Last Updated on March 14, 2024 by Aftab Tariq
Dog camping gear is essential for a great outdoor adventure with your furry friend. Camping is even better when you bring your dogs along.
They have a special way of reminding us to enjoy the small things and take in nature at our own pace. Plus, their heightened senses can be really helpful outdoors.
When planning a camping trip with your furry friends, it’s important to be prepared. Bringing along the right gear ensures a fun and safe experience for everyone involved.
Whether your dog is a seasoned camper or it’s their first time out, these tips can help make your camping adventures more enjoyable for years to come.
Looking for a Dog Friendly Campsite?
Finding campsites that welcome dogs is easy with Hipcamp. Just go to the discover map and click on “Pets” under “Amenities” on the left side. It’s important to keep these sites friendly for our furry friends.
When you arrive, talk to your host and let them know about your dog. Some places may have other animals around, so it’s good to be aware of that. Remember, being able to bring our dogs along is a privilege, so let’s be responsible and set a good example by respecting the rules.
This list is all about Dog camping gear. When you go camping with your dog in a car, you can bring more things because you have space.
But when you go backpacking with your dog, you need to pack only the most important things because you have to carry everything on your back. I divide the gear into three parts so that you can choose what to bring based on your adventure.
Essential Dog Camping Gear
Check out our comprehensive dog camping gear list for all your outdoor adventure needs. Essential dog camping gear ensures a safe and enjoyable trip, including ID tags, a medical kit, dog camping leashes, waste disposal tools, collapsible bowls, food, treats, and a safety light for visibility.
Identification Tags or Contact Details
Having the right Dog camping gear is very important when you’re camping with your furry friend. Your dog should wear a collar or harness with tags and a license. I keep an extra set of tags on my dog’s harness just in case.
It’s also a good idea to have a copy of their vaccine records with you. If your dog has a microchip, make sure the contact information is correct and up to date. These steps will help keep your dog safe while enjoying outdoor adventures.
Medical kit
Bring a first aid kit for yourself and one for your dog. You can make your own kit or buy one like the Adventure Medical Kits version.
Bags for Waste or a Digging Tool
Include waste disposal items like poop bags or a small shovel in your Dog camping gear. Clean up after your dog and don’t leave anything behind, especially near water or busy areas. Being responsible ensures a great time for everyone outdoors.
leash, collar, and harness set along with an extra leash
Life can surprise you, so it’s good to have an extra leash for your dog camping gear. You can connect the leashes to give your dog more space to move around while staying controlled.
It’s helpful to have a leash that is bright or reflective, especially if your dogs are hard to see at night.
I recommend using a harness for your dog during adventures, especially if they need to be on a leash. Harnesses are better for their sensitive necks, and it’s useful to have one with a handle for quick access in case you need to hold onto them or help them climb something.
Brands like Hurtta and Ruffwear make excellent harnesses designed for mobility, comfort, and safety.
Pack Food, Treats, and Store them Properly
When preparing your Dog camping gear, remember to consider your dog’s food and treats. It’s important to think about their age, fitness level, and how active they will be during the trip.
Use a special stuff-sack designed for dog food to keep things tidy, with options available from brands like Planet Dog, Kurgo, and Orvis.
Bringing along treats or toys that your dog enjoys is also essential to keep them happy and engaged during the camping adventure, especially with so many exciting distractions in nature.
Bowls for Food and Water
My favorite Dog camping gear includes collapsible silicone bowls from Messy Mutts. They are lightweight, compact, and simple to clean. These bowls are great for feeding your dog and giving them water while camping.
Safety Light
A small, weatherproof safety light that clips onto your dog’s collar is essential in my gear list. It helps you find your dog in low light or bad weather. The Ruffwear Beacon is a great option for this.
Get Ready for Camping with Your Dog with Essential Gear
Prepare for your camping trip with essential gear for your dog.
Balm for healing paw pads
Including a healing balm for your dog’s foot pads in your Dog camping gear is a smart idea. It can be kept in your first-aid kit or hiking pack easily.
When your dog’s foot pads get hurt from rough surfaces like rocks, hot sand, or ice, it can make them uncomfortable. Just like how blisters bother us, foot pad injuries can bother dogs too.
High Absorbent Towel
Learning from a tough experience, I realized the importance of having the right gear for camping with my dog. One time, we got stuck in the rain, and I had to either share my towel or sleep with a damp dog in a cramped tent. Now, I make sure to keep a towel in the car and another in our camping pack.
Food Dispensing Toy or Chew/Puzzle
When you’re camping, just like you have books, games, and friends to keep you busy, it’s important to give your dog something fun to do too. I use puzzle toys like a Kong to teach my dogs to relax on their mat since they were puppies.
This is super helpful when camping because while my dog plays with the toy, I can set up camp, make a fire, or cook dinner. These toys also keep their brains active and help them calm down and have fun on their own.
I sometimes use these toys to feed them dinner or stuff them with healthy treats and fruits or veggies that dogs like.
Weather Resistant Long Leash
When teaching and training my dog Willow, a long line was very helpful. Willow likes to do things her own way and loves to explore, but sometimes she doesn’t listen well.
As we worked on teaching her to come when called, I found that using a long line was really useful. Even now, when we go to new places and I want to have some control over her, I use the long line.
It’s a great tool because it lets Willow have more freedom to make choices, allows her to explore more, and still lets me keep control when I need to. My favorite long lines are made by Palomine Lines.
Jackets
When you take your dog camping, it’s important to think about what they might need to stay comfortable. Depending on how old they are and how well they handle different temperatures, they might need a special coat or jacket to keep them warm, especially at night when it gets colder.
Our dogs use their coats like cozy sleeping bags. Willow, who is younger, doesn’t have a thick fur coat, and our 13-year-old dog Corbin sometimes feels stiff in cooler weather, so the coat helps him feel better.
Another good thing about these coats is that they can be seen easily in the dark if they have bright colors or reflective parts. When choosing a coat, make sure it fits well and doesn’t restrict your dog’s movements.
Brands like Ruffwear and Hurtta make really good coats that can handle all kinds of weather. Coats also help keep dirt and leaves off your dog’s belly, which is nice when they come into the tent.
Soft Resting Spot or Cozy Shelter
Every dog is different. Some dogs are okay lying on the ground or grass wherever they are. But other dogs, especially older ones like our dog Corbin or those who are sensitive, need a cozy place to relax. Companies like P.L.A.Y. and Alcott make nice tents and travel mats or beds.
These are great for giving your dog a comfortable spot to rest while camping. It’s important to make sure your furry friend feels safe and happy during your outdoor trips.