Camping?

[boxerlove02]

Does anyone take their boxers camping? I have never taken any of my dogs camping because I was afraid they would either get too worn out or over heated. Our family goes to Buffalo River, Arkansas every year or so and we usually leave Ginger with my sister. But I was wondering if I it would be okay to take Penny at about a year or so old.

 

[Cyklopz]

My wife and I are planning on taking our dogs camping but there are some considerations. One general consideration is if your dog is a barker or not (as far as you know at least).

1. Check beforehand to see if dogs are allowed at the camp area. Also, check to see if they can go on the trails (if any) on leash.
2. Check water availability or be sure to bring plenty.
3. Check the weather forecast (we camp in the spring and in the fall to avoid most of the heat/humidity/bugs).

Have a good time, bring some toys and be prepared for rain!

C&E

 

[punkin]

Yeah camping!

R.J. loves camping! Here are a few suggestions to make sure your trip camping with your dog is fun and safe.
- pack bottled water and your own food for your dog (water in some campgrounds tastes funny)
- make sure your vaccinations and heartworm treatments are up to date and take your records to prove this
- take along a puppy first aid kit with benedryl to treat nasty bites or allergies
- make sure you have air conditioning somewhere if it gets too hot
- use a harness with id tags (collars can slip off)
- take along a fold-down crate so you don't have to have your hands on the leash all the time and cover it with a mosquito net
- we use a pound-in stake on a swivel as a tie up (safer than tying to a tree if you need to, and never tie your dog unsupervised)
- take some favorite toys to play with and a life-vest if you plan on swimming
- have your dog wear bearbells if there are bears around
- pack a rubbermade tote bucket with a lid containing all your dog's things
- always share your hot-dogs!
Enjoy!

 

[TracyandSam]

One thing we had to get for Greta for camping was her own chair! Little stinker is much to pampered to lay on the ground. We camp with Greta all the time, but I'm not much for roughing it...we have a travel trailer with a/c, hot water, microwave and my own potty!

 

[BoxerRock]

We bought a travel trailer last year and have taken Carley camping 7 or 8 times now. She absolutely loves it! I pack her food, treats and her blanket. We keep the Benedryl, Carley's camping bowls and a few of her toys in the trailer at all times. We have our own water supply as well. I would think tent camping wouldn't be nearly as easy for her or us. The harness vs. the collar is a must for any type of camping though. We hope you have fun!
The Rocks and Carley

 

[Cyklopz]

Ah, yes indeed their own chair. We may have to look into that!

My wife and I are still tent camping but figure to eventually move up to a pop-up with AC and then to a small RV down the road as it were.

C&E

 

[Ali_Crazy]

We always take our boy with us camping. He loves it. He has his own lounge chair and sleeps in the tent with the kids. It is always a bunch of fun! Can't wait until it starts getting warmer!!

 

[Maxxsmom]

Thanks for the checklist! Maxx is going with us on his first camping trip in May, and we are sooo excited. I have had the camp fever for over a month now & can't wait!!

 

[BrowndogsRUS]

By All Means...

Yes, by ALL MEANS take your boxers!!! They will love it and so will you.

We are AVID campers (probably averaging 30-40 days/year!) and in fact just got back a few weeks ago from the first camping trip of the year! We tent camp exclusively, and usually take a crate and set it up inside an extra tent or sometimes in ours.

A couple of other considerations...

First, if you/anyone in your family is allergic to poison ivy/oak/etc. be aware that you CAN GET IT from your dog! It is the oil from the plant that causes the reaction, therefore I would suggest that if it is an issue that you take some Dawn (or similar!) dishwashing soap with you to wash your hands (and/or dog!) with before petting them. There are also products on the market (Ivy Block for one!) that helps you keep from getting it.

Second, take something like Fly-X or even skin-so-soft (pet safe!) for your dog. This will make it MUCH more enjoyable for them as it keeps the gnats, fly’s, mosquitoes, etc. off of them!

Finally, even if you have them on something for fleas & ticks, make sure that your doggy first aid kit has a pair of tweezers and an alcohol pad or two in it! Reason being, most of the stuff for ticks will still allow ticks to latch on (it's once they reach the blood that it stops/kills them!) and therefore there is still a possibility of transmitting diseases such as Lyme Disease! Normally it takes 24 hours of being attached to transmit it, however if they are removed improperly (the head left attached!) they can STILL transmit the disease! I know this from PERSONAL experience...mine, not my dogs! While Lyme Disease is terrible for us (I suffered from ALL KINDS of ailments including Bells Palsy!), it is even WORSE for dogs! Check 'em, and check 'em OFTEN!!! If you do find a tick, use the tweezers to remove it to ensure that you get the head/mouth, and then swab the area with the alcohol pad.

Hope this helps...HAPPY CAMPING!!!

 

[Mojo5032]

All of my dogs have gone camping with me thru the years. At one time I tent camped twice a month.

Just have fun! Make sure that you have the necessities for your dog, just as you would for yourself, but they are tougher than some people want to believe. Being without certain comforts that they may be used to will not hurt them. I recently took Ivan on his first camping trip eventhough it was warm during the day the nights did get cold. He slept with my wife and I and not once did he not have fun. that was a month and a half ago when he was just about 7 months old.

Ivan is a family puppy that never would want to live outside a house, but he would go crazy if I didn't take him to play and camp on our property.