Took my older dog and new pup camping over the weekend. Joined some family members at a state park. Pup did great; older dog not so much.

Dixon (older dog) is usually relatively quiet and relaxed; cries / barks when it's walk time but I chalk that up to excitement. He does not appear to have any separation anxiety when I leave him at home for any reason. During our trip, I would step into the family's RV and Dixon would just cry until I came back out again (we were in a tent, sharing their campsite). If I put both dogs in their crates inside the tent, he would quiet down after a few minutes; on the temporary zip line we set up, though, he was not a happy camper. Keeping in mind that if I walked away another family member was there- they were never left completely alone. It was just too warm to put them in their crates in the afternoon / evening when I was joining my family in their RV for dinner and the RV was too crowded (family has a dog, too) to add two more dogs.

This is the first time I've taken Dixon camping. I don't blame him for being unhappy- he was in a strange place and to him it probably seemed like I was leaving him there, repeatedly. He's been a little less sure of himself since we lost Jake last year so I'm sure that didn't help, either. Any recommendations on making this a better experience for us both? It's not fair to everyone else to have a dog that makes noise all the time. He really seemed to enjoy the walks we took and sniffing new things.

Maybe Dixon is just never going to be a camper... but maybe there's something I can do to work with our pup to avoid this same scenario as she grows up?

Thanks for any thoughts or advice-

 Quote: Carolyn Pike Roman

Took my older dog and new pup camping over the weekend. Joined some family members at a state park. Pup did great; older dog not so much.

Dixon (older dog) is usually relatively quiet and relaxed; cries / barks when it's walk time but I chalk that up to excitement. He does not appear to have any separation anxiety when I leave him at home for any reason. During our trip, I would step into the family's RV and Dixon would just cry until I came back out again (we were in a tent, sharing their campsite). If I put both dogs in their crates inside the tent, he would quiet down after a few minutes; on the temporary zip line we set up, though, he was not a happy camper. Keeping in mind that if I walked away another family member was there- they were never left completely alone. It was just too warm to put them in their crates in the afternoon / evening when I was joining my family in their RV for dinner and the RV was too crowded (family has a dog, too) to add two more dogs.

This is the first time I've taken Dixon camping. I don't blame him for being unhappy- he was in a strange place and to him it probably seemed like I was leaving him there, repeatedly. He's been a little less sure of himself since we lost Jake last year so I'm sure that didn't help, either. Any recommendations on making this a better experience for us both? It's not fair to everyone else to have a dog that makes noise all the time. He really seemed to enjoy the walks we took and sniffing new things.

Maybe Dixon is just never going to be a camper... but maybe there's something I can do to work with our pup to avoid this same scenario as she grows up?

Thanks for any thoughts or advice-

Sounds like your older dog is probably a "home body" who was Very insecure, nervous & all stressed-out in a Strange environment with lots of commotion -- He most likely used to rely on your other dog who passed away for more Leadership and "emotional support" than you may even realize ... IMHO, why try to force a Square peg into a round Hole? Just because you like Camping as one big happy family, doesn't mean every dog you have should also enjoy it.

Anyway, just my cranky old 2 cents here -- I simply don't see the point of pushing a clearly Uncomfortable dog to participate in something he doesn't actually NEED to do ... Sorry, but I'm sure others will be more helpful, LOL.

I have had to hear that from other campers pets, when I went camping, and it drove me bonkers! One thing I could never stand is a dog whining and barking endlessly.
I would suggest you maybe board him or have someone stay with him at your home while you camp. If I ever camp again, it is what I would do with my Jazz, no way in heck I would take him with me, camping is supposed to be relaxing

Good morning Carolyn,

Tis a puzzlement.

You noted this was the first time Dixon went camping.

In my opinion, its not likely a behavior has been imprinted. New surroundings, new sounds, new restrictions, etc. combine to unsettle a dog, any dog.

I think it a bit too soon to consider boarding the dog, especially if you are willing to work with the dog to mitigate the dog's anxiety.

