Camping with dogs

To have the best trip with your pooch you have to be prepared. Here is what we have learned from travelling Australia with our two dogs.

Camping is one of the greatest things you can do for your soul and there is nothing greater then being in the great outdoors with your furry friend by your side. Seeing them exploring new and exciting places with you - cuddling up by the fire at night and meeting lots of new friends.

Do your research

One of the first things you should do is research the area you want to go camping with your dog. Check if you are allowed dogs, what rules apply i.e if there is off leash areas, will there be clean drinking water available and is there any known baiting - especially in remote areas. While we have been traveling Australia, we have used a amazing phone application called ‘Wiki Camps’. It shows you all the free camps and caravan parks in the area that allow dogs. Along with dog friendly beaches, parks, hikes and rivers!

Flea and Tick prevention

Australia is full of different types of fleas and ticks that can harm your furry friend. There are three types of ticks in Australia - Bush, Brown and Paralysis. The Paralysis tick being the most dangerous parasite for dogs. It is really important to keep your dogs up to date with a protection treatment. We use a once a month tablet by Nexgard, its been really great camping and we have never had any problems. Keep in mind even if they are protected - you should check their fur daily, especially after bush walks.

Food

Another thing that is very important to your dogs wellbeing while camping is food and water. Different dog breeds vary of how much food they eat, some like to eat once a day and others twice ( along with treats of course!). We like to measure out how many times they need to be fed on the trip and put it into a big container. That way we aren’t taking to much or too little. Always pack extra water in for your dog, they get really thirsty after big adventures and some camp sites don’t have water available. We always have two collapsible dog bowls - they are a dream for traveling. They are so easy to pack and light enough to put into your backpack for hikes!

National Parks

Dogs unfortunately are not permitted in National Parks. However, there is still so many amazing spots you can take your dog that are just as good as National parks and sometimes better - with less crowds!

If you are thinking of exploring one on your trip, there are a lot of options of getting your dog looked after for a day or two. There are dog kennels in most towns that you can drop them off at while you explore a National Park. If your don’t like the thought of kennels, there is a great website called ‘Mad Paws’ - its dog sitters from all over Australia that love to look after your pets in their own home, from as little as $20 a night!

Our doggie camping essentials

Food & Water
Collar with Tag/Microchip
Lead
First Aid Kit
Poop Bags
Ball
Collapsible bowl
Dog towel
Bed

The great outdoors is waiting for you and your furry friend…go get exploring!

Research your destination

Our number one tip for any trip is to do the research first.

Check the weather in the area that your going to and pack accordingly.

ALWAYS check if there will be water at the camp - if not make sure you stock up. You'll be surprised how much water you need. We recommend always having 10L per person, per day - its better to be safe then sorry.

You can get food grade water containers from all good camping stores.

Phone service is limited in a lot of Australia - so make sure your prepared by carrying a satellite phone or having all the gear to get yourself out of a sticky situation yourself.

What to bring

Do you love tea and coffee as much as we do?
If you say yes you must certainly pack the following on any trip.
I don't think there is anything better then rolling out your swag , then boiling the kettle and taking in the view.
First you have to buy a camp kettle, you can get rad enamel ones, billy teas (great for a fire) or one that whistles.
Second, for the coffee lovers - how do you like your brew? There is a few options out there for camp coffees, from Areo press, percolators,
and Jet boils.... The options are endless. We love the good ol classic percolator.
Whether your going on a hike or a golden hour walk, is there anything more satisfying then to have a cuppa after? We think not. Every camper needs a 'Stanley' coffee flask. They have been around since 1913... how good is that! Definitely our pick. Another must have is getting a reusable coffee cup - we are loving out yeti ones'. Did you know that a million take away cups go into land fill every single minute.... destroying our mother earth. So please always remember to use your own cup. Every little bit counts!

COOKING - One of the best things about camping is the food. You will need to invest in a good quality camp stove. We would advise to never get the cheaper butane can ones - they are known to be unsafe. We would recommend getting a 2 stove gas burner. We have used a Coleman Triton for 4 years now, its been so reliable we love it. Invest in some good cast iron cook ware for the fire, a pan and camp oven. Nothing better than campfire cooking.

