We have always camped with dogs. Lucy, our pit bull is SOOO smart. She knew when we were hitching up to go for inspection or storage- no big deal. She knew when we were starting to load up to go camping. The key for her was when I set the timer on the living room lamp. I learned to save that for the last minute, because when she saw that, zoom, off she would go to get in the TV!
We never had a problem getting home, everyone was glad to get back to their nice bed, yard and television!
Today will be a rough day. The van will be hitched to the trailer for the last time in our possession. The dealership is coming to pick them up, and I'm trading on a car. DH passed on Labor Day. Lucy is too old for camping anymore, and I will hang up the keys.
I have many wonderful, funny memories of camping. Enough to last.