Dog's Life

Camping with Your Dog

By Paula Felps

Mardi Richmond has been an avid camper since she was a teenager, but she doubled her fun when she took her dog, Charlie, along with her.

“I realized then that the one thing that had been missing from all my camping experiences was a canine companion,” says Richmond, who lives in Santa Cruz, California. “The experience was so much more joyful when I shared it with him.”

“Camping with your dog completely changes the experience,” she says. “Sharing the environment with him makes you see it completely different. It’s always fun to explore the world through your dog’s eyes because they are so much more attuned to the environment. He’ll notice something that I might have completely overlooked.”

For example, Richmond recalls sitting at a campfire and seeing Charlie tilt his head to one side. Following Charlie’s gaze, she saw the deer her dog had spotted—an experience she would have missed completely if Charlie hadn’t been along for the trip. “Charlie was a natural,” she says fondly.

Even if your pal didn’t start camping as a pup, an introduction to the camping world can be an exciting time of discovery for you both—and you’ll both have a great time along the way.

Camping with your dog brings a wide array of possible activities. Richmond and her dog love hiking through new areas together and exploring all there is to see. And sharing the special moments of spotting a deer through the trees or a hawk in the sky is always entertaining.

If you and your furry friend love playing games, “there’s all kinds of things you can do,” says Richmond. “You can play hide-and-seek. You can jump over logs. There are tons of little games you can play with balls and sticks. It all depends upon what your dog likes to do at home.”

At the end of the day, she suggests cozying up by a campfire and doing a little stargazing—and you can even tell ghost stories!

Through the years, Richmond has learned to start small, such as taking a short day hike first to “see how everyone does” before going on a full-blown adventure. In addition to familiarizing both of you to the great outdoors as a team, it gives you the chance to see what you might have overlooked.

“If you’re taking a jacket for yourself, take something to protect your dog from the elements too. And don’t forget about sunscreen! Fair-skinned dogs need protection from the sun, just like people.”

Camping with your dog can be a fantastic experience that allows you to bond in entirely new ways. Packing for the adventures you’ll share is part of the fun.

“Basically, anything you think about needing for yourself, you need to think about for your dog too,” Richmond says. “Once you’ve done that, you can just go out there and enjoy yourselves.”