Animals at the campsite
Whether you’re bringing an animal camping or acting as neighbor to one at the campsite, traveling with pets comes with rules.
Grab a doggie (or kitty) bag
Sandy knows those rules so well she helped us write them for this post. What makes her an expert? She and her husband bring along nine birds and a couple dogs when they head to the woods for months at a time. (For those of you keeping score, that’s more than five animals for every human in the RV.) Sandy’s biggest pet peeve is campers who don’t clean up after their animals. Just because your neighbors left their urban homes for a rural awakening, doesn’t mean they’re looking for a surprise under their feet on the way to their tents. Pack a sack of used grocery bags to help clean up the messes dogs and cats leave behind.
Leave the leash on
When you’re on those bathroom walks, or any outings for that matter, keep your dog on a leash. Even owners with the most well behaved dogs don’t know what they’ll find in the wilderness. Sandy says some of the best dogs will charge her birds. And if a more aggressive dog comes at your pup, a leash will help you gain quick control on your end. Just be careful not to leave your dog tied up all alone out in the open. That can render him defenseless against any animals that come along.
Kennel that canine
Sandy’s friend Connie travels with a lot fewer animals in her entourage. She just has a dog – a quiet, calm dog. She credits kenneling for her neighborly pet. He likes the crate and even begs to go in at times. She says the secret to getting dogs to go to their cages willingly is to get them used to them early and use them often, even at home.
Respect the pets
Pet owners take on almost all the responsibilities that come with having pets at the campsites, but neighbors have one important role to play: being respectful of the animals. Sandy doesn’t mind if most people interact with her birds or play with her dogs, but she says they should ask first. You never know if a dog doesn’t respond well to a stranger’s scratch behind the ear or if that bit of burger you want to sneak him under the table is good for her sensitive stomach.
So how do you handle pets at the campsite? Bark out some responses on our Facebook site. What have you seen pet owners do that’s just the cat’s meow? Share your suggestions for happy pet camping.