the furry, four legged kids and you...

where to go

So where can you go with a fuzzy, four legged, squirrel chasing, what-are-these-new-smells sniffing, what-no-air-conditioning dog.
Well, that all depends on the destination. For instance, most Canadian federal parks allow dogs, but all Quebec provincial parks don't. Campgrounds set their own rules. Some allow dogs, some allow on-leash only, some charge extra, some have weight or breed restrictions. The only sure way of knowing is to contact the campground or park directly. Even the Woodall's directory is not up to date.
Personally I happen to be a big fan of the Canadian federal parks and some private campgrounds in New-Brunswick.

special requirements

So what do you need to think about when bringing a bouncing pack of excitement with you when camping?

• Food and water: you would be surprised at the number of people who, in the  midst of getting everything together, sort of forget the dog food.  If I learned one thing about camping with a dog, it's to bring food and water.
• Towel (2 preferably): when rain comes, you will be extremely happy to have these. Unless you really like the smell of wet dog in the tent/pop-up/trailer. With two you can rotate them, one is drying while the other is being used. 
• Leash and tie-down: A leash is mandatory in some places. We always bring a spiral tie-down with 20ft of  line. Camping is a great place for dogs to discover amazing new smells. A lot of them actually want to get close to those smells. Unfortunately, your camping neighbor might not enjoy getting goosed by a nosy dog, and a skunk will surely not appreciate your dog's friendly hello.
• Poop-bags: Do everybody a favor and pick up after your dog. I just think, if the place where the dog pooped is inappropriate for human waste, then it's inappropriate for the dog's waste. Pick up!
• Play toys: Unbelievably a dog could get bored at a campsite.  Get in some playtime with toys. The dog will sleep well and so will you.