Like many of us, your dog is your sidekick and constant companion. It’s natural you’d want to take your best friend along on your next overlanding expedition to share in the freedom of life off grid. Your dog will not only love spending quality time with you, he won’t be able to get enough of the sites, smells, and sounds of the wild.
We’ve put together some helpful suggestions on how to plan and pack for a successful overlanding adventure with your dog. With a little planning, everyone can learn some new tricks.
Assess Your Dog
The first step in preparing is actually quite simple. You know your dog better than anyone. Is your pooch the type to enjoy traveling? Does he get stressed riding in cars or in strange environments? Make sure your pup has the desire or personality for overlanding. No one wants to be forced into doing something they aren’t meant to do, including animals. However, some breeds are born for adventure!
Order Preventatives for Your Dog
If your dog isn’t on year-round preventatives, you may want to schedule an appointment to discuss options with your veterinarian or request a prescription.
Get Up-to-Date Vaccinations
Make sure your dog’s vaccinations such as Rabies, Distemper, and Parvo are up-to-date. You never know if your dog may accidently surprise a wild animal along the trail and get a bite. Vaccines are critical to preventing further complications.
Inspect Tag and Collar
Inspect your dog’s collar to verify it’s in good shape. One suggestion would be to invest in a break-away collar so if your dog’s collar gets stuck on a branch, it will break open and not cause harm to your pup. It’s also important to inspect the tag to make sure contact information is updated and that it’s attached securely to the collar. Have an extra collar in your pack just in case one goes missing.
Brush up on Training
The wilderness will be an exciting environment for your dog so he’s going to be in a constant state of excitement. Never allow your dog to roam off leash while hiking. Practice basic commands like stay, leave it, here, drop it, and quiet so you can keep control of situations and avoid having your dog get into dangerous situations.
Packing for your dog can be fairly simple if you stay organized. Try to think about activities you will both be doing during your expedition. Pack the appropriate items you’ll need such as old towels to dry off after swimming or a portable water bowl for trail hiking.
Also calculate how much food to pack based on the duration of your trip. Be sure to look up any local stores nearby where you can pick up extra supplies if needed.
Your Off Grid Trailer will no doubt provide the extra space you’ll need to store the extra pet supplies you’ll need to bring along.
Use the following checklist to make sure you haven’t missed packing any essential items for your companion. Many of these items can be purchased at your local pet store or on Amazon.com or Chewy.com.
It’s absolutely critical to make sure you have enough water for yourself and your pup. This is where your off road trailer can make things a bit easier. The Expedition 2.0 holds 31 gallons of water while the Pando 2.0 holds about 33 gallons to give you access to potable water when you need it.
There’s no doubt your dog will enjoy every second of your overlanding adventure. Not only will it give you companionship while off grid, your bond will grow even stronger as you look out for one another in the wild.
For more information on Off Grid Trailers or to build your own trailer, contact us today!
Just as there are always general precautions to take while overlanding, it’s especially important to take a few extra steps during the winter months. Unpredictable weather and freezing temperatures can turn any adventure into a dangerous situation if you’re not properly prepared.
It’s really important to plan how your camp kitchen will be set up. Think about it, you’ll be spending your days hiking, fishing, and adventuring so food and how you’ll prepare it should not be an afterthought.
The crisp air and falling leaves can only mean one thing to adventurers…hunting season is upon us! With the possibility of unpredictable weather this time of year, temperatures can change on a dime so you’ll quickly see how your Off Grid trailer will become your steadfast partner during the hunt.
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