4 Tips for Your First Camping Trip: Pet and Budget Friendly

Introduction 

Are you looking for dog-friendly trip ideas for the whole family? Do you want to budget and still travel with your dogs? If you're someone who needs a dog sitter to enjoy vacations, the cost of trips adds up quickly Camping is a fun way to spend time with the whole family--and you typically don't have to pay additional pet fees as you do for a hotel. You can find a campsite for a low cost, or you can opt for a pricier campsite with more amenities. There’s something out there for everyone. Here are four tips that helped our family have our first (successful) camping trip. 

4 Tips for a successful and memorable camping trip with your pup:

1. Research a dog-friendly location best for your pup

2. Familiarize your pup with camping gear

3. Pack camping essentials for your pup

4. Safety precautions

#1 Select Dog-Friendly Location

First, reserve a dog-friendly campsite ahead of time. Research and read reviews to get insights on the campsite's friendliness towards pets. Prioritize campsites with clear pet policies. And most importantly, consider your dog’s needs. Choose a site that matches your dog's temperament, energy level, and size. I have a pup that does best with less stimulation, so we used Airbnb to find a solo camp site on someone’s property–this was key to our first camping trip as a family to be successful! Here are a few tips to consider if your pup is reactive or needs less stimulation: 

• Find a campsite that requires dogs be leashed (to prevent other dogs from approaching your pup). 

• You can book a large campsite meant for large groups, which allows more privacy and space between your pup and distractions.

• If you find a campsite on personal property, reach out to the property’s owner to ask if there’s other animals on property, how many campsites are on their property, and if they do, how close/far they are from each other?

#2 Familiarize your pup with camping gear

Lay out some of your gear to familiarize your dog with the environment. My pup is a creature of habit and can get scared easily of unfamiliar objects. I used this elevated cot for our trip, and let them use it for a day before our trip. When it was time to camp, they were already comfortable with it and loved staying on it! 

#3 Pack Dog Essentials 

Bring food, water, leash, bedding, and toys for your pup’s comfort. Some items we found useful for our trip were these bright, 20 foot long neon orange leashes (also floats in water), collapsible bowls, multiple quick drying towels, and a lightweight blanket.

#4 Safety precautions

Keep your dog on leash, use tick prevention, and follow campfire safety guidelines. Plan for weather and choose a site with shaded areas to keep your dog comfortable.

Conclusion 

With these steps, your first dog camping adventure is set for success, bonding, and unforgettable memories.

PS. Follow me on @budgetconsciousbabe