Dogs and rooftop tents

[Bergger]

And you don't worry about coyotes, etc.? Part of it is a temperture issue. In the winter they are usually okay because they have winter coats, but in the other three seasons, they don't and it still gets cold. The last trip each dog went to bed wearing a fleece sweatshirt and a fleece vest. That was just about enough and it wasn't even that cold out (above 25 for sure). In fairness to them that was the first outing with a new tent and it is not warm at all (Big Agnes Seedhouse SL3).

QUOTE]

If you have smaller dogs then I would definitely keep them in the tent or very close by. Small dogs are easy pickins for Coyotes. Mine are 85 and 95lbs respectively and I'd be more worried about he Coyotes than the dogs. I never let them sleep outside when they are loose. I usually tie them up on a short cable and keep them under the camper or in the bed of the truck. Actually my main concerns are the porcupines and mountain lions. The last trip my Husky came real close to getting into it with a porcupine. And I don't care if you have a 150-200lbs dog. No single dog can fight off a hungry Mountain Lion.

 

[flyingwil]

Ruff Ware

I know that Ruff Ware (dog equip) used to make a dog ground tent. I wanted to stock and carry them, but they no longer make the tents. With some kennel training a smaller dog tent would make the dog(s) rather comforable, and help simulate the "den" natural instincts.

If anyone finds a source for the dog tents please let me know.

 

[Charger92]

Check here:

http://www.rei.com/product/47883251.htm

http://www.coleman.com/coleman/ColemanCom/detail.asp?product_id=8742-301

 

[FlyingWen]

When our Eez-Awn arrives, I want the dogs sleeping in the tent with us (hubby objects) HOWEVER, I plan on this:
The PetStep II: When unfolded and extended it is 70" in length. You can buy a carrying case and floatation bouys for it also.

We have older dogs and I do not want them jumping out of the tent and risking breaking something.
At night, we can just slip the ramp into the truck bed!

See, Wil.. I have it all figured out! .. you poor guy :jump:

 

[bigreen505]

Wil, REI has a kid tent that is shockingly similar to the Ruffwear tents of old.

Bergger, my dogs are not lunch size, but are not big enough to scare off anything mean. A few years ago our camp got stampeded by a heard of Coyotes and I can't imagine what would have happened with a dog tied up to a tree or even just hangin' in the vestibule. That is what sparked this thread.

Brian, that harness idea is a good one. Do they sell that separately, or only as part of the packs?

 

[SinCity4r]

Do they sell that separately, or only as part of the packs?

Here is the harness:
http://www.ruffwear.com/Web-Master-trade-Harness?sc=2&category=16

 

[DesertRose]

That must be a trait with border collies. Our BC, Gabby, is quite positive she is people. It probably has nothing to do with how we spoil her.

Nope - we NEVER spoil our dog. Never. Ever.

BTW, the "spineless sleep" thing must be border collie, too - before he got old and arthritic, he would twist in the weirdest contortions for sleeping!

[The photo, by the way, was snapped when I got home and found him - illegally - on the couch; he had just opened his eyes and saw me, and there was this hilarious progression of expressions from "Yawn. . ." to "Uh, OH...." to "******** - mom's home" to a slither off the couch and a sheepish wag and that expression: "Guess I can't blame it on the cat, huh?"]

 

[SLOwag]

I have used a roof top tent once with Oliver and the handle allowed me to pick him up and into the tent!!

I knew someone who ran rivers and used that harness on his dog....the handle made it easy to pluck the dog from the water and not waste time while he tries to scramble into the boat.

 

[DesertRose]

And he was the runt of the litter that no one wanted. We did and we got lucky. Ment to be.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5249518974978628334&q=skidboot&hl=en

Sorry for off topic. Back to regular programing.

We saw the Skidboot video - dang, it made me cry and cry. Our pooch is really really old (nearly 16) and blind and deaf and creaky as heck . . . but he's still happy (senility has its merits).

And FlyinWen - love the dog ramp and doggie pictures! I'd recommend the Ruffwear handle that Brian and Amy use for Ollie, too - it worked great (we saw it in action). I need to get one for our pooch, who too often thinks he's 4 again and tries to zoom off and I have to grab at whatever part of him is nearest lest he plunge off a ledge or into a cholla . . .

 

[goodtimes]

I have the same ruff-wear harness for Cherokee. While she no longer uses the "saddle bags" that came with it due to her knee injuries, the harness comes in real handy.

As for dogs sleeping in the beds...forget it! They are dogs. Dogs are not allowed on the furnature, period. Cherokee has her own bed at home, and I have a blanket for her to sleep on while camping. But she is not allowed on my "bed" (sleeping pad) while camping, just like she isn't allowed on my bed at home.

As for getting one in and out of a roof top tent....good luck with anything over about 50 pounds, without a LONG ramp. Also be sure you have a way for the dog(s) to get OUT of the tent...in a hurry if needed. It is a long way from the top of a vehicle to the ground. Jumping may not be the best thing...

 

[Brian McVickers]

They sell it as a stand alone harness
and
they use the same harness for the saddle bags, with some mods made.

Wil, REI has a kid tent that is shockingly similar to the Ruffwear tents of old.

Bergger, my dogs are not lunch size, but are not big enough to scare off anything mean. A few years ago our camp got stampeded by a heard of Coyotes and I can't imagine what would have happened with a dog tied up to a tree or even just hangin' in the vestibule. That is what sparked this thread.

Brian, that harness idea is a good one. Do they sell that separately, or only as part of the packs?

 

[bigreen505]

Also be sure you have a way for the dog(s) to get OUT of the tent...in a hurry if needed. It is a long way from the top of a vehicle to the ground. Jumping may not be the best thing...

That is an interesting point. I've had to kick a soon to be barfing dog out of the tent more than once.

 

[flyingwil]

When our Eez-Awn arrives, I want the dogs sleeping in the tent with us (hubby objects) HOWEVER, I plan on this:
The PetStep II: When unfolded and extended it is 70" in length. You can buy a carrying case and floatation bouys for it also.

We have older dogs and I do not want them jumping out of the tent and risking breaking something.
At night, we can just slip the ramp into the truck bed!

See, Wil.. I have it all figured out! .. you poor guy :jump:

Yeah, That might work, pending the angle of the ramp is not too steep. If some people have their rooftop tents mounted on their roofs it might not work. Good thing that you can buy floatation buoys for when we camp in the middle of the lake! HA! (just kidding)

Crap! I might be sleeping on the couch tonight when I get home from work, now...

 

[blupaddler]

Question for both GT and McV...

How much do your dogs weigh?

 

[goodtimes]

Cherokee was down to ~55 pounds when she was at the vet last year. Lite enough I can pick her up with the harness pretty easily to get up/down/over stuff that she won't do on her own (cattle guards, large vertical steps on hiking trails, etc). But not light enough that I would want to carry her up a ladder to a roof top tent...