How many bring there dog(s) camping with you?

[dthurk]

Such rampant discrimination on this thread!  It's time we deal with that.  
 
 We have started taking our cat camping with us on camping trips.  She loves it.  She's an indoor cat that is leash trained for outdoors.   She'll travel from window to window in the camper looking at everything she can.  We do take her out for occasional walks or she stays under the awning with us.
 
 Also on the plus side, she doesn't bark and uses her own "facility".

[daldricht]

Such rampant discrimination on this thread!  It's time we deal with that.  
 
 We have started taking our cat camping with us on camping trips.  She loves it.  She's an indoor cat that is leash trained for outdoors.   She'll travel from window to window in the camper looking at everything she can.  We do take her out for occasional walks or she stays under the awning with us.
 
 Also on the plus side, she doesn't bark and uses her own "facility".

Can I assume you are talking "way too many dog stories"???
I always wanted to bring our cat, Snufalufagus (Snuffy), but Siamese are not ones for change. The cat was an outdoor person and had all the two legged servants trained to open doors at the drop of a hat. He had this fast run around the furniture in the family room like he was going to spray something - got everyone's attention real fast. Plus 2 of us work from home, so 24-hours a day that cat could come and go as he pleased - he just had to hit up the right person. We used to have a tenant that resided in the first level of our house, and if Snuffy clawed at the glass door long enough he actually could wake the man up - not me - death occurs when I shut my eyes! I was always afraid he would get frantic and somehow bolt for the camper door with all the in's and out's created during a weekend. We do not have Snuffy anymore - but if we ever get another cat, I will have to teach it "to camp" like the rest of us.
Dave

[dthurk]

Yes, I was referring to the dog vs. cat discrimination.  Gotta get a few cat stories in this thread.

I actually prefer dogs to cats, friendlier, loyal, etc.  but have to admit, cats are a lot less maintenance than dogs (except maybe Siamese!).

[GeneF]

Hey Birdman,
I have been told by several camping areas no Pit Bulls, Rottweilers or Dobermans - period! And it has to do with their insurance carrier - not the owner of the camping area. Dave

And I think they are telling you the truth.  I recently changed my homeowner's insurance to another company.  I compared more than one and they all wanted to know if

1.  I had a dog

2.  What is the breed.  

When I questioned the breed bit, the above breeds were mentioned as having an affect on the insurance rates.

I currently do not have a dog, (miss having one) but found their replies interesting.

With travelling and snowbirding, we prefer to be pet free although we do have Angel, the cat, that friends take care of for us.  We are trying to harness and leash train her so she can come to Florida with us.

However, as soon as the harness goes on, she plops down and that is it.  She won't move.

I guess patience is still needed.

[wavery]

We bring our parrot (Rainbow Lorikeet) on every camp-out. I've thought of getting him a leash and a few of our fellow SCCAMPERS might feel better if we did. Would never leave home without him..... :p

[Shredder]

We have a very large yorkie 14lb that goes on every trip with us, He is well trained, gets a walk every day, shuts up on command, stays in the camper (quietly) while we are fishing or out for whatever reason, he is not a problem at all. Would not camp without him.
This Memorial Day we were at our camp when a 20lb terrior type mutt runs in camp and jumps on my lap. He had a tag with his name, Rusty on it. A few minutes later I hear ......   Rusty, Rusty where are you?..... so I get up with Rusty in my arms and take him back to his owners motorhome. Turns out Rusty's mom rescues small dogs and they have 8 of them in their motorhome. They only let out a few at a time, and they were all pretty much behaved and not a problem. Not sure if I could handle all 8 of them, but they did, without any problems for them or us...........shredder

[JAL&JKL]

Snoopy, 2 yr old dachshund (Katrina rescue), loves camping. Have to warn adults not to reach out to him, loves children but not adults. He stays in the pet taxi when we have to leave him in the camper. He likes to "play" camping at home; just as happy as he can be.

[ScouterMom]

I have always taken my golden retreivers with me camping - they are wonderful camping companions, great at helping us make new friends, and great entertainment for everyone.

Toby and Tara went motorboating and water skiing with me and my ex-husband, they loved to swim, loved the boat, and adored kids.

After we divorced, I got custody of  my son, & both of them, and I started taking all three on tent camping trips.  We got our first pop-Up after Toby passed away at 13, but Tara loved the camper, and would snooze in there all day in camp driveway!

