Help with tethering the pups.

[drnosty]

Hi All. I have a question I'm hoping someone has come up with an ingenious solution for.

We have two dachshunds who go camping with us whenever we go. I wouldn't trust, nor is it allowed in most campgrounds, to allow them to run loose. On earlier trips where we just had one we tethered him to a long, light cable close to us so he cold roam a little and still be within eyesight. However, we'd usually have to go and untangle him from a tree or some other obstruction every five minutes or so.

Now we have two and I'm wondering whether anyone has found a better solution aside from the obvious, "let them figure out how to get untangled." Unfortunately, dachshunds are the most loving, fun dogs in the world, but they're also the most stubborn and don't adapt well to things that don't go their way.

I was thinking maybe a cable "run" strung between two trees with their leashes attached to that so they could move around, but be in a more limited, less obstructed area.

Any and all ideas/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Brian

[JohnG3]

We went the pen route and it is great. Before the pens I had to get dressed to take the dogs out at night. Now with four 8 panel pens and a block under the steps, they have a large area to wander and I just open the door at night and let them go outside while I stay warm and dry inside.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

drnosty wrote:
My God. what do you have? Great Danes? *laughing* I hope you've got a massive class A.

Aussies and Aussie/Poodle mixes. It's like they have ejector-seat springs in their legs.

This website has many answers to "Is a 4' fence tall enough for my Aussie?" Clearly, the answer is "no".

Leaps tall buildings

[drnosty]

My God. what do you have? Great Danes? *laughing* I hope you've got a massive class A.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

drnosty wrote:
Actually, as luck would have it, I got the Camping World sales email last night and they had a collapsible cage/kennel on sale that looks like it'll work perfect.

LOL!! And here's the advantage to YOUR breed! I would have loved to use an exercise pen, but they don't make them 6' tall 😉

[drnosty]

Actually, as luck would have it, I got the Camping World sales email last night and they had a collapsible cage/kennel on sale that looks like it'll work perfect. Our older Dachsy weighs 17 pounds and the little one 11 so with an outdoor cushion inside and some food and water, with the kennel staked down close to our chairs and I think they'll be in canine heaven.

Thanks for all the replies.

Brian:)

[mikeleblanc413]

I'm with downtheroad. I travel with a 55 lb Catahoula and use a similiar configuration: large nail spikes (14 inches) and a long rope. The distance between spikes will vary on the campground and situation. Baby Girl is never left unattended and this does give her some walking room. On occassion she has taken off after squirrels, etc. and the rope has held. She is in her harness and the leash is attached to a clip on the rope. Has worked very well for me.

[drnosty]

*laughing* Not dachshunds. Ours are pretty well trained and well behaved, but if a squirrel or possum or just about anything comes within nose range, they'll be on it like flies on scat-especially the pup. She's a lil mess. It's their nature. We can't complain. They're not barkers unless someone threatens their normal routine, but they'll go after a squirrel at any opportunity.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

My dogs are NEVER tied or on leashes except when camping, so they've ALL been idiots about being tied. My solution is to walk them a nice long while; then they're content to just lay on the patio mat and watch the world go by 😉 I have to admit that there's a been a few times when we'd just let Ike our Aussie drag a leash. We could kind of outline the area we wanted him to stay within (usually staying on the patio mat); and he would. I'm not sure that would work with a hunting breed who likes to follow their nose...

[rainy029]

We just do the untangle thing... but went with friends on our last trip out. She purchased a retractable cable tie out for her medium size dog before they left. It seemed to work real well. The cable was never on the ground and only reached out to the dog's collar....

[drnosty]

The pen was our next thought and that's probably going to be the way we'll go. I just hate to cage them when there's so much to explore. Unfortunately, as previously mentioned, dachshunds have minds of their own and when they want to do something, they're going to do it with our without your blessing. I guess until they're older and less curious, it'll be a pen for them.

Thanks for the suggestions. I really appreciate it.

[toedtoes]

The biggest problem you'll have tethering 2 dogs is that they will get tangled up with each other unless you tether them on opposites of the campsite to the point they can't reach each other.

You can use a double leash to reduce that. Attach the double leash to the dogs, then use it to attach them to the tie out. As another poster mentioned, run the main tie out across the site up in the air, then use a shorter tie out to attach to that and the dogs' double leash. This will help keep them from tangling up in each other and in other things.

[brewjaz]

We used to have our dogs tied up too while camping....they sure didn't like that and WE didn't like having to untangle them all the time. We bought a portable pen for them, as motorhomi said above. We have BIG dogs, but for two little ones you don't need that big or heavy of a fence. Check out your local pet shops or Google on-line. This is the brand we have; simple to set up and fold, they have different heights and you can order two and put them together for more room: http://www.amazon.com/Midwest-Black-E-Coat-Exercise-Pen/dp/B000H8YTJI/ref=sr_1_cc_3?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1409595430&sr=1-3-catcorr&keywords=portable+fencing+for+dogs

[motorhomi]

Our daughter has 2 mini dashounds and she brings a folding pen for them, no leashs needed. The pen is plenty big enough and they have a rug to lay on and just watch the world go bye. We never leave them out alone but it sure beats having to get up every few minutes to untangle them.

[RoyB]

I just knew I was going to get to discuss how I tether my OFF-ROAD POPUP (PUP) trailer for storms using four eyelets mounted through the roof side frame using 1/2-inch ratchet straps and three-inch earth auger anchors screwed into the ground at the four corners.

Sorry no dogs here... I guess the PET FORUM should have give it away haha...

Roy Ken