Camping With Dogs Australia: From Beach To Outback

Written By Olivia De Santos | Canine Coach, Professional Writer & Video Content Creator.
Edited & Fact Checked By Renae Soppe | Double B.A Journalism & Science.
Last Updated: 11th January 2024

Camping is one of the great Australian past times. We have such a wonderful landscape right in our backyard. Luckily, it’s an activity you can share with your four-legged friend too.

Camping with dogs doesn’t need to be dangerous or complicated. That said, we do have some specific challenges when camping in Australia that you need to bear in mind. The weather and rough terrain can present some very unique challenges to the novice camper.

This guide will lead you through absolutely everything you need to know if you are planning to camp with your dog.

Table Of Contents

camping with a terrier dog in the mountains

How To Prepare For Camping With Dogs

The best way to make sure that your camping trip with your pup is a success is by preparing them beforehand as much as possible. Here are four tips for taking dogs camping:

1. Make sure your dog is vaccinated and treated

There are creepy crawlies aplenty when you are dog swag camping. Before camping season, it is worth taking your pooch to the vet to check all vaccinations are up to date. You should also treat them for ticks and fleas. It is very common for ticks to attack your dog while camping.

There are mosquito and bug repellents you can purchase while you are camping to protect your dog too. Don’t use human mosquito repellent as it is toxic to your dog.

2. Acclimatise your dog to being outside

One of my dogs is a total homebody and the other is a wild adventurer. You can tell which is the better camping candidate. If you have a backyard, it could be work camping in the garden together a couple of times to get your dog used to sleeping in a tent.

Hiking with your dog is also helpful in acclimatising your dog to the great outdoors and all its quirks.

3. Plan your trip

Planning your trip in detail with any and all activities you intend to do with your dog will make you feel more confident. This involves:

Making sure you have the correct size dog camping tent
Saving emergency numbers for the campsite in your phone
Plan a route to the campsite that allows your dog to take frequent bathroom and rest breaks if it is a particularly long journey
Review the rules of the specific campsite you are visiting
Review the camping rules of the state you are camping in

4. Train your dog

There is some essential training needed before you take your dog camping. As part of basic camping etiquette, your dog should be as well-behaved as possible during your stay. The most vital training needed is recall and obedience training.

“Start your training in a slow, low-distraction environment, like inside your house. First, show your dog a toy or a treat, praise them as they are coming to you, then reward them. After a few repetitions, whenever your dog looks at you and starts to move towards you, add in your chosen verbal cue (come, here, etc.). Make sure to only add in the cue when you are confident your dog is moving towards you.” -- Sassafras Lowrey, American Kennel Club. (1)

As your dog’s recall skills improve, you can gain more confidence in taking your dog outdoors.

Once you are comfortable with recalling indoors, you can try outdoors during walks and hikes.

Dog Camping Gear: Everything You Need

1. First-Aid Kit

A dog first-aid kit is essential for any camping trip but needs some extra attention when packing for your dog. You can buy ready-made first-aid kits for dogs or create your own. You will need:

Clotting powder
Saline
Gauze
Disinfectant
Cotton balls
Bandage pads
Bandage tape
Blunt-tip scissors
Antibiotic ointment
Thermometer
Cold packs

2. Leashes

A good dog leash is essential for camping. Most campsites require you to have your dog on the leash at all times. Flexi-leashes are not advisable in difficult terrain because the line can snag on branches and rocks.

3. Portable dog bowls

You will need solid, durable vessels for your dog’s food and water. There are plenty of good options on the market that are lightweight and portable.

Related: Best Dog Water Bottles.

4. Water & food

You should always bring more water and food than you think you’ll need. If you are intending to be quite active with your activities and hiking during your camping trip, you need to have a large supply of food and fresh water on standby.

It is always better to have too much than too little!

5. Dog camping beds

There are beds that are made specifically for dogs to go camping! These are waterproof and insect-proof beds with thicker nylon linings than your average soft dog bed that you likely have at home.

They are made to protect your dog and provide the best level of comfort as your dog sleeps.

6. Towels

Even if you are not intending to camp by the sea, there are plenty of surprise lakes, rivers and puddles that your dog may want to jump into. If they do, you want to have plenty of towels on hand to dry them off.

7. Dog booties or socks

This is all about protecting your dog’s feet from harm from extreme temperatures or tricky terrain. We’ll dive deeper into this in the next section.

