Must-Have Camp Gear for Dogs
Going camping with our dog is her favorite adventure, especially if we are camping by the water. Pretty sure our Australian Shepherd was a mermaid in her past life.
Even if this is your first camping trip with your dog, I’ve honestly never met a dog who didn’t love the outdoors.
There are a few things like making sure you have their favorite toy, bed, or water bowl that can help make them also feel right at home.
Camp Gear for Dogs
We’ve camped with our dog in a tent, van, and our RV as we traveled full-time throughout the country and this is the gear our dog loved having the most and made a difference in her comfort level and happiness.
Essential Dog Camping Gear:
Dog Bed or Blanket
Portable Food and Water Bowl
Long Leash
Flea and Tick medicine
CBD or OTC medicine if they get car sick
Items to help keep them cool or warm
Here is our entire list of camping gear we bring for our dog.
1) Dog Camping Bed
Whether your pup is spoiled like ours or you just don’t want them sleeping on the dirt then a dog camping bed should be on your list for your next camping trip.
We’ve tested a few dog beds and like the ones that fold up like camping chairs instead of having to screw legs together.
It’s just so much quicker and easier. This bed is big enough for most dogs up to 60 pounds.
If you just want a normal dog bed that is waterproof and great for the outdoors, try this portable dog bed.
2) Dog Sleeping Bag
Most medium to larger-size dogs usually prefer the coolness of tent camping.
If it is going to be cold or you have a smaller dog then consider bringing some extra blankets from home or a dog-size sleeping bag for them to snuggle into.
The nice thing about this sleeping bag is it’s waterproof, is just for the dog (so they aren’t ruining your blankets) and it can also double as a sleeping pad if it is too warm for them to sleep inside of it.
3) Cooling Mat for Dogs
This is one of the best buys we made for our older dog when we went camping as he would overheat easily on warmer days.
As soon as we put this mat, he went straight to lay on it.
This cooling mat will keep cool for up to 3 hours and only needs 15 min of non-use to recharge, just make sure to keep it out of direct sunlight.
There are quite a few brands that make cooling mats for dogs but the one by Arf Pets (while more expensive) works the best and has held up extremely well after 5 years and camping full-time for 2 years.
4) Packable Food Bowls
This is a must have for dog camping gear or any travel with your dog.
There are two- 3 cup size bowls for both food and water and they attach on top and bottom of the 6 cup food container with a carry handle to keep it altogether.
It’s lightweight, easy to clean, and the perfect size bowls for any dog.
5) Freeze-Dried Dog Food
We (mainly Arya) recently tried Get Joy’s freeze-dried dog food and is obsessed!
There isn’t much space for a big bag of dog food camping, especially backpacking, and this 32oz bag will last our dog a week!
We just mix in a little water and our picky eater devours this food. Probably because the main ingredients are actual USDA beef and beef liver.
We also bring their freeze-dried beef heart treats on every hike and backpacking trip now.
6) Hiking Harness and Leash
If you’re going camping there is probably a big chance you are also going to be doing some hiking.
While your normal everyday leash will work, a hands-free leash just makes it more convenient and comfortable for longer walks.
As for a hiking harness, if your dog is extremely picky like ours (she HATES how compressing harnesses are) then you may have luck with this Kong Hiking Harness like we did.
It’s the only harness our dog will actually walk in and not just stand there frozen. The handle on the harness is a game-changer too!
7) Dog Water Bottle
Speaking of hiking, it is also really nice to have a dog water bottle like this one for camping or car rides.
The silicone water bowl part is attached to the bottle and easily pops up and with just a squeeze the bowl is full of water.
The best part, there is no water waste since the water goes right back into the bowl if your dog doesn’t drink it all. It also fits conveniently into a car cup holder too!
Something very simple but needed when camping is this glow-in-the-dark collar.
You can easily cut down the collar length to fit any size dog and it quickly slips on and off right over their head.
The battery is rechargeable and lasts for 6 hours at a time and this one also comes in a 2 pack.
9) Flea and Tick Prevention
With camping comes all sorts of bugs, this is one thing you definitely want to make sure you get your dog before your camping trip.
One application will last for 30 days, just make sure you are buying a “prevention” like the one pictured and also the correct size based on your dogs weight.
10) Portawipes - Dog Camping Gear
These quarter-size cleaning wipes expand to with just a little water and are great for cleaning paws or dirt off before getting in the tent or camper.
Honestly, this should be a staple in every hiking backpack for you or your dog!
11) Dog Gate for Camping
The pet-size fences have become very common in campgrounds.
If you don’t want to worry about your dog being tied up to a lead and getting tangled in everything, these exercise pens are easy to set up and fold up and are definitely nice for your dog to enjoy the outdoors without being tied down.
Additional Items to Consider:
16 ft Staked Cable Lead: if you want something smaller and simpler than the pet fence, this stake and cable are compact and efficient. We always bring it just in case the campground staff are super strict about dogs being on a leash.
Swamp Cooler Dog Neck Gaiter: a very simple way to keep your dog cool on those hot summer days is this neck gaiter. You just soak the gaiter in water and slip it on your dog’s neck.
Fleece Jacket: if you’re camping at high elevation or during cold weather a fleece jacket is an easy way to keep short hair breeds warmer. Or if your dog tags along to XC ski and snowshoe, we love this warm yet breathable Ruffwear water-resistant jacket.
RUFFWEAR Floating Stick: Our pup is obsessed with the water and now this durable floating rubber stick we found at REI. It has shockingly lasted for 2 years and is worth every penny.
Orange bandana: you’ll want your dog wearing this if you plan to go hiking or walking in the forest during hunting season
Calming Medicine: if your dog doesn’t do well on car rides or is new to camping, consult with your vet about giving your dog something like Dramamine to help relax them. We also give our dog CBD chews when it thunders while we’re camping.
