Please note that some posts contains affiliate links & I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links Find out More

The DOs and DONTs of Camping with Your Dog or Cat

by | Jul 19, 2022 | Cat Behavior & Care, Dog Training & Care | 0 comments

Summer arrived even earlier than expected this year, with temperatures hitting triple digits by mid-June, with a promise to go up in July. There’s still plenty of pet camping season left. Even though camping with pets isn’t for me, I know lots of folks who LOVE it, including my brother and his dog. He takes the dog with them camping, boating, skiing, and pretty much everywhere.

Bringing your furry one along camping (or glamping) is a great bonding experience. But before you pack up and hit the road, look over my DOs and DONTs of camping with your dog or cat.

camping with pets

What to do when camping with a pet

  • First, decide if your pet will enjoy camping. Not all will enjoy it. My Karma-Kat would HATE camping. He’s a homebody, and enjoys watching birds, bunnies, and squirrels through the window, but freezes when his paws hit the grass. Shadow-Pup’s more adventurous and probably would do better. If your cat or dog would rather stay home, let them.
  • Choose a pet-friendly destination. Vacationing with your pet sounds like a dream. But read up or call your locations to confirm any details, and be sure they accept your furry wonder.
  • Make sure you know all the rules or regulations in the area. Is your dog’s breed or size allowed? National and state parks often have restrictions to follow to keep your pet and wildlife and habitats safe! Always follow the rules for your safety, and your pet’s well being.
  • Pack the right gear. When I venture out with Shadow-Pup, I always bring a roll of paper towels and pet wipes for emergency clean up. Other things you might need include pet sun screen, tick & flea treatment, and a reflective vest. For extra hot-dog care, cooling vests and kerchiefs can help. Karma-Kat now loves to venture out in his stroller, a fun accessory for small pets that prefer a safe enclosure. He’s leash trained, too, of course. Learn how to leash train cats here.
  • Bring the comforts for you and your furry! Shadow-Pup absolutely loves car rides and adores wearing his halter for trips around town. I love the design, because I can attach the halter to a seat belt to keep him safe. Bring your pet’s bed, blanket, sleeping pad, crate, favorite toys and/or treats. Not exactly comforts—but any medications or calming aids (run it by your vet first) are good ideas too. If you plan to cross state lines, take along your pet’s proof of vaccinations and health certificate from your vet—some states and parks require that.
  •  We all need to eat. Don’t forget a portable bowl, water, and food. Take in bottled water, to avoid upset tummies, and try to prevent pets from drinking from streams or lakes (microscopic critters abound in such things!). There are also pet electrolyte products that combat dehydration with beef or chicken flavored solutions, like Petralyte. Oh, and take healthy treats (Karma and Shadow made me add that last bit.)
  • Avoid attracting other animals. Wildlife visitation adds spice to the adventure, but remember that word “wild.” Left-overs and accessible pet food attracts critters like bears, raccoons, and coyotes. They pose risks to your pets from disease, or from animal attacks. Coyotes like snacking on small dogs or cats, yet another reason we keep Karma-Kat safe inside. Keep garbage contained and feed your pets in secure locations.

What not to do when camping with a pet

  • Don’t leave your cat or dog unattended. Your pet is your camping partner on the trip. Leaving them couped up in the camper or cabin is no fun (and could be dangerous). Trail walks are one of my brother’s favorite activities with his dog while camping, on leash, of course. If the trail allows for it, a pet stroller offers a safe option for adventure cats if they don’t care for leash walks.
  • Don’t leave their ‘business’ lying around. Pick up after your pet’s waste regularly and properly dispose of it. A colleague created a neat devise to carry those poop-filled baggies to dispose of pet waste. Check out the DooLoop here.

YouTube Button

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book giveaways and appearances related to my September Day pet-centric THRILLERS WITH BITE!

Amy Shojai, CABC is a certified cat & dog behavior consultant, a consultant to the pet industry, and the award-winning author of 35+ pet-centric books and Thrillers with Bite! Oh, and she loves bling!

 

 





0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories:

Recent Posts

Update on Cyprus Cats: New FIP Strain Identified

This past summer I reported on the apparent FIP outbreak among cats on the island of Cyprus. As thousands of cats quickly sickened and died from signs of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), experts puzzled over why. While the feline-specific illness tragically kills most infected cats (if not given expensive hard-to-access treatment), pockets of “outbreaks” had previously been limited to handfuls of cats in cattery or shelter population.

But in Cyprus, things changed. Here’s the update…stranger than fiction, but true.

How To Give Pets As Gifts

Giving pets as gifts prompts discussions every time the subject comes up. Most recently, we got our “gift puppy” and “gift kitten” when they adopted us, and we’re so glad Karma-Kat and Shadow-Pup are part of our holidays. But for many folks, this year means a new puppy or new kitten for Christmas. Learn how to gift pets–and please share your experiences in the comments!