If, after a few camping trips, and some efforts on your part and others to moderate the dog's anxiety, perhaps boarding but the dog ain't gonna be any happier there. But it will be out of your hair.

For my part, I prefer to work with the dog to get it to adapt to its surroundings, new or accustomed.

I'm not oblivious to the annoyances a dog can cause in others but I choose to minimize those by interaction with the dog. I'm more annoyed by atv's and inappropriately supervised children than by dogs. But that's just me.

Your dog has earned your efforts on its behalf. Take it to unfamiliar places for walks. Adapt it to new and distracting sounds and locales. Prepare it for success. Observe and note what seem to be issues and work to normalize them.

But that's just my two cents.

 Quote: Mike Arnold

I'm more annoyed by atv's and inappropriately supervised children than by dogs. But that's just me.

Your dog has earned your efforts on its behalf. Take it to unfamiliar places for walks. Adapt it to new and distracting sounds and locales. Prepare it for success. Observe and note what seem to be issues and work to normalize them.

Mike, I didn't know anyone else thought like me! I agree with your whole post, and am glad you could express it so well... my husband says I just make people mad!
I, too think that if camping with the dog is going to be enjoyable, the dog should be set up for success. Some dogs adapt well to any circumstance, others require a little more exposure, but still enjoy the activity once they understand it.

So that's my $.02 worth....now you have $.04!
Sorry, Candi, I missed your $.02....guess we have $.06 now!

Edited by Christina Lockard (03/29/2017 07:41 AM)
Edit reason: eta

 Quote: Carolyn Pike Roman

This is the first time I've taken Dixon camping. I don't blame him for being unhappy- he was in a strange place and to him it probably seemed like I was leaving him there, repeatedly. He's been a little less sure of himself since we lost Jake last year so I'm sure that didn't help, either.

Very important factors to take into consideration! ^^^^

I don't have any magic tricks, unfortunately, but as someone who has done a lot of camping with different dogs over the years, I'll make a few observations. You don't say how old Dixon is, but he has gone his whole life up to now without experiencing the "joys" of camping. He did not feel comfortable in this strange place, and I'm sure he was worried about how long you would be gone when you were out of his sight. Being tied out on a zip line was probably a totally new experience for him, too. It's not surprising that he would be upset. It sounds like he is very attached to you (understandably so), and he needs a little reassurance.

If camping is something that you think you will be doing on a regular basis, then by all means, go ahead and do it and give Dixon a chance to get used to it. He will get better or not, but you won't know unless you try. Minimize his time alone, check in on him often so he knows you won't be gone long, give him a chance to get used to the whole idea on a gradual basis.

He didn't like the zip line, and I understand about the tent being too hot to crate the dogs inside of it, but did you try setting up the crates outside of the tent, in full view of the door to the RV you were in? Maybe he would feel more secure in his crate than on the zip line, and you could pop your head out every few minutes to reassure him that you are still close by. Is he a dog who would be distracted by a chew toy or long-lasting treat?

I totally agree with Mike's and Christina's comments. I would not give up after just one experience. Dixon has earned your efforts to make him comfortable with the idea. Set him up for success and give him time to adjust. The pup should be easy. It sounds like she was pretty okay with it anyway, so she should adapt naturally as you do it more often.

I would like to say that I would let the dog stay home if he didn't like camping because I don't like putting my dog in stressful situations when they can be avoided.

HOWEVER, when we fled Katrina, my parents were in their RV, so our whole family spent most of our time at campgrounds and my dog was not a happy camper. Even though I paid a pretty dollar to split a room in the lodge, I ended up sleeping in a chaise lounge with mosquitoes buzzing my head for the first two nights, until we relocated to a resort village. When we went to supper the first time, we left Tera in the RV with her dear friend Chico, but she still peed in the RV. There were some things that she liked about camping, but she didn't get past her separation anxiety until we got back "home" ("home" being a temporary rental, but she was settled in with my son and her routine was normalized).

