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Quote: Originally posted by Domino666 on 20/2/2008

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Evochic,
Sorry to subject you to spend more money, it was a considered purchase for us but wow it was worth it.
It truly is a sofa for two (and our doggies) and the other good thing is that it can be converted into a single height double bed or a double height single bed and therefore when my beer gutted other half has a few stellas and starts snoring like a tractor I can kick him out of the bedroom and he can sleep on that. Lovely jubilee.

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Evo

Our dog used to sleep in the porch as a pup on a plasstic sheet coverd in newspaper. Once she was house trained she slept in the tent bedroom. she was tied to a ground spiral thing though so couldnt get away.

Probably repeating what's already been said...but a tie out cork screw stake is a must...or use tow bar to attache long leash and dog to.  A crate is an idea for use in the tent....the fabic pop up ones are ideal for camping.

Our dogs usually sleep in the car at night and works for us...and them....

well, actually the car is always parked so close to us that I could hear them if they were fidgeting...( I have a big labrador and a collie )  The dogs get run late at night and we're up at the crack of dawn so its not an issue. They have lovely comfy duvets to sleep on and are probably cosier than we are being so far off the floor so I don't feel sorry for them at all !!

My dogs are quiet at night and during the day...there's nothing more annoying than campers with dogs that yap all day....so if you're dog is a barker consider the implications for others before taking it camping !

Goes without saying aswell that when the site rules say to keep your dog on a lead then do so.  Again, this rule seems to be one thats flouted all the time...I don't like other peoples dogs invading my pitch and piddling up my windbreak ! 

Never leave it in a hot tent or hot car and if you have a puppy, particulalry a large breed, be aware that over exercising it can cause problems in later life. ( alot of pet dogs get the most exercise on holiday, but are shut away when the owners go back to work...this isn't good practice ).

All in all be a responsible owner and keep your dog under close control on site and pick up after it.

All of the above. Plus don't forget you're going to have to take your dog with you everywhere when you go out for the day. I know responsible dog owners will throw up their hands in horror at the very thought of leaving a dog alone in a stuffy tent all day but it does happen. Dogs don't like this...they feel vunerable, bark at all the strange noises and can of course escape, even with big chains...and you often can't use a tether peg in a tent with SIG, remember.

Also look out for small children when your pup is leashed outside the tent. Most kids are attracted to pups but not all will ask your permission before they come up to stroke it, and that could worry or over-excite your pup and it's possible in that sort of circumstance for a pup to nip. Instant evil devil dog, etc etc! So keep an eye on what's going on, and insist that kids don't crowd him. My kids know not to approach a strange dog without permission, but many other children aren't so well trained.

Other small children fear dogs excessively. My daughter did when very small and several times trips were made a misery by dogs being chained close to our pitch and barking at us a lot. I used to ask if the dog could be kept on the other side of the tent and 99% of the time the owners were happy to cooperate, but there were a few times the answer was "Oh he won't hurt a fly don't be so wishy washy with your child". It's not easy dealing with the often irrational fears of toddlers and indeed with work she's grown out of it but at the time it's a real problem. Communal living is an exercise in manners and cooperation, and this goes double for dogs.