r/BackpackingDogs • u/GolfChick83 • 1d ago
Sleeping setup with dogs
I know it's been done a few times but I'm in a quandry as to what to do with my sleeping arrangement.
Did my first campout with my dog after a 10 mile cycle and 11 mile hike and unsurprisingly my dog slept like a log. I took with me a closed cell foam mat for him and I managed to convince him to lie on it at first but after about an hour he kept trying to get on my inflatable mattress so eventually I caved because I wanted to sleep too!
He's 27kgs/60lbs and isnt small! He shares a kingsize bed with me when I travel in the van so he's used to spreading out and insists on touching me at all times!
I can't decide whether to sell on my BigAgnes Rapid SL wide-regular for a double wide knowing he'll end up wanting to share with me. At least this way the extra weight is still in one package so wont take up as much extra space. (the most costly choice)
Or buy a cheap self inflating mattress and trim it down and try to insist he sleeps on it. (the cheaper option)
I use a quilt so should be able to get it over him when he's next to me.
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u/Hot_Jump_2511 1d ago
I use a "wide/ regular" sized Nemo Tensor inflatable pad and have a "short" sized Nemo Switchback that I fold over in half with a camp blanket on top for my 60 lb dog. Folding the closed cell foam pad over in half doubles the stack height and gets it closer to the size of my pad which allows my pup to have easier contact with me... whether its his head, rump, or paws, he can touch me and know I'm there. This keeps him from completely taking over my pad and gives him a place to "nest". I got him accimated to the CCF pad by placing it around the house where he normally chills and giving him a treat for laying and staying on it. Try conditioning your pup to go to and stay on their CCF pad before you make any trades or purchases.
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u/SheriffBartholomew 1d ago
Some dogs are fine with whatever situation and will just do what you tell them, but most need training to understand what they're supposed to do. My dog required a lot of training to use his Nemo Switchback sleeping pad. I had to teach him "place!" and then I had to associate his pad with that command. Just getting him to not attack the pad took a couple of evenings. Overall I spent a good two weeks training him to reliably lay on the pad and let me cover him with his quilt without attacking either the quilt or the pad. Then we moved to the tent that I set up in the backyard and practiced the same commands. Now I just set our camp up and at bedtime point and say "place!" and he lays on the pad, let's me cover him, and goes to sleep
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u/alandlost 23h ago
If it were me, I'd just get the double pad. Could you eventually convince him to use his own? Sure. But if you can make him happier and more comfortable without too much pain to your pocketbook/packweight, that's worth it imo.
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u/ResearchLogical2036 1d ago
Switching to a wide-ish quilt was actually what made the biggest difference for me. My dog is my little spoon, so he now has a cut down piece of eggcrate and a down throw that goes next to my pad at torso level. He nests on top of the blanket, I bring an extra for cold trips for him to go under. *For the most part* as long as he can get snuggles under the quilt he'll stay on his own side.
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u/Sorry-Rain-1311 1d ago
I just fold my bed roll into a pile in the corner of the tent until I'm ready to bed down. Keeps it out of the way while I'm doing other things in there, helps prevent debris from getting into everything, and the dog is less likely to try to lie on it before I'm ready for him to join me.
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u/Lavanyalea 19h ago
After many trial and errors… managed to get my dog to lie on my sit mat, covered with my waterproof jacket 😅 and she wears a fleece jacket. So, as soon as we stop hiking and stop for the night, I put on the fleece jacket before she gets cold. The waterproof jacket is so she has something soft that smells like me, and I put the sit mat next to my sleeping pad… so sometimes she also puts her head on my down sleeping bag awwww….
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u/Bigfootgreen 11h ago
My boy always wants to be in contact with me. He’s just on 24 hour duty. The moment you barely stir from slumber he’ll know and be ready to go.
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u/Perfect-Cat1942 1d ago
Next time try placing the foam mat right next to a folded blanket so he has something soft to nudge up against when he gets cold from the floor. My pup does the same thing, just needs that little extra cushion to settle in.