In my opinion, camping is the best way to vacation! Our family is all about it.
My partner and I take our dog Link camping all the time and he loves it. He enjoys being outside, getting dirty and chasing lizards, but it wasn’t an easy journey to get him comfortable at a campsite.
The first few camping trips were a nightmare, and we still hit some bumps in the road every now and then.
Link is an anxious dog, and it made camping trips a bit of an experiment before we could all enjoy the experience. If you have an anxious dog, our experiences might help you on your future camping trips.
Camping became exhausting, and we were losing interest in going as a family.
That’s when we decided to start trying different things. Focusing more on Link as a participating member of the camping group.
We discovered activities to help work out his mind and body during the day, so he was more relaxed in the evenings and able to sleep. We also changed out camping gear to better accommodate his needs. And lastly, we worked on some training activities to help him self-soothe while away from home.
Know what triggers your anxious dog
Anxieties vary. It’s important to know what triggers your dog, how they express their anxieties, and what helps soothe them. Link gets anxious when he’s away from us, and he has a pretty severe noise sensitivity.
It’s easy to keep him close on camping trips, but the noise is another story.
He gets nervous around loud bangs and sharp clicking sounds, but he’s also laser focused on the rustlings of critters. He’s the typical dog and loves chasing squirrels, but he’s also interested in bugs. The quiet movements they make under leaves and pine needles drive Link crazy.
He would often have a hard time settling around the campsite, but sleeping in the tent was the hardest part for all of us. Link could hear everything moving around outside, even tiny beetles passing underneath us. He would throw himself at the tent walls, trying to find a way out. He would whine, and sometimes bark at the crackling of twigs.
Research before you go
Before heading to a campground we like to research hiking trails and swimming areas that are good for dogs. Taking Link on long hikes helps him get his brain working and body moving.
He’s able to sniff and gather information from the environment; which helps him decompress and become more comfortable with his surroundings.
Carrying a hiking backpack with his belongings inside adds some weight to him and allows him even more energy release. If your dog is new to a backpack, have them get used to it without any load to carry. Plus lots of positive reinforcement. Slowly add weight the more they wear it so they adjust to the difference, and know their limitations.
Swimming is also a great energy outlet. It took Link several years to get interested in swimming. He still takes some convincing to get into the water, but it’s always a great workout for him. He loves swimming after a Chuck-it Bumper.
Be patient when teaching your dog the joys of water, but remember it’s not for everyone. Don’t force them to like the water, but use treats and fun activities to get them used to being around it.
Other great outdoor activities could be fetch, frisbee, or soccer. Link loves soccer and will play as long as we let him, so we always make sure to find a good spot to kick the ball around.
Bring enrichment tools with you
In addition to physical activities, we also make sure to bring along plenty of enrichment toys to help keep him entertained while we do human stuff.
We like to bring a Kong or two along, and either a jar of peanut butter or a can of squirt cheese.
We’ll build some difficult puzzles in them during the day, and in the evening we will put some of his dinner in one to give him a pre-bedtime brain workout while we have s’mores around the fire. The reward of the Kong also helps him get accustomed to the loud popping of the fire, so he’s able to stay close and listen to ghost stores.
He’s also big on pig ears. They’re softer and easy to digest, so they make great camping treats. Bringing your pup’s favorite toy along is also a great way to soothe and entertain.
Find the gear that works best for your anxious friend
When we first started camping we used a small, two person tent. Link would sleep next to us on his bed. It’s was snug, but nice on cold nights. Whenever Link had a hard time with the sounds of the woods, he would walk all over us and make a lot of noise.
We tried a few sleeping arrangements, but nothing seemed to work. Eventually we upgraded to a larger tent that allowed room for a soft crate for Link to sleep in. We’ve been through crate training, so Link is comfortable in his crate and sees it as a safe space. It also created space between his bed and the forest floor, so he didn’t have creepy crawlers moving around beneath him. This was a game changer.
Link is able to get his own space, where he’s able to curl up with a Kong and snuggle up in his bed, and we’re able to sleep through the night.
Train your dog to thrive
Having certain training in his back pocket has greatly helped our trips.
Learning “leave it” was super helpful whenever he would become focused on critters, or when he wanted to eat some trail treasures. Teaching him “touch” made his recall much better for those times he could be off leash. It helped him have a focused recall all the way to my hand, rather than just the distance he wanted to.
Most importantly, we have worked on Link’s mat training in a variety of environments and it always helps him self-soothe in difficult situations. He feels comfortable on his mat, and knows it’s a place where good things happen. He isn’t required to stay on his mat throughout our trip, but he has a place for him to go when he needs it.
All anxieties are different, and they have to be handled in different ways.
We tried a lot of different things, and if you have an anxious pup I recommend testing out different options for them until you find what suits them. I have added some links to things I have found helpful, and I always recommend a test run in your yard so you’re close to home to help get them used to the idea of sleeping in a new environment. It’s all about getting them comfortable in the great outdoors so you can all enjoy the trip as a family.
Author: Dena Vogt
Dena has worked in animal care most of her life, specializing in dog care. She and her RottenChow Link own & operate Adventure Pup in Bend, OR