Dog trainer tips for camping with your dog: the reality (and why we still love it)

One of the questions I get asked most as a dog trainer is: “What kind of holiday do you take with your dogs?” One of the ways I love, is camping, appreciate not everyone first choice but with the right preparation, the right strategies, and  as I discovered this summer the right campsite, it is not only possible, it is genuinely wonderful.

We love camping with our dogs, even when it is complicated. Even when someone has decided the tent next door is absolutely not to be trusted and must be barked at. Camping with dogs at times can be glorious and chaotic. These are my honest tips for making it work,  including our brilliant trip to Buckland Farm Campsite in Somerset this summer.

The best part: Camping brings dogs and owners closer together.

I am going to start with my favourite part. When we go to bed at night camping, it is all of us, curled up together in the tent. Humans and dogs keeping each other warm, snuggled up inside the tent, there is genuinely no better feeling.

In June, at Buckland Farm Campsite in Somerset, that feeling was better than ever. We arrived on a sunny afternoon, after stopping off at a local cider farm 5mins away, for some Somerset treats, and got the tent up just as the rain began. Rather than the rain feel like a disaster, it turned into one of my favourite moments: all of us snuggled up inside, listening to the rain on the canvas, the dogs warm under their blankets and chilling completely settled.

Our dogs are pretty good at keeping out of trouble during the night, we have trained hard for this and that sense of being all together, safe and cosy, is something I treasure every single time.

There is no better feeling than all of us curled up together in the tent

Dog trainer tips for camping with reactive dogs

Now for the honest part. Our dogs can be reactive, particularly when people come too close to what they perceive as their territory for the night. From the dog’s perspective, they are protecting their home. That instinct is completely understandable, but it is not always welcome at 11pm on a busy campsite.

Here are my strategies that have made the biggest difference for us:

•      Use visual barriers (wind breakers are great for this) around your pitch to reduce how often people walk directly into your dog’s eyeline and trigger a reaction.

•      Choose your pitch carefully. Corner spots or pitches with a natural barrier,  a hedge, a car, a fence on one side limit the angles from which people can approach.

•      Do work on training your dogs to settle before the trip. A dog that knows how to settle on a mat at home will find it far easier to relax in a new environment. This is one of the most valuable skills you can teach your dog, I work on it with clients all the time.

•      Manage your expectations. We do not expect perfection, we try our best to manage the environment to set our dogs up to succeed.

The game-changer: Finding a truly dog-friendly campsite

All of those strategies help, however this summer, we were keen to try out this campsite  that caters for dogs with real off-lead space a big game changer for all of us.

We chose Buckland Farm Campsite near Wellington, Somerset, because they offer something I had not found anywhere else: four pitches within a large shared area enclosed by a five-foot fence. From the moment we arrived, the dogs were free to run. No tethers. No leads. No frustrated pacing or barking!

The difference in their behaviour was immediate and significant. So much more calmer, more settled able to mooch about freely and a lot less reactive as a result

The pitches are also thoughtfully spaced apart, meaning we were not crowded by other campers. There is also a dedicated dog field for additional off-lead time on top of the great local walks. Everything the campsite described on their website was accurate,  which, as anyone who has been let down by a ‘dogs on leads at all times’ site will know, matters enormously.

Settling in sniffing around

Secure pitch

Loads of space around us

"From the moment we arrived, the dogs were free to run.

The difference in their behaviour was immediate"

What to pack when camping with dogs: The dog trainer’s checklist

On top of your usual camping kit, here is what I always bring:

•      Your dog’s own bed or mat — familiar smells are grounding in a new environment

•      Blankets from home (the scent of home is genuinely comforting for anxious dogs)

•      A long line for supervised free-running if the site is not fully enclosed

•      Poo bags — always more than you think you need

•      A shade shelter or pop-up pen for rest times during the day

•      Water and a portable bowl for walks

•      Their regular food — a change of diet on top of a change of environment is a recipe for a stressed stomach

•      Any calming aids your vet or trainer has recommended

Take the guesswork out of packing. Grab the free Barkshire Dog Training Camping Checklist — everything you need in one handy guide, delivered straight to your inbox Yes, send me the free checklist!

How to Prepare Your Dog for Camping: Trainer Advice

Camping is a significant ask for some dogs. New smells, sounds, other animals, people coming and going — it can be genuinely overstimulating. If your dog has never camped before, build up gradually. A trial closer to home, or a conversation with a professional dog trainer about building confidence in novel environments, is time very well spent.

Trainer Tip: Try a ‘mock camping night’ in your garden first. Set up the tent, sleep out, and let your dog explore the whole thing on their own terms. It is one of the best confidence builders I know.

Frequently Asked Questions: Dog Trainer Tips for Camping

The following questions come up regularly from clients — and from searches. Here are my honest answers.

Can you go camping with a reactive dog?

Yes,  with the right preparation and the right campsite. The key is managing the environment rather than expecting your dog to cope with everything. Choose pitches with natural barriers, use visual breakers, do your settling work at home first, and look for a site with enclosed off-lead space so your dog is not tethered the whole time.

What is the best type of campsite for dogs?

Look for sites with genuinely enclosed off-lead areas or large enough that have space to walk my dogs without getting to close to other pitches, not just a ‘dogs welcome’ badge. Pitches with natural separation from neighbours, a dedicated dog field is ideal, and space to decompress make a huge difference to how relaxed your dog (and you) will be. Buckland Farm Campsite in Somerset is the best we have found.

How do I stop my dog barking at night when camping?

Settling training is the foundation. A dog that has a strong, reliable settle cue at home will transfer that skill to new environments much more easily. Visual barriers around your pitch help by reducing the triggers your dog can see. Choosing a quiet pitch away from footpaths and high-traffic areas also makes a significant difference.

Should I bring my dog’s bed camping?

Absolutely. Familiar bedding with the scent of home is one of the simplest and most effective ways to help a dog settle in an unfamiliar environment. It is one of the first things on my camping packing list.

How do I prepare my dog for their first camping trip?

Start with a mock camping night in your garden. Set up the tent, sleep in it, and let your dog explore at their own pace. If your dog has anxiety in new environments, speak to a professional dog trainer before the trip about building their confidence gradually. The preparation makes the trip.

Found this useful? There's more where that came from. Download the free Barkshire Dog Training Camping Checklist and have everything in one place for your next adventure — delivered straight to your inbox, no fuss. Send me the free checklist

Have a question I have not covered? Or a dog-friendly campsite recommendation of your own? Drop me a message — I would love to hear from you.