With nearly six years of experience wild camping with a my dog Ribey, I’m excited to share comprehensive tips on caring for your canine companion and useful equipment. Discover how to keep your dog physically fit and mentally stimulated while camping, from fun activities to essential medical care. Learn what to pack in your kit to ensure your dog’s health and well-being, and explore recommendations for a natural diet that keeps them energized on your adventures.
Dog GPS Tracker
Using a dog tracker gives you peace of mind and keeps your dog safer, especially when you’re out exploring or in unfamiliar places. With GPS tracking, you can see your dog’s real-time location on your phone if they wander off, slip their lead, or chase wildlife. Many trackers also show activity levels, helping you monitor their fitness and spot changes in behaviour that might signal health issues. Tractive devices include virtual fences that alert you if your dog leaves a safe area, I use this feature to place the safe zone around our camp, so I get a notification if she wanders to far, plus location history so you can see where you both have been roaming. Overall, a dog tracker adds an extra layer of security and confidence, allowing you both to enjoy more freedom and adventure together.
The model I use DOG XL Adventure XL only for dogs above 25 kg Extra-strong case Battery: up to 4 weeks I normally get over 7 days on long Camping trips usually on constantly. There are models to suit all dogs. A added bonus or curse depending on your family they can track you too follow your adventures into the remote places you wander. Giving you & them piece of mind, that your safe & well & someone knows your location. With the initial cost of tracker & subscription it’s quite a investment, for me well worth it. Tip turn it of before you hit the pub they will no everywhere you go 😂!!
with this link you can get 30% off, I also get 2 months free if you use this link.
Your Dogs Wellbeing is Number 1.
It’s important for you and your dog to share as much equipment as possible. Firstly, bonding fosters closeness and a true kinship. This connection goes a long way; it shows your dog that you are a team, which builds trust and confidence. When challenges arise, your dog will be more willing to follow you anywhere.
Secondly, remember that you will have to carry everything for your outings. By sharing the load, you can limit what you need to carry to just your dog’s food, bowls, and grooming brush.
Basic kit For the dog.
Bowls, I carry two small steel bowls one I keep in my coat for travel.
Grooming brush Tic kit A small Extra fleece blanket & Toy.🧸
Dog coat – waterproof
Long lead Harness – far more comfortable than a collar.
Homemade Oil Blend. This homemade oil blend includes:
Castor Oil as your base (Olive Oil, Almond Oil Work as well)
Tea Tree Essential Oil, Lavender Essential Oil, Camphor Essential Oil.
Benefits
Antibiotic and Antibacterial Properties, first aid for wound care also Helps prevent infection.
Mood Enhancement Promotes relaxation and improves mood, reduces travel anxiety.
Pain Relief Provides relief from Muscle aches & discomfort.
Paw Care, Skin & Hair Conditioning, use as part of their grooming routine, when you give them a brush, part of a nightly routine which is also great for bonding, it’s also an all over body & hair rub for yourself, same benefit as above & stops odour ! softens and strengthens the pads of the feet & for you reducing soreness, splitting and blistering.
Bite Prevention and Relief, effective against biting insects like ticks, midges, and spiders.
Food I believe in a natural nutritional diet is vitally important. I don’t believe in “dog food” it carry’s no nutrition is poor quality Processed rubbish – would you eat it yourself ? If No, don’t feed it to the dog. Before I travel I make a kilo of beef mince meatballs with either chickpea or cornmeal flour as the binder with 2 eggs and lots of lard for calories.
Recipe
1 kg of minced beef or turkey.
½ cup of Chickpea or cornmeal flour
2 or 3 Tbl Spoons of lard.
1 Tbl Spoon of Garam Masala.
½ ts of Pink or Celtic salt – not table salt.
Method.
Mix together and need, same as if you’re making bread, roll into small balls and bake in the oven or fry for 20 – 30 mins checking as they cook, they want to be quite dry so they last longer.
Pork or Beef joint of about 1kg to 2 kg in weight.
Cut in small squares. Shallow fry in a skillet with a little Cayenne, Pepper & Tumeric. Again cook till quite crispy tasty little bites.
This will give your dog 3 to 4 days of food, my baby fur is a Lurcher greyhound/Saluki so a big girl, adjust the amount for the size of your dog. Tasty for yourself as well. Share all you can, for me I’m mostly Vegetarian, so she eats well.
I also carry tinned fish X 6 Tin of cornbeef or luncheon meat as emergency food if needed. In addition 3 or 4 packs of natural dog treats. This gives me 5 to 6 days between having to resupply food for her, Allowing us to hit some very remote places on foot where public transport and tourists don’t really venture. All her kit and food add between 4 & 6 kilos to the pack weight. Which has to be compensated for by carrying a very minimal kit all round as I’m not a pack horse.😂
First Aid & Fitness Levels
Fitness level are just important
Building up your dog’s stamina before big hikes is essential. Start with shorter trails. Then, gradually increase distance as your dog gets stronger. Pack plenty of treats to reward good behavior and maintain energy levels. i like her to take frequent water breaks, especially on warm days. A bowl makes it easy to keep my dog hydrated & fed on the trail. Let your dog stop and sniff occasionally. These mental breaks are just as important as physical exercise. Watch for signs of fatigue like excessive panting or slowing down, lethargy or disorientation. Always give them lots of attention & fus, see there level of response & engagement. You no your dog best trust what you see, don’t paink, take rest when the need to. Let them sleep for an hour if needed, I use my coat as her warm temporary bed. Don’t push too hard tailor your adventures not only to you, remember you dog wants to enjoy it too.
James 'n' Ribey Wild Campers Scotland 