health issues, can handle the climate, can handle long hours on the road and going down the trail?
- This is key before you plan on bringing your pup along. Some dogs, unfortunately, are not suited for camping and Overland travel. You know your dog and your vet can ultimately tell you whether it's a good idea or not to take them. Beyond health, the travel to a destination or stops might also dictate whether they should come along or not. Climate/weather is also another factor since some dogs are built for certain conditions while others can handle varying conditions. My pup is younger and in great health, but I still do consult my vet whenever we're in for check-ups and vaccinations to be sure he's good to go.
#2: Can you bring your dog along everywhere you go? If no, what can you do about where you can't take them? Any restrictions with campsites, attractions, municipalities/countries staying in? Attractions sometimes do not allow dogs. Campsites usually have rules regarding dogs and the etiquette with them, certain municipalities have restrictions/regulations on dogs while countries have their own varying rules and regulations. Definitely research this!
- I have gone places where I could not take my dog everywhere. Sometimes I chose not to go to certain places. Other times I found arrangements for them so that I could go. Ultimately it is up to you and what you want to do/see, but don't think you can't take them places and do thing with them as there are plenty of places to go with dogs.
#3: Carrying enough food and water for them.
- I pack out enough food for my dog based on the days I plan on being gone, with maybe 1-2 extra meals in the event things don't go as planned. My dog is raw fed so I can easily find him more food if needed. I package his food out per meal and freeze all but 1 day worth, then stick it in the cooler with ice blocks, then move a meal A good rule of thumb for water is approximately 1oz per 1lb of body weight per day. You know your dogs drinking habits, but I usually expect a little more consumption based on increased stress and activity. I tend to carry extra water as often as I can just because I don't want to be without potable water at any point.
#4: Gear - bed, blankets, leash, lead, toys, treats, collar and tags, animal/vet records, towel, bowls, first aid kit to accommodate needs of dog, etc?
- This is just as difficult to plan for as it is to plan with your own stuff. I tend to over-plan in general, so that's the case when it comes to weather. Extra warm gear if it's even remote supposed to be cool, and vise versa for hotter conditions. First trip I took, the weather changed on the drive out. Temps dipped down around 15* or more at night. I picked up another blanket and a better dog bed that I still used today that has some sort of coating on the materiel to resist water and keeps relatively clean, but is also machine washable. We were more comfortable because he didn't have to share body heat with me unless he wanted to. Most organized campsites want your pup on some sort or leash/lead, so I always carry one. Bowls for food and water, but I have a collapsible bowl for water on the road as well. I'd recommend keeping one of these collapsible bowls in any vehicle you take the pup in since they're super pack-able and I would consider them a need when I travel with a dog, even for a short period of time. Toys...well they're gonna get bored in the rig. Tags on a collar is a must just in case something does happen and you both get separated. My girlfriend's dog, a blind basset hound, was somewhat famous at OXW this year because he figured out how to open the zipper on our tent and managed to escape in the middle of the night. Unfortunately he lost his tag along the way so the good folks that found him weren't able to just call us. Luckily we were able to get him back Towels are good for brushing off dirty/muddy feet and drying them off. If your pup is like mine, he finds any water or mud....oh well. With his gear, I tend to go for something that is tough, pack-able, easily cleaned, but nothing too crazy expensive because it will get used and abused. Make sure your first aid/trama kit can accommodate your pup! This is key since they're needs are different from ours, but some stuff they can use. Make sure you have any meds they might need. Pepto chews are one I tend to carry all the time for me, but my pup can take them should he have some tummy troubles. Poop bags are a must! Bring plenty!
#5: Safety - secured animal and gear while traveling, food secure for any other critters looking for a meal, muzzle if needed, commands dog knows to stop/return immediately? Like all passengers, your pup should be secured while riding.
