Lately, we’ve been getting a lot of questions about camping with our dogs. The question we get most is from people who are taking their dogs camping for the first time, wondering… What should I bring on a camping trip for my dog?
While everyone’s gear list will probably be a bit different, depending on the needs and preferences of their individual dog, there are some things that every dog owner needs to bring for a successful camping trip with their pooch. Here’s our Ultimate Dog Camping Gear List:
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1. Food
This one is a no-brainer, right? Of course you need to bring food for you dogs. BUT feeding at camp can be a little different than feeding at home. When packing food, ask yourself how different your dog’s activity level is going to be. Are you doing a lot of hiking for a few days straight? If this is not the norm for say, a weekday when you’re working 8 hours, your dog will burn more energy than usual and therefore need more sustenance. I generally bring about double the normal amount of food for our dogs, just in case.
We know what you feed your dog is a personal choice and we won’t try to convince you that our way is better than whatever you do. Only you can decide what’s best for your dog. But, because people have asked, this is what we do when we camp. At home, we feed a combination of high protein grain free kibble and a raw diet, so we do the same at the campsite.
We bring the pups’ Taste of the Wild kibble from home, as well as Stella & Chewy’s dehydrated raw food . We love dehydrated raw because it’s jam packed with protein and nutrients that your dog needs to thrive. It’s also SUPER light and a whole lot easier to bring camping than a cooler full of raw meat. Plus the dogs LOVE it. It can be fed as is or rehydrated. The bonus of rehydrating is that it also ensures that your dogs are getting the hydration they need, which is especially helpful if you have a dog like our girl Boomer, who tends to not drink a whole lot of water.
Also consider a kibble carrier to keep your dog’s food fresh (and keep bugs out).
2. Food & Water Bowls

Make sure you bring enough bowls to feed your dogs as well as a bowl or two to leave around the campsite for water. Hydration is super important, especially when you’re spending most of your time outside in the sun. We prefer collapsable bowls because they’re easy to transport and take up less space while traveling (or in your pack). Like this double collapsible bowl from Dexas.
3. Water & Water Cooler
Before you leave home, make sure you check to see what amenities are available at your campsite. Is there a water available on site? Or somewhere at the campground? If there is not (or you are backpacking and staying at a primitive site), you need to make sure you bring enough water for both you and your pups for your stay. For car camping, I generally bring this Coleman 1-Gallon Jug, as well as a few gallon water jugs from the grocery store. I have had this Coleman jug for years and I swear by it. I paid less than $10 for it like 5 years ago and it’s still going strong. It’s nice because it’s insulated, so you can fill it with ice at home and have cool water for your dogs on a hot day.
4. Collar and ID Tags
Keeping your dog safe is a priority for all dog owners. Making sure that our dogs don’t get lost is especially important when we’re away from home. For this reason, make sure that your dog has a collar and tag with CURRENT information in case they wander away from your site or slip out of the tent when you get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. In addition to wearing a collar and tag, having your dog microchipped adds an extra layer of protection if your dog gets lost. Dogs slip out of their collars and when that happens, a microchip can ensure their safe return home.
5. A comfy spot
For downtime at the campsite, I like to have some comfy spots for my dogs to relax, especially after a long day of hiking. For this, we use either a dog sleeping bags or outdoor dog beds. Our favorites are the Alcott Sleeping Bag, which is thick and comfy, especially good for campsites with rough surfaces and the Hurtta Outback Dreamer, which is thinner but with a water-repellant underside. You can also consider a travel dog bed like the Kurgo Loft Wander Dog Bed.
6. Warmth
When it’s cold out, we bundle up. We aren’t the only ones who get cold though. Be sure to take precautions to make sure your dogs don’t get too cold either, especially if they are short haired and get cold easily. Things like dog sleeping bags, blankets, or even a spot in your own sleeping bag can do the trick. If you’re camping in the winter months with a short-haired dog, also consider a dog jacket to keep them from shivering.
