Camping can be fun with your dog. We've researched easy ways to Pet Proof your tent while camping and with your dog.
Camping can be a great way to relax and unwind from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Whether by yourself, or with friends and family, camping is a natural, stress relieving experience.
Many have taken to bringing their favorite critters along with them to share in the camping experience. However, this does present a problem, being the tent.
While tents are made to be durable, you have to adapt them for use with pets, especially if you plan on staying a couple of nights.
However, the process of pet proofing your tent is a lot simpler than you may think.
Following are some of the best tips and tricks to pet proof both the inside and outside of your tent.
This will ensure the maximum amount of comfort for you and your furry friend.
Pet Proofing The Floor Of Your Tent
The floor of your tent is especially vulnerable to damage by pet paws and claws.
Before going camping, consider trimming your pet's claws to prevent them from tearing through the tent.
Additionally, you will want to lay down a protective covering on the floor, such as an old blanket or towel.
If you plan on camping for several days, or using a sleeping bag on the floor of your tent, bring some spare floor coverings.
Pet hair and dirt can build up on the floor of your tent, so keeping it clean is a priority.
Bring Supplies for your Dog While Camping
It might also be a good idea to bring tent-safe cleaning supplies as well to keep your tent in tip-top shape.
You will also want to bring along a camping dog bed made for camping with your pet, especially if they are an inside animal.
Bringing a bed minimizes the risk of damage to your tent floor throughout the night, and it makes your pets much more comfortable than sleeping on the ground.
It’s important to minimize your pet's movement in the tent.
Try to keep everything your pet needs in one section of the tent, as to not have them pacing back and forth for food and water. Your pet’s food, water, toys, and bed should all be near one another.
Also, when you wake up, you will want to move your pet’s food and water bowls outside, and clean up any messes from the previous night.
This keeps your tent nice and clean and reduces the likelihood of anything getting soiled during the day.
Pet Proofing Inside Your Tent
Aside from the floor, there are some other steps that you will want to take to pet proof the inside of your tent.
To start, it is important to ensure that your pet is never in the tent unsupervised.
Unsupervised pets can cause damage to tents inside that you may not even notice before you go to bed.
Having to clean and repair a tent in the dark is a great way to quickly sour a camping trip, so ensure that your pet is being watched at all times. Further, you will want to try to wake up with your dog as much as possible.
Keeping Dogs Occupied While Camping
Dogs wake up much earlier than we do and are prone to boredom in the house before their humans wake.
Try as much as possible to leave as little time for your pet to get bored that you can.
Another thing you might try is to train your pet for sleeping in a tent.
Before letting your pet in, command them to sit for a second. You can also run small drills where your pet can learn where they sleep.
You might consider setting up your tent at home and allowing your pet to explore it for a while, as to minimize the new sensory information they will get while camping.
Pet Proofing The Outside Of Your Tent
While not as important as the inside of your tent, it is important to take the steps to pet proof the outside of the tent.
To start, take a pool noodle and cut it into sections to slide over tent poles.
This can help your pet, and you, see the poles of your tent from a distance, and reduce the chance of tripping over them in the dark. This tip is great for both humans and pets alike!
Dogs Using the Bathroom while Camping
You will also want to ensure that your pet does not relieve themselves anywhere on the tent. This presents several problems for you.
First, the smell will be uncomfortable to sleep and camp next to, and cleaning it can be a pain.
Second, pet urine can attract wildlife throughout your stay, which can be a major safety problem for you and your fellow campers.
Further, you will want to ensure that the pet stays as clean as possible so you can put it away at the end of the camp-out without too much hassle.
You might also consider placing some lights or discerning features of your tent outside.
Small, solar powered lights make it easy to see and identify your tent in the dark, which can be useful for pets.
Camping can be an incredibly enriching and fun experience, and we can improve it when we bring along our furry friends.
Pets can make a camping trip great, but there are some precautions that you will need to take for the safety and comfort of both you and your pet.
Keeping the inside of your tent safe and clean is very important, as otherwise it can easily ruin a fun camping experience.
Likewise, keeping the outside of your tent safe and secure is crucial as well.
Enjoy your Pets on your Camping trip with easy Pet Proofing
Pet proofing a tent can be a bit of work, but it is oh so worth it.
Pets can radically improve the camping experience, and with the tips you will have a fantastic camping experience with your pets.
We hope you enjoyed these pet proofing tips.
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