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Absolutely.  I too have had to be super vigilent.  I 've said it before on this site and I think the only way is to make sure your dog is as responsive to commands as possible ie you can stop your dog with a 'stay, leave, no or quiet' it buys time to also stop the distraction ie. the child.  At the end of the day, a tether is just an aid. 

I was worried when I first took my dogs camping how they'd cope with it all (especially having a big Shepherd because people tend to be wary of them anyway), but to be honest they love it and have enjoyed the attention of all the extra training!  Once I decided to look at it not as something to be worried about, but as a new challenge for us both - the stress went away.  

The dogs are now at the stage where when someone/thing comes along, they'll look at me expecting the command.   I want to get them to the point where they automatically go down if anything approaches (to be honest, they're that tired after a few days they're down anyway!).

Cheers!

All of this reminds me why I prefer the continental system with properly divided pitches, with little hedges etc between them. People (even kids) don't just wander into each others pitches. They wait to be invited in - like a garden.

Alan

Quote: Originally posted by genie04 on 16/7/2008

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....  I don't actually see why I should incacerate my dog in a cage or the back of the car ( even though I do ) when its more obedient than most children.   ......

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I put a slightly more positive spin on this, as in if I am unable to keep an eye on the dog when he is tethered on the pitch, then I remove him to a place of safety (his crate or the car) and both he and I can relax.  Then he is out of harm's way from any incident which we are all agreed shouldn't occur but realistically very well might.

Actually, I have been trying to think of a campsite where we have suffered from marauding children on our pitch and can't think of one! Even so, any toddler on the next pitch would be a 'mare for me to worry about. MT

Luckily we havent been mauraded either and if any kids have been about they have asked it they can stroke my dog. I keep an eye on her at all times though and she is tethered behind windbreaks.

xoopsx

I've got a 7yr old lab who's been camping a few times and loves it but now have a 10 month old jack russell too. We've not taken him camping yet as things keep cropping up this year to stop us going. My main worry with the jr is that he loves footballs. If he sees a football he will bark and bark and drive everyone mad. I think we will definately go for adult only sites!

Paula x

I am new to all this and finding the 'dog' situation totally different to what I imagined.

I have taken my dog into all situations from 9 weeks old...and I mean all different situations. She has learnt from an early age how to behave...she is welcome in most of the shops in our High Street, pubs, some cafes, people's houses and even Mercedes are happy to have her in their courtesy cars!  considering she is a gun dog (and our first dog) this is something we are pretty very proud of...but it is all just common sense when training and not at all technical (imvho). I control my dog with a specific ball and can hold her attention for however long necessary using this.  I have never trained with food, and luckily for that reason she will never bother people picnicing etc (though she would probably chance her luck with a low-level ice creme!!!!!!!!!!!). On the downside, she wont nick another dogs ball but if they try to take hers, I have to be in control.

I thought that we would go to a site, dog would be happily sniffing around and we would wander off with her to get water or go for a walk without all the need for tethers and leads!  Don't get me wrong, I see the other side of the story now, but it makes me so b****y angry when people think they can turn up with  tearaway kids and matching dog and make life so difficult for all those people who give a damn.

Pheeb (our dog) is great around kids but bottom line is she's an animal, and no matter how much we can trust out pets, I am firmly of the view never say "never"...instinct can take over at any time and a dog will naturally react.

I have a 13 year old myself, but at no time would she be found running around other people's tents either now or when she was younger....I imagine I would just have to politely tell any unwanted brats to bog off and deal with the consequences!!!!!!!

PS: Have to agree wholeheartedly with everything Genie04 has said....spot on!

Quote: Originally posted by Phoebe-b on 17/7/2008

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....I thought that we would go to a site, dog would be happily sniffing around and we would wander off with her to get water or go for a walk without all the need for tethers and leads!  Don't get me wrong, I see the other side of the story now, but it makes me so b****y angry when people think they can turn up with  tearaway kids and matching dog and make life so difficult for all those people who give a damn.....

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Hi. I love your original picturing of dog camping, it all sounds very Enid Blyton and lashings of dog food!

But please don't worry about taking your dog camping, Its not difficult at all. Far from it in fact. It just needs to be managed, as per any other situation you take your dog into. The first and most important thing is probably to choose your campsites well and opt for those that best suit your situation. The reviews on this website are excellent for that.

Enjoy! MT

Quote: Originally posted by Merry on 17/7/2008

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Quote: Originally posted by Phoebe-b on 17/7/2008

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....I thought that we would go to a site, dog would be happily sniffing around and we would wander off with her to get water or go for a walk without all the need for tethers and leads!  Don't get me wrong, I see the other side of the story now, but it makes me so b****y angry when people think they can turn up with  tearaway kids and matching dog and make life so difficult for all those people who give a damn.....

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Hi. I love your original picturing of dog camping, it all sounds very Enid Blyton and lashings of dog food!

But please don't worry about taking your dog camping, Its not difficult at all. Far from it in fact. It just needs to be managed, as per any other situation you take your dog into. The first and most important thing is probably to choose your campsites well and opt for those that best suit your situation. The reviews on this website are excellent for that.

Enjoy! MT

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...call me an idealist, or maybe just naiive and stuped!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We'll have a great time....no worries....

Not sure about the lashings of dog food though....more savignon blanc me thinks!!!

Andrea65, Hi. 

I took my two youngest dogs to training classes from very early age until they were adult dogs.  If you have one near you it might be an idea to have a go because they really do help with consistency and motivation and there's always lots of advice etc and plenty of fun.  You can train your dogs with food, a toy or anything that gets them going basically.  Training with food won't cause your dog to turn into a picnic marauder, that's the whole point of training!  Good luck! 

Just as a PS, I think we must have been lucky because we haven't had a problem with wandering children etc.  We did attract children but this was never a problem, yes they did want to stroke the dogs (I think a few always attract attention), brought their own dogs to say hello and show off, but to be honest that was fine!  The dogs enjoyed the attention!