Are you a big fan of winter camping?
Do you want to take your furry friend with you?
I love my dog and going camping with my dog, but when I thought about taking him in the middle of winter, I knew I needed more information.
I did the research and asked around to those I know who do cold-weather camping with dogs.
Now, I’m ready to share with you my favorite 10 smart tips for camping in winter with your dog.
Winter camping with dogs is fun, but you need to be safe with your pet. Make sure you know what you’re doing and be prepared with ways to keep them warm and safe. Smart tips include:
- Be Honest About Your Dog
- Practice On Your Own First
- Double-Check Dogs Are Allowed
- Get Your Dog Winter Gear
- Use Bright Colors For Visibility
- Get A Warm Sleeping Spot For Your Dog
- Know The Signs Of Hypothermia
- Keep Your Dog Moving
- Keep Them Fed And Hydrated
- Camp With Others
Check out the rest of the post for more details on cold-weather camping with dogs.
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Table of Contents
10 Smart Tips For Camping In Winter With Your Dog
In this section, I’ll go into details on winter camping with your dog.
This isn’t a comprehensive list, and I’m sure other people have tips as well, but these are the ones I found most helpful.
You may also want to check out tips for camping in a winter storm.
#1 Be Honest About Your Dog
First, we have to be honest about our dogs.
My sister-in-law has two little Italian Grey Hounds.
As cute as they are and as fun, as they may be, they aren’t built for winter camping.
They’re cold and shiver pretty much every month outside of June, July, and August anyway!
Take an honest look at your dog, and think about if it can handle the cold weather.
Is your dog large and fluffy enough to have a good time and stay safe?
As a test, take your dog around your home outside in winter.
Does it enjoy the snow?
Is it shivering like crazy?
Even with proper gear (see later tips), if your dog doesn’t like the cold, it won’t like winter camping.
#2 Practice On Your Own First
This is a tip I see people skip all the time.
Winter camping isn’t entirely like regular camping.
There’s more involved, especially when it comes to setting up to stay warm.
There’s a learning curve, but it is a blast!
Still, you don’t want to have to worry about your dog and the camping part at the same time.
Go on some winter camping trips without your pet to make sure you know what you’re doing.
When you feel comfortable, start bringing your friend along.
#3 Double-Check Dogs Are Allowed
This is a simple tip, but one people forget sometimes.
I have never forgotten this tip and gotten in trouble (read: sarcasm).
Not every park or campground allows dogs.
For some reason, when winter camping starts, people want to bend the rules.
In some ways, it makes sense.
Part of the reason places doesn’t allow dogs is because it’s crowded.
Winter camping is almost never crowded.
But there are other safety and environmental reasons for not allowing dogs.
Just double-check ahead of time if it’s allowed where you’re going or not.
#4 Get Your Dog Winter Gear
This is a big one: get your dog the right winter gear.
It’s unreasonable to layer your own clothing and expect dogs to just be OK.
Some breeds may be fine in most circumstances, such as St. Benard’s, but many common pet breeds didn’t come from cold areas.
Get them warm clothing!
Here are the basics of what you’ll need:
Dog Winter Jacket – Cover the body of your pet and retain where most of the heat comes from.
Dog Winter Booties – Dogs don’t do well when their paws get cold.
In fact, this is one of the most problematic parts of the dog in relation to cold.
Even my medium-sized dog will hurt when the ground is frigid.
Absorbent Towel – As we’ve talked before, staying dry is critical for keeping warm.
It’s the same with your dog.
A quick-drying and absorbent towel is a must when winter camping.
Also, keep extras on hand when some get wet.
You may also want to check out how to dry clothes when winter camping.
#5 Use Bright Colors For Visibility
It doesn’t take much for the wind to dust up some snow and limit visibility.
You want to be able to see your dog at all times.
This is especially true if your dog is lighter colored.
Use a brightly colored bandana, coat, or collar to help you see them at all times.
We all know how quickly dogs can move when they want to, and if they see a critter, they’ll be off.
Keeping a bright color on them will help you see them and find them if they run off.
#6 Get A Warm Sleeping Spot For Your Dog
Dogs need to stay warm when sleeping too.
To keep them warm, they need layers of insulation as well.
Some people let their dogs sleep with them and keep each other warm.
Most likely, your sleeping bag won’t be big enough or tough enough for that.
Get them at least 3 items:
These items add layers of insulation and allow the R-value to add up and keep things warm.
What is R-value? It’s how well an object insulates.
Layers add more insulation, which is why we recommend all 3 items.
The ground loses a lot of heat, so the bed is critical.
Blankets and sleeping bags will trap the dog’s heat and keep it warm.
Learn more about what R-value is for winter camping.
#7 Know The Signs Of Hypothermia
As you camp, always be watching for signs of hypothermia.
A dog can’t tell you when they’re getting cold, so you need to do your due diligence as an owner.
Be on the lookout for these common signs of hypothermia in dogs.
- Slow breathing
- Shivering
- Stumbling
- Whimpering
- Feeling cold to the touch
- Dilated pupils
If you do see these signs, you need to warm them up right away.
Use your blankets, towels, sleeping bag, heaters, and/or your body heat to get their body temperature up there.
If they don’t warm up within minutes, you may need to seek the help of a vet right away.
#8 Keep Your Dog Moving
As with humans, dogs raise their body temperature when they move and cool down when they stop.
As much as you might want to sit by the fire for hours, your dog needs to move to keep its body warm.
Play with your dog to keep it moving.
Bring a toy to play fetch or tug of war.
Give them a squeaky toy to have them chew on.
It doesn’t have to be much movement to raise the body temp; even chewing a little will work.
A good rule of thumb is to consider any tips you use to stay warm.
These work for your dogs too.
#9 Keep Them Fed And Hydrated
As with moving, eating will raise your pet’s body temperature.
Bring along ample snacks and food.
Whenever you’re not playing, let them have a little snack.
This will keep them moving a little and raise their body temperature as they digest their food.
Consider healthier, energy-driven treats, or snacks.
Because you’ll be feeding them more, you don’t want them gorging on unhealthy treats.
This isn’t good, either.
Drinking works the same way.
We lose a surprising amount of hydration when we’re cold.
Provide ample water and places to drink while camping to keep your dog’s body running correctly.
#10 Camp With Others
Whenever you camp, period, we recommend going with others.
When camping in winter, this is a MUST.
Camping in winter with your dog, going with others makes your life a whole lot easier.
Other people will help you keep an eye on your dog, cuddle your pet, and make sure it’s not developing hypothermia symptoms.
Other dogs will help keep your dog moving and warm.
They’ll even cuddle a lot to keep each other warm (which is adorable!).
Plus, dogs are social creatures.
They’re always happier when there are others to interact with.
Just make sure all of your friends come prepared to keep their dog warm and safe too.
Conclusion
I hope these tips help you have a good experience when camping in winter with your dog.
We all love our furry friends and want to have them with us.
Now you know a little more how to do so safely.
Now get outside and enjoy the fresh air!