- There are many methods, but I find my pup doesn't move unless it's time to get out at a stop. On the trail or on the road, he sits on his bed or in a seat. I have looked into a restraint and have a way to restrain him if needed while driving, but haven't had to do so yet. Better to have this option as things change constantly depending on many factors. Like all other gear, keep it secured. Food being secured is just as important with dogs. I clean up after mine once he's done just because raw is a little more enticing over kibble. This means it's in its container and inside my secured RTIC cooler. Muzzle might be required dependent on many different factors, but that will be apparent in your research for each stop/destination, as well as the needs of your dog. Commands are key! I constantly work with my dog on his commands but still rely on a leash/lead since he'll be in uncommon areas and can spook.
Be sure to take more breaks on the road! While most dogs can go 4+ hours without a break, it's best to get them out so they can stretch since they're cooped up in the rig. It's convenient that I need to fill up every 3-4 hours on the road so we fill up and walk around a bit.
The key thing is to enjoy the adventure with your pup, because they will love going with you and experiencing new things. There will be a learning curve for both of you, as well as added stress, but you both will learn by doing and will be more comfortable each time. Some of this might be overkill, but it is good to be over-prepared for them.
**RuffWear is a good company to get some quality gear for your pup, but anything will work initially. Use what you have and get what you don't have but will need.
*For reference, I have a mini Australian Shepherd named Roscoe*
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Great topic and excellent advice Lucas!
Traveler I
USStrongman
Rank V
Influencer II
Beautiful dog! All beautiful dogs in this thread!
Looking at those Alabama Hills I expect to see 1960's Capt. Kirk and a lizard man locked in mortal combat in the background
Roller,
My girlfriend has two Yorkshire Terriers and they hike right along with us and my Beagle. I was never a fan of little dogs until I met these ones. Amazing creatures with a lot of heart. And fearless!
They just love to be outdoors whenever possible, they are great at alerting us to anyone or anything approaching, and are so full of gusto it's a hoy to watch them.
My girlfriend has two Yorkshire Terriers and they hike right along with us and my Beagle. I was never a fan of little dogs until I met these ones. Amazing creatures with a lot of heart. And fearless!
They just love to be outdoors whenever possible, they are great at alerting us to anyone or anything approaching, and are so full of gusto it's a hoy to watch them.
Right! I never had a dog until RoRo my first Yorkie. My first thought was where was this little guy when I was a boy scout. I would have loved to have a Yorkie growing up if I would have known how cool they are. I got RoRo a girlfriend Roxie and soon they had babies and I had two new little ones Lil Bit and Luckie.
They are full of gusto they were so excited to be at the sand dunes they literally collided into each other at full speed!
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I've always had Beagles going back to the 70's when I was a little kid. One Brittany Spaniel mixed in. So meeting my girlfriend's Yorkie was a shock that she was smaller than many cats. Like 4 pounds.
I had been without a dog for years.
Well she is just an amazing dog, so we bred her and had pups. Kept one of her daughters and they are fearless and inseparable. 5 pounds each now.
Best part is, when I got my bmBeagle pup, he was just 5 pounds and the momma Yorkie became his new momma. So 5 years later, he is 27 pounds and cowers when our 5 pound Yorki momma scolds him.
Advocate I
Saw this ad on instagram for a Ramp. Really clever idea and someone could probably create the same thing at home. For now, will probably just carry my 50 lb pup up until I get too old to lift her since it's a little pricy. link
Influencer III
- 4,312
- First Name
- Rex
- Last Name
- Drake
- Member #
-
19540
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- KI5GH
- Service Branch
- Air Force
Traveler I
Thank you!We didn't see any of those, but the "Graboids" were tremor-ing around! ;)
Enthusiast III
Contributor I
we bring firewood to the site, Brutus thinks its for him to drag off & chew on, its a constant enjoyable battle
Enthusiast III
I am getting a Camper Shell just to take my Boy with me. He's 19 months old and weighs about 120 lbs. His shedding keeps him in the back, so the shell will give him some security while traveling. Once I get the shell and some other mods done I am planning to take him out and see how he does.
