The 15 Must-Have Dog Camping Gear Items This 20-Year Veteran Brings on Every Trip

Are you new to camping with dogs or have you done it so infrequently that you forget what essentials that you need to pack?

I’ve been camping with my dogs for years. I’ve gone through a lot of trial and error and have decided that I won’t leave home without these 15 things.

UPDATED: April 1, 2024

This isn’t an exhaustive list but it’s my minimum, must-have list for every camping trip that I bring my dogs on (which is all of them!).

To me, it’s just not pleasant or safe without them.

Note: some of the links below are affiliate links. This means when you click on a link and make a purchase, I will receive a few pennies at no extra cost to you.

1) Pet ID tag

This might sound like a no-brainer but I’m not talking about just any pet ID tag here.

If your pet gets lost near your home, anyone that finds your pet can call you.

In the woods, it’s very likely that that the finder, you, or both don’t have cell phone coverage so contacting you via phone to return your pet can be impossible.

When I take my Dachshunds camping, they wear a waterproof Dog ID Capsule.

The pod contains a little piece of paper rolled up inside with information on it.

I include the standard “lost pet” information like my phone number (yes, even though, as I said, the finder may not have service to call you) but also list my vehicle make, model, and license plate number.

That way the finder can possibly locate my car in the campground, or at the trailhead, if they are unable to contact me by phone and leave a note.

2) First Aid Kit (with Dog Specific Items)

You should always bring a first aid kit for yourself when camping. Don’t forget about your pup though.

While some of the things in a human first aid kit will also work for dogs, much of it won’t.

For example, bandage tape is unlikely to stick to them because of the fur. And cut paws can be awkward and difficult to wrap.

You can buy a pre-made first aid kit for you and your dog like the Me & My Dog First Aid Kit from Adventure Medical.

Personally, I prefer to buy the separate supplies and DIY my own dog and me first aid kit.

That way I can include all of the things I know I might use and get rid of the extras that I probably never will (like, no one is going to use 10 knuckle bandages on one camping trip)

Some first aid supplies I add for my dog include:

• PawFlex MediMitt Bandages to more easily bandage paws

• Pawz Rubber Dog Boots to make a paw bandage waterproof (order 1-2 sizes up so they will cover the bandage without being too tight and cutting off circulation)

• PawFlex Joint Bandages so I properly wrap joints while preserving mobility

• Vet Wrap self adhering bandaging tape (excellent for you too)

• TickEase Tick Remover

3) A Portable Pet Pen

It’s not a good idea to let your dog run free at a campground, especially crowded campgrounds with a lot of strangers, children, and other dogs.

When I want to make sure my dog can’t wander off from camp when I turn my back, my #1 choice for containing my pups is to use a collapsible, portable pet pen.

Our favorite is the dog playpen from Carlson Pet Products because it’s not too heavy, sets up and breaks down in less than a minute, and is sturdy.

If you want to create a larger space, or your dog is larger, try using a foldable metal dog exercise pen (you may have to link a couple together to make the size you need).

Why a pen when I could just tie my dog to something?

Leashes can get tangled, can become a trip hazard, can melt of they get too close to a campfire, and they don’t allow your dog to move around as freely.

4) Dog Bed and Blanket

If you have a small dog, you may choose to sleep with them inside the sleeping bag, or under the blankets, with you.

But they will need a bed and blanket for lounging around camp or if you want them to have their own cozy place to snuggle inside at night.

I always bring a bed and blanket, or dog sleeping bag, camping with us.

These are my favorites:

Dog Beds:

• Kurgo Waterproof Dog Bed
• Elevated Dog Bed (Cot)

Blankets:

• Puffy Outdoor Camping Blanket 
• Premium Fleece Dog Blanket

Dog Sleeping Bags:

• Whyld River Dog Sleeping Bag
• Ruffwear Highlands Dog Sleeping Bag and Pad
• Timberdog Ruffrest® Camptastic dog bed and sleeping bag combo (this thing is pretty amazing)

5) Sound Machine

Both you and your dog will have a more pleasant time if you bring something to help drown out the noise campground or wildlife noise.

When the extraneous sounds are masked, your dog is less likely to bark, more likely to settle at camp, and more likely to sleep through the night.

My favorite is the LectroFan Micro2 sound machine and stereo Bluetooth speaker.

You can choose from several sounds – ocean, brown noise, pink noise, or white noise – or connect to your phone to listen to your favorite Spotify camping playlist.

The rechargeable battery will last the whole night, even in bluetooth pairing mode.

6) Food Dispensing Toy or Chew

Using food dispensing toys or chews are two of the ways I keep my dogs busy at camp so they don’t get bored.

A bored dog is more likely to bark, try to wander off, get into stuff that they shouldn’t, and get in the way.