8. Grooming tools

While it is not necessary for your pooch to be the princess of the campsite, or even look vaguely presentable, grooming tools are worth having for a more practical reason than aesthetic.

With a comb, you can brush off small twigs and seeds that get stuck to your dog’s fur. You can sort out any matting or tangles right then and there. You can also more easily check your dog’s fur for fleas and ticks during your trip.

9. Dog sunscreen

Yes, dogs need sunscreen too. One of my dogs has fine, light-coloured hair and is prone to burning in the bright sun. Dog sunscreen is a godsend in the summer months.

Related: Dog Sunscreen Australia.

10. Dog toys

The thrill of the camp is not enough to keep your dog entertained. It is worth bringing some toys with you to keep them engaged. This could be a puzzle toy to keep their mind occupied or a simple chew toy for mellowing them out in the evenings. You can also bring interactive games like tug of war ropes.

We don’t recommend that you bring really small fetch items like tennis balls as they can easily get lost in the surroundings. Worse still, it could fall into a dangerous place that your dog follows to fetch. It’s an accident waiting to happen.

11. Poop bags

It goes without saying that when you camp in nature, you should leave it the way you found it.

Dog-friendly campsites will have dog poop bins for you to dispose of your pup’s leavings, but don’t count on them providing bags too. Have an ample supply of poop bags for your trip and take them with you everywhere.

12. Treats

Treats for you and treats for your dog should never be too far away. You are on holiday after all! A pack of your pup’s favourite treats can also help you entice your dog to stay close to you when you need them to.

13. Mosquito repellent

Unfortunately, there are tons of bugs around when camping. Mosquitoes are one of the more annoying ones that require constant attention.

Some dog mosquito repellent will protect your pup from bites as you sleep.

What Are The Dangers Of Taking Your Dog Camping In Australia

There are three main dangers to be mindful of when taking your dog camping.

1. Losing your dog

The most common and feared danger when taking your dog camping is that they will get lost. This is a completely valid fear to have. It would be irresponsible of us not to mention it!

There are so many variables that we cannot control when camping that the chance that your dog does get lost is higher. However, there are many things you can do to prevent that.

Take a printed photo of your dog with you.
In case your dog does get lost on the campsite, you can immediately spring into action, alerting others on the campsite and the authorities of what your dog looks like.

Make sure your dog is microchipped
If your dog is found, a kind stranger will likely take them to the authorities or a vet to have their microchip read. It is vital that you have a microchip and that the microchip is up-to-date. The registered information should be your current address and phone number. Double-check all of those details are updated before going camping.

Keep your dog on the leash
In some campsites, you are not permitted to let your dog off-leash at any time anyway. But even with the places that do allow your dog to roam, it is best to keep your dog on the leash in most areas just for safety. If you have an area with a clear view and your dog is well-trained, you can relax a little more. Use your best judgment here.

2. Overheating/heat exhaustion

If you happen to go camping on a hot day, or even a warm day, your dog is vulnerable to heat exhaustion.

“Unlike people, dogs don't sweat out excess body heat. While your dog does have a few sweat glands located in his paws, these do little to help regulate his body temperature. Instead, he does this through rapid, open-mouthed breathing, called panting. But sometimes panting isn't enough to keep him from getting overheated.” - Jean Marie Bauhaus, Hill’sPet. (2)

Because your dog has so few ways of regulating its body temperature, a hot car or inefficient temperature-controlled tent can cause problems. Long-haired and short-nosed breeds are particularly vulnerable. (3)

You know your dog is suffering from heat exhaustion if:

They are panting excessively
They are drooling excessively
They are disorientated
They are agitated
They have dry gums
They have a bright red tongue
They faint
They appear weak and restless

You can save your dog from heat exhaustion by:

Moving them to a cool and shaded area
Pouring lukewarm water over your dog (not cold as it may cause shock)
Allow them to drink water

If they start shivering or are not responding well to your remedies, take them to the vet immediately. (4)

3. Vulnerable paws

The weather in Australia can be quite unforgiving! Extreme heat and extreme cold can both pose hazards to our dog’s health. A particularly neglected aspect of this is their poor paws. In snowy conditions or hot conditions, your dog’s paws are vulnerable to injury. On top of that, in the outback or bush terrains, you have spiky twigs, grits and insects that can all pierce your dog’s delicate pads.

We recommend protecting your dog’s feet with dogs shoes in challenging terrains and/or extreme temperatures.