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Picture this. One big 8-man tent. Me and my wife. Our four children—three teenagers and the youngest, a 10-year-old girl who just wants to jump in the camping pool. And then there’s Marlow, our cocker spaniel, a four-year-old bundle of enthusiasm who has never, not once, been camping.

We’d taken Marlow on holiday before, always to Airbnbs that accepted dogs. This was different. This was a week in a tent on a holiday park in south Devon, with the weather forecast reading 28 degrees every single day. In May! Perfect recipe for disaster. And I’m not going to lie to you: the week before we left, I was not cool about it. I was so negative. I imagined the worst: paws through air beds. Barking at 2am or anyone near the tent. Not able to sleep at night because of him barking!

And then we went. And Marlow, our lovely ginger spaniel, was absolutely brilliant. He just… was. Calm, happy, ridiculously well-behaved. He had the time of his life. We all did.

So here’s the real stuff. The things we actually did, the mistakes we almost made, and the gear that turned “what have we done” into “we’re definitely doing this again”. Pull up a chair. This is what I learned!

🐾 Quick Answer
Can you take your dog camping in a tent?

Yes, you can take your dog camping in a tent, but the key is preparation. Choose a genuinely dog-friendly campsite, bring your dog’s own bed or crate, use a long lead during the day, keep them cool in hot weather, and create a safe sleeping area inside the tent.

1. Don’t Panic. No, Really. Breathe. It’s Going to Be Alright

I want to tell you about the panic. Because I lived in that panic. I was absolutely convinced the whole thing would crumble into a farce. I imagined Marlow exploding onto the blow-up beds like a furry cannonball. I imagined mournful howling echoing across the park at 3am, strangers shaking their heads at us.

Zero of that happened.

Marlow had the time of his life! He was quiet. He was flexible. He seemed to genuinely enjoy the whole adventure. Watching him lie in the shade of a tree by the tent, ears gently flapping in the warm breeze, I realised dogs are so much more adaptable than we give them credit for. We project all our human anxiety onto them, and they just get on with it. So if you’re losing sleep before the trip, stop. Trust your dog. Honestly, they might surprise you. Marlow shocked me in the best way.

2. The Campsite Is Everything. Choose Wisely, Choose Green, Choose Dog-Obsessed

Swimming Pool at Cofton Holidays Devon — Cofton Holidays Park-Swimming Pool

This was the secret weapon. We went to Cofton Holidays, down in the beautiful south of Devon near Dawlish Warren, a place we already loved. And wow, it was made for dogs.

Cofton is big. Lush, proper countryside, with so many trees and fields. But the magic is how dog-friendly it is. And I don’t mean dog-friendly in that begrudging way where they’ve ticked a box on a website. I mean you can take your dog to the restaurant’s outdoor terrace and no one bats an eye. You can have him with you at the café while you grab a much-needed flat white. The outdoor pool area even has a specific dog zone where you can sit with your four-legged mate, though I should clarify, dogs are not allowed in the water!

When you’re researching dog-friendly campsites Devon way, or anywhere really, look for the ones where the photos show happy dogs everywhere, and the reviews are full of phrases like “they welcomed our pooch like royalty”. That’s Cofton. It made everything else possible.

3. Prep the Car Like You’re Moving a Small, Hairy VIP

This bit sounds painfully boring, I know. But honestly, a well-prepped car means a calm journey, and a calm journey means you arrive without wanting to kill each other. We took two cars. My wife drove the large Citroën Berlingo XL van with three of the kids and Marlow in the back. I followed in my car with my son and literally all the equipment we needed.

In the boot of the Berlingo I laid down a massive sheet of cardboard, cut exactly to fit. The whole floor. Cheap as chips. It protected the carpet from claws and the inevitable post-walk mud. On top went his bed. Then I took his portable dog pen and dismantled it into panels, slotting them behind the back seats and along the side to create a barrier. No more spaniel attempting a flying leap onto the kids’ laps on the M5. No scratches on the windows. No drama. Just a peaceful drive with a dog who sighed, lay down, and watched the world go by through the gap. And when we unpacked? The dog hair clean-up took about thirty seconds. I just lifted the cardboard and binned it. I’ll never, ever travel without a cardboard floor again.

☀️ Hot Weather Safety When Camping with Your Dog

🔥 Never leave your dog in a hot tent or car. Even minutes can be fatal.
💧 Water, water, water. Have multiple bowls around the pitch and top them up constantly.
🌳 Shade is non-negotiable. A canopy bed or a simple tarp strung up can save the day.
🕶️ Walk early or late. Midday tarmac and sand will burn paw pads. If it's too hot for your hand, it's too hot for them.
🧊 Cooling hacks help. A damp towel to lie on, frozen water bottles wrapped in a sock, or a paddling pool (if the site allows) are brilliant.
⚠️ Know the signs of heatstroke: excessive panting, drooling, lethargy, vomiting, or collapse. Act fast and find a vet.

4. Daytime Gear That Absolutely Saved Us

Dog outdoor bed with canopy — Marlow enjoying his elevated bed!

Once you’re actually on the pitch, trying to put up a tent with four children “helping” and a dog weaving through your legs, you need a few things. Immediately.

A very long lead you can attach to a solid post.
This was a game-changer. While we wrestled with poles and argued about which bit went where, Marlow was safely tethered on a long training lead, happily sniffing an entire ecosystem of grass without getting under our feet or deciding to go and introduce himself to a barbecue three pitches over. It gave him freedom, but it gave us control. (Affiliate link: [long training lead here])

Where to Buy

Long Training Lead

This is the long lead we used to give Marlow freedom while we set up camp. A total game-changer.