The professionals used to say that the holidays were a TERRIBLE time to get a new pet–that impulse adoptions could leave the cat or dog without a home after the cute-holiday-thrills wore off. More recently, though, the ASPCA conducted some surveys and discovered that when done properly, these adoptions can be lasting, loving adoptions. So I had to re-think my advice.

Holidays tend to be hectic times when normal routines go out the window. Whether a baby, adult, or senior rescue cat or dog, new animals need the stability of knowing what to expect. In fact, some holiday schedules may allow you to be home more during this time to help the new kitty or pooch adjust.

Holiday pets take more work, true. But just think: you’re not only giving the pet to a person—you’re giving a special human to a waiting cat or dog, a fur-kid hungry for a loving, permanent home. Happy holidays, indeed!

Mystery Canine Respiratory Disease? What We Know

Each fall and winter heralds a rise in respiratory illnesses in people–and also in dogs. Like humans, dogs can contract a number of hacking, wheezing, coughing, yucky illnesses that make them feel bad. Canine respiratory diseases get lumped together as canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC). These are a constellation of different illnesses resulting from viral, fungal, or bacterial infections.

One of the most common, kennel cough, spreads easily from dog to dog. It gets its name because dogs housed closely together in kennels, boarding facilities, shelters, and similar places provide the perfect transmission opportunity. But recently, an apparent increase in dog respiratory disease has owners, and many vets concerned.

13 Pet Holiday Dangers to Avoid: How to Keep Cats & Dogs Safe

I write about pet holiday dangers every year. This listicle (and a fun infographic at the bottom) offers more than a dozen problems. I’ve included links to more detailed information for those wanting a deeper dive on all the must-knows for pet holiday safety!

Merry Cat-Mas & Doggy Ho-Ho-Ho! Here’s How to Create a Tree for the Pets

Have you decked the halls yet with your howl-iday decor? What do the pets think? Have they joined in the spirit of ho-ho-ho and wreaked havoc? Or do they ignore the festivities?

The Christmas tree might as well be an early holiday gift to your cats and dogs. Pets can’t resist the urge to sniff, claw, water—and scale the branches to reach the highest possible perch. Don’t blame your cat or dog. It’s normal for cats to compete for the top spot (literally and figuratively) to secure their place in kitty society, and dogs may want to “mark” the convenient indoor doggy signpost.

Protect your precious memories by pet-proofing to prevent breakage (yes, this happened to me!) And give your pets something “legal” to enjoy. Here’s how to create pet safe holiday fun for cats and dogs.

Playing Around…in SISTER ACT Musical!

From time to time, I’m blessed to participate in the local community theater productions. Sometimes, that means playing cello or keyboard in the loft, and other times, onstage. This month, I’m “playing around” as Sister Mary Martin-of-Tours, a nun in SISTER ACT musical. We open Friday December 1 and run three weekends (Thursday-Sunday matinee) through December 17th.

Cat Books Sale: “When you get a cat, there should be 4 requirements by law:

I was born to love pets & spread JOY! My books bring smiles, save lives, and reduce vet bills. So I put ALL MY CAT BOOKS ON SALE…cuz maybe you’ll want to “adopt” more of my 35+ award-winning pet books or share the purr-fect love with other pet lovers.

You can get ’em for full price on Amazon, BUT…

Dog Books Sale: “One of the best I have read…”

I was born to love pets & spread JOY! My books bring smiles, save lives, and reduce vet bills. So I put ALL MY DOG BOOKS ON SALE…cuz maybe you’ll want to “adopt” more of my 35+ award-winning pet books or share the purr-fect love with other pet lovers.

You can get ’em for full price on Amazon, BUT…

Counting Thanksgiving Blessings, the Pet Writer Way in 2023

Time for my annual Count My Blessings post. The past year has meant change, change, and more change, and that’s good and also challenging. But some things never change…I’m thankful to you—yes, those who read this blog, the cat book lovers, and the dog book lovers, and folks who have “adopted” my thriller series. And those who offered awesome applause and support any of the other venues mentioned…

7 Tips How to Prepare Cats, Dogs, and People for Holiday Visits

How to Prepare Cats, Dogs, and People for Holiday Visits

Holiday celebrations include visiting family and friends. It also means keeping pets safe during the holidays. Since we consider cats and dogs part of the family, pet holiday visits require special preparations. Changes to routine can increase fear, anxiety, and stress in everyone, and especially our pets. Hitting the road also raises stress levels, so unless your pets adore car travel, prepare with advice in this article. Here are some tips for reducing the angst once you arrive, so that everyone enjoys family pet holiday visits.

Visit Amy's Website

Amy Shojai CACB is an award winning author.  You can find all her publications and book her to speak via her website. 

On Demand Writer Coaching

AmyShojai.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com http://amazon.com/.

Awards

Memberships