taking my buddy with me

Our first trip after we got our Beagle, we was loaded to the max helping move our daughter up to San Juan Island so we had to leave him home... Big mistake! My sis & dad would check on him everyday. Well he didn't like being left and tore the screen door off the back door & guess he bayed so much that my A hole neighbors call animal control, so sis had to take him to their house. From then on, the next 7 years, till he moved on to Rainbow Bridge, he has always traveled with us. I'm gonna miss him.

Nicky climbed right in the camper and looked around. I told him to get on the bed so I could get all of gear stowed and set things up. I gave him a busy bone, and he ignored me for a good twenty minutes until it was gone. We hiked a trail, and he came back in, drank some water, hopped on the bed, and went to sleep. I think he's gonna do just fine!

Comfort Zone (pheremones) might be your friend here. Rescue remedy is also good. They can be used together. Many people find that benadryl takes the edge off a dog, and l-tryptophan is used in some calming treats to reduce anxiety.

Thanks for so many great suggestions. Nicky has no problems with riding in the truck. He LOVES it! I take him with me all the time for walks in the parks, etc. There was just something about the pop-up that made him uncomfortable. It was a tiny little pop-up that shook something fierce with every step you took. The Colby T. is bigger and is very well stabilized so that may make the difference. We are going to spend so much time hiking the trails that he will be pretty tired by the time we end up in the camper for any lenght of time. I bought him some long lasting treats to distract him when we first go in.

I also got his furminator and combed out about three dogs worth of fur. We'll do some more while we are at the park. It calms him and keeps him cooler.

I'll let you all know how it goes when we get back.

We have 2 Labrador Retrievers, and they love to go camping with us! We got our travel trailer last year, and the first time camping in it, they were kind of unsettled, and trying to figure out why we were being so horrible as to expect them to sleep in their own little area instead of taking over the King sized bed with us like they do at home - but now they love it and get so excited to go camping. One thing I always do is take their dog beds from home, and they sleep very comfortable in the back of the truck while driving, and then we put the beds outside on a big mat once we get to the campground, and they love it! Also we stock up on bully sticks, and favorite toys when we go, and they have as much fun camping now as we do. Good luck!

How does he ride in the truck? If this starts the anxiety phase, you might try giving your dog something like Rescue Remedy, a natural calming supplement (available at health food stores). Our dogs will eat anything, so we just put some on a small piece of bread when we need to give them some.

Keep something on in the TT (tv or radio) to provide white noise, especially when you have to leave him for a few minutes. Keep blinds/curtains closed to limit visual stimulation, if seeing people/animals sets him off.

A tired dog is a good dog. Provide several walks a day. Since you're wanting to take him hiking with you, that should help a lot.

We take 2-3 dogs with us every time we camp. They've quickly become used to it and we all enjoy then experience.

Take a new bone or something similar so he has something to focus his energy on. He doesn't ride in the trailer does he? (That would make me neurotic) Otherwise, it's just a rid in the truck and then a new chew in the camper= fun/good times.

I usually have the RV parked next to the house and I start serving meals in the RV a few days before we go. The RV quickly becomes a "happy place".

As I understand it there's calming meds you can give him but personally, I think the tt wil be the huge difference like you mentioned. Pop Ups are a different critter altogether.

Take his favorite treats and fave toy. Walk him several times a day in the vicinity of your tt and feed him a treat every now and then while walking. He'll see it's okay when he's with you unless he really does have a neuroses.