Enjoying the scenery, living off the land, and experiencing new things is always better with those you love. But camping with pets always involves some extra thought and preparation. You’ll also need special dog camping gear if you plan to bring your fur-babies along. From portable feeders to your pup’s very own tiny tent, read on for 10 items every canine camper needs!

 

Pitching a tent isn’t easy when you have an excitable retriever circling your legs. Plan ahead by bringing a dog hitching system like the Knot-a-Hitch by RUFFWEAR. This 36-foot tie-out system is great for potty breaks or to free up your hands while cooking, relaxing, or setting up camp.

Price: $75.99–$124.99  

Average consumer rating: 5/5 stars

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Regular metal or plastic dog bowls take up a lot of space in your rucksack. Lighten your load and free up some space by bringing along a couple of Bonza Collapsible Portable Dog Feeders instead! 

Price: $17–$19        

Average consumer rating: 4.4/5 stars 

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Unless you want to forfeit your own sleeping bag, we’d highly recommend getting your woofer their own bed for camping trips. The Kurgo travel dog bed is an excellent option for pet parents who want a comfortable yet compact sleeping bag for dogs.

Price: $64–$75

Average consumer rating: 4.7/5 stars

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This LED dog collar by Nite Ize is the "pawfect" way to keep tabs on your woofer during those inevitable late-night potty breaks. The Nite Ize Nite Dawg LED light-up dog collar comes in several sizes and colors, and you can even buy a light-up leash to match (sold separately). 

Price: $10–$14  

Average consumer rating: 4/5 stars

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Related: Are LED Dog Collars Safe?

If you’re planning to camp during the warmer months, you’ll need a way to keep Fido cool. The Chill Seeker Cooling Vest by Canada Pooch is a "furrific" way to help your dog beat the heat while still looking stylish. You simply strap it on your woofer and then wet it, either by taking them swimming or by pouring some water on them. The vest will absorb the water and continue to cool your pooch as the water evaporates. 

This vest comes in multiple patterns and sizes and even has water-reveal designs to really impress the other canine campers. Canada Pooch also sells cooling accessories like bandanas and doggy hats to complete the look!   

Price: $34–$50  

Average consumer rating: 4.5/5 stars

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Related: 11 Essentials to Keep Your Dog Cool [Under $50]

Campers who prefer to pitch their tents during the colder months will likely need to purchase some outerwear to keep their woofer warm. There are hundreds of different dog coats on the market, but the Carhartt Chore Coat for Dogs is the top dog according to many pet parents. 

Price: $40–$45  

Average consumer rating: 4.6/5 stars

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If you prefer your home on wheels to tent camping, you’ll definitely want to invest in folding pet stairs to help your pet get up and down off the furniture without hurting themselves. Petmaker Folding Pet Stairs are an affordable option for pet parents who are short on space and enjoy RV travel with their fur-babies.

When you aren’t traveling, these stairs are stylish and sturdy enough to be a permanent fixture in your home but are compact enough to stow in small spaces if you don’t want to leave them out. 

Be aware that you might have to train your dog to use pet stairs. Make sure to buy them a few weeks before your trip, and practice having your pet climb the stairs for rewards while you’re still home.

Price:  $39–$99 

Average consumer rating: 4.2/5 stars 

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As any pet parent who shares a bed with their fur-babies know, pets can really hog the bed. But it doesn’t have to be like that during your vacay!

Give your pooch a space of their own to chillax with one of these adorable tiny tents by The California Beach Co! The Pop N’ Go Pet Tent is simple to put up and a great way for your pooch to get out of the elements without sacrificing your own space. 

Price: $65–$70   

Average consumer rating: 4.7/5 stars

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Accidents have a tendency to happen at the worst times, so make sure you're prepared for emergencies while camping. Luckily, Adventure Medical Dog Medical Kits contain everything you need to render first aid to your two- and four-legged family members.

The Me & My Dog kit retails for around $53 and contains all the basics, including bandages, dog-safe human meds, irrigation syringes, emergency blankets, and more. The kit also comes with a booklet to walk you through first aid procedures for different scenarios you might encounter.

The Workin' Dog™ Medical Kit is twice the price ($115), but we think it's well worth the splurge. This kit contains everything that comes with the Me & My Dog Medical Kit with the addition of supplies like a disposable wound stapler and quick clot gauze to stop bleeding. The Workin' Dog kit also has eye wash, a spare leash, and so much more to prepare you for nearly any medical emergency you could run into while camping with your dog.

Price: $53–$115

Average consumer rating: 4.7/5 stars

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Related: 20 Essentials for a Dog First Aid Kit

It's one thing for your pet to get lost in your neighborhood where the neighbors know them — getting lost in a far-away campground is another. Protect your pet from getting lost by equipping them with a quality, cellular-based pet tracker like Whistle Health & GPS, which allows pet parents to track their pet's location right from their phone!

We love the Whistle tracker so much that we actually featured it as our top pick in our best affordable GPS pet trackers article!

Price: $119–$150

Average consumer rating: 4.1/5 stars 

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