In a world where there are so many supplements made for dogs, it can be hard to determine which one your pet really needs. One of the most popular dog supplements on the market is fish oil. Fish oil has many benefits for dogs, but …
If you frequently find your dog hovering around your feet or whining by the dinner table when you sit down for a meal, they likely have a begging habit. Dogs are natural beggars, and their use of “puppy dog eyes” makes it easy to give …
As summer begins to wind down and fall is upon us, the best time of year to go camping is near. Camping during the early fall months is arguably the best time to go as the weather is perfect and the sights are beautiful. If you’re planning a camping adventure this year, consider bringing Fido along. Today I’m sharing 7 tips for camping with your dog.
Camping is an excellent trip for those who enjoy traveling with their dog. Finding a dog friendly campground is typically much easier than a dog friendly hotel or even beach. Camping is full of dog friendly activities from hiking to swimming and it’s quite possible your dog will enjoy the adventure more than you do!
When camping you don’t have to worry about giving your dog bathroom breaks or making sure they’re quiet for the neighbors. There’s plenty for them to do and see to keep them entertained. Dogs love a good adventure, and a camping trip is sure to bring them so much fun!
Before taking your pup on a weekend long trip to the woods, you’ll want to be prepared. While camping will be a blast for your furry friend, there are a lot of precautions that should be taken to keep everyone safe.
1. Bring a First Aid Kit
You wouldn’t go camping without a first aid kit for yourself, and the same rule should apply to your dog. Camping poses risks of injury no matter how careful you are. Snake bites, drowning, and falling on a hike are just a few of the hazards that come along with a camping trip.
Prepare for camping with your dog by bringing a first aid kit complete with:
And anything else that you think you may need in case of an emergency. You can read my full post on dog first aid kits here.
You can also purchase a pre-made first aid kit if you’re worried about missing something when making your own.
2. Keep them On a Lead
Even the most well trained dog can wander and the last thing you want is a lost dog in the woods. Keep your dog from running off after a squirrel by keeping them attached to a leash at all times.
Use a sturdy rope lead for hikes. A 6 foot leash is a great length to allow your dog to explore while still staying close to you. Make sure this leash attaches securely to your pups harness and is also easy and comfortable for you to grip.
While at the campsite, consider a 20 foot lead that you can attach to a stake so your dog can walk around freely but not get out of your sight.
If your dog has perfect recall, and you trust them to be off leash, make sure you research the leash laws for that particular campground. Many campsites require dogs to be on a leash regardless of obedience.
Note: Before going camping with your dog, make sure they are microchipped with your current information and have identification tags attached to their collar and harness. This will make it easier for them to be returned to you should they run off.
3. Don’t Leave them Alone
When you go camping with your dog, plan to bring them along on all activities. Don’t leave them at the campground when you go off for a hike or a swim. You never know what kind of wildlife will enter your campground and endanger your dog. Leaving them alone also poses a risk of them getting free and wandering off.
4. Sleep Together
Whether you’re sleeping in an RV, a car, or a tent, plan to have Fido sleeping right next to you. Wildlife roams around at night and you don’t need your dog encountering a coyote outside while you’re asleep in your car.
Even during the hottest months, the air outside can become very cold at night. Don’t leave your dog to sleep outdoors in the cold while you’re warm and comfortable in your tent or RV.
5. Don’t Leave Food Out
Only put dog food out at meal times and pick it up if you’re ever leaving the campsite. Animals are just as attracted to dog food as they are to human food. If you’re constantly leaving dog food out, the wildlife will quickly learn that your campground is the place to go.
6. Clean Up After Your Dog
Just like you do in your neighborhood, clean up your dogs poop while camping. Leaving dog waste in the woods is harmful to the environment. Do your part and clean up after your pet and dispose of all waste properly.
7. Savor the Memories
Camping with your dog is a great way to make memories. You and your dog will have a blast going on hikes, swimming in lakes, and sitting by the fire. Take this time to unplug from life, take pictures, and savor this time with your furry friend.
This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own.
One of the most exciting parts of bringing home a new puppy is choosing the perfect name. While many people choose more common dog names such as Max or Bella, others like to get more creative. If you enjoy a cold beer in the summer, …
Summertime brings vacation, pool days, and fun but for our furry friends it can cause some real dangers. One of the biggest summer hazards for dogs is heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Keep your pup safe this summer by understanding what causes heat exhaustion, how …
It’s impossible to pass on a good deal, especially when it comes to our furry friends. If you’re in need of some new goodies for your pup, you’re in the right place. This week is Chewy’s “Sizzling Summer Savings” featuring new deals on pet products each day. If you were searching for a new dog bed or a swimming pool, now’s the time to make the purchase!
Chewy’s mid-summer promo begins today, Sunday 7/18 and ends on Tuesday 7/27. Don’t miss out on deals such as:
Each day of Chewy’s Sizzling Summer Savings will feature flash sales on select products! You don’t want to miss these!
