The Best Tent For Dog Owners – How To Choose It

This article is meant to help you find the best tent for dog owners.

Why is this going to be useful for you?

I am not going to list some products from Amazon and write down some manufacturer descriptions. I am going to try to find out what dog-friendly tents are and where to look for a good deal.

So, without further ado, let’s jump straight into it.

What makes a tent dog-friendly?

Your search for this topic proves that you really care about your dog. I completely understand the idea of trying to make your dog feel comfortable when you go camping.

But when it comes to finding out what makes a tent dog-friendly, you need to think about how much time your dog will spend inside a tent. From my experience, the dogs never get inside one unless somebody is already there. Many dogs are scared by confined spaces, and if you have a two-person, low-profile tent, they might not even get inside.

If you live in the city and you don’t go camping so often, I bet your dog is going to enjoy the outdoors so much that he will prefer to stay out.

So, in my opinion, the only thing that matters for him will be the sleeping area. And this is where you have to step in because you probably know your dog’s sleeping behavior.

Is your dog moving all the time and can’t find a sleeping position? Then you might want to consider a tent with a dog room; otherwise, you will not get any sleep. If there are no such problems and you have plenty of space for him to sleep near you, then that’s the perfect tent for a dog.

Dogs don’t care about the material from which the tent is made, but there are some other things that you might need to consider before buying one:

• Can it be ventilated? Airflow is essential, especially if you are camping in hot weather. Water vapors will quickly build up inside, and dogs hate hot and humid spaces. Always check the airflow specifications.
• Will the floor be strong enough not to get ripped if your dog starts going crazy while playing? Unlike cats, dogs can’t retract their claws. And we all know how wild they can get in a frenzy. Sharp nails could mean that you’ll have to buy a new tent next time.
• If you go for a tent with a separate room for pets, then you need to make sure that the place will not be just another confined space. Some dogs need to see their owners, and locking them in a small plastic room will only make things worse. So, even if you want them to sleep in a separate space, ensure they have access to you. Most likely, the dog will choose not to come to you because it’s already tight in there.

Should you get a separate tent for your dog?

I have to be honest with this. And my answer is no unless you know for sure that your dog will use it.

I’ve seen this happening once. A friend of mine once bought a tiny tent for pets. Yes, he did pay $150 for it, because this what you do if you love your dog. After setting it up, he noticed that Theo (the dog’s name) had no interest in the tent. Theo never wanted to get inside, and not even the old snack trick helped.

So he decides to “force” him in, thinking that he will get familiar with the place and use it after that.  The dog got so scared that today, whenever they go camping, Theo never gets close to a tent. He runs away when somebody is pitching a tent.

I know that forcing a dog to do something is not the best way to approach things, but this is not what I wanted to highlight. Dogs are naturally scared of confined spaces because their brain thinks that getting in there will leave him with no option to run away in case he is attacked. You can see this behavior whenever you throw the dog a ball, and that gets under a coffee table or something. Most of them will be scared to go under the table to bring back the ball.

The best tent for dog owners on Amazon

This is going to be a small review section for some tents that I found on Amazon, which are suitable if you want to bring your dog on a camping trip.

I am not going to review any of them horrible plastic bags that they call pet-friendly tents. They just don’t work in my opinion. But, if you want to look for those pop-up dog tents, there’s a link for inspiration.

Tents for summer trips with your dog

There are so many options out there if you plan a camping trip with your dog on a summer day. In my opinion, any tent with a screen room will do the trick. Many times this screen room is big enough to accommodate a small or a large dog.

1. Coleman Steel Creek Fast Pitch Dome Tent with Screen Room – suitable for 6 person

Everything your dog needs comes with this tent. It has a big screen room that I think it can be suitable for even two large dogs. Having mesh walls will give your dog the impression that he’s not trapped inside, but at the same time, the screen room will protect it from bugs and mosquitoes.

The floor is not made from the strongest possible material, but you don’t have to bother too much if your dog will only stay inside the screen room. You don’t need to worry about ventilation either.

Other features that can benefit you:

• Window Awnings – this will help you ventilate the tent when it’s raining
• Quick set up system – no headaches with this fast pitching system
• Reflective guy lines – this will increase the visibility at night and reduce the risks of tripping

2. Coleman Tent Carlsbad Dark Room Domed – Family Tent for 4 people and a dog

There’s a reason why I keep choosing Coleman tents when it comes to camping with dogs. They have this patented WheaterTec system for their floors. They’re designed to keep the space dry, and they are strong enough to prevent tears and punctures. There’s a 9 x 4 feet screen room for your dog to use as a shelter.

But there’s something in them for you as well. The Dark Room in the name means that almost 95%percent of the sunlight can’t pass through the fabric giving you a nice sleep even after sunrise.

You should expect to pay around $150 for it, but it’s one of the tents that will last you season after season.

Winter camping tents for you and your dog

I think you’ve figured this out, but I’ll say it anyway.  A tent with a screen room will not work during winter camping. A separate room in a tent might be a bad idea as well. During cold winter nights, the more body heat can be generated in a tent the better for everybody.

So, sleeping with your dog and not sending him in a separate room is probably the best thing to do.

Winter nights are unpredictable. A waterproofed and insulated tent will sort you out, but I have to say, they don’t come cheap.

Crua Tri Thermo Insulated tent 

I don’t know anybody who’s complaining about this tent. Man, it has everything.

• Complete block of sunlight. Not that this can be a problem in the winter, but it’s nice if you’re sensitive to sunlight in the morning (no, it’s not about a bad hangover..or maybe)
• A huge sleeping area. Even though the manufacturer says it’s a 3 person tent, I am impressed with the width of the sleeping area. 3 people and a dog can comfortably sleep in this tent.
• A thick layer of insulation. Now, this is the good part with it. Most people believe that if it has thick insulation, it’s only good for winter. Wrong. Guys, insulation work both ways. I bet this tent will work better staying cooled during summer than any other tent you want to mention.
• They doubled the the thickness of the groundsheet which made it impossible to puncture.
• There are no plastic poles. Strong and durable aluminum poles will guarantee that this tent is an investment for the years to come.
• High-quality fabric that will resist season after season and will not deteriorate in direct sunlight.

Does my dog need a sleeping bag?

Again, you are the only person that can answer this question because you know your dog’s behavior. Most of the times I would say no, any thick blanket will do the trick.

But if you still want to consider getting one, I suggest you look for a cave style sleeping bag. Why? Because it has the look of a natural shelter that dogs are always attracted to.

Conclusion

The best tent for camping with dogs is the one that will fit you, the owner, not the dog. They don’t care about brand, fabric, guy lines, etc. All they need is a place to crash, and it’s crucial that they don’t feel trapped inside otherwise they can panic.

Personally, my dog always slept in my tent. He was always happy, and because of this I never had to buy a specific shelter. Some may say that it can bring all the dirt inside and make a mess. I’ll tell you this. During daytime, your dog will not get in unless he feels sick. He will enjoy nature as much as you do. And when it comes to pulling the curtain, just wipe its pawns with some cloth, and you’ll be good to go.

But that’s just my dog and my story and yours might be different. If you have any suggestions for other dog owners or you think there are better tents for dogs, leave a comment below and I will add your suggestion in this post.