I can't even remember a time before I had a playpen for my dogs. I mean, there was a time but apparently it was so unnoteworthy or stressful that I blocked it out. So why do I think that a dog playpen is a must for every dog owner? I'll get to that later. But first, why not just use a dog crate? Disclosure: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links (Amazon … [Read more...]
8 Expert Tips for Camping With a Small Dog
Camping with your small dog is a fun way to bond with them while enjoying everything the great outdoors have to offer. I’ve been camping with my miniature Dachshunds for over 18 years and it’s one of my favorite things to do with them. They love the sighs and smells of the outdoors and seeing them come alive brings me joy. In order to have a successful camping trip, you should be … [Read more...]
How to Protect Your Small Dog From Wildlife While Hiking or Camping
For me, getting out into nature to enjoy a hike with my dogs is one of the most relaxing, fulfilling activities we can do together. But adventuring out in the wild with my small dogs means that we may be faced with potential threats. Each time we venture out into the woods, we are intruding on the habitat of the wildlife that lives there. I’ve done a lot of research over the … [Read more...]
Camping Out With 9 Wiener Dogs
The first time I took my Dachshund camping was in 2003, not long after I got my first one. In 2010, I started a Dachshund club - the Adventurewiener Club - with the aim of helping other owners do fun things in the outdoors with theirs. In 2014, I organized my first multiple-Dachshund camping trip with the group just outside of Seattle. We stayed at the Denny Creek campground near … [Read more...]
How to Keep Your Dog From Running Away While Camping
You're sitting around the campfire chatting with your friends when suddenly you realize your dog is missing. Maybe you hear barking, or yelling, from the campsite next door and realize your dog is over there sticking it's nose where it doesn't belong. Or maybe your dog has chased after a chipmunk and you're panicked because he's not coming when you call his name. Whatever the reason - etiquette … [Read more...]
Dog Camping Gear: 10 Must-Have Items for Your Next Adventure
Are you new to camping with dogs or have you done it so infrequently that you forget what dog camping gear you should bring? I've been camping with my dogs for years. I've gone through a lot of trial and error and have decided that there are 10 things I won't leave home without. UPDATED: May 17, 2021 This isn't an exhaustive list but it's our must-have list for every camping trip. To me, … [Read more...]
Car Camping With Your Dog 101 Pt. 2 – What to Bring
So you've read Part I of this series - How to Choose a dog friendly Campsite - and you're ready to head out for your first camping trip with your dog. But what do you bring with you? The best thing about car camping is that you can pretty much bring whatever you want. When you go backpacking, you'll choose to scrimp to save weight on your pack but weight doesn't matter in the … [Read more...]
GearBest – When You’re Not Sure You Like Camping Yet
Through different jobs, I've been helping people get outdoors and go camping for over 10 years. I've started a series to pass the information I've learned by camping, and talking about camping, for a long time with you. You can read the first part of the series here - Car Camping With Your Dog 101 Pt.1 – Getting a Campsite. The next post in the series will be about what you need to … [Read more...]
Car Camping With Your Dog 101 Pt.1 – Getting a Campsite
Car camping is great for beginners because you can drive all of your stuff to a campsite instead of carry it on your back, the amount of stuff you can bring is only limited by space in your car, and it's easy to throw everything back in the car and bail if things "go bad". Note: Since deciding to write this article, it's come to my attention that not everyone understands what the term "car … [Read more...]
Tips for Organizing a Dog-friendly Group Car Camping Trip
For those of you who don't know, I organize the biggest Dachshund activity club in Seattle - the Adventurewiener Club. Our activities include hiking, dog park play dates, local pet events and the like. Now we can add "camping" to our list. I organized a camping trip to Deception Pass State Park, located a couple of hours north of Seattle. This was my first experience organizing a group … [Read more...]