Are you tired of this wintery weather and looking forward to spring?  Do you have any camping trips planned this year with you and your pet?  Before you and your BFF hit the trails, make a check list of what you need to bring.  Don’t forget any essentials.  I’ve made a list of things to think about and items to bring to prepare you for what could go wrong.  Can you tell I’m excited for warm, sunny weather?  I’m already thinking of camping trips and vacations!!!  Well, not really camping trips but a weekend getaway in a luxury cabin or hotel with Thomas and the pups :-).

• Make sure your intended path is dog approved.  You don’t want to drive to your location only to find your ideal spot is not so ideal.  I once talked to someone who couldn’t even walk a path they chose with her dog because it was so narrow with a hill on one side and a cliff on the other.

• Always be sure to pack plenty of food and water.  You can pick up collapsible food and water bowls on Chewy.com or any pet store.  We found ours at Cabella’s.  They have a small pet section and that is where Jake and Maggie got their first toy! Collapsible food and water bowls are a space-saving, quick way to refuel your pup.  We got so much use out of ours making our trips back and forth from WV to MO over a 5 year period with the pups!  We always made sure to pack bottled water and at each stop would use the collapsible bowls for Jake and Maggie to drink from.

• We think about dog booties for winter walks but what about rough terrain.  If you are a hard core hiker, you might want to think about getting booties for your pup so he can keep up with you without damaging the pads on his paws.

• When we take Jake and Maggie with us, we always keep fresh blankets, towels, and pet wipes just incase we hit bad weather.  Our pets need potty breaks and we can’t always rely on the weather giving us a beautiful rain free day.  We cover the seats with blankets to lay on and use towels to wipe them off.  The pet wipes are an added bonus :-).

• If you are staying outside in a tent and the nights get cold, an extra comforter, warming vests, or dog bed to wrap your BFF in would be perfect for chilly nights.  I am not a camper so I would be staying in a hotel or cabin.  This is when I would be bringing extra blankets to lay on the hotel beds :-).  Depending on the location, you might want to consider cooling vests to keep your pet comfortable.  You don’t want your pet getting overheated.

• Don’t forget extra leashes, collars, poop bags, and treats!  We use this stuff at home but what about if your leash or collar breaks while on vacation?  You need an extra one but a store is no where in site!  Having extra leashes and tie outs will come in handy.  What about if you are in an area that requires you to pick up your dog’s feces.  When we traveled back and forth from WV to MO, the rest stops did not always provide bags!

• If your pet is on any medication, you don’t want to stop that for a vacation.  Bring it with you and make sure that you are storing it properly.

• We all know fleas and ticks are out there and love our pets.  Don’t forget flea, tick, and heart worm medication!!!!
• Make sure that all shots are updated as well as identification tags.  If your pet is microchipped, make sure your contact information is updated incase he should get lost.