Camping With a Dog: What I Pack and What Campgrounds Actually Allow

I leash, I pick up, I do not leave a barking dog in a tent. Pet food attracts the same wildlife my food does.

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Field notes — I write these in first person, from how I actually pack. Photos go in when I have them.

Photo slot — Dog on a tie-out, not running loose through a fire ring. I will drop a picture in when I have one that is not a stock shot.

The packing list is boring on purpose

Leash, harness, tie-out, bowls, waste bags in a stupid quantity, copies of shots if the campground asks, a bed they already like. Paw protection if the ground is brutal.

I never use human DEET on a dog. I read the campground leash rule before I arrive and I follow it even if the site ‘feels empty.’

Food storage includes kibble

A cooler or locker. Not a cute bowl on the picnic table overnight. Wildlife does not care that it is pet food.

If the dog cannot settle, I do not force a three-night trip to prove a point.

Related: Pet checklist · Bear storage

Quick answers

Is this a complete packing list?

No. This is what I actually do for this situation. Use a full checklist for the boring essentials, then add or subtract from this note.