7) A Safety Light

It’s easier to keep track of your dog at night if they are wearing a light.

That’s important so you can make sure not to step on them or let them get too close to the fire.

My favorite is the Nite Ize NiteHowl Rechargeable LED Safety Necklace.

8) Tick/Mosquito/Flea Repellent

Summer means fun, but it also means bitey insects that can make your dog sick, itchy, or infest your tent (or house).

I actually use this multi-pronged approach against ticks, but at minimum, you should bring a dog-safe spray on repellent.

I’ve been camping and working in the outdoors for 30 years, and this is something I don’t mess around with – a lot of repellents using natural oils just don’t work that great.

At least not when you are in heavily infested areas.

Many people will disagree with me, but after much research, I have decided that I am ok using picaridin-based products on my dogs.

Picaridin is a synthetic version of a natural substance – Piperadine – which is found in plants that produce black pepper.

It has been shown to be as effective as DEET (which is highly toxic to dogs) and is believed to have a wide safety margin and be non-toxic to dogs, BUT there are no specific studies on pets and it is not licensed for use on pets.

One of the best natural mosquito and tick repellants or pets that I have used in Wondercide, but it has it’s limits.

No matter what I use, I spray it on my hands and then wipe it on my dog so they don’t inhale the spray.

9) Microfiber Dog Towel

Dog towels are a must to wipe to dry your dog, and wipe the dirt off, before they get in your lap or in your tent.

Microfiber towels are the best for camping because they will dry quickly when you hang them and they pack down small.

My #1 choice for microfiber towels is the PackTowl Luxe because it feels similar to an actual towel, not a glorified chamois or rough and “sticky” to the touch.

I bring different colors for dogs and people so we don’t get them confused.

10) Grooming Wipes

One key to keeping your tent clean is to “wash” your dog before they get in.

Sometimes wiping them with a towel is enough but sometimes your dog might be stinky or there could be dried mud that won’t come off.

Grooming wipes will take care of that for you.

I prefer the Earthbath Grooming Wipes in mango or cherry (the puppy ones).

They are made with natural, plant-based ingredients, are durable enough to take on muddy paws, and don’t contain parabens, sulfates, phthalates, toxins, lanolin, soap or alcohol.

I use the wipes on myself sometimes too!

If I want to be more environmentally friendly, instead of single-use wipes I have to throw in the trash I spray the dogs down with Skout’s Honor Probiotic Deodorizer and dry them off with a towel.

11) Collapsible Dog Bowl

A collapsible dog bowl is easy to pack and stow out of the way when not in use.

We’ve been using the Dexas Popware for Pets Collapsible Travel Cup for years.

I’ve tried others but always come back to this one because it’s easy to clean, I love the colors, it collapses easily into a small disk, and it’s durable.

12) Dog Jacket

Unless you live in a hot, dry climate where it never rains and stays warm at night, your dog will need a jacket at some point.

My Dachshunds have a lot of different jackets for different weather conditions.

Read our list of favorite dog jackets for a comprehensive look at my dog’s wardrobe.

If you just want the cliff notes though, here are my favorite dog jackets to bring camping in the summer:

• Voyagers K9 Tummy Warmer
• Teckelklub Fuzzie Fleece Jacket

13) Cooling Vest

Not every canine camper will need a cooling vest. However, they are great if you will be camping or hiking in the heat.

A cooling vest is made of water absorbent mesh. The as the water evaporates off of the vest, it cools your dog.

Three good choices are the Truelove Dog Cooling Vest (comes in very small sizes) the Hurtta Cooling Wrap, and the Ruffwear Swamp Cooler.

14) Food and Treats

Of course, you also need to bring your dog’s food and some treats.

If we are just going to be gone a couple days, and I can keep it sufficiently cold in a cooler, I bring my dog’s regular raw food.

If we’re going to be out longer, and especially if we are changing campsites every night (like when we go overlanding), I feed my dogs dehydrated raw food or kibble (or both) for convenience.

I bring small, low-calorie dog training treats so I can work on training exercises, like recall training, throughout the day.

15) Walking Essentials

It may seem like a no-brainer to bring a leash, harness or collar, and poop bags with you, but there are some additional things to consider when you will be away from home for a few days or more.

Bring an extra leash and harness (or collar). When you’re on the go, it’s easy for one to get left somewhere, so you will want to have a backup.

For me, this second harness is a different type – one that fits different and has different chafe points.

I’m often more active with my dogs when I am camping, and they often get dirtier and wetter, both which can lead to raw spots on a dog’s skin.

Having a different harness to change into can make your dog more comfortable and also switch up the chafe points so the harness doesn’t keep rubbing the same spot.

I also bring way more poop bags than I think I will need.