Camping With Dogs: A Minimal Gear Checklist

The outdoor gear industry has discovered that pet owners will spend money on specialized equipment. Dog-specific camping gear now fills entire sections of outdoor retailers. Most of it is unnecessary. Here is what you actually need.

The Essentials

A collapsible water bowl is the single most useful piece of dog camping gear. Lightweight, packable, and genuinely necessary. I use a silicone bowl that folds flat and weighs almost nothing. Carry more water than you think you need. Your dog will drink twice as much on the trail as at home.

A long tether line, about six meters, gives your dog freedom at camp without requiring constant supervision. Tie it between two trees and clip the leash to it. The dog can move around the campsite without wandering off. This is more important than any bed or jacket.

Food and Storage

Bring your dog's regular food, not something new. A camping trip is the worst time to experiment with diet changes. I pre-portion meals into zip-lock bags labeled by day. Store food in a bear canister or hung bag if you are in bear country. Bears are interested in dog food too.

A dedicated towel for the dog saves your sleeping bag. Dogs find mud and water with remarkable consistency. The towel lives in an outer pocket of the pack for quick access.

What You Can Skip

Dog sleeping bags exist and they are largely pointless for most breeds. Double-coated dogs like huskies and retrievers are comfortable in temperatures that make humans miserable. Short-haired breeds in cold weather can share your tent, which they prefer anyway. You may also find outdoor hiking trails that welcome dogs helpful.

Dog boots are useful on hot pavement or sharp volcanic rock. For normal forest trails, they are unnecessary and most dogs hate them. If the terrain hurts their paws, it will hurt yours too, and you should choose a different trail.

Dog backpacks are fine for large, fit breeds carrying their own food. But do not exceed 25 percent of the dog's body weight, and build up distance gradually. A dog that has never worn a pack should not start on a 20-kilometer day.

Campsite Selection

Choose sites near water when possible. A stream within earshot means the dog can drink and cool off without you hauling extra water. Shade is critical in summer. Check campground rules about dogs before arriving. Many sites in national forests are dog-friendly while national park campgrounds may have restrictions.

The best camping trips with dogs are simple ones. A tent, a tether, water, food, and a towel. Everything else is optional.