What Are The Best Camping Dogs?

You dream of getting a dog who will come with every outdoor adventure with you, run, camp and cycle through the great wilderness. So which dog should you consider.

It’s sad but true – not every dog is cut out for spending a few nights away in the woods. Taking a puppy camping, for example, is likely to cause more drama than an older, trained pooch.

The best dog breeds for camping are generally the ones that you can train easily, or who have been breed to work outside.

Top 10 dogs for camping:

Labrador Retrievers: these outdoorsy types love the opportunity to get out in the elements. They’re athletic, loyal, and love the water, so bring them along. Make sure they’re at peak fitness if you are planning on lots of activities as these dogs are notoriously greedy and can gain weight fast.
Siberian Huskies: these pups were born to run outdoors! With their boundless energy they can work for hours, and may even prove to be a helping hand when it comes to carrying your luggage. They’re also great at foraging for themselves in the wild, though you will need to have good control over this pooch to ensure they don’t run off into the wild.
Burnese Mountain Dogs: while these aren’t as energetic as the first two, they love a short hike and will stick by you at all times. As their name imply, they are great at handling rocky mountain terrain. They’re also good at carrying kit and will help you feel safe.
Border Collie: Why is the border collie always on our list of best dog for active people? Because they are smart, have boundless energy, and NEED an active person to keep them happy. Once you’ve trained these pooches, they’ll be the one who’ll run for help if you fall down a well whilst hiking.
Australian Cattle Dog: This natural herder, much like the collie, loves nothing more than being outside and being useful. You don’t get a Blue if you’re not the kind of person to spend most of their time out and about, so if you’re a camper, runner or traveller, this breed will jump on the back of your Ute at a moment’s notice.
Spaniels: We know this is a big breed, but you generally can’t go wrong with a crazy spaniel in your life. Stick with the working breeds for that extra burst of energy (think Springer Spaniel, Brittany, working cocker) or go for show breeds if you prefer a companion to chill by the beach or the campfire (think Show cocker spaniel or Cavalier King Charles).
Jack Russell Terrier: The only breed in our list that is classified as small, these mighty pups hide more energy than you might think and can run for a surprisingly long time. Perfect for those who are looking for a more compact dog when travelling.
Weimaraner: This grey ghost breed is not for the faint of heart. When we say this dog has energy, we mean that you will almost certainly run out of energy before they do. The good news is that if you are willing to put in the time and energy, these easy to train dogs are super friendly, loyal and great at navigating rough terrain and trails. Plus they make great family dogs.
Dalmatians: Fun fact: these dogs were bred to keep pace with horses. So if you want to add some cycling to your camping, you know who to bring with you. As a bonus, these guys make excellent guard dogs as they have great protective instincts – just be careful to train this behaviour to be positive rather than negative against other campers.
Mutts: There’s a reason why Mutts tend to be healthier than most pure bred dogs. It’s the difference between hiking with the British royal family and Jason Momoa. Check with your vet, check the health of your pet, but if they know how to take orders, and have lots of energy, there’s no reason why your mixed breed pup isn’t the perfect travel companion.

But what about smaller dogs?

Camping with small dogs is not off limits, but it can be more challenging. Smaller breeds are more vulnerable to natural predators, so they may have to sleep in the tent with you, or you may need to closely monitor an outdoor dog tent.

You may also need to consider the fact that not all small dogs may be able to walk long distance – a Russell Terrier may be able to run for miles, but a Pomeranian may like family camping by the beach more than hiking in the mountain.

But that said, there are plenty of small dogs who will love coming with you camping – just maybe not hiking, climbing and running.

A perfect choice for small dog breeds is the Portuguese Water Dog. As the name suggests, these pups love to be out on the water, so consider taking them on lake or river trips. If you’re a surfer you know what to start googling.

The good news is that, ultimately, if all you want is to take a tent, drive somewhere, and enjoy a little bit of nature with the family… almost any pup can come along, as long as they are confident, loved and obedient. You know your dog better than anyone, and if you’ve done a few test runs at home, there’s no reason why your dog can’t come camping with you – even if you may need to get a caravan to keep your French Bulldog happy.

Be prepared for the worst, but enjoy the best

You may need to consider the fact that even if you do get a pup in just the right breed, they might not like camping. It’s not for everyone. Some humans love camping, some don’t, some dog will, some won’t.

As with anything in life, the reason you choose to have a dog companion is because you want a dog 365 days of the year – for the happy welcome homes, the daily walks, the evening sofa cuddles and the joy they bring to your daily life.

He or she may not be one for camping, but they may love hiking, running, swimming, or cycling with you. With a little patience, and following some simple guidelines, most dogs will be happy to head out on an adventure with you.

And if not, there’s always lots of friendly doggy hotels, B&Bs and accommodating you can book for the pooch who doesn’t love being out in the elements all night long.