A dog’s dry overall

alternativly you can train your dog at home that his place to sleep is on a raised bathtub nylon/matt, then take it with you and keep the routine strict in the tent. Also could camp near a river to throw a stick in before it gets dark during the summer. Animals don't like clothing generally.

I think such an idea would be confining for the dog. It could also inhibit your dog's natural ability to dry itself and get clean. My dog does a surprisingly good job taking care of her fur and paws, often cleaning herself when we get to camp. I think she is often cleaner than I am

If my dog is really wet or muddy, I use a hand towel or bandana to clean her up some. Once in the tent, she sleeps on a foam pad. I don't think what little dirt or mud is dragged in is a big deal.

Maybe a wipedown with a big towel before entering the inner tent would work for you. I know some people also pack a brush to help.

rather than go to such lenghs to try to cover your dog head to toe the Hurtta overalls offer the best comprimise, most dirt/moisture will be contained by the overalls and you only have a few exposed areas to dry not their entire body

Our dogs actually don't mind clothing when it's cold, they are short (though relatively dense) coated and learned very quickly the benefits of a fleece jacket! They are also quite energetic during the day and so get very tired – at camp they eat and flop dead almost immediately. I never noticed them cleaning themselves, except for licking a sore paw on occasions, though I agree it