Camping with your dog: prepare well

At home on the road: this is what a holiday with your own camper or caravan feels like. How much more if your four-legged friend comes with you! Because it provides the ultimate feeling of being at home, while still enjoying your travels. Are you going camping with your dog for the first time? Then prepare well! We give you some tips.

First of all, where are you going? When making your choice, keep your dog's character in mind. What suits him? Long walks in a hilly area are great for a healthy, active dog. But if you have a dog that especially likes to sleep, you are not doing your faithful friend any favors with exhausting trips. A quiet holiday where you spend a lot of time at the campsite is suitable.

Select destination

Do you have a destination in mind? Investigate whether there are enough suitable walking opportunities in the area where you can walk your dog. It is also important to look at the expected weather. For example, it can get extremely hot in the summer, especially in the south of Europe. Not pleasant for most dogs, but especially for older dogs this can be a major burden.

When planning your holiday, also take the expected weather into account.

Rules per country

There are different rules regarding pets per country. Are you going abroad? Then there is a chance that your dog will need to be vaccinated and you will have to arrange certain documents. On the website of the LICG you will find a lot of relevant information about this.

Choose a campsite

Have you thought of a destination that is suitable for both you and your dog? Then the next step is: a campsite where your dog is welcome. This is not the case at all campsites. So it's good to research well in advance. A campsite can also offer specific, dog-friendly facilities. Think of places where your dog can swim, or a special playground.

You can often find this information on the website of your preferred campsite. There are also websites where you can specifically search for campsites where your pet is welcome, such as on the website eurocampings.eu. The rules may be different in the low season than in the high season.

Enjoy your camping holiday together with your dog.

Training your dog

Before you go camping with your dog for weeks, it is wise to first go on a test camping trip for a shorter period of time. For example, a weekend away, close to home. You can then test whether your dog is camping-proof.

Does your dog listen well in this different environment? How does he behave during the day and at night in and around the camper or caravan? Can you leave for a moment, or will he make a lot of noise? And how well does your dog stay in your spot? Your dog may find other campers very interesting and not stay at your spot. How does he react when he has to get on the phone? You can research and learn or unlearn all these things. This is how you train your dog during these 'trial weekends'.

What to bring?

To make it as comfortable as possible for yourself and your dog, we list some things you can take with you:

Ground stake and line. This way you can secure your dog securely in the camper or caravan, but he still has room to move.
Food and drink bowl.
Sufficient food from home.
Water for the road.
A nice blanket to sleep on, so your dog still has a place that feels like home.
Toys. It is also a holiday for your dog, he will of course enjoy having fun together.
Drawing tape and drawing pen.
First aid kit for your dog.
Tent for your dog.

Looking?

Still looking for a camper or caravan that you can use to camp with your dog? Check us out current offer. Or read more first camping news.