#1 – Plan Accordingly
Most national parks allow dogs in campgrounds, but not on trails. While it would be fun to take them everywhere, there are good reasons that dogs are prohibited in many natural places. It’s unsafe to leave dogs unattended in the car, especially if it’s hot and you’re away on a hike, so you’ll want to make sure that being limited to only one or two trails is something you’re willing to work with.
#2 – Canine First-Aid
If your dog gets sick or injured camping, you’ll want to be sure you have the right tools needed to help. Many human medications are dangerous for our dogs to take, so packing the right ones is important. Consult your veterinarian about what’s best to take so you can be positive that any treatments you have available won’t make things worse.
#3 – Train
A poorly behaved dog is a nuisance. Even if you have a social butterfly, unsolicited greetings from a strange dog will disturb many campers. Make sure you have basic obedience, including a solid recall, before decided to camp with your dog. Even if you do have great obedience, it’s usually required to keep your dog leashed and you should be abiding by campsite rules at all times.