The Chewy Sizzling Summer Savings promo has so many good deals it can be hard to decide what to buy! Some of my must-haves for Chewy’s summer promo are:
Don’t miss out on your chance to save with Chewy’s Sizzling Summer Savings! What items will you be adding to your cart?
This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own.
People often assume that all dogs are born knowing how to swim, or at least “doggy paddle”. This idea, however, is a myth. While many dogs enjoy diving into lakes or swimming laps in the pool, this is most certainly not the case for every …
Whether you prefer to stock up on your favorite grocery store flavors or venture out to local businesses, you probably spend a lot of summer evenings enjoying ice cream. The sweet, frozen treat makes for the perfect summer date, vacation snack, or after dinner dessert. …
The warm summer months bring vacations, pool days, and summer barbecues-but it brings along some dangers too. Everyone knows the hazards that summer brings for humans such as sunburns and swimming pool disasters, but did you know that summer brings along dangerous situations for our furry friends too? Before setting off for a summer of fun, be aware of these 5 summer hazards for your dog.
One of the most obvious summer hazards for your dog is heatstroke or overheating. While a dogs furry coat is designed to protect them from both extreme cold and extreme heat, overheating is still a concern for our furry friends.
Be proactive when it comes to keeping your pet cool this summer. Make sure cold water is always available for drinking, have shady areas available, and don’t force your dog to stay outside during the hotter months.
Know the signs of heatstroke and dehydration:
Keep short nosed, darker coated, overweight, or thick coated dogs inside on very hot days as these dogs are more likely to experience heatstroke.
Other ways to keep your dog cool are cooling mats, frozen treats, and sprinklers or swimming pools.
Before bringing your dog on a summer hike, be prepared for tick or other insect bites. Bee stings and spider bites can cause an allergic reaction while tick or mosquito bites can cause illnesses such as heart worms or Lyme disease.
Be prepared for insect bites by carrying a first aid kit with you stocked with Benadryl and bandage materials.
Make sure your dog is on flea and tick and heart worm prevention. If you choose not to keep your pup on preventatives year round, the warmer months are definitely the time to put them on it.
After extended periods of time outdoors, especially in heavily planted areas, do a thorough check and removal of any ticks that may have found their way to your pup.
Drowning isn’t just a serious concern for humans in the summer, it is a summer hazard for your dog as well. While most dog breeds know how to swim, and many dogs love the water, this isn’t the case for all of them.
Keep a close eye on your dog around bodies of water such as pools, lakes, and oceans. Consider a life jacket for your pup, especially in deep bodies of water or on boats.
Never force your dog into the water. Forcing them can cause them to panic which puts them in more danger of drowning or inhaling water.
Always wash off after a day of swimming as the salt, chlorine, and bacteria found in bodies of water can cause health issues for your pet if consumed.
Daily walks should not be stopped when the weather gets hot, however, you may need to adjust where or when Fido gets out for his neighborhood stroll.
Asphalt and concrete can be up to 40-60 degrees hotter than the outside air temperature. That means that if the air temperature is 80 degrees, the sidewalk could be as hot as 140 degrees. A general rule is that if it’s too hot for you to walk on barefoot, it’s too hot for your dog.
Hot sidewalks can cause severe burns to your dogs feet. To avoid this summer hazard for your dog, walk them before sunrise and after sunset. If this is not possible, walk them in grassy areas as the grass won’t be as hot as the concrete.
You can also purchase booties for your pup, to keep their paws protected from the heat.
Summer barbecues and cookouts are one of my favorite parts of summer, but they can be a real hazard for our furry friends. While many of the foods served at these cookouts are safe for dogs, there are some common BBQ foods that will make your pup sick.
The following foods are safe to share (in moderation) with your dog:
These foods should never be shared with your dog:
Fireworks are a blast for humans to watch during a late summer night, but the loud boom can be terrifying for dogs.
Many dogs become incredibly anxious during the summer when fireworks are a frequent occurrence. The loud noise is confusing and scary to a lot of dogs. Dogs who are scared of fireworks are at risk of running away, as they tend to run away from noises that alarm them.
Before setting off fireworks this year, make sure your dog is in a safe and comfortable space. A locked bedroom, bathroom, or crate is a safe spot for anxious pups. Leave them with their favorite treats, toys, and blankets to make them feel safe and secure. Also consider a thunder shirt to calm a scared dog.
Heavily exercise your dogs brain and body before a night of fireworks. A well exercised dog is more likely to be tired and sleep through the loud noises at night.
If you have an extremely anxious pup, talk to your vet about some medication that will keep them calm throughout the night.
Summertime can be a blast for dogs but it’s important to keep them safe as well. Before setting off for a summer of memories, ensure your dog is going to stay safe, happy and healthy by avoiding these summer hazards for your dog.
This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own.
While many over the counter medications, such as Tylenol, are not safe to give your dog-Benadryl is perfectly okay for our furry friends. Next time your dog is experiencing symptoms caused by allergies, reach for the allergy relief medication in your medicine cabinet. Today I’m …