7. First Aid Kit
Bring a first aid kit with basic medical supplies. You want to make sure you have what you need to handle simple injuries that may happen while you’re camping or to manage your dog’s injury until you can make it to the vet. You can buy a pre-made canine first aid kit or make your own. Here are the basics that your first aid kit should contain:
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Gauze
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Vet Wrap
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Cotton Swabs
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Non-stick Pads
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Medical Tape
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Gloves
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Benadryl
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Eye Dropper or Oral Syringe
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Styptic Powder
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Hydrogen Peroxide
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Antibiotic Ointment
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Tweezers
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Heat and Cold Packs
8. Long-lasting Treats
To make “boring” times at camp pass by more easily for your pup, consider some sort of long lasting treat, like a ham bone or bully sticks. We give our dogs a yummy treat when we first get to our campsite to keep them occupied while we set up the tent and get everything situated. I’m pretty sure they approve of this camping tradition!
9. Extra towels
If your dog gets wet and/or muddy while you’re hiking or just hanging around camp, you’ll want to be able to dry them off before letting them into your tent at night.
10. Tie out/Leash
Most of the places we’ve camped have had pretty strict rules regarding loose dogs and require dogs to either be on a 6 foot leash or a tie-out at all times when at the campsite. We either bring long cable tie-outs or just let our dogs drag a leash around with them so we can grab it if necessary (and mostly so we don’t get yelled at by a ranger)
11. Poop Bags
Be a responsible dog owner, pick up after your dog and help them leave no trace at your campsite. We use Earth Rated Biodegradable Bags.
12. Dog Tent
Now, I’m going to be honest. When we first got this tent for the dogs, I though it would be more of a novelty thing that would look cute in pictures but may or may not be that practical. I could not have been more wrong. At night, our dogs sleep in our tent with us, but during the day, they use this Alcott Explorer Pup Tent a whole lot. When it’s hot in the middle of day, they use it as a shady retreat from the sun. In the evenings when the temperature starts to drop, the little ones especially, use it as a warm place to nap while we all sit around the fire. It blocks the wind and keeps the chill out. For more info, check out our full review.
Other Gear to Consider:
Here are some other things that we like to bring on our camping/hiking trips that you may find helpful (or just fun!)
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Hammocks for mid-day naps
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Toys and balls for playtime at the campsite
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Harnesses and/or dog backpacks for long hikes
Click below for your
Do you have questions about anything we listed here? Or is there something we forgot that you think we should add to the list? Leave us a comment below!
Thanks for reading!
Debbie & THE MUTTS
51 Comments
You make camping look fun! I can’t say it’s something I am really good at, but if we go I will definitely use your packing list. I’d love to see your first graphic pinnable. It’s totally Pinterest worthy!
Thanks! We love to camp, as do our pups, but it definitely isn’t for everyone! And thank you, I’m working on setting up rich pins as we speak 🙂
It looks like it’s a lot of work to take your dogs with you camping, but I’m sure all the effort is worth it. I like the photo of the hammock.
After you’ve done it a few times, it becomes second nature. They really love it and we love having them with us, so totally worth the work! Thanks for reading
What a great list, I have one that for every time we just go out for the day LOL, I would love to take her camping
I’m sure she would absolutely LOVE to camp with you. I think we have more gear for them than for us! lol
The pic in the hammock LMAO SSOOOOOO cute! I would also add for really small dogs a bell… to keep predators away. 🙂
The bell is a good idea too. I know some people who have their dogs wear bear bells when hiking off-leash. I don’t let mine get more than 20 feet or so from me, so it’s never been an issue for us. And thank you!! Our pups LOVE hammock time 🙂
Okay, now Magic wants a hammock. I blame you! (and me…for letting him read your blog, BOL!) Great list and terrific pictures.
HAHAHA! I bet he would love it! Hammock snuggles are one of our favorite parts of camping 🙂 Thanks so much for checking out our list
This is a great list. I’ll have to share this post for any of my dogloving friends who want to check off that bucket list idea of camping! Thanks.
