Thread: Camping with dogs

Sorry if this post is in the wrong spot. I’ve just got a little pup I plan to take deer hunting for other me in the future. Just looking for tips and tricks people have discovered while camping with their dogs, what are the do’s and dont’s and what gear do you wish you had from the start.

Great question. A couple of suggestions. Don't take the dog camping until it is fully trained - they only need to make a mistake once for learned behaviour to kick in. The Blueprint is a great start. You need the dog to be in range unless your a pig hunter. The Garmin Alpha and tracking collar are great tools for complimenting proper training and ramge reminders.

Trained mine to lay down on a half piece of thermarest zmat (foam pad). Means he knows where his place is. and helps keep him warm at night.
Use a fleece top at night. Eventually gave up on dog jackets in favour of my summer quilt to keep dog (single coat city vizsla) warm at night. Include dry dog biscuits in dog's daily diet so when you do go camping you can bring dry food in ziploc bags.

Found an enclosed shelter (tent) better than an open tarp as dog will sleep and not stay up all night on mouse duty. Don't trust them around camp, things will get eaten (like panadol) and they will get up to mischief. Under control at all times

Enjoy them. They will like us make mistakes, but are great company and a lot of fun.

my dog hates wearing a jacket/vest/backpack. I wish I'd introduced her to those items as a pup.

go tent size up (if you can/use a tent). A 1 person tent with you and a dog is not much fun on days that are rained out.

Depends on the breed a little and how they deal with the cold. Like Snoppernator I have a Viz that really feels the cold.

A piece of foam mat is good and train them to stay on it like you would there bed in the house. Spend a few nights in you tent on the back lawn to get them used to it and see how they behave before heading into the hills.

I have a down jacket for my boy while sleeping and it's been brilliant. I also lay my down jacket over him if it gets real cold.

Tents are better than flies when still young as a the scents blow through a fly keeping them up and you all night.

I have a 2 year old Hunterway, I just started slowly on day walks, (doc trails) on long lead then a few bush walks until she had learnt to stay around me. As @Bobba said tent in the yard a few nights or under tarp if thats what you are going to use. Then slowly introduce night stuff and whilst mine was and sometimes still is a pain in the arse for actually getting any hunting done, shes really getting there and is great company.

Also dog harness / jacket with pockets from pup as they really get used to them and can then carry their own stuff ruffware does a couple of very good ones

Thanks for the advice!

I usually camp in a tent, however I do have a seat of Summit air mattress. Is there something I need to revise and risk of punctures?
Also, the pup has taken to lying on my jacket, which I’m not opposed to. Less carry into the bush, but is a Thermorest mat good for both of us?

Also, I did want to get a GPS collar just in case. Garmin being the obvious choice is it worth getting GPS and training or just GPS capabilities?

Originally Posted by IamRobertoPualson

Thanks for the advice!

I usually camp in a tent, however I do have a seat of Summit air mattress. Is there something I need to revise and risk of punctures?
Also, the pup has taken to lying on my jacket, which I’m not opposed to. Less carry into the bush, but is a Thermorest mat good for both of us?

Also, I did want to get a GPS collar just in case. Garmin being the obvious choice is it worth getting GPS and training or just GPS capabilities?

Garmin are the business and either collar will tell you where your dog is but if you buy the "fry the dog" model get some one to show you how to use it properly and its NOT "frying the dog" in any respect.

i have had a vizsla that I used to take up in the Canty back country including winter hunts. Polar fleece dog coat is good, sleeping mat is good as it wouldnt move off it, [I could take a motorbike to my camp so pack size/weight wasnt an issue] . Tent manners is good as winter nights are long.

I would suggest if you need a tracking collar on an indicator dog like a vizsla while hunting you have not got it trained. It should be walking in front of you not off on its own.

If you can help it, don't let it hunt possums.

Mine trees them at home and waits for me to shoot them which isn't a problem.

Pain in the arse in the bush as I'm not inclined to use a center fire rifle on treed possums for several reasons.

Especially if one gets a bit close to camp, damn near get bowled over in the inevitable melee.

Which reminds me. I tie my dog up, especially when cooking. And I makes sure my cooking site is outside the reach of her rope.

Originally Posted by mikee

Garmin are the business and either collar will tell you where your dog is but if you buy the "fry the dog" model get some one to show you how to use it properly and its NOT "frying the dog" in any respect.

If you do go with the Garmin electronic dog collar, before you put it on your dog strap it around your leg and zap yourself.

You know what you are doing to your dog then and can adjust the level accordingly. Don't start on high.

Originally Posted by inglishill

If you do go with the Garmin electronic dog collar, before you put it on your dog strap it around your leg and zap yourself.

You know what you are doing to your dog then and can adjust the level accordingly. Don't start on high.

This

Originally Posted by inglishill

If you do go with the Garmin electronic dog collar, before you put it on your dog strap it around your leg and zap yourself.

You know what you are doing to your dog then and can adjust the level accordingly. Don't start on high.

and remember that the dog needs to know what it is doing is wrong first and you are simply giving it a reminder there are many dogs wrecked by electric collars

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

and remember that the dog needs to know what it is doing is wrong first and you are simply giving it a reminder there are many dogs wrecked by electric collars

Also immediately the dog has erred not even several seconds later. The dog won't make the connection with the error and the zap.

Yeah, hear the concerns around the use of Garmin collars and their incorrect use. The technology is available, and you are able to use it to augment commands, why not? I'm not comfortable with the use of thermals in the bush, seems like a recipe for disaster to be honest. But the tech is legal, and useful, provided the user clearly identifies their target.

I introduced this at the end of the blueprint training - to reinforce voice, whistle and hand signals. Instead of using a cord in the bush and the dog tangling, I was able to use the vibration control to remind him he was pushing his range. Paul Michael's mentions this, it's often 6 months into hunting that they become less tentative and will push boundaries. I do note that even on some of his later videos with Print, Print was on a cord line. Pointers will push boundaries as they are bred to work in 80-100y circles to flush game. So the training helps keep this natural hunt instinct in place but at closer distances. I found giving the dog room to move later on really good for both of our sanity. I occasionally have to give him a couple of zaps when he's about/or is in the process of doing something dumb, like chasing a possum (after I was too slow to correct him a previous trip with two possums in the middle of the track walking back). Your always training and reinforcing commands with a dog throughout their life. I might use the vibration button a couple of times a day, and it's often to let him know I've decided we are heading off a scent for whatever reason and onto a different direction.

Originally Posted by sore head stoat

I would suggest if you need a tracking collar on an indicator dog like a vizsla while hunting you have not got it trained. It should be walking in front of you not off on its own.

With respect some of us expect their pointers to work at distance. Mine are really only companians in the hills their primary purpose is to find birds and wait till i get there. That said the number of deer i have shot while the deer was watching the dog on point is reasonable.
Garmin are awesome for what I need and piece of mind