Camping and a dog

[crankbait2009]

I'm kicking around the thought of doing some tent camping this spring/summer.  Sounds simple enough, right?

Well, On top of this thought, I'm thinking about taking my dog.  He is a 60 pound Blue Heeler mix, with more mix than anything ?.

 

My biggest concern I am having is the barking.  I know when it comes to night time, and possibly even day time, any noises from kids, or "critters" will set him off.  Especially at night when it's very quiet.  Any noise will have him growl, or bark.  I'd certainly hate to have him go, and can't get him to stop barking.  Then again, maybe it wouldn't be that bad.  I'm just thinking worse case here.  Once he's in the tent with me at night, and he hears the critters on the outside, my worry would be that he'd ruin the tent trying to get out to go after said critter.

 

I may have answered my own question about whether he should go or not.  He's a dog, they're gonna bark, but I certainly don't want to disturb the peace.

He's not mean at all, but does bark (all bark, no bite)

 

Has anyone taken their dog with them for the first time and experienced similar situations?

[J Francho]

I'll just say this as a camper...I cannot stand a barking dog at the camp site.  It's worse than kids crying or loud drunkedness.  A friendly, "Hi buddy!" bark is fine.  Is there a site close to home where you could test him out?  That way, if he does start up, it wouldn't be the worst thing if you had to break camp and take him home.  It's funny, I've been contemplating taking my dog along.  She's not a barker, but I'm worried she'd take off on me.  She's pretty good off leash, but that in familiar territory.  Good luck.

[crankbait2009]

I agree with you about the barking dog on a campsite.  I certainly don't wanna be "one of those guys".  I could try him locally, that wouldn't be that big of an issue.

 

I would have to have mine tied up as well.  He has tooooo many squirrel moments when we go on a walk.  Squirrels and rabbits are a "hold on tight moment".

[redmeansdistortion]

2 hours ago, crankbait2009 said:

I would have to have mine tied up as well.  He has tooooo many squirrel moments when we go on a walk.  Squirrels and rabbits are a "hold on tight moment".

 

LOL.  I hear you loud and clear.  I have to take my dog in my yard on a leash now to do his business.  Last fall he figured out how to jump the fence chasing rabbits and squirrels.

[Scott F]

You can train your dog not to bark at squirrels or other animals you know. 

[crankbait2009]

yes, but dogs bark.  I certainly don't want to take that away from them.

This certainly isn't a total disappointment if it doesn't work.  Just something I'd like to try.

Doggo runs my life and tells me what we do and when ?

 

When he wants to go for a walk, he yells at me.  When he needs to go out to do his business he yells at me and/or hits me.  When he wants something, he will stare/glare at me with his piercing eyes.  He knows who's king

 

(and you think I kid.  I put my dogs feelings before mine)

[gr8outdoorz]

You should take him somewhere close to try him out. Both my dogs bark at every animal and person they can at home. When we take them camping they rarely bark.

Only 2 times I have had them bark. When someone walked into our camp and when a stray cat came too close to camp one night. I don't know but it's like they know it's not their territory so they react different than at home. Only way to know is to test him. Good luck!

[TOXIC]

I took my first Weim with me but being velcro dogs, he lost his mind when I would leave camp to go fishing.  I took him many, many times when I bank fished at a local river and he could shadow me he was fine.  

[Bluebasser86]

We've taken our Golden Retriever and she does well and liked to bark at people but got over it quickly. 

[Fishing Rhino]

Dogs are more apt to bark when they are on their own turf.  Ours goes nuts when the mailman comes by in his white delivery wagon.  But when he's on a walk and that same wagon goes by, he pays it no nevermind.  Never heard him bark when he is off our property.

 

Take him for walks where he can get used to seeing other people and critters.  You may find he's a model citizen when you are on the road.

 

Find a good obedience trainer and work with him to resolve your concerns about the barking. 

[Way2slow]

I've raised and trained dogs all my life and have never not had at least one.  Back in my quail hunting days, I sometimes had as many six at one time. 

 

I've never had one that I could not break up the unwanted barking, it's just a matter of training.   If you don't know how, then I would suggest you learn.  There are not a lot of bad/nuisance dogs, just bad owner's.  The dog is just doing what he thinks is acceptable.

  I'm like the others, I've also camped most of my life and mostly tent camping and no way on gods green earth do I want to be listening to somebody's dog, night or day.  

Matter of fact, you want to make a bad neighbor out of me, have a dog that constantly barks, especially at night.  I just cost a neighbor behind me a $153 fine for not controlling his dog's barking.  I made an attempt to discuss it with him, which proved to be the wrong thing to do, so I let the city discuss it with him.  There happens to be a city ordinance against nuisance animals, the first fine is $153.      

[Scott F]

On 3/15/2019 at 12:13 PM, crankbait2009 said:

 

Doggo runs my life and tells me what we do and when ?

 

When he wants to go for a walk, he yells at me.  When he needs to go out to do his business he yells at me and/or hits me.  When he wants something, he will stare/glare at me with his piercing eyes.  He knows who's king

 

(and you think I kid.  I put my dogs feelings before mine)

As long as the dog thinks he is the boss, you will never get him to behave the way he should. 

[crankbait2009]

sigh......I know

[Jig Man]

I camp a lot in a variety of campgrounds.  There is always someone who had a dog and ties it up and lets it bark all of the time.  I can't stand it but I don't blame the dog.  I blame the person who owns the dog and hasn't bothered to train it to do what he/she wants it to do.  They talk to it like it is human instead of teaching it to do what they want.  Like Way2Slow I have had lots of dogs in my life and I took the time to train them to do what I wanted them to do.  I don't have a dog now as I camp and fish a lot and don't want a dog in the boat and would never leave one tied up in the campground.

[crankbait2009]

I totally understand. I might take him and see how it goes.  I won't go anywhere without him.

 

When I take him for walks he listens well, and we never have any problems.  Even when he sees another dog across the street he could care less.  He glances and moves on.  

 

I still have time to think it through. (couple months)

 

I appreciate the responses 

[.ghoti.]

Inused to camp a lot when I was a quite a bit younger. Took a dog once. Never did it again. 

[TnRiver46]

My buddy brings a blue heeler camping and it barks the entire time day and night. It’s annoying but at least bears don’t sneak up on us . When I took our dogs tent camping, they just kept hearing coyotes and staring off into the distance . I think they wanted to join the pack 

[Fishing Rhino]