Tristan was a rescue we adopted in 2001.  He was my 11 yr old son's best buddy, and the official mascot of our Boy Scout troop.  Tristan hiked with the troop, guarded the troops' site from masked bandits and especially loved anything to do with water - whether canoeing, frolicking in waterfalls  or diving for sticks. Tristan was a born gentleman -naturally polite & well behaved - he never barked, (but he 'talked' alot!) and he adored being with all the boys.  He would do anything for a ride in the car, and was happy and content anywhare as long as his people were nearby. Sadly, we lost Tristan in January 2004 to Lymphoma.  He was only 5 yrs old.

Just before Tristan passed away, Christmas of 2003, a stray neighborhood cat adopted us. Pixel had been living wild in the neighborhood for a couple of years, and had decided to try and winter in our garage.  I'd never had a cat, in fact, I'm allergic to most cats - but Tristan loved other animals, and he was mildly interested in trying to make friends with this aloof stranger.  At that point, Tristan was so sick - anything that caught his interest was OK with me - so I let the cat stay in the garage.  However, it wasn't long before he was invited inside (just for the night.... yeah, right)  and the next thing  we knew, the cat had taught himself to use the dog door and was curling up on the couch with Tristan for naps!

After Tristan died, we got Fizzy in March of 2004.  Fizz and Pixel get along great.  We've taken Fizz with us canoeing, tenting, in the camper, etc - of course, she loves it - she's a typical, happy-go-lucky golden.  Pixel hasn't gone camping - but he is VERY familiar with the camper.  He has been a part of it since the day we brought it home, and he very seriously oversees and inspects every modification and repair.  Even if it's not open, he still loves to be on it, or under it in the driveway.  If it is popped open in the drive on  nice days, I fasten the lower door open so he can go in and out.  Most days it's up, when I come home from work, I find him snoozing on the street side bunk, where he can watch the whole neighborhood and enjoy the breeze.

Since he is an indoor/ outdoor cat - he obviously loves the outdoors.  I have been tempted to try and take him with us on a short trip.  However, he is used to this neighborhood - neighbors have told us that he was either left behind with his previous owners moved, or he wandered back here after his owners left, and he sticks very closely to our house and the yards of our immediate neighbors.  The few times I have tried to keep him inside (when he was neutered and once when he had surgery from being bitten by another cat) He was miserable and very vocal.   He will use a litter box, but prefers to go outside.  He and I have worked out a compromise (after an infected bite nearly killed him and he needed surgery) that after he comes in around dusk for dinner, I then close the door and he must stay inside for the night.  At night, he almost never uses the litterbox downstairs - he will wait until morning, when I let him and Fizz both out, and then they both come back in for breakfast.  After that, they both have the dog door and can come and go as they please. (the yard is fenced for the dog, the cat, of course, can jump it easily)

I have had Pixel in a harness or crate to go to the vet - but I am not sure about keeping him in a harness for 2 or 3 days.  I would not leave him in the camper alone, or even while we were sleeping - he has all his claws, and could shred the screens and canvas, or slip out of my old Starcraft easily if he really wanted to.  I would worry about him getting lost and not finding his way back to the camper in an unfamiliar place. He was born in this neighborhood,and was living wild here on his own for at least one winter, maybe more, before he adopted us. He is a skilled hunter - he's brought me many 'gifts' of birds, chipmunks, mice - even bats :eek: and a full-sized rabbit  :yikes:  ! (another reason to keep him INSIDE at night) So here, he is the undisputed King of our little dead-end street and the dozen or so houses in our neighborhood - He is a regular visitor to my neighbor's sunny porch and another neighbor's cool, thick Hosta bed. He's very street-smart, and won't go too close to anyone but our immediate family. Occasionally I think he gets locked in someone's garage for the night - (by accident -many homes here have detached garages, he always shows up when people start to go to work/school)

Since he does enjoy the camper so much, we're going to try camping with him in 'camp driveway' sometime - and maybe try a few short trips with him to a park or something on the leash and harness.  If he seems to do OK, maybe we'll try an overnight at a campground not too far from home. Maybe we'll then have both a camping dog AND a camping cat?

Laura

[yycken]

One of the main reasons for me buying my popup was so I could take my little guy (mini-schnauzer) camping.  I tried it once in a tent and wasn't much fun so hoping that the trailer will provide an environment thats a little more like home.  He loves the outdoors and is always glued to my side.

[CinderGirl]

I just got back from camping with my boys and our dog for a week at Croton Twp. Campground in Croton Twp., MI.  It was very dog friendly and I HIGHLY recommend it for a possible roundup!  Lakefront sites available, pontoon rentals, fabulous fishing (Muskie, Northern, Croppy) and a beach for the kids.  We had an amazing time.

