Quote: Maggie MacDonald

We plan on making the trip in September - Heiland will be older then and might not chew the tent poles.

I have been thinking about not using/taking his crate and letting him sleep with us in the tent. He has never been out of it at night to date of course. Good idea or bad?

I'm not sure I understand this part. Assuming you use the crate, where are you planning on setting it up at night? Forgive me, I may not be fully awake yet.

For the first aid kit, how about Benadryl for hives, allergic reactions to bug bites, etc. Check with your vet for the proper dosage, though. It's different than for humans.

Get him a dog backpack and he can help carry some of this stuff!

When Luca was young, he used to love wearing his backpack and carrying things in it. I think it made him feel like he had a job to do and he would take it very seriously. We'd go to the farmers market and fill his pack. He'd be like, "Stand aside--I've got very important peaches to deliver. Coming through!"

Hi Cherie, the sleep crate will be inside the tent with us. Which was why I was wondering (Ok wildly dreaming) if our dear Heiland would somehow grow gentle enough to snuggle up by our sleeping bags and snooze the night away.

Then reality set in. So we will be buying a larger tent and bringing his sleep crate. He already gets bendaryl for his rash so that I will have on supply - I am so glad it makes him tired and goofy as opposed to another dog I once had that would act the opposite.

Debbie, I was wondering if the EMT gel you suggested is the same as the Celox Hemostatic granules to stop bleeding?

Tracy, A dog backpack? Oh I like that idea. Will he be old enough to bear much weight - if so, how much?

Smiling wide at the "Stand aside--I've got some important peaches to deliver. Coming through!"

As long as I don't let him carry the blueberries because he will eat them somehow, pack or no pack lol

Sorry this post is so long but it's been years since we camped for this long and we are all excited.

These ideas are all so great, I will be prepared for this trip!

Since he's a youngster, your instinct is right not to give him much weight to carry in a pack. But he could carry a bottle of water and a can of bug juice and a few poop bags. Maybe a couple of pounds or so distributed on each side of the pack. It's mostly about getting him used to wearing a pack, giving him a job, and it's cute as heck. And practical.

Even at a few months old, Luca could carry 3 or 4 very important peaches and a few ears of top-security corn.

Of course, Luca had top security clearance.

Tracy is so right about the job!

A well-balanced and secure pack that I make much over, with many smiles and much praise, praising again each time the pack is put on or removed from or adjusted, turned even a senior Pug into a "working dog."

His demeanor changes, similarly to how a dog often becomes when walking briskly "in the zone" beside his human. Focused!

Good examples of this are in Michael Wise's clips of Turbo marching along, with neighborhood strays joining in voluntarily so they could march along too.

Aww Tracy, what a comical memory and it conjures up such a funny picture in my mind.

Top security clearance indeed Connie

I think I read 10% of the dogs body weight is acceptable. Not sure if puppies are included in that equation or not.

I was looking for some vests online - not sure what's the best kind to get Heiland for now - I know he is 64 pounds right now but he is not quite 5 months so his measurements will increase. Any suggestions about where to get a comfortable but inexpensive pack is appreciated.

 Quote: Maggie MacDonald

Hi Cherie, the sleep crate will be inside the tent with us. Which was why I was wondering (Ok wildly dreaming) if our dear Heiland would somehow grow gentle enough to snuggle up by our sleeping bags and snooze the night away.

Then reality set in. So we will be buying a larger tent and bringing his sleep crate. He already gets bendaryl for his rash so that I will have on supply - I am so glad it makes him tired and goofy as opposed to another dog I once had that would act the opposite.

Yep, sounds like you may want a bigger tent, for the comfort of everyone involved.

My husband and I have done quite a bit of camping with our dogs over the years and really enjoyed it. We've seen a lot of beautiful places and had many fun adventures. Enjoy your trip and let us know how it goes!

(Isn't it weird how Benadryl makes most people and dogs a bit on the sleepy side, but there are individuals who have the opposite reaction and get all hyped up on it.)

Connie, we were writing at the same time. A job for Heiland - yes! It's about time he earns his keep Well, yeah but he already does by making my heart sing but I understand what you and Tracy mean about giving him a job.

Maybe a mini back pack for Ceilidh - then she would lose some more weight hehe.

I will have to look up the video you mentioned - sounds very funny! Or if anyone has the link I would love to see it.

Cheri, we have been talking about going camping for the last couple of years and if we wait too much longer it will be in a hotel haha.

Our plan is to drive out to Des Plaines, Ill, where Rich's dad lives but we will be taking lots of side trips to interesting places on the way.

I will have the lap top so I will gladly post our experiences as I plan on taking a lot of photos.

"I will have to look up the video you mentioned - sounds very funny! Or if anyone has the link I would love to see it."




Vacuuming in the Pack:

http://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=29062&page=1