🐾 Explore Camping With Our Dog
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No camping trip feels complete without Jamie, our 70-pound Black Lab, riding along for the adventure.
Whether we’re hiking mountain trails, relaxing around the campfire, or simply enjoying a quiet evening at the campsite, Jamie is always part of the experience.
These are the products, routines, and little tricks we’ve found that keep him safe, comfortable, and just as excited about camping as we are.
Let’s take a look…
🐾 Dog Car Seat Cover
This is one of those items that’s become a permanent part of our SUV. In fact, we never take it out, even when we’re not camping.
Not only does it protect the back seat from muddy paws, shedding hair, and wet dogs, but we also feel it helps keep Jamie safer while we’re traveling. Because it forms a hammock between the front and back seats, it helps prevent him from sliding into the floorboard if we have to brake suddenly while he’s lying down.
Cleanup couldn’t be easier. When we get home from a trip, we simply remove it, spray it off with the garden hose, let it dry, and put it right back in the SUV, ready for the next adventure.
💡 Road Ready Tip; Choose a seat cover with non-slip backing and seat anchors that help keep it securely in place. We also like the hammock style because it discourages Jamie from trying to climb into the front seat while we’re driving.
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🐾 Jamie-Approved Elevated Dog Bed
This one is 100% Jamie approved!
When we first bought this elevated dog bed, Jamie wasn’t quite sure what to think. It took a handful of treats to convince him it was okay to climb up on it. Once he realized he didn’t have to lie on dirt, rocks, or damp grass anymore, he was sold.
Now it’s one of the first things we pack for every camping trip. In fact, if Jamie had his way, he’d probably make sure his bed was packed before anything else!
The bed folds down in seconds and stores neatly in its own carry bag, making it easy to transport and taking up very little room in the SUV. It’s sturdy enough to support large dogs, yet lightweight enough that we never hesitate to bring it along.
💡 Road Ready Tip: An elevated dog bed does more than keep your dog comfortable. It gets them off the hot ground during the summer, away from damp soil after a rain, and provides a cleaner place to relax around the campsite. It’s also incredibly easy to clean—just hose it off after your trip, let it dry, and it’s ready for your next adventure.
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📹 WYZE Cam v4 Pet Monitor
As RVers, our dogs are our favorite travel partners—but they can’t go everywhere with us.
That’s why we installed a dedicated RV hotspot and a WYZE Cam v4 inside our Casita. It allows us to check in on Jamie whenever we step away for a short time, giving us peace of mind that he’s comfortable and relaxed.
Whether we’re making a quick trip to the campground store, doing laundry, or grabbing a bite to eat nearby, it’s reassuring to be able to look in on him from our phone. If something doesn’t look right, we know immediately and can head back.
If you’re interested in building the same setup, I’ve put together a step-by-step guide showing exactly how I installed the camera, powered it inside the Casita, connected it to our dedicated hotspot, and configured everything for reliable remote viewing.
🟢 Explore My Complete Wyze Camera Setup →
💡 Road Ready Tip: A camera is not a substitute for keeping your dog safe. Before leaving the trailer, make sure the weather is appropriate, your air conditioner is working properly when needed, Jamie has plenty of fresh water, and you’re comfortable with the amount of time you’ll be away. The camera simply gives us another way to keep an eye on him.
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🐾 Portable Dog Playpen
Although we don’t personally use a portable dog playpen, I see them at campgrounds all the time, especially with larger RVs and fifth wheels.
For many campers, they provide a convenient way to give their dog a little extra room to relax while still keeping them safely contained around the campsite.
For our camping style, Jamie is almost always by our side, on a leash, or relaxing on his elevated dog bed. Since we travel with a 4Runner and a 17-foot Casita, we’re always trying to make the best use of our storage space, so a playpen just hasn’t made its way into our setup.
That said, if you travel with a full-size truck, spend several days at one campground, or simply want to give your dog a larger area to move around, this appears to be one of the most popular options among RV campers.
💡 Road Ready Tip: Before purchasing a playpen, check the rules at the campgrounds you visit. Some parks allow portable pet enclosures, while others require dogs to remain on a physical leash at all times, even if they’re inside a fenced play area.
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🐾 Dog Paw Cleaner Cup
Don’t like your dog tracking mud and dirt into your Casita?
Neither do we.
Whenever the campground is muddy, we pull our dog paw cleaner cup out of the spare tire backpack where we store it, add a little water, and leave it just outside the trailer door.
After Jamie comes back from a walk, we simply dip each paw into the cup and give it a few gentle twists. The soft silicone bristles do a great job of loosening mud and dirt before he ever steps inside the Casita. It’s a simple routine that saves us from constantly sweeping and wiping muddy paw prints off the floor.
💡 Road Ready Tip: Keep a small towel next to the paw cleaner so you can dry your dog’s paws before they come inside. It only takes a minute, and your trailer stays much cleaner throughout your trip.
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🐾 Dog Bandanas
Jamie always wants to look his best when he’s meeting and greeting the other campground dogs, so naturally he has a collection of dog bandanas.
Not only do they make him look extra handsome, but they’re also a fun way to show a little personality around the campsite. We keep several different colors and patterns on hand so he can sport a different look on each trip.
The lightweight fabric is comfortable to wear, easy to wash, and folds up so small that it takes virtually no storage space in the Casita.
💡 Road Ready Tip: A colorful bandana also makes your dog easier to spot around a busy campground, especially when several dogs are playing together or walking nearby.
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🐾 Collapsible Travel Dog Bowls
These collapsible dog bowls have become one of those “grab-and-go” items that we use on every camping trip.
One of the reasons we like them so much is how little space they take up. When collapsed, they’re flat enough that we hang them on the wall just inside the Casita door using a Command Hook. We keep one bowl for food and one for water, so they’re always within easy reach.
The included carabiner is another feature we use all the time. Whenever Jamie and I head out for a walk or into town, I simply clip one bowl to my belt loop. That way, whenever he needs a drink, I have a water bowl ready in seconds.
💡 Road Ready Tip: Keep one bowl permanently clipped to your leash or belt loop whenever you’re exploring. Dogs can become dehydrated much faster than we do, especially during hot summer camping trips. Having a water bowl with you means Jamie always has a chance to cool off and stay hydrated.