So you’ve decided to embark on a caravan trip around this vast wonderful country of ours. You’ve obviously planned and prepared every fine detail from packing the caravan, planned meals, made sure you have everything you need and got a rough idea of where you’re going and where you’re going to stay. But what about your best friend? Have you given any thought as to how to get your dog ready for a caravan trip?

After travelling right around Australia with our then pet labrador dog Jada, we have done many shorter trips with our dogs. We’ve even taken two dogs camping on North Stradbroke Island for a couple of days. You could say we are experienced caravan travellers with a dog.

Our dogs running free on a beach on North Stradbroke Island

More and more people are gallivanting around the country with their furry best friends and fortunately there are more and more pet friendly caravan parks and camping grounds. When we travelled around Australia in 2014 we never really encountered any problems finding places to camp with our dog. In fact we enjoyed having her with us as she provided great company and forced us to walk a lot!

Some places provide somewhere to tie your dog up whilst you enjoy a coffee!

Things to consider before taking your dog caravanning

There are plenty of good reasons to take your dog on your caravan trip, but before you make a final decision think carefully about the following:

1.  Does your dog have a good temperament? If your dog suffers from anxiety or is aggressive I would suggest you leave the dog at home. There is nothing worse than having an anti-social or yappy dog when you’re camping alongside other campers.
2. Are your dog’s vaccinations up to date? Also make sure your dog is protected against heart worm, intestinal worms, fleas and ticks by having the appropriate vaccination or medication.
3. Do you realise that National Parks and Conservation Parks and some beaches do not allow dogs? So consider this when you’re planning your itinerary.
4. Be prepared to make plenty of stops so that your dog can rehydrate, go to the toilet and stretch their legs.
5. Ensure that your dog is harnessed within your car whilst you’re travelling with appropriate seat belts especially made for dogs and that it has the right type of bed. If they’re sleeping outside they need a bed that is elevated off the ground.
6. I would not recommend taking a dog with a pre-existing medical condition as vets are far and few between in some remote areas.

Our dog Stella really enjoys caravanning with us

What to pack for your dog on a caravan trip

1. Your dog’s bed and bedding.
2. Lead and leash. Add a longer leash so that you can tie your dog up in caravan parks so that they can move around a bit.
3. Dog food bowl and water bowl. There are some good lightweight collapsible ones available.
4. Dog’s medication. Worm tablets, heartworm tablets and flea/tick tablets.
5. Dog’s toys.
6. A dog harness for travelling in your car.
7. Biodegradable plastic poo bags.
8. Dog shampoo and dog grooming accessories.
9. Your dog’s food and treats.

Doggie Hammock for the back seat of your car

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Enjoying your dog when caravanning

Dogs like people are very sociable creatures and love the social side of meeting other dogs and being able to spend some time interacting. Just make sure the other dog is sociable before allowing them to play. As you will be spending a lot of time together it’s important that you also are able to take time apart during the day or night. In some areas you’ll be able to let your dog off the leash and allow them to explore, sniff and search out new smells. Just be mindful that some regions in the outback lay poison baits for dingoes and foxes, so be aware of this.

The best place for off-leash walking is on remote beaches

Walking your dog on a leash is probably advisable in most vegetated areas such as bushland and forest as this has the least environmental impact on the natural flora and fauna in the Australian bush. The best places to allow your dog off the leash are on remote beaches and large grassy reserves or paddocks. Make sure you pick up their poo wherever you go. It goes without saying that your dog will have the time of their life exploring new terrain!

This article was written in collaboration with 99PetShops