18 Best Camping Gear For Dogs To Pack For The Outdoors
Are you planning to go camping with a dog? Here are the must-have camping gear for dogs you shouldn’t leave behind for an incredible trip in the outdoors.
There is nothing more exciting than going camping with your entire family plus your dog!
But as you pack your own camping essentials, remember to also pack dog camping gear to make sure that your dog is comfortable while enjoying the outdoors with you. I mean an unhappy dog means an unhappy dog parent!
So to make sure that you don’t forget anything while going camping with your dog, I am putting together this list of the best dog camping supplies.
Psst… Check out this post about the best tips for camping with a dog to plan your outdoor adventure with your furry friend. And if you don’t know which camping tent to pack along with these essentials, then check out these best tents for camping with dogs.
Essential Camping Gear For Dogs
Here is a list of the must-have dog camping essentials!
1. Dog Camping Bed
To kick off my list of the best camping dog gear is the dog camping bed! Some dogs are not gonna want to sleep on the group when camping, so you’ll need to take a dog camping dog for them.
Some of the features to look out for when buying a dog camping bed include; softness, ease to pack, and above all water-resistant, especially if you find yourself camping in a wet place.
This dog camping bed from Furhaven Pet meets all those qualities and the best part is that it’s lightweight and easy to pack. It is also very soft which will make your dog super comfortable.
2. Dog First Aid
Just like you would never travel anywhere without a human first aid kit, dogs also need a first aid kit, especially when going in outdoors.
But don’t just pack any dog first aid kit, take one like this one that has all the essentials your dog might need for the first medical attention.
3. Dog Id Tag
One of the other camping essentials for dogs is the Dog Id tag. This might be a small item but it’s very essential to the safety of your dog.
Imagine if your dog runs off without one! This means that even if someone finds it, they will not be able to contact you!
And don’t just carry a dog id tag, make sure that you’ve updated all the information about the dog, your contact details and everything else you might think is necessary to know about your dog. I find this dog Id tag very cute, so I know your dog will like it too.
4. Leash
Leashes are some of the must-have camping accessories for dogs you shouldn’t forget. I also advise that you take two – both the short leash and the long one.
A short leash like this one will prevent your dog from getting tangled around trees especially when you go hiking but this long leash will be very useful in case your dog needs to drink some water from a lake or a stream.
5. Harness
A harness is sometimes overlooked by people but this is one of the camping gear for dogs that you shouldn’t actually!
With a leash, sometimes things can go wrong and your dog starts choking. So to prevent all that from happening, make sure that you pack this harness to keep your dog protected and comfortable.
6. Dog Life Jacket
If you read this dog camping essentials list this far, you now realize that keeping your dog safe and comfortable is a priority while enjoying the outdoors and that’s why a dog life jacket should not be left behind.
A dog life jacket like this one will come in very handy especially if you’re camping near the beach or you choose to take a swim in the lake.
7. Dog Sleeping Bag
If your dog is super pampered back home, then make sure that you add this dog sleeping bag to your list of dog camping essentials.
Well, unlike if you don’t mind the dog sleeping in your sleeping bag but I advise taking a separate dog sleeping bag. This is the one I recommend as it is very warm, packs easily, and it’s extremely comfortable.
Alternatively, instead of taking a sleeping bag, you can take a dog blanket! And if that’s what you prefer, then this is the dog blanket I recommend.
8. Dog Backpack For Hiking
One of the best things to do while camping with a dog is to participate in dog-friendly activities and that includes hiking.
And just like you would take a daypack with all your hiking essentials, do the same for your dog.
Having the dog carry its own essentials in a doggy backpack like this one will not only reduce the weight you have to carry but will also make the dog feel more involved.
And you gotta agree, dogs look super cool and cute with their daypacks. I love this one as it’s lightweight, well-sized to fit all your dog’s day hiking essentials and above all, it can act as a harness while on the trail.
9. Reflective Dog Vest
A reflective dog vest is one of the best dog camping gear not to leave behind. It will come in handy at night when you need to locate your pups or even under the rain.
Buy something really colorful like this one to make sure that your dog can be seen from afar even when it’s dark.
Alternatively, if you don’t feel like taking a reflective dog vest or if your dog just doesn’t like it, then you can take this rechargeable LED Dog collar as it’s also very reflective.
10. Muzzle
If you have a dog that chews and eats almost everything it sees, then you need to pack this lightweight muzzle for your camping trip.
