[~maryanne~]

Our Aussie Shepherd has mis-behaved his way into coming camping . As in, no one wants to look after him because he's a right PITA if you don't know how to deal with him. (EDIT: Really, I should say 'I'm not game to ask anyone to look after him anymore because he is a right PITA'. I haven't actually asked anyone this time)

We haven't taken him camping since he was 5ish months old, but that was only for 2 night. He has a crate and a pen we can attach to it that he can't jump out of, which will be under the shade of our tarp. I'll take him some bones and a crate cover to keep him busy and quiet if we leave him for half an hour. We have poo bags, his long lead and harness for swimming, infin8 nose collar and double ended lead for walking, tick treatment and vacs up to date.


We have a tentative booking at a boarding kennel 45 minutes from our camp spot so we can drop him off if things go pear shaped, but I actually like the idea of having him with us, he is heaps of fun, but I need to prove to my partner that he will not be a nuisance. Most of his nuisance type behavior can be avoided with a bit of planning and good management.

Main catch will be going 4wding. I can give him a nice thick foam matress for his crate on the ute but not sure it's a good idea to take him when it might be rough (We are not into extreme stuff, but it could be bumpy I guess)

WDYT?? What else should I be taking/thinking about to keep him happy and therefore keep our fellow campers happy?

ETA: He will not be in the sun on the ute - it has a roof over the tray but no sides so no chance of cooking him on the drive :-)

This post has been edited by ~maryanne~: 05/01/2013, 07:57 AM

[Holidayromp]

If he is a PITA in general how do you think he is going to behave at a campsite with unfamiliar sights and smells? If he hasn't been camping since a pup and you are going to be doing unsuitable things for a dog then I suggest you drop him off at the boarding kennels BEFORE you get to the campsite.

You don't want the dog to be a nuisance to other campers and have a rough start only to realise a day later that it is not going to work and you have to muck around getting him to the kennels.

I am not a big fan of animals on holidays so maybe that is clouding my judgement but then again some people have been taking their (well behaved) dogs on holidays since they were pups so how do you think that it is going to work for a dog that 'mis-behaves' and hasn't been on holiday since a pup?

Also with regards to its everyday issues - have you been to obedience classes?

This post has been edited by Holidayromp: 05/01/2013, 07:24 AM

[~maryanne~]

Well see, he is not a PITA if he is managed. For example, I say 'crate the dog before you ride the motorbikes' or he will bark his head off and chase the motor bikes,'crate the dog to feed him' or he MIGHT get in a scrap with another dog over food (hasn't happened yet) I say he needs to be inside or in his pen at night or he WILL bark his head off. He is a fiesty dog, he needs to be managed, which is both work and difficult for people with non-fiesty dogs to understand (Don't get me wrong - I completely understand they should not have to go to the extra effort - he is not their dog)


I have one person who has looked after him well in the past, but now lives next to a dog that he will fence run with, so I'm not going to ask her to put up with that. I'm not going to ask my neighbours to just pop over and feed him because they shouldn't have to put up with his barking.


So yeah, I don't think he will be a huge problem but I don't want him to be bored either.



This post has been edited by ~maryanne~: 07/01/2013, 06:18 AM

[MrsLexiK]

Your dog sounds a bit like mine. He is only welcomed at my mums place now after he went on digging and barking jobs at my dads whilst we were away. (For the record the last time he dug at our place would have been in the first month we got him) Even at my mums he is not welcome a lot as he likes to try and "play" with the cat and he bolts - but only when it suits him. We take him camping and he is well behaved, he doesn't bolt when off lead like he does if the front door opens to quickly or the garage door is open when he is in the garage. Just like at the beach he comes back when called. He doesn't bark or whine or dig because we are there with him so there is no need to.
I'd probably try him 4wd - the worst that is going to happen, is he will get carsick.

[~maryanne~]

Yes, similiar to your dog :-). He doesn't dig or chew shoes or anything like that, but he will bolt given the chance (so I don't give him the chance). He will chase bikes given the chance (so I don't give him the chance) He will bark all night given the chance (so I don't give him the chance). If really really pushed to it he WILL fight, so I try not to put him in a situation where he is pushed to it.

[Zephie Chugger]

We have just got back from 8 days bush camping with" pets allowed"( taking our two dogs next time) most of the dogs there were very happy with a good walk/run or two, swimming and sitting in the shade.Being already 'crate trained is a big plus,maybe a kong with peanut butter or his dinner.

We have taken our "fiesty" dogs camping up to a few weeks at a time ,you sound like you know what he is like just be leader of the pack.

[*Spikey*]

So what have you done in the period between the first episode of PITA and now, that will make things 'different'? Have you done a lot of obedience, and how much verbal control over the dog do you have? Can you stop him in his tracks, and why is he still barking at motorbikes (as in, why haven't you trained to address this behaviour)?

If the answer is, I'm trying or nothing is really working, then I'd board the dog from the beginning. If the answer is, he's now a calm, happy dog that doesn't chase and will obey every command I give, then take him camping.

[~maryanne~]

So what have you done in the period between the first episode of PITA and now, that will make things 'different'? Have you done a lot of obedience, and how much verbal control over the dog do you have? Can you stop him in his tracks, and why is he still barking at motorbikes (as in, why haven't you trained to address this behaviour)?

If the answer is, I'm trying or nothing is really working, then I'd board the dog from the beginning. If the answer is, he's now a calm, happy dog that doesn't chase and will obey every command I give, then take him camping.

He will definatly still chase motor bikes, one hundred percent without a doubt. No motorbikes allowed where we are going, and as he will be crated or on lead at all times not a problem in this instance. My question is what else could I bring to keep him more entertained. He gives up on kongs pretty quickly, but we used to have a kibble ball I will try find.

In a crate or on a lead you can zoom the bike straight past him and he will lay calmly, so it is not like he will be worked up but contained. He will be calm. He has had a lot of obedience training but still has a 'nah, don't feel like it thanks' attitude if he deems what he wants to do as more rewarding than pats, praise and food.

This post has been edited by ~maryanne~: 05/01/2013, 08:18 AM

[*Spikey*]

Maryanne, for your own sake, and for an enjoyable holiday where you're not constantly worrying about the dog, put him in boarding. As you say, he's not exactly 100% reliable and you have to crate him in order to ensure he doesn't muck up. He'd get more space boarding - plus you can organise fun activities for him while he is there, and you and your partner can have a relaxed good time.

(Have fun!)