With August upon us, camping season is in full swing. Sometimes finding the right campsite can be quite challenging, especially one that fits your fur family. 

There are many campsites that are pet friendly but some may not be. So it is important to do your research before booking a site. Here are a few things to keep in mind when camping with your beloved dog family.

Let’s start with the basics…bring the right leash. A leash with at least a 6-foot stretch should do the job. It is important that you are able to control the pace of your dog when he is on a walk. A 6-foot stretch will give your dog enough room to feel free, but still stay close enough for you to keep control.  

Although you may feel like you are sleeping outdoors when you are camping, many campsites have strict rules on dogs staying indoors during the night. This has a lot to do with the dog’s safety and keeping them separate from wild animals that may be dangerous to your fur family. If there is no room in your tent, it may be a good idea to invest in a quality dog crate for your car. Your dog will feel much safer sleeping in the dog crate in a car than tied to a tree on a leash.

Be considerate and clean up after your dogs. Campgrounds are for everyone to share and enjoy, it is important that you pack poopie bags for clean up time. It takes seconds to attach a poop bag dispenser to your dog’s leash, this will make life so much easier for you when your dog is finish doing it’s business.

I can’t stress how important it is to do your research on the surrounding areas. Try your best to get information on plant life in the area; some plants can be harmful to your dog, so research, research and more research! 

Make sure you check your dog thoroughly for ticks. Most tick-borne diseases will take several hours to transmit to a host, so the sooner a tick is located and removed, the lower the risk of disease.  The easiest way to check for ticks is to run your hands on your dog’s body. A tick may feel like a small bump, once you’ve found a tick, remove it immediately.

Make sure your dog stays hydrated, so give him plenty of clean water during your camping trip. There might be a small pond, a lake, a river or the ocean near your campsite. These are all fun places to do water activities with your dog; however, the water may not be safe to drink and can cause serious harm to your dog. Keeping them hydrated with clean water can lower the chances of your dog wondering off to a dirty pond when he is thirsty.

Camping is all about quality family time, so once again spend some time to do research on the best fit campsite, you and your family will have a much better experience and can focus on creating beautiful memories for years to come.