It’s not only to stop the dog from chewing on its tail or poop but also to prevent it from eating random poisonous plants while in the wild. And if for some reason you need to go to a vet, a muzzle will come in handy.
11. Dog Cooling Vest
If you’re going camping with your dog in summer, then you’ll need to take this dog cooling vest that has UV protection properties.
Just like humans, dogs are bothered by extreme heat, and to make him/her feel comfortable, take a cooling vest.
All you have to do is to soak the cooling vest in water, put it on your dog’s back and it will be back to jumping around with a sigh of relief.
12. Dog Poop Bag And Dispenser
One of the ethics of staying in the outdoors is to leave no trace behind! And as a dog parent, you’re entirely responsible to take care of it and pick after it when the time for number 2 comes!
But we all agree that poop picking is not the most fun job to do, so to help make things easier, just pack these dog poop bags plus this Dog poop dispenser.
So no more worrying about picking poop or going hiking as the dog poop bag and dispenser will come to your rescue.
13. Microfiber Dog Towel
If you go camping near the beach, there is no way your dog will not run to take a swim with you! And while that’s fun, what’s not fun is your dog shivering afterward with nothing to dry him up.
Although some people prefer to use their own towels on the dog, I think it’s better to have a separate one. So take this microfiber towel for him/her! And the best part about this towel is that it’s lightweight, very absorbent, and dries very fast.
14. Dog Booties
Ok, this might sound a little extra but if your dog is super sensitive or just a little spoilt, then you can consider taking these waterproof dog booties.
They’re perfect especially if you’re going to a rocky place and your dog is not used to them.
15. Collapsible Dog Bowel
Make mealtimes fun and easier by adding this collapsible Dog Bowel to your list of must-have camping equipment for dogs.
And since you can use it for both food and drinks, you won’t need to carry an extra one! Another advantage of this dog bowl is that it packs light so you can go with it even on hikes.
15. Dog Toys
One thing dogs love is playing! So even when you’re going into the outdoors, don’t forget to pack their favorite toys to play with.
Some of the dog toys you can take include a tennis ball, frisbee, or even this Real Bacon Durable Wishbone Dog Chew Toy!
So don’t pack everything else and forget these otherwise your dog might not enjoy the trip as much as you would have wanted it to.
16. Dog Food, Water, and Snacks
Food, snacks, and water are kind of a given but a list of dog camping accessories is not complete without them.
Pack enough food, (more than enough actually) and enough water for your dog. You can just take your dog’s favorite food and snacks.
But if you need more, some of the snacks that are perfect to take camping include; Good’N’Fun Triple Flavored Rawhide Kabobs for Dogs, Rachael Ray Nutrish Real Meat Dog Treats, Milk-Bone MaroSnacks Dog Treats, etc.
17. Tick/flea Medicine
It’s so hard for dogs not to pick up ticks or fleas, especially in the outdoors! So to be on the safe side, carry some tick and flea protection before you go. This can be a collar like this one, a spray, or even a pill.
18. Dog Travel Bag
Last on this list of camping supplies for dogs is the Dog travel bag. This dog travel bag will help you pack all your camping stuff for dogs in one place so that you don’t mix them up and end up not knowing where you put them.
So as you plan to go for your trip, get your dog camping checklist and tick one off after the other as you pack everything in the dog travel bag.
What I love about this dog travel bag is that it has multi-purpose pockets where you can keep various camping equipment for dogs, it is long-lasting and it has a large inner compartment!
Final Thoughts on The Camping Gear For Dogs
Camping with a dog is so fun and exciting but what can make you dread your trip is if you forget any essential item, so I hope that this list of camping dog gear helps you remember everything you need for your furry friend.
Have you gone camping with your dog before? Let me know which dog camping gear you found most useful while in outdoors.
More posts to help you enjoy the outdoors
- Top tips for camping with your dog
- Best tips for backpackers
- Big mistakes to avoid while hiking
- Essential items to pack for a hiking trip
- Things to know before going camping for the first time
- The best kitchen camping cooking gear to pack
- Easy camping breakfast meal ideas for your next camping trip
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Hi, Such a great tips. I think dog parents should check the weather conditions before going for camping with your dog to determine what Dog product and accessories to carry for themselves and their dogs for maximum protection.
I totally agree! It’s important not to just think about ourselves by carrying rain jackets and such but also our furry friends to make sure they’re protected at all times. I hope this article helped you choose the right dog camping gear!