Camping with your Dog in the Night
You can decide how you would like your dog to sleep in the night – whether on his dog bed in the tent with you or outside your tent confined to a designated area with adequate bedding.
Here are Some Things to Keep in Mind:
- If you decide to sleep with your dog in your tent you will benefit from the extra body heat, therefore keeping you and your dog warmer. Simply put your dog’s bed near to yours and you can cozy up for the night.
- If you prefer to have your dog outside of your tent during the night, ensure that he is tied up so he stays close to your tent area. Place his bed outside in a safe area, preferably shielded from the elements (i.e. rain, wind, heat). You must put a plastic tarp under his bed in order to prevent the cold and wet moisture from soaking up into his bed and ultimately chilling him. Keep in mind, if your dog is left to sleep outside it is more likely that he will come across some wildlife such as being sprayed by a skunk or a bear encounter. Be aware of the potential danger before leaving him outside at night.
- Wherever you choose for your dog to sleep, be responsible and ensure that your dog is warm enough during the night. Think about things like, “Does my dog have a heavy coat to protect him from the cold?”, or, “Will my dog need a jacket or an extra blanket?” Remember that it can cool down quite a bit at night, even in summer. Always be aware of the drop in temperature at night. Please also be aware of how cold it gets at night in the cooler months. If the temperature at night is 40 degrees F or 4 degrees C, it is too cold for your dog to be sleeping outside. If your dog is cold at night something needs to be changed. Either take him into the tent to sleep with you, pile more blankets on him or, worse case, cut your camping trip short or check into indoor accommodations.
Read more on:
- Thinking About Taking Your Dog Camping
- Will you and your Dog be good Camping Candidates Together?
- First Time Taking Your Dog Camping
- Find a Pet Friendly Campsite
- Preparing to Take Your Dog Camping
- Dog Camping Checklist
- Driving With Your Dog To the Campsite
- Arriving With Your Dog at the Campsite
- Camping With Your Dog in the Day
- Hiking With Your Dog
- Safety For Your Dog While Camping
- First Aid Kit Checklist For Your Dog
Author: Kaitlyn
(The CampTrip Team)