Do you get worried about under whose care can you leave your dog before leaving for camp? Well, no more of such worries anymore because you can bring it with you to your camp and let it sleep on your hammock.
Hammock camping is a great experience for anyone to enjoy the whole day and sleep in the environment, but being a dog lover, you will most certainly enjoy more with your dog to play with. Just imagine you can play catch and go for hikes.
But one problem arises when it comes to accommodation of your dog at night and if it can adjust with you inside your hammock at night.
We are here to help you with Hammock Camping with A Dog and we will tell you everything you have to know before you take your dog camping. So, let’s jump right in.
Will Your Dog Like To Camp?
You may be inclined to the idea that dogs would love a camping trip, but actually, not all dogs love camping trips. Some dogs adapt to camping easily while others don’t.
Larger dogs often like camping more than smaller dogs, although it is easier to sleep in a hammock with smaller dogs. It all depends on the breed and experience of the dog.
It is best to have a practice camping night in your backyard with your dog before actually going camping. Some dogs tend to enjoy it and sleep comfortably cuddling with their owners while some tend to get scared.
You have to check for weather conditions before your camping trip because some dogs are suited to winter camping, especially the ones with thick furry cover while some are more suited for summer.
Things To Consider For Hammock Camping With A Dog
If you are going hammock camping with your dog, you probably have to keep in mind a few things, some that are very basic while some that you may not have thought about.
Dog- Friendly Location
First off, to start your camping journey, you have to find the perfect location for your camping. The campsite has to have the possibility of hammock camping and also allow dogs to camp.
You don’t want to pay a fine for bringing your dog along. Also, you have to check for the best hammock camping spot which is over level ground. This is because dogs have the habit of jumping around and you don’t want your dog to get injured at camp.
Trim The Nails
As a dog owner, you must be familiar with how sharp a dog’s nails can be. Now, a hammock is usually made of thin cloth which can get easily ripped by any sharp or pointy object.
So, if you don’t want your hammock to rip off and you along with your dog to fall off, you must trim the nails of your dog before you go camping.
Another alternative would be to have your dog wear booties. For the winter season, this is best because your dog’s feet would also stay warm this way.
Use An ID- Tag
You must be very familiar with your dog and think that you may be able to spot it among any group of dogs, but still, it is best to have an ID tag attached to its collar. This will help you to identify your dog and in case it gets lost, whoever finds it can return it to you.
Keep Them Close
Always when you are camping with your dog, try to keep them safe by having them near you at all times. You never know what kind of wild animals may be looming around, so by having your dog around you can ensure its safety.
Also, it is best to have a campfire lit around your hammock. This will serve the dual purpose of keeping you and your dog warm and also protecting both of you from any kind of danger.
Have A Backup Plan Ready
There may be some instances when you think your dog is ready to hammock camp, but on the night of camp, it can’t. At that moment, if you have a backup plan for your dog to sleep, you can enjoy a good night’s sleep.
Usually, only for someone taking their dog out to hammock camp for the first time, this is applicable, because, after one or two times, your dog will get used to hammock camping.
Planning to camp in winter with your dog, check out this detailed guide on Winter Camping With Dog
How To Sleep In A Hammock With Dog?
There are some ways to ponder about how you can lie in a hammock with your dog cuddling with you. You can follow the correct procedure we will provide you with.
1. Multiple Hammocks:
To begin with, you can try to have more than a single hammock. You can have one hammock for yourself and another for your dog. With two hammocks, you and your dog can have a hammock to yourselves and having more area means no need for adjusting.
There is a catch to it though, you may not find two spots for setting up hammocks next to each other. Also, if you are a cuddler, you may prefer to have your dog with you in the same hammock, in which case you can skip this step.
2. Get A Big Hammock And Practice:
If you want to cuddle with your dog at night, you need to get a hammock big enough to fit both of you and have some room for movement. The setting up of the hammock also has to be right, a bit saggy and at a decent height such that your dog doesn’t have any problems in getting into it.
After you buy your hammock, you must practice in your backyard quite a bit before you head for camping. Dogs may need some time to adjust to sleeping in a hammock and that’s why practice is very essential.
3. Get The Necessary Accessories:
There are quite a few necessary accessories that you have to bring along if you are hammock camping with your dog.
- Towels, specifically for your dog. If your dog is going to sleep with you then it has to be toweled off thoroughly. If its furs are wet, your night can’t be very pleasant, especially if it is cold.
- Get a small sleeping bag for your dog and you can have a pad and blanket along with it. We understand how important it is for owners that their dogs must be comfortable and a pad and blanket can do exactly that.
- Have a mosquito net so that your dog doesn’t have to get bug bites. It is also a bit difficult for a dog to get in and out of a hammock with a mosquito net, so you have to train it to do so in the right manner.
- Dogs like to sleep with a cover over their head, so a rain tarp is very important if your dog is with you on the hammock. It can make your dog feel safe at night.
You also need to have plenty of water if you are to go hammock camping with your dog, approximately 1 liter per day only for your dog. This will keep your dog hydrated and keep it fresh for some hiking trip you may like to go on.
4. Leash It At All Times:
Your dog must have a leash on at all times and you can tie it to anything, from the hammock support to the hammock straplines. This will keep your dog safe and you will have the satisfaction that your dog won’t be going off to wander alone.
Leashes can also help in making sure that your dog doesn’t fall off the hammock while sleeping at night.
5. Get It Familiar:
Your dog will have to get familiar with the smell of the hammock and everything around if it has to enjoy a good night’s sleep. This can be done by using its favorite food or biscuit. After hanging the hammock, you can place some treats on the hammock and let it climb and eat it. This will make it feel familiar to the hammock’s smell.
Also, you have to figure out how exactly will both of you fit inside the hammock. If your dog is small in size, you can have its head near yours, but if it is medium of a large dog, make your dog familiar to sleeping by your feet.
If you want to know about all the sleeping positions in which you can sleep in a hammock, you can check out How To Lay In A Hammock: Find Your Best Position To Sleep In.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Conclusion
As you can see it is not at all difficult to camp in a hammock with your dog. The only thing is that you have to prepare nicely before the first time you take your dog with you. We prefer to have a separate hammock when we go camping with our dog because its comfort comes first for us, but you can have a different approach, and have your dog snuggle up next to you as well.
So, the next time you go camping, you don’t have to worry about anyone mishandling your dog in your absence and can enjoy a great trip and have fun with your dog.
Don’t forget to share your stories of hammock camping with your dog, and how you managed to sleep in the hammock through the comment section below.
Happy Camping!
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