I agree that, if Dixon can be acclimated, trips will be more fun with him than without him. However, if you don't see progress, you might consider the possibility that he is a homebody and, at his age, earned the right to decide if he wants to go or not. My current dog would drive me nuts, would probably end up hurting another animal, and she just loves her boarding kennel, so I am happy to let her stay behind. I do envy my friends and family that have social dogs, but that is not what I currently have. Keep taking the little gal, make sure she has fun, and she should be a happy camper for life.

I love Dixon's cap! Go, Dodgers!!

Edited by Duane Hull (03/29/2017 09:06 AM)
Edit reason: The little "guy" is she...

Wow. Lots of different takes. Cheri and I were typing at the same time, and I did not mean to contradict her great advice.

My last two dogs were very different. Sadie would love to go and would have a blast, but she doesn't know how to act and our boarding kennel is on a small ranch run by people she knows, so leaving her is not painful. My last dog, Tera, was so entrenched in her routine and daily life at home that any disturbance was a major upset.

A lot depends on the dog you have. You seem to have a good read and your heart is in the right place, so I am sure you will sort through everything and make decisions that you can live with.

 Quote: Duane Hull

I would like to say that I would let the dog stay home if he didn't like camping because I don't like putting my dog in stressful situations when they can be avoided.

HOWEVER, when we fled Katrina, my parents were in their RV, so our whole family spent most of our time at campgrounds and my dog was not a happy camper. Even though I paid a pretty dollar to split a room in the lodge, I ended up sleeping in a chaise lounge with mosquitoes buzzing my head for the first two nights, until we relocated to a resort village. When we went to supper the first time, we left Tera in the RV with her dear friend Chico, but she still peed in the RV. There were some things that she liked about camping, but she didn't get past her separation anxiety until we got back "home" ("home" being a temporary rental, but she was settled in with my son and her routine was normalized).

I agree that, if Dixon can be acclimated, trips will be more fun with him than without him.

However, if you don't see progress, you might consider the possibility that he is a homebody and, at his age, earned the right to decide if he wants to go or not.

My current dog would drive me nuts, would probably end up hurting another animal, and she just loves her boarding kennel, so I am happy to let her stay behind. I do envy my friends and family that have social dogs, but that is not what I currently have. Keep taking the little gal, make sure she has fun, and she should be a happy camper for life.

I love Dixon's cap! Go, Dodgers!!

And as Becky said in her post, "Camping is supposed to be Relaxing -- I can't stand the sound of a dog WHINING and/or BARKING non-stop!" ... Taking pets on an emergency camp-out during a Forced Evacuation is a lifesaving trip which must be endured by all involved; but otherwise I vote for a Reputable & Responsible boarding kennel you TRUST for any dog that has shown itself to be MISERABLE on family vacations in the wild.

I always supply the boarding kennel with my dogs' Own Food & Bedding, and make sure they are housed Immediately Adjacent to each other (I would put them together in the SAME run, but my 2 must be fed separately & need to sleep separately) -- Some folks prefer a Pet-Sitter in their own home, but I worry about too many Escape Chances and since mine are both Seriously Guardy, I must also consider any possible bite risk ... Plus, they actually LOVE the kennel staff & activities provided for them there throughout the day

 Quote: Duane Hull

A lot depends on the dog you have. You seem to have a good read and your heart is in the right place, so I am sure you will sort through everything and make decisions that you can live with.

Yep, there are a few different opinions being offered here, and I respect everyone's varying experiences and takes on the topic. I think Duane summed it up very nicely in what I quoted.

I would never advocate forcing a dog to endure a camping trip if it turns out he really hates it. I'm just saying I wouldn't base a decision on just one trip. Try it a few more times, see if there is any improvement. If not, and especially if you have a boarding kennel Dixon is comfortable with, then that's the way to go. But if he is not used to being boarded, that could be equally stressful.

It is a dilemma, but in the end, we who love dogs will choose what is best for them, even if it inconveniences us.