We're going back this weekend since I had to leave my Mesa behind...ugh!  The lights won't work and I wasn't willing to drive 3 hours w/out them.  NOW I have to go back to U-Haul and kick some butt!  Lord have mercy on this poor kid who installed a faulty box- OOOOOH am I mad.

Back to the dog thing:
I plan on bringing my baby with us to Sleeping Bear area and then to da U.P.

I'll let you all know how it was

BEAUTIFUL pics to come

Shalom-out!
Holly

[BirdMan]

Sounds like you had a great time camping last weekend, aside from getting the trailer home.  I have been to the dunes many times in the past many years ago when I live in MI.  I spent about 5yrs in the UP in the Marquette area.  Great area up there.

I finally got around to getting some more pictures taken/cropped of my puppies.  Bear the boxer mix, Homer the black lab, and Babe the rottwillier.  See attached pictures.

I have taken them up camping once this year so far and looking forward to taking them again the first week of August.

[daldricht]

Sounds like you had a great time camping last weekend, aside from getting the trailer home.  I have been to the dunes many times in the past many years ago when I live in MI.  I spent about 5yrs in the UP in the Marquette area.  Great area up there.

I finally got around to getting some more pictures taken/cropped of my puppies.  Bear the boxer mix, Homer the black lab, and Babe the rottwillier.  See attached pictures.

I have taken them up camping once this year so far and looking forward to taking them again the first week of August.

I see you have hit COSCO for the $20 large dog beds also. We have them on sale all the time in VA and our Prince seems to appreciate them for about 3 or 4 months then he starts to chew on corners. (He is still 2 years old) We have one for the family room, the camper and one for the bedroom at night - but for some reason he starts to take out his frustration on the "corners".

[kjrjr]

We are planning to bring our two dogs (A rat terrier and a Bassett Hound) with us for the first time over labor day. We haven't brought them thus far because of space concerns but but our new rig has a slide and we will have a lot more room than in our old '98 rockwood.

I'll let you know how it goes.  :eek:

[jeezy]

It breaks my heart that we can't bring Spanky the wondermutt camping with us.  We took him tent camping back in the day before kids when we knew we could keep him with us.  

But though is extremely mild mannered in mixed company, he has separation anxiety when left alone and poops a lot and chews things he shouldn't.  He's fine as long as he's in the crate, but he will bark if he hears people outside when he's alone.  That's not really condusive to PUP camping if we need to run into town or want to take the kids to the beach or anyplace where we can't take him.  

It's a shame because growing up, our dogs were always part of the experience and I really feel bad for the little guy.  He'll get his chance to go along someday when we know we wouldn't have to leave him alone in the PUP.

[daldricht]

It breaks my heart that we can't bring Spanky the wondermutt camping with us.  We took him tent camping back in the day before kids when we knew we could keep him with us.  

But though is extremely mild mannered in mixed company, he has separation anxiety when left alone and poops a lot and chews things he shouldn't.  He's fine as long as he's in the crate, but he will bark if he hears people outside when he's alone.  That's not really condusive to PUP camping if we need to run into town or want to take the kids to the beach or anyplace where we can't take him.  

It's a shame because growing up, our dogs were always part of the experience and I really feel bad for the little guy.  He'll get his chance to go along someday when we know we wouldn't have to leave him alone in the PUP.

We have a Doberman - will be 3-years old in September - and weighs in at 104 lbs at this point. All I can tell you about this critter is that he does not like to be left alone - in the house - but if you take him shopping (when the weather is cool) you can leave him alone in the car and he is a marvelous angel. He used to eat CD's and travel coffee mugs/cups - kind of a reminder that he does not like to be left alone. But he seems to have stopped that type of action lately. We take him camping, but he really is never left alone in the camper - for fear of barking and disturbing others. We went to one camping area and the only other camper in the camp ground was a woman that had muscles bigger than the Hulk, tattoo's all over everything and the mullet hairdo, and she had two pit bulls that barked - constantly - and all night. When we complained - as we exited the camping area, we were told we should have said something - and I looked at the woman and said that she could have dealt with it considering the camper was two sites away from her office. It has got to be one of the worst camping areas I have ever been into. We were near Scranton PA and most of the various RV's were close to 20 years old, had rotted rubber tires (the small pull trailer next to us had not moved in 16-years) so these places were basically seasonal rentals. Tried finding the name of the place - maybe they have been removed from the web - they place is a horror!