SLEEP - If you like sleep in your troopy or van, make sure you get a good foam mattress cut to size at somewhere like clark rubber. Another thing you'll want to get is some fly netting for you windows, if your going to travel in summer sleeping in the troops gets very hot and you'll need the windows open. That means alot of bugs, so you'll need to keep them out.
Swags are a great option - We have used the Oz Trail 'Ridgeback discover double swag' its is a extra-large dome style swag with double dome style poles plus a centre ridge pole so the swag is self-supporting & very quick to set up. Zip top entry makes it easy to get in and out with huge size mesh panels for great ventilation & no insects. The 5cm high density open-cell mattress ensures you have a great night's sleep & your gear is under cover. You can un zip the doors all the way down, giving you a fresh breeze and the best view of the milky way. We just upgraded to a Oztent RV-5v - Pretty much the greatest family tent. It can be easily setup by one person in less than 30-seconds. Made from high quality, waterproof, 8oz Ripstop polycotton canvas. We love it!

SOLAR - We highly recommend purchasing a solar panel + battery set up, which will allow you to have a 12V camping fridge ( very handy to keep all your food fresh) but also importantly allowing you to have LED lights to plug in for around your camp site. You will need to buy a good solar panel, we went with the Kyocera Cell panel, the watts will depend on how much power you need. For the battery we went for a 125AH deep cycle. Its charged from the alternator through a red ark smart start duel battery isolator. Which will keep the auxiliary battery for your fridge topped up while you drive and won't allow your starting battery to be drawn down while your at your camp site and not driving for a few days ( depending on the ambient temperature at about 30 - 38 degrees we get roughly 2 days with out needing to drive or connect to solar at around 18- 28 degrees about 4 days). While we are parked up for a longer stay, we use the solar panels to keep the battery charged and fridge on. You’ll also need a dc/dc battery management system - we would highly recommend this as it will keep your battery from draining too low and also keep it in top condition.

SHELTER. You always should be prepared for all elements if your doing a big trip. We have been caught out in some pretty big storms - So its essential to have descent shelter. We have a 3mtr x 3mtr awning on the side of big blue and a 1.4mtr x 2mtr awning at the rear that covers our kitchen area. We set the swag up under the side awning as it keeps the dew off at night, also allows us to keep the doors of the swag open while its hot and raining. These awnings are not just for rain - They are handy at the beach to keep the sun from burning you, while your making some lunch.

FLOOR. We use a recycled plastic matts on front of our tent. They are so handy to keep the sand or dirt off everything. We also have traveled everywhere with our Wandering folk waterproof rugs - a must of any adventure.

SHOWER - This is a bit of a luxury item, but if your doing a big trip you definitely need one. You can pick up a 12 volt shower from BCF ( hello hoot showers) or the other option if you don't have power in your Troops, get a solar bag - this was our first out door shower and it was a life saver. You just simply fill it up, lay it in the sun and after a day of adventure getting salty or dusty... you get a fresh sun heated shower. Also if you don't think you need one~ there is always free beach showers.

RECOVERY - This is a necessity for any remote or solo 4wd trip. This little addition could save your life or car. We have a 12.000lb 12v kings winch with dyneema rope. It has worked well for us so far, there are defiantly better options out there I would prefer a warn high mount but I didn't have the money at the time. It will pay to have max tax, a few snatch straps, tow ropes, good quality shackles, snatch block, shovel, a set of recovery tracks.good 12v air compressor all these items will be worth there weight in gold when needed so don't go with out them. Also ALWAYS check your spare tyre/tyres are in good health, you will most likely need them if your getting out to that remote location.

Our top tips for camping with kids

1. Plan ahead - research where you want to camp, check the weather and wind. Hit the road at their regular sleep time or if it's a long trip, drive into the night.

2. We love to precook a meal the day before we set off for an adventure, it makes the first afternoon camping a little bit easier.

3. Packing a tub for the kids to have a sunset bath in, is a beautiful way to wind down the day after a full day of exploring.

4. There is no need to pack toys, instead encourage play in nature, always lots to show them and discover for their busy minds. We do love to bring a few drawing things and a book for quiet time.

5. Solar fairy lights, a lantern and glow sticks will keep your toddler amused, while providing nice ambience. Uno for the older kids is a must!

Gear we love and trust.

WOLF PACK LEATHER wolfpackleather.bigcartel.com
WANDERING FOLK wanderingfolk.com
DRIFTA 4X4 drifta.com.au
BLUNDSTONE BOOTS blundstone.com.au
DRIZA-BONE drizabone.com.au
HOME CAMP homecamp.com.au
WILL AND BEAR willandbear.com
SOLAR www.aussiebatteries.com.au

Our handbook to the great outdoors.