Check price on Amazon →

An elevated outdoor bed with its own little canopy.

I was so excited about this. A raised bed with a sun shade! Marlow would be cool, comfortable, off the grass. Perfect. For the first two days he was utterly baffled by it. He looked at this thing like it was a modern sculpture he didn’t trust. He’d lie right next to it on the grass, looking up at us as if to say, “What on earth is that?” Then, on day three, he casually hopped up, stretched out like a tiny canine king, and that was it. He lived in that bed. The canopy kept the sun off his back, the elevation let the breeze circulate underneath him. It’s now permanently in our camping kit. (Affiliate link: [elevated canopy dog bed here])

Where to Buy

Elevated Outdoor Dog Bed with Canopy

This is the elevated bed we bought and used for Marlow. For the first two days he wasn't sure, but once he figured it out he barely left it. It kept him cool, shaded, and off the hot grass — a proper little throne.

Check price on Amazon →

A couple of his favourite toys.
Nothing fancy. Just the ones that stink of home, the ones he carries around when he’s feeling a bit emotional. In the quiet moments when the sun was going down and the kids were playing Uno, he’d lie with his toy and gently destroy it, and it was just… home.

✅ Dog Camping Checklist

✔ Long training lead
✔ Portable dog pen / crate
✔ Elevated outdoor bed with canopy
✔ Familiar bed or blanket
✔ Food & airtight container
✔ Collapsible water bowl
✔ Plenty of fresh water
✔ Poop bags (and more poop bags)
✔ Towel for muddy paws
✔ Favourite toys (2 max)
✔ Dog first-aid kit
✔ ID tag & recent photo
✔ Flea/tick prevention
✔ Carpet protector for the car (cardboard works!)

5. The Sleeping Situation

Right. This is the big one. How do you sleep in a tent with a dog, surrounded by inflatable beds that cost real money, and not wake up to a catastrophe? Our solution was so simple it almost felt like cheating.

We brought that same portable dog pen I mentioned earlier—the lightweight foldable one—and we set it up inside the tent, right next to our sleeping area. Inside the pen went his bed, his blanket, and a safe chew toy. He had his own defined den, within sight and smell of all of us, but physically contained. And guess what? He slept all night. Every single night. Quiet as a mouse. No pacing, no claws on air beds, no standing on someone’s head at 4am. The pen made the floor space a bit tighter, sure, but the sleep we all got? Worth every squeezed inch. If your dog is used to a crate at home, this will feel completely natural. It was honestly the single best decision we made. – the one we used packs flat in seconds and is genuinely tent-friendly, not a giant heavy crate.)

So, Would We Do It Again?

In a heartbeat.

Yes, it was a lot. A big tent, two adults, four kids, one spaniel, and weather that felt like the Mediterranean had popped over to Devon for the week. But watching Marlow trot back from a woodland walk, tongue lolling, tail going like a helicopter, then flop onto his elevated bed like he didn’t have a care in the world… that’s the stuff. We made memories. We laughed. We survived a blow-up bed situation that I fully expected to end in disaster. And Marlow, my little mate, proved he’s an outdoor dog at heart, even if he does prefer his canopy bed with a side of shade and a view.

If you’re dithering about your first trip tent camping with a dog—go for it. Pick a site that actually loves dogs, pack a long lead and a pen, and remember to breathe. Your dog is very probably more chilled about this than you are. And you might just have the best holiday yet.

FAQs Camping with a Dog: Your Questions Answered

Can my dog really sleep in the tent with us? ▼

Absolutely — and they'll probably love it. The key is creating a safe, contained space. We used a portable dog pen inside the tent with his own bed, and it worked a charm. No air beds were harmed.

How do I keep my dog calm when camping? ▼

Bring familiar things from home. Your dog’s own bed, blanket, toys and normal food can all help. Try to keep a simple routine with walks, meals and rest. Also, stay calm yourself. I was far more stressed than Marlow before our trip, and in the end he was the relaxed one.

Is camping with a dog stressful? ▼

It can be stressful before you go, mostly because you imagine everything that could go wrong. I did exactly that. But with the right campsite, a good sleeping setup, a long lead and a bit of planning, it can be much easier than expected. Marlow surprised us completely.

What if my dog barks at every little noise? ▼

A tired dog is a quiet dog. Long walks, mental stimulation, and a solid bedtime routine make a huge difference. Also, having their familiar bed or crate inside the tent gives them a den-like feeling that cuts anxiety. Marlow barely made a peep all week.

Is it safe to tie my dog up outside the tent? ▼

Only if you're there to supervise. A long training lead attached to a solid post or ground stake is great while you're cooking or setting up camp. Never leave them tied up unattended — it can lead to tangling, panic, or theft.

Do I really need a special dog bed for camping? ▼

You can bring your dog's regular bed, but an elevated outdoor bed with a canopy was a game-changer for us. It kept Marlow cool on hot grass, gave him shade, and gave him his own spot that wasn't our sleeping bag.

Can I leave my dog alone in the tent? ▼

Not a good idea. Tents heat up quickly, even on mild days, and a dog left alone can panic, scratch their way out, or become a nuisance. If you need to pop to the shower block, take it in turns. The holiday is for the dog too!

Jerome

About the author: I'm Jerome, founder of Dapper & Groomed. I've spent the past 13 years testing and reviewing men's lifestyle gear,speakers, earbuds, headphones, skincare products, fragrances, grooming products on this blog and on my YouTube channel. My reviews are never approved or previewed by brands — just honest, real-world testing from a dad who's been at this since 2013.

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