Camping!!

[puppyowner]

Hi everyone,

Tomorrow night we are going camping.

We went last year and it was semi successful. We brought Damien but really weren't prepared. He slept outside our tent in the wet grass, without any real bedding, and yes there are bears here in NYS. Damien paced around most of the night and I didn't sleep well.

So....My question is, how do I make the dog more comfortable? Tomorrow we are going to this family style private camp ground where "pets are welcome"
Last year we backpacked in the wilderness.

I am confident we will be okay because Damien is actually pretty well trained,
but how do I make him comfortable at night? I mean is there a pop up Rottweiler tent you can get??

Also any good ghost stories will be appreciated because we are bringing the grand kids ages 3 and 4.

-Elaine

[Mavides]

I always take Legend camping with me (in fact we're going tomorrow too!) -- and I wouldn't even think of having him sleep anywhere but in the tent with me. I recently bought a pop-up trailer, so we'll be taking that this weekend and he'll be in there with me as well (and so will my other dog). I would be terrified to leave him outside unattended. If you are in a tent, and don't trust him loose in there with you, perhaps you can look into a canvas-type crate that he can be in (in the tent would be my suggestion for that) -- or, if that's just absolutely impossible, I would at least crate him in a wire or plastic crate RIGHT outside my tent entrance.

Have fun! Oh - by the way -- you might want to give a quick call and make sure that their "pets welcome" policy includes Rottweilers. We were supposed to be camping at a campground this weekend and are now "roughing it" out in the woods because the campground won't allow Rotts. There are a few of them around here that are jumping on the ridiculous BSL bandwagon -- especially check if it's a KOA campground as each individual campground owner can make their own rules about which dogs to allow.

[brinabear]

How about just having your dog in the tent with you. When we were tenting it, we always took our rotties and they slept with us. They really would be more comfortable with you and not out side of the tent. Depending on the temperature they either slept on our sleeping Bags or I brought old down comforters and I covered them. We did this for more than 10 years. Now we did had a big tent. Both my kids, 2 rotties, and my husband and me were in it. We had the best camping trips, brings back lots of memories.
Brinabear

[AngelBunny]

When I backpacked, Otto was in the tent with me at night.

[Canula2000]

Our dogs sleep inside the tent with us and sleep all night. The kids like it because it adds extra warmth since it can get a little chilly up in the mountains.

[SuzieQ]

I definitely think your dog should be in the tent with you. Campgrounds I'm familiar with require it. Maybe Im peculiar, but my dogs are family. Would you leave your child on the outside of your tent? My husband and I camped for 15 years in a little pop up tent trailer, two rotts, and eventually added a Cairn terrier to the mix. We slept on one side and the dogs got the two beds on the other. If for no other reason, safety. Dogs are often attacked by raccoons scavenging for food at night. Who knows what else might be lerking out there.

Hope you have a great trip.

[Shelby427]

when we camp - Shelby sleeps right in our tent with us. I can't imagine leaving her outside the tent to sleep! there are too many things that can happen to her if we're not with her.

[rottix2]

Caine and Mikk sleep in the tent with us.

I don't imagine this would be great fun in the summer when the weather is so hot and humid as the dogs throw off a lot of heat. However, we only camp late fall into winter, so the extra heat is always welcome.

[puppyowner]

Thanks for the advice. My husband was thinking of maybe taking the crate.

[toby01]

You leave your dog outside with bears around!!!!!! Are you crazy?
Put your dog in your tent with you where he belongs.

[luvkoenandBriley]

Our Rotties sleep in the tent with us, we see no other option. It is scary outside at night We bought a large tent that had a tunnel attaching two tents together and we thought the dogs could sleep in the other tent and we could still be close because they were attached. Well they preferred to be in ours so we are all cozy while our supplies are in the other side.

[bigdogweilerx2]

Originally Posted by toby01

You leave your dog outside with bears around!!!!!! Are you crazy?
Put your dog in your tent with you where he belongs.

I agree!If they were outside they stay awake guarding all night and want to play with the bears.Our rotties sleep with us in the tent even have their own air matress.