01
Car Camping
I have to be able to have the car at the campsite. Hike-in sites are cool, but not for us right now with the dogs and all their gear and kibble and general unruliness.
02
Campsites have decent space.
We usually like to camp at state parks, so we are not asking for 1/2 acre plots, but we can't be on top of our neighbors. The more space and privacy we have, the easier it is to keep the dogs calm.
03
6-8 ft wide walking trails accessible from the campground.
Once we get to the campground, we do not want to have to load the dogs back into the car to take them on a walk. I need my morning walk and my evening walk (and so do the dogs), so no one is happy without some trails. Since we travel with a pack, wide trails (6-8 ft) are a huge plus. This allows us space to get out of other people's way AND, in general, we can stay together as opposed to being spaced out on a single track trail.
04
Rangers enforcing leash requirements.
Sorry, I know everyone hates this one, but it's necessary for all of us trying to help out our reactive dogs. Most campgrounds require that dogs be on a leash. Lots of people ignore this and it becomes a huge problem when that dog runs straight into my pack of dog-reactive dogs. I need to take the dogs out in the world in for them to get used to it. Unfortunately, being accosted by an off-leash dog that scares them, stresses them out, and triggers a reaction, sets back our training by a mile. Help those of us trying to train the reactive dogs of the world by keeping your dog on a leash and away from doggos in training.
05
Quiet
This one is a joint need for me and the dogs. If I can hear cars whizzing by on the nearby highway, I am not happy. Quiet, in my opinion, is a main draw of camping. On top of that, constant noise makes it hard for the dogs to relax.
06
Fire Pit
My husband loves fire so this one is for him. The dogs don't care one way or the other, but they will sit around the pit with us if it is cold. One time we arrived at a campsite in Delaware to find that the campsites did not have individual fire pits. They had communal fire pits, which is not helpful if others are around and you'd like to give your rescue dogs a modicum of space.
07
Site Cleaned Prior to Arrival
Last but not least, the site has been cleaned before we arrived. This is one that you don't really think of until you experience arriving at a dirty or unkempt site with a pack of dogs. If someone left behind chicken bones or old food, the dogs will immediately find it and scarf it done and then your trip is over before it begins. One time a bunch of wasps flew out of a grill when we arrived and stung my husband and a dog or two. It's a terrible way to start what should be a relaxing jaunt.
Here is Gussie enjoying being near all of her snacks and blankies.
These sites at Smallwood State Park in Maryland had lots of space and privacy.
This is at Wakefield Park near our house, but this is generally what we are looking for when we are camping. Lots of room to bail on both sides of the trail.
Lots of quiet at the Chipmunk Loop in Beartree Recreation Area in Damascus, VA.
Hornets attacked us when we arrived at Jess Judy Group Campground because no one had been maintaining the site. Luckily, no one was allergic to hornets.