Stress-free Camping With Your Hound
Camping with your beloved hound can be an incredibly rewarding experience for both of you. But before you set out, it's important to ensure that all dog accessories, aka essential hound must-haves, have been thoughtfully packed in advance to avoid the trip from taking a downward tail! Unfortunately, while dogs in general love to adventure, they are also very much creatures of habit, and a change such as an exciting but ill-prepared camping trip can cause a lot of stress.
Stress Free Camping Essentials
To ensure your hound remains a chipper camping companion, we've compiled a list of ideal pet products that should always accompany you whenever you go adventuring.
- Dog walking supplies such as a leash, water bowl, biodegradable dog poop bags, and hound food. They're the obvious dog accessories to take along no matter where you adventure with your hound. Quick tip* Consider attaching an LED light to their collar so your hound will be easy to spot at night.
- A collapsible dog crate or pet stake — great for providing your hound with their own space when they need to calm down or for keeping them under the watchful eye of their pet parent when doing necessary campsite chores like tending the campfire.
- A pet first-aid kit in case of emergency. Check out this recently posted article about pet first aid kits; they're essential when camping with your furry friend.
- High-value dog treats – these are foods your dog loves so much they will drop everything, including your fellow camper's steak, and come over to you. If you are unsure what your dog sees as a high-value treat, experiment with foods like chicken, liver, cheese, or hamburger meat.
- A quality dog bed with an extra blanket or two for snuggles – sleeping outdoors can be chilly for hounds too!
- Dog towels – for drying off after exploring the great outdoors together or bounding through streams and muddy puddles. A camping hound isn't always the cleanest hound!
- Lightweight dog bowls — steel dog bowls are easy to clean and transport and make providing fresh food and water simple when camping outdoors.
- Toys and games – for example, a frisbee or fly-ball disk add extra fun when bounding through those wide-open spaces. Regular exercise, even when camping, means your dog will be mentally and physically stimulated. They'll also be less likely to engage in bored doggie behaviors like digging through the campsite trash or chewing on your fellow camper's shoes. Okay, maybe not, but it's worth a try, especially as exercise is known to help burn off excess hound energy!
What to Feed a Camping Hound
When camping, it can be tempting to feed your dog human food instead of packing extra dog food supplies. But, while eating tasty fireside scraps can be fun, they aren't healthy for your hound. Instead, pack their usual wet food, dry kibble, and nutritional supplements to ensure essential nutrients lost during physical activity are replenished. No matter what dog food you choose, ensure it is high in protein and free of preservatives and artificial ingredients.
Hound Etiquette When Camping
When camping with your hound, being mindful of camping etiquette is important. For example, always clean up your hound's poop and follow the campsite rules. This means no barking in the middle of the night or off-leash rampaging through communal campsite areas! By following these simple guidelines, and packing the right dog accessories you'll be sure to have a stress-free camping trip with your furry hound!
Image by Amílcar Vanden-Bouch from Pixabay
