Tent Camping With Dogs?

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

Perhaps we're taking a "leave of senses" - but Ed is talking about exploring the Pacific Northwest after our daughter's family moved to Portland. The conversation started with the thought that we could cover a lot more ground, cheaper, faster, with a minivan - and stay in dog-friendly hotels along the way. We'd go in the fall, with cooler temps in case the dogs had to sit in the car for an hour or two.

Me? I love to camp...so after Ed nixed the "Let's get a Pop-up idea"; I came back with "what about a tent with cots (concession to old age)"? He said that would be OK on an occasional basis. 🙂

So surely there are dog-lovers here who have tent-camped with dogs, either now or in the past? Any advice? I'd probably camp out back, here at work, just to get the dogs used to being "one with the outdoors" - I'm picturing Jimmy being on High Alert at first....

I've tent-camped in Black Bear country here in Michigan - I know the rules about no food in the tent, cooler locked in the car, etc.

[MrsMingo]

When we were both still working and attended BMW rallys in WI, DH would ride the bike and I would take the car (the support vehicle) with all the camping stuff and the dog, Molly. The worse problem we had with her was the "wet dog smell" during the night if it rained before bedtime. Or the time she purposefully jumped into the lake next to us because we wouldn't play ball with her anymore right before bed! Molly would sleep on my side of the tent and when I woke up in the morning, I would "peek" at her from under my arm and she would be laying there with her head on her paws just waiting for me to wake up! Once she saw my eyes her tail would start moving! She was happy because then the pack was up and the day could start! But then, the whole world was her pack and she got along with everyone.

[chezmoose]

Haha! So true! My dogs are just as happy to go for a R-I-D-E (hafta spell it or chaos ensues) to the end of the driveway as they are to the store or the campground.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

chezmoose wrote:

Deb and Ed M wrote:
We wouldn't tent every day - just when offered a pretty place and cooperative weather 🙂 Coleman is bragging about setting up their Instant Tent in under 1 minute (the poles are already connected to the tent)....so we'll see.....

Ah, that sounds like a good plan then! I'm sure your dogs will enjoy it as much as you do.

LOL!! They're DOGS..... they'd be perfectly happy making a 6,000 mile trip in a wagon behind the lawn mower - just as long as they're with us!! And in all fairness - I can't imagine NOT having them with us? Now that we no longer have little kids - it's fun to see the world through their eyes

[chezmoose]

Deb and Ed M wrote:
We wouldn't tent every day - just when offered a pretty place and cooperative weather 🙂 Coleman is bragging about setting up their Instant Tent in under 1 minute (the poles are already connected to the tent)....so we'll see.....

Ah, that sounds like a good plan then! I'm sure your dogs will enjoy it as much as you do.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

We wouldn't tent every day - just when offered a pretty place and cooperative weather 🙂 Coleman is bragging about setting up their Instant Tent in under 1 minute (the poles are already connected to the tent)....so we'll see.....

[Crowe]

Perhaps we're taking a "leave of senses"

In a word, yes.

Personally, I think sleeping with dogs in tents is the *easy* part of your quest! I'd be more concerned with setting up and tearing down camp constantly if you're on the move, plus dealing with wet stuff (I hear it can be kind of damp out there).

X2.

[chezmoose]

Personally, I think sleeping with dogs in tents is the *easy* part of your quest! I'd be more concerned with setting up and tearing down camp constantly if you're on the move, plus dealing with wet stuff (I hear it can be kind of damp out there).

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

I don't worry about Jimmy and Ben pushing through or scratching the tent to get out. Between the two of them, you couldn't squeeze out 2 ounces of "bravery"....LOL!! Ben is small enough that he could probably fit UNDER a cot in his bed. I think the biggest challenge will be getting them to ignore all the sounds they will so clearly hear in a tent.....

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

AZPops wrote:

Wonder if there might be one available at an auction. Buy it, use it, when you're home sell it!

Pops

I can always put a "bug" in my "buyer's" ear 🙂 Because that's surely what we'll do with a minivan....LOL!!

[campn4walleye]

We always tent camped with our dog before we got our RV.

We just made sure we had his bed with us, to keep him comfortable. They get used to it. On chilly mornings our 75 lb weim would climb into the sleeping bag with us. It does get a bit cozy. :B

Depending on the dog's size, we also brought a pop up play pen to keep it secure while setting up and breaking down.

No matter what type of camping you enjoy, your dog will just be happy to be with you. Enjoy yourselves.

[lasparrot]

In my younger years I used to camp with an Irish Wolfhound, collie mix, and basenji mix - in a small dome tent! They were good about staying in the tent when we were there with them.

More recently we tented a few times with a standard poodle and a Rhodesian ridgeback. It was fine, except for the dirt tracked in by their paws - they refused to take their shoes off at the door 😉

I'd have no trouble tenting again (aside from getting up off the ground myself, oh yeah, and no bathroom in the middle of the night). I do sometimes put up a tiny tent when we are rving just so I get the feel. One or more dogs always come with me.

I suppose if they were prone to poking their noses/selves out the door you could use a big clamp to keep it closed at night.

Sounds like a fantastic trip!

[AZPops]

Deb and Ed M wrote:

AZPops wrote:
Wonder what it'll cost to lease a Roadtrek? This way you'all got everything you need in a Van, kindah sorta.



Calvin

The cents-per-mile would kill us! We're notorious for putting massive mileage on a vehicle during sightseeing trips....LOL! This could easily be an 8,000+ mile trip....

It's like I told a friend: we pick a day to leave and a general route to get to where we want to go. We figure a route to take us home. The REST of the time is "Ooooh" - as in: "Oooh - let's go THERE!" LOL!

Wonder if there might be one available at an auction. Buy it, use it, when you're home sell it!

Pops

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

AZPops wrote:
Wonder what it'll cost to lease a Roadtrek? This way you'all got everything you need in a Van, kindah sorta.



Calvin

The cents-per-mile would kill us! We're notorious for putting massive mileage on a vehicle during sightseeing trips....LOL! This could easily be an 8,000+ mile trip....

It's like I told a friend: we pick a day to leave and a general route to get to where we want to go. We figure a route to take us home. The REST of the time is "Ooooh" - as in: "Oooh - let's go THERE!" LOL!

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

colliehauler wrote:
Just curious why no pop up? You could buy used and sell when done and not be out very much money. You could tow with mini van as well.

This will probably be the most "urban" trip we've ever taken, with a daughter in Portland and a nephew in Seattle. Having recently experienced parking problems with our crazy-long F-350 while we were in Florida - we just need to be "compact" this time?