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Hi all

As the camping season gets a little nearer (yippee!!) I was wondering if anybody with dogs has the problem of their pet crying when it is tied up.

We have a 2 year old Staffie who is a very good boy, he loves camping (always jumps in my car boot as soon as he sees me getting camping bits ready!),  and especially loves sitting by the campfire at night - (usually when he's nicked my chair and i have to sit on the floor on blanket! )sorry, going off subject there - obviously we keep him tied up when we are sitting around during the day but he really likes to be right in the middle of everybody, but this is not always possible. 

we usually give him a long lead to have a roam, but this then causes him to get tangled around table legs/guy ropes etc.  We take treats/chews for him but he's a funny thing, he doesn't eat them at camping - strange!!!

Just wondering what you all do with your dogs, especially the stronger type dogs - he's quite a lump and sitting on our lap all night isn't possible!!!

Do you think he would be happier if we took his crate, although maybe a little on the small side but would be ok just for lying down in maybe better knowing he has his own little space!

if your worried about him crying you need to try and get him used too it.  Our jack usually wimpers when tied up, but once ot of sight she will stop.

I am not a big fan of crates - I would hate to e locked up so for me a dog is no different.  Likewise never had burrowing through the tent problems cause dogs always with us (take them everywhere except if we go somewhere daytime  like shopping!).

Yes,you're absolutely right -  taking his crate from home would be a really good idea. Dogs see their crates as their special places, a place of safety if you like. So if he's in his crate and still close to you, able to see what's going on then there's a very strong chance that he will realex and settle down.

Wanting to get on your lap a lot and not eating his treats might both be signs that he feels slightly unsure still about the camping experience, and if so the crate should then help with that too and help to build his confidence up about being away from home.

Tie out lead wrapped around guys and table legs - comes with the territory I'm afraid. All you can do is try to minimise the amount of obstacles in his most obvious line of travel and keep untangling him! Good luck.

Have you worked on letting him know who is the pack leader?   There are lots of good books around. 

Does the dog get the upper hand at home ie   sitting on your chair, walking through doors in front of you, running up stairs ahead of you, eating your food, eating before your family, sleeping in your bed/bedroom, pulling ahead of you on the lead?   All these types of things make the dog believe he is the pack leader.

If this is the case you might need to try and reduce his status.

Debbie........our dog was the same, he wouldn't settle and wouldn't eat because we didn't take his bowl and this is a 7stone Labrador who can inhale food!

He just roamed unhappily on his teather but then my OH tied the rope to the car wheel, he jumped in the open tail gate, lay down and went to sleep (the dog not my hubbie!!).  After that he spent the whole holiday (when we were sitting about) in the open tail gate watching the world go by - he was obviously secure in somewhere he knew as everytime he goes in the car he travels in there.  Everybody kept coming to visit him and pet him in there!! 

I think the key is to try and think of somewhere he feels secure (wherever it may be may be) and try it. Good luck.

Dogs refusing food (who aren't ill) are generally acting like kids. They're telling you they're not impressed with what they see as their treatment - cutting off their nose to spite their face & hoping you'll feel guilty & give in.

If you look at it from their point of view they get taken from a nice, warm comfy house, stuffed in a car, then tied up in a field with grass or a groundsheet to lie on. They must think we're mad!

But the point about pack seniority is well made - don't give in; their place must be junior to you. By taking firm control you'll be giving reassurance to your pet.

And just like a kid - when the chips are down they won't starve themselves.

We have always let him know that he's not the pack leader - always feeding us and kids before him, he's not allowed upstairs, nor is he allowed on sofas in the lounge, only on the sofa in the conservatory.  we never feed him from the table etc.  He does try now and then to be the boss so to speak, but it doesn't last long, I think he generally knows his place but will push his luck sometimes!!!

I think I will try taking his crate next time, he does sit in the boot of the car sometimes but staffies are people dogs and love to be in the centre of people, if I take the crate and keep it close by with his blanket in and keep him on his lead maybe this will keep him happy.

Many thanks for all your tips - he can be more trouble than the kids when camping but don't want to leave him at home - he loves going on long walks and being in the open.

We are going to be taking our little dog camping this year for the first time ( I cant wait ! ) by the time we go he will be about 10 months old.

We have been getting him used to a stake and tie out lead at home in the garden, and he is fairly well behaved, but I know all the distractions from other people, children and dogs are going to be a bit different and a huge challenge to him!!

He doesnt have a crate, but we will be taking his bed, as normal. We are definatley trying the 'leader of the pack approach', which is working about 80- 90 % of the time!!!

Fingers crossed, he will settle into camping life quickly!

(Any other suggestions for campers new to taking dogs, most appreciated! Thanks.)

Quote: Originally posted by bardencampers on 21/2/2009

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We are going to be taking our little dog camping this year for the first time ( I cant wait ! ) by the time we go he will be about 10 months old.

We have been getting him used to a stake and tie out lead at home in the garden, and he is fairly well behaved, but I know all the distractions from other people, children and dogs are going to be a bit different and a huge challenge to him!!

He doesnt have a crate, ....

(Any other suggestions for campers new to taking dogs, most appreciated! Thanks.)

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I think it depends how owners use the crates, Dezzie. We have used them for decades as a place of safety (not just to safeguard our kitchen units from a young pup when we can't watch her but equally, on many occasions, to safeguard the dog from situations such as over-zealous visitors!). They should never be used as punishment, nor for extended periods, and should be plenty big enough for the dog to stand up, turn around and stretch out, and in a place where she can see the world go by from a place of safety. They are also good for house training, since a pup is reluctant to foul her bed but will deffo find a spot to mess if left roaming the kitchen overnight.

To be fair, our girl is now almost a  year old and we have packed the crate - which used to be next to our kitchen table - away, replacing it with her bed (which previously was inside the crate). She is now entirely trustworthy in the house and a confident girl, so doesn't need the crate inside any more. We will still take it camping with us this year though, since she has positive associations with it (or she wouldn't go and get in it and have a sleep, when the door remains open, would she?) and, again, it provides a safe place for her for those few times you can't watch her.

That said, when we were looking for a new pup we witnessed a blatent misuse of crates; a breeder who had umpteen dogs in the house and had four crates in a tiny room, each with an adult dog inside who was far too cramped and unable to sit up straight, No bedding, no toys, no joy.

It surely isn't crates which are the problem, but some owners.