How to prepare for the first camping trip with your dog

If you’re looking to plan a fun and affordable trip that you can also take your dog on, a camping trip could be the perfect solution. But, if your furry friend has never slept in a tent or spent much time in the great outdoors, you’ll want to properly prepare so you can ensure it’s an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

To help you out, I’m going to share my top tips for preparing to take your dog on its very first camping trip. Take my advice on board and everything should go much more smoothly.

Choose the right destination and campsite

Before you decide exactly where to take your dog on its first camping trip, I would recommend coming up with a shortlist of destinations and researching each one thoroughly. You’ll want to ensure the area you settle on offers plenty of activities and walking trails that both you and your dog can enjoy. It’s also important that you check whether the local pubs and restaurants are dog-friendly — this way, you won’t have to worry about asking a neighbour to keep an eye on your pooch whenever you want to treat your family to a nice meal.

You’ll need to vet every campsite you’re thinking about staying on, too. You might be surprised by how many sites aren’t actually dog-friendly, and there’ll be some that allow dogs, but that mightn’t be the safest or most comfortable. Check each campsite’s website to get an idea of whether they allow pets and what kinds of facilities they have. Then look at independent reviews to see if other dog owners have had positive experiences. This will help you to make the best possible decision on where to stay.

Practice in your garden first

If your dog has never stayed in a tent, or you’re worried they might be unsettled by the camping experience in general, why not get them used to everything by practicing in your garden? Whenever you’re enjoying your outdoor space in the lead-up to your trip, consider setting up the tent you’re planning to stay in. Then, give your dog free rein so they can explore the space they’ll eventually be sleeping in. You can even add their bed to make it clear that they’re welcome.

5 Tips For Driving On Country Roads

From incredibly tight bends to herds of sheep, country roads are full of hazards that you’re unlikely to find on your daily commute. In fact, on average, three people die on country roads every day. Plus, there are 10 times as many fatalities on rural roads than on motorways, according to the RAC Foundation. Therefore, if you’re looking to embark on your first drive through the countryside, it’s worth preparing for the journey in advance.

Here you’ll find our top tips for driving on country roads, which will help to keep you, your passengers, and other drivers safe. Read on to find out more.

Adjust your speed

Most UK country roads have a speed limit of 60mph. However, this is rarely a safe speed to travel, according to road safety charity Brake.

So, if you turn a corner and encounter an oncoming vehicle or group of pedestrians, you’ll have no chance of stopping in time. Speeds of around 40mph are more appropriate when you’re driving in the countryside.

It’s also vital that you keep an eye out for road-side poles that display instructions or warnings. If you find one with a number of signs, you should read it from the top down and be prepared to deal with any hazards in that order.

Expect the unexpected

As we’ve mentioned, there are far more hazards on country roads. From slow-moving tractors to herds of cows, you should be prepared to encounter the unexpected.

You should move at a steady pace, and stay alert. Sharp turns, dips in the road, and hiddencrests are all common hazards that you’re likely to come across when driving on rural roads, so you need to be ready to slow down or stop at a

When you do finally set off on your adventure, it might be worth taking some of your dog’s home comforts, such as their food bowls and bed. It’s likely this will help them to settle into the trip much more quickly.

Stick to their schedule while you’re away moment’s notice.

If possible, it’s best to stick to your dog’s existing schedule while you’re away. So, they should still be sleeping and eating at the same time. As this is their first camping trip, there’s already going to be plenty for them to get used to, so giving them something familiar to hold on to will help to keep them as comfortable as possible.

Dogs looking out of tent on camping tripIf you’re going to be driving long distances, try to schedule stops roughly around the times your dog would usually be eating or going for a walk. Again, this will help to keep them happy, and keeping to their routine as much as possible will also make it much easier for them to settle back into their everyday life when you return home.

Keep overtaking to a minimum

When driving on country roads, you should try to overtake as little as possible. When you do need to overtake, make sure that you won’t be putting yourself or other drivers in danger. The best way to do this is to anticipate what might happen when you pull out to overtake. Are you sure that the vehicle in front of you isn’t going to turn right, and that no traffic is going to join the carriageway from a side road? If you aren’t 100% sure that it’s safe to overtake, you should hang back — it isn’t worth putting yourself in danger to get to your destination slightly earlier.

Don’t stressdrive

If you don’t have much experience, driving on rural roads can be overwhelming. But, if you worry too much, you run the risk of getting distracted. So, while you need to remain alert for your entire journey, you should also try to relax and take everything as it comes.

Next time you’re driving on rural roads, keep these five tips in mind. They’ll help keep you safe and calm until you reach your destination.