I want to ditch my tent but.......

J

jlouis976

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Feb 25, 2008
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396
I usually take my dog backpacking with me.

I'm tired of lugging around my tent and my sleeping pad. Ideally I'd like to pick up a hammock but I don't know if that would work with the dog. In a perfect world, I would be able to use my Camelbak Mule as my bag. This would be for spring/summer/fall camping. What would you guys recommend? I would just sleep under the stars but the dog will pick fights with raccoons and possums so it isn't really an option.

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Can't you just take a nylon lead with you and stake him next to you?

I don't think anything will want to run up on him.
 
you could go silnylon tarp with a bugnet type of enclosure.

i would keep the pad though, its smoother and softer than sleeping on the ground.

siltarps and bugnets can be packed down pretty tiny. i've seen a 5x8' siltarp that is less than half the size of a (1 liter) nalgene packed. add another bundle the size of a nalgene for a bug net and you're set for shelter.
 
PrimitiveMan said:
Can't you just take a nylon lead with you and stake him next to you?

I don't think anything will want to run up on him.
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I actually tried exactly that and the dog chewed through the cord. I woke up to a low growl that was followed by repeated thuds. My dog got a hold of the possum and was shaking the tar out of the thing, beating it on the ground. Luckily my dog didn't have a scratch and the possum hobbled off.
 
Your dog shouldn't be a worry... does it bark alot in a tent at night? A racoon would probably steer clear of your camp with a dog close by. Just tie it off to a tree if you are worried it will wander at night.

I should have asked what kind of dog it is from the get-go.... If its a chihuahua... bring it in the hammock with you.... lol.
 
siguy said:
you could go silnylon tarp with a bugnet type of enclosure.

i would keep the pad though, its smoother and softer than sleeping on the ground.

siltarps and bugnets can be packed down pretty tiny. i've seen a 5x8' siltarp that is less than half the size of a (1 liter) nalgene packed. add another bundle the size of a nalgene for a bug net and you're set for shelter.
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With the bug net that might work well. How do the tarps do when it rains hard?
 
She wouldn't wander, but she is really gamey. I've spent a lot of time training her to hunt and it is pretty hard to get her to stop.

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it depends alot on size and material of the tarp...

most modern materials will do well strung up taught against most wind and rain...

as for size...in the rain; the bigger the better. i suggest having two, or if you can only afford one to start with, go bigger. a 10x10 tarp will give you plenty of room inside for your sleeping and sitting around. you can hang it tight to the ground if its really coming down and still have a pretty good amount of space inside.

for nice weather, something like a 5x8' would probably do you fine. if the weather forecast is for nice clear nights and sunny days, it is a good idea to bring it along just in case. there are a few makers of 5x8' silnylon ponchos that you can use as a tarp as well, so it could be a double duty just-in-case.
 
I'm going to have to look into those ponchos. I'm not too familiar with those products. Thanks for the tip.
 
the only maker off the top of my head is Integral Designs, but there are a few out there.
 
does your tent have a rain fly ? if so just pack the rain fly and use it for you & the dog to sleep under if you can....dog stake & Tether
 
RRR said:
VIZSLA!!!!!!!!!!!! I've wanted one for years you luck lucky man.
-R
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Best dog I've ever owned.
Ridiculously hyper, driven and obsessive, but awesome if you can direct all of the energy and tendencies. If you can't.......dear Lord are they tough dogs. I love them, but I don't recommend them to most folks unless you plan to do something outside with them everyday.

No joke- I use to take this dog mountain biking 20 miles a day, EVERYDAY, until my kids were born. When we would finish biking, she would immediately sprint to the truck, jump in the back and pull out a tennis ball to play fetch. She didn't even want water, I had to force her to drink.
 
You might consider getting a Cooke Custom Sewing Lean - I like the one the the netting and sod cloth for bug protection. Very light and simple, though not cheap.

http://www.cookecustomsewing.com/leans.htm

You could bring a post and short chain/cable to keep him in the Lean with you. Doubt he'll chew through the chain.
 
kenk you bastard.:grumpy:

You just cost me alot of $$ in the near future. :D

Very cool link. I want one of those shelters, and one of the bug drapes.:thumbup:
 
I think the Camelback Hawg is the bare minimum size I can use w/o a tent, and that's only if I take my Lafuma sleeping bag.
 
I wonder how well your dog would be able to sleep in the open air all night. I've done some reading about dog psychology (I have a dog), and I've read about how many dogs need defined and enclosed spaces to relax and sleep in, hence why they tend to gravitate toward the undersides of decks, porches and why we make dog houses for them.

My dog I suspect would never be able to hack sleeping at night under open sky.

I'd recommend, if you can, to experiment with sleeping with your dog in a backyard, tent-less, to see how he (she?) does there first, before heading to the backcountry.

Matt
 
hollowdweller said:
I think the Camelback Hawg is the bare minimum size I can use w/o a tent, and that's only if I take my Lafuma sleeping bag.
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I'll only be going out like this in good weather so I won't need to pack as much. I haven't tried it yet but I really want to see if I can swing it with just the Hawg for a 1-2 night trip. The idea is to make it a long trail run and running with my expedition pack and tent just isn't ideal.
 
Lawlor69 said:
I wonder how well your dog would be able to sleep in the open air all night. I've done some reading about dog psychology (I have a dog), and I've read about how many dogs need defined and enclosed spaces to relax and sleep in, hence why they tend to gravitate toward the undersides of decks, porches and why we make dog houses for them.

My dog I suspect would never be able to hack sleeping at night under open sky.

I'd recommend, if you can, to experiment with sleeping with your dog in a backyard, tent-less, to see how he (she?) does there first, before heading to the backcountry.

Matt
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My dog Bear just sleeps right up against the outside of the tent. Also at home he and my other dog sleep out in the hayfield all the time. Years ago we slept under a tarp and when I woke up there was my old dog Joshua against me and then I was against Ms Hd and then against Ms HD was our other dog Kate.

One time I was backpacking with Bear and I was laying around the fire. There was the fire and then a rock at my back. He kept trying to lay against me and was crowding me all to hell.

Finally I pushed him out of the way and he wandered out of sight. A few minutes later I was trying to figure out where he went and scanning the periphery illuminated by the fire. No Bear. Then I looked up (I was laying stretched out on my side by the fire) and Bear was stretched out Justl like I was with his head about 6" from mine.:rolleyes:
 
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