RE: Dog Tie-Out Solution Needed

4campinfoxes · Sep 28, 2003, 07:05 PM

I m sure that someone out there has already come up with the perfect solution we are looking for. We have two labs (a yellow & a black) and they are almost always with us when we camp. We ve tried several kinds of dog tie-outs that are out on the market - the kind you hamer into the ground (great, but sometimes they don t come out very easily at the end of the trip) and also the screw into the ground kinds (sometimes good but sometimes the ground is too hard to twist them in or too soft to hold). I m not real interested in the cement bucket idea I ve seen posted before because frankly we don t need any more weight!

So - anyone have a great method for keeping a large dog tied up at a campsite?

Thanks in advance,

Sharon

Trlrboy · Feb 10, 2003, 02:59 PM

4campinfoxesOne of the best tie-outs I ve seen was a guy that ran a rope from one tree branch to another tree branch about 25 feet away. He tied the ends of the ropes onto the branch about 8 feet from the trunk of the tree and then clipped about a 10 foot line from the rope to his dog, a German Shepherd. The dog was able to move between the trees but the line to his collar kept him from wrapping around the tree trunk because it wasn t long enough to wrap around. It basically gave the dog about a 45 foot dog run. Seemed to work really well with no tangles at all.

MtnCamper · Feb 10, 2003, 03:01 PM

4campinfoxesUsually we just throw a cable around the picnic table. Or a tree. Or the rear bumper of the camper.As a last resort, will use the screw in tie outs.

whippetwrun · Feb 10, 2003, 03:12 PM

4campinfoxesWe also use the rear bumper of the popup for both dogs. Their water dish and a mat to rest on also go under the bunk end. They seem to like hanging out under there. It also makes it easier to bring them in and out of the popup.

sandykayak · Feb 10, 2003, 03:14 PM

4campinfoxesyou can nix the tying ropes to trees idea in florida....them rangers get pretty nasty if you even THINK of it.

mike4947 · Feb 10, 2003, 04:31 PM

4campinfoxesSharon, I ll bet part of your problem is what most of us pet pwners have to deal with; the $^%*()$%##@%^ awning posts. Either it s small dogs getting their leads wrapped around them, or large dogs brings the awning down. Some posted a good fix for how to mount the poles to the side of PU frame thus leaving a dog freindly area without ground level posts. Another alternative is the Carefree Campout awning that comes with trailer attachable posts. That way you can hook the puppy or puppies to the bumper. Give good access to the trailer door to get them in or out and they really like it under the shady rear bunkend.

wynot · Feb 10, 2003, 04:53 PM

4campinfoxesWe travel with 2 dogs - one Doberman, one imitation football with legs (MiniPinscher).

Rear bumper. Can cause some interesting effects when the dog almost makes it into the camper. Can also move your camper around when squirrels are near.

Picnic table, works pretty well, our Dobe only can move a wooden table about 2 feet.

Rear hitch on the tow vehicle - just make sure that you don t have the dog tied to it when you use the car.

Wheel of camper. Thread cable through wheel.

Tongue of camper. Works but I don t really like the dog in there with the battery and LP lines.

We use the trees. Sorry, we live in the MidAtlantic.

We have been known to tie the two dogs to each other. This tends to guarantee that neither goes anywhere, especially since they tend to find a tree with the cable first

Tim5055 · Feb 10, 2003, 05:57 PM

4campinfoxesSharon,

I ll tell you what we use with Natasha, and it s cheap.

We amde a tie out lead about 15 feet long with a snap swivel on each end.

Obviously, one end attaches to the collar. The other end is attached one of two places depending on the layout of the campsite. The most common, as has been stated above is the picnic table. Just wrap the line around the leg and snap it over itself. Quick and easy.

If the picnic table is not i a good location (or is too light) the Coleman pop up has a sonderful accessory - the screw down corner stabilizers. The end that touches the ground has a hole in it that is designed for the bolt that holds on the optional sand pad. We don t have the pads, so the line gets clipped to one of the corners. If you have the sand pads you can always wrap the line around the stabilizer itself.

Good luck

Michicampers · Feb 10, 2003, 06:01 PM

4campinfoxesAs long as you have decent sized trees, and the cg allows it, you can try a tree hugger available at Jeffers Pets and other pet supply stores. We have one for our Boston Terrier, and although he s a little guy at 20#, he s pretty strong, and this system works well for him. He doesn t get all tangled anymore. The cable and fittings are too heavy for our Chihuahua - we use a lighter-weight tie-out for her, and she s usually inside anyway.

topcat7736 · Feb 10, 2003, 06:15 PM

4campinfoxesThe " tree hugger" was invented by Four Paws and is available at most pet supply shops under the name " ring around the tree" . It can be used on trees, picnic tables or anywhere you have something to wrap it around. That, or a cable between trees with a trolley and tieout are your best bets.

Gamecock Camper · Feb 10, 2003, 09:04 PM

4campinfoxesWe just use an adjustable lead line. The Tree hugger looks good though. I bet I could make one, but at around $10.00 why bother.

TheWallRocks · Feb 11, 2003, 01:42 AM

4campinfoxesLots of good ideas here. The one thing that we have come to love with our lab is the vinyl coated cable (1/8th inch) versus rope..... it doesn t get all dirty and yucky like rope. We simply attached a clip on one end for the collar clip and a larger clip on the other end so we can wrap it around a tree trunk. Putting up the AAR keeps her from knocking over the awning poles....... and gives her a place to hang out when we are gone.

whitestar505 · Feb 11, 2003, 05:47 AM

4campinfoxesWe try to let them stay with us under the canopy or tie them to the table. We have two old small cockers that are quite happy with that arranement. In fact they like it in the trailer when the A/C is on. At times we use two plastic coated cables around the table. The only time we have a problem is when other dogs are running loose.

By the looks of these messages bigger is NOT always better.

4campinfoxes · Feb 11, 2003, 10:55 AM

4campinfoxesThanks for some of these good ideas. W ve never tried using a tree, although I know it can be frowned upon by some rangers. I m a little nervous about the " tie them to the camper or hitch" I guess I have visions of the dogs moving the camper! When we can t get one of the stakes in the ground, we usually opt for the table, although that can be a problem at dinnertime!

Sharon

wynot · Feb 12, 2003, 03:13 PM

4campinfoxes

QuoteI m a little nervous about the " tie them to the camper or hitch" I guess I have visions of the dogs moving the camper!

Our one dog can, as I noted earlier. With stabilizers down, it tends to get to be more of a sudden jerk you feel (inside). I can honestly say that our dogs have never spun the camper around.

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