It’s exactly two years this week since my canine companion Shakey enjoyed his first camping trip. He came with me to the annual Outwell Owners Club season-opener meet at Low Farm, a Listed Site in Lincolnshire, and had a wonderful time.
Where there are campers there are people who will give you a fuss, not to mention tantalising aromas of barbecues and bacon sandwiches to tempt doggy tastebuds.
So it’s very appropriate that this month is National Pet Month, dedicated to celebrating the positive impact pets have on our lives, and to promoting responsible pet ownership.
Dogs, like campers, are social creatures. Shakey is part of my family and comes with me on trips. It wouldn’t be a holiday for me if he had to stay in kennels, and it's so much more fun exploring a new area or walking along a beautiful coastal path when you've got a doggy companion beside you.
Fortunately, we’re not just the Friendly Club – we’re the Dog-Friendly Club! Dogs camp free with the Club, and many of our sites have dedicated dog walks on site, or acres of woodland on their doorsteps for off-lead romps.
Dog-owning Club members voted for their favourite sites and you can find the results on the Club website, along with our tips for a fun and safe camping trip with your dog.
Every Club Site is listed on the free SiteSeeker app, available for iOS and Android devices. They're all dog-friendly, but you can search for sites with dedicated dog-walks too.
The Club’s social meets also welcome dogs – and other pets. At District Association (DA) meets I’ve met camping rabbits, camping cats and Rossi the camping parrot.
If you’ve got a potential Best Sausage Catcher, Dog with the Waggiest Tail or Best Puppy at the end of your lead, why not join in with one of the Club's fun dog shows?
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North West Regional Meet 2016: 19 to 23 May at Arley Hall and Gardens, Northwich, Cheshire
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Clent Hills Club Site 80th Birthday Party: 29 May at Clent Hills, Romsley, West Midlands
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Lancashire and Cheshire Midsummer Meet: 3 to 6 June, Astle Park, Chelford, Cheshire.
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West Essex District Association Fun Dog Show: 8 to 10 July, Ferryboat Inn, North Fambridge, Essex.
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Nottinghamshire DA Goose Fair Meet: 7 to 9 October, Thorseby Park, Nottinghamshire.
Check the Out & About pages in the magazine, the online listings, or the brilliant new Out & About app to find a Club meet or Temporary Holiday Site near you.
Shakey doesn’t blog because his missing paw makes typing a bit tricky, but if you’d like more ideas from the experts, don’t forget to check out posts from the Club’s Dog Bloggers, Ted and Kizzy. They’re always sniffing out great new places to pitch up with pets and sharing their top tips.
Do you love camping with your pet? Tell us all about it in the comment section. Especially if you're the owner of the camping tortoise I keep hearing about but have never seen... We would love to see your pictures too. Upload here and we'll put our favourites into a Pet Gallery in the online magazine.