For the fourth of July, we took the family and all the dogs and went up on Cove Mountain camping. We had five kids and seven dogs and had a ball. Friday evening we hiked over to the rim and watched fireworks displays at several of the surrounding towns way below us in the valley.
The nice thing about camping is that you can relax and not worry about all the chores that need attention around the house. We were able to enjoy our outing and spend a lot of time both relaxing with and training the dogs.
Another thing about camping with the dogs I enjoy, is sitting around the fire at night with a dog curled up by your side. They seem to enjoy the warmth and relaxation of the fire as much as I do.
A couple of keys about camping with dogs: First, if at all possible, camp as far away from other campers as possible so the dogs won’t bother them, or their dogs cause conflicts. I NEVER camp in a campground because you are packed in tighter than your neighborhood at home and they are stricter about dogs than most municipalities. Second, use tie out chains and kennel boxes to control the dogs when you need a break. When dogs are confined, be keenly aware of temperatures and direct sun. Make sure that they have access to plenty of water. Third, if the dogs are free, keep close attention on them, for running off, chasing wildlife, or otherwise getting into trouble. Above all, enjoy all the time you get to spend with them.
Â