Thanks for sharing! We definitely recommend that everyone try camping at least once… or once a month if they enjoy it! 🙂
Love this post, it’s filled with such great info not only for people who camp with their dogs but anyone who takes long car trips as well. Last week we did a full 2 day drive from Spain to England with our two dogs, and it was interesting to read how much of what you wrote about was relevant to us. In our case keeping Red’s food and one of her meds cold was a priority. Not to mention deciding what has to be packed in what type of bag, and where for easy access. I’m sure your advice will help a lot of adventurers.
You are so right! We bring a lot of the same gear for long road trips with our dogs too. Your drive from Spain to England sounds like a long one. Red is lucky to have such a thoughtful mom to make sure she had everything she needed to be comfy and safe for the trip. We always pack a “dog bag” with the most essential items like food, water bottle, water bowl, leashes, etc, so that when we get to our destination (or along the way) all of their important stuff is in one spot. So much easier than digging through bags and bags to find what you need!
I love the Warmth picture! Someone looks so cosy
We loved camping when we were kids it allowed us to have wonderful holidays with lots of happy memories! It is the kind of thing we should encourage now, I loved being outdoors.
Thanks, doesn’t she?? Boomer LOVES her sleeping bag! 🙂 I bet you have so many great memories that will last a lifetime from camping as a child. We love to camp and so do the pups. Any excuse to be outside and just “BE”
I just love your tagline!
I’ve never been camping before let alone with a dog. This is a great list!
HAHA thank you! Camping is definitely not for everyone, but our pack absolutely loves it 🙂
We used to take our dogs camping a few decades ago when camping gear wasn’t so sophisticated. They loved it. That hammock is so cute, I think Theo would like one for the back yard.
Camping gear (and dog gear in general) have come a long way for sure. Our pups LOVE the hammock and we hang it in the yard a lot too. Definitely recommend picking one up. I’ve had this one for 4 years now and it’s still going strong! 🙂
Great read with solid advice. I never thought of the dogs using the their own tent during the day. Bonnie, especially, always wants in mine when wanting to nap. We may just have to get her one.
I was honestly surprised how much our dogs love it. Every single one of them take turns hanging out in it, day and night. It’s become a super essential piece of camping gear 🙂
Well, the tent is adorable. And useful.
We don’t really camp anymore now that we live on a boat. But we sometimes find ourselves exploring remote beaches and islands.
Sometimes, instead of poop bags which we’d have to bring back to the boat until we land in a marina, we bury Honey’s waste using leave no trace principles. We have to take it 200 feet away from water and bury it deep.
We don’t bury waste if we’re in a wildlife refuge, however.
So if your camping ever takes you to more primitive areas, you might want to consider a small trowel.
Oh yeah, and it works for humans too.
A trowel is a great idea to add to the list. This is more of a “car camping” type list rather than a backpacking/primitive camping type of camping list. We may have to make one of those too. Thanks for reading! Love hearing about your sailing adventures!
That’s what I thought about the tent too. Hmm… possibilities. He may need one after all.
We weren’t sure how much they would use it at first, but it’s great for the heat, the cold, and wind. They really like having a place to hang out while we’re around camp, and I like that they have an option that doesnt get my sleeping bags all dirty before bed! lol. Thanks for reading!
This is incredible list. We pretty much have all of it (and probably a bit more because I don’t pack light). I love love Alcott! Our pups have the sleeping bag too. Can’t wait to see more of your adventures.
That’s awesome! Dog gear can be kind of an addiction! haha. We love Alcott too. That sleeping bag may be Roxie’s favorite thing in the entire world. Thanks for reading our list! There will definitely be many adventures to come and we can’t wait to share them with you. 🙂
I would like to add another suggestion I always do for my dogs. I type the name of the campground, site and dates I am there on a label maker. Hook it over their collars so it sticks out and never comes off. Phone Service is not always great where I camp. Doing this got my dog delivered to me in 10 panicked minutes when she jumped the portable fence and ran after something!
That’s a great idea! I’m so glad you got your dog back so quickly. I bet you were panicking. That’s the worst feeling ever!I’ve also seen someone who used those paper circle key tags to write their info on. Campsite number, etc. There’s a grommet on them, so you can just put it on the ring on their collar. I’m gonna grab some of those for next trip just in case. Thanks for checking out our list!
Make sure you keep a copy of your dog’s vaccination record with you. Heaven forbid something would happen, it’s good to have proof of current rabies and other shots when you.
We also have found a good dog insect repellent called Flys Away. It’s great for biting horse flies that bother my pooch inn the heat of summer.
Great tips! I generally keep my dog’s records on my phone so I don’t have to worry about whether I have them with me or not. I’ll have to check out that insect repellant! I’ve never heard of that before. Thanks so much for stopping by 🙂
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Thanks so much Eldridge! Your comment made my day. It’s great to hear that people enjoy reading what I write. Thanks for joining our mailing list and sharing our site. I hope you enjoy our upcoming posts as much as you liked this one.
[…] For more detailed information about what we bring on camping trips for our dogs, check out our Ultimate Dog Camping Gear List post. […]
Instead of leaving a leash on your dog and having them drag it around (might get caught on something) I would check out RADDOG they have a leash built into the dog collar. I love ours for camping with our little pup!
Thanks for the suggestion! We actually have one of those too. They’re super convenient! The reason why I let them drag a regular leash at our site is because they’re supposed to be on one at all times in parks around here. They only do this at our site and usually spend most of that time napping between hikes, so no snags to date. 🙂 Thanks for reading!
Great list! One thing I would recommend adding is any extra flea/tick spray. I live in Massachusetts and the ticks are so bad. We use frontline monthly and I use an essential oil topical spray for an extra layer of protection when we are hiking.
Great comment! Tick prevention is super important for sure! We use Seresto collars and do tick checks every night after we get back from hiking. I try to use as little chemicals as I can on the dogs, so I’m just hyper-vigilant about checking and pulling any ticks that do get past the collars.
What an amazing list! We are all about the comfy, shady retreat when including pets on any outings. Thanks… will definitely share.
I’m so glad you liked our list! I hope it’s helpful on your upcoming trips. Nothing better than camping with the pups!
Your little pup looks EXACTLY like my chiweenie Penny, they could be twins, I wish I could comment a photo! I want to take her camping soon so this is a great list!
Aww that’s too cute! Feel free to shoot me an email! I’d love to see her. Have a great time camping with her. I bet she’ll love it!
Great list! I’d still add one item: LOVE 😀
Absolutely! <3
Thanks for the camping list! It helped me remember a couple of things! We just bought an RV and totally looking forward to taking our Puppies (both 10 years old). Lol we even camped in the RV in the drive way with them last weekend (Hubby me and two puppies on a queen size bed – lol was definitely fun!)
Looking forward to exploring with them!
That’s so exciting about your new RV! Congratulations! I hope you and your pups share many happy memories in it together. I’m so glad that our list was helpful while you were getting ready for your first trip!
Great list. We’ve got a shack along the the Murray River in Australia so we’re pretty well set for most thing, but I’ve never thought to get vet wrap! Being Australia snakes are a given and dogs will investigate anything that moves!
Something that you could take along too is a small roll of fake grass. Put it at the entrance of the tent/RV and it helps keep the dirt out. The dogs also like to lay on it if there’s no real grass about and it warms up in the sun on a cold day.
Wonderful dog camping checklist.
Thanks Ryan! We love camping with our pups!
i LOVE that your pups will sleep in the beds/tents/ even hammocks! my pooch will only sleep on the ground/floor of my tent. but still a perfect camping partner. so awesome!
My dogs are all about the comfort, lol. Except for our oldest one. He’s a lay in the dirt kind of dog. <3