Camping with your dog: comfortable at the campsite

How wonderful: you and your family have arrived at the campsite! Everything is ready, including a place for the dog. The holiday can begin. For your dog it just takes some switching, a new environment with all new sounds and smells. We give you tips for when you go camping with your dog, so that he also feels comfortable.

The dog is completely part of your family, so it makes sense that it comes along on holiday. And that's fine, most dogs have great adaptability. Before you go on holiday, good preparation is very important. For example, carefully choose a destination and campsite that is suitable for camping with your dog. And you can also prepare your dog in advance with good training. There are also useful products that you can take with you. You can read more about this in this article.

Getting used to the campsite

A useful tip for the first days at the campsite: let him sleep a lot. Provide a pleasant, safe place in the shade with little crowds around it. This could be a bench, but also a place in the shade near the camper or caravan. Bring the basket from home, or a blanket that your dog likes to lie on. That immediately feels familiar.

What also helps your dog to get used to the new environment is to quietly walk several laps around the campsite with the dog on a leash. Let him quietly sniff everything so that the smells can become more familiar. Also check whether there are walking areas nearby, where your dog can immediately meet and play with other dogs.

Food and drink

For you, celebrating a holiday probably also means good food and drinks, for example enjoying local delicacies. It's different for your dog. Of course, you can occasionally spoil your dog with something tasty, for example a sausage from the BBQ. But for daily food, the chunks you use at home are best.

Take a supply of his trusted food with you on holiday. This food may not be for sale near your holiday destination. Drinking is also important for your dog. Make sure fresh drinking water is available for your dog every day. Not only at your holiday destination, but also on the road.

Enough movement

At many campsites where dogs are allowed, it is mandatory to keep them on a leash. A long line that you attach to a ground pin is useful for this. A herring can also work well for a smaller dog. The long leash gives the dog plenty of room to move, but it cannot wander around the campsite. You can optionally attach the long leash to a harness instead of a collar, so that your dog's neck is not put under too much strain.

Hot!

Dogs cannot tolerate heat as well as humans. This is good to keep an eye on when you go camping with your dog. In any case, it is smart in your preparation to choose a destination that also has pleasant temperatures for your dog. However, it can get quite hot everywhere in the summer. It is important that you help your dog cool down, for example with these tips:

• Always ensure there is sufficient drinking water.
• Create a pleasant sleeping place for the dog in the shade. This can be done under the trees, but also under the camper or caravan. Or you can take a small tent especially for the dog.
• Search nearby for a place where your dog can take a refreshing dip. Does your dog not like that? Maybe a foot bath is more to your liking. There are special dog swimming pools for sale.
• There are cooling mats and cooling vests available to help your dog cool down.
• Do not walk the dog during the hottest part of the day. Take the longer walks in the morning and evening when it is cooler.
• If you do go for a walk, be careful with asphalt and sand. This can become extremely hot and very painful for the soles of your dog's feet.
• And lastly: NEVER leave your dog alone in the car. The temperature can rise enormously in a very short time, which is life-threatening for your dog.

Leave alone?

In general, it is advisable not to leave your dog alone at the campsite. Of course it depends on your dog, but even if he never barks, that may be different when camping. It is a strange environment, with different sounds and smells, and therefore your dog may show undesirable behavior. In addition, it can get quite warm in the camper or caravan, something that your dog cannot handle well.

If there are several people, take turns leaving so that someone can stay with the dog. Or take your dog with you. He will certainly enjoy beautiful walks in nature!

Your own camper or caravan

Camping with your dog is therefore doable! Still looking for your own camper or caravan? On CampersCaravans.nl you can choose from a wide range of new and second-hand campers and caravans. Or would you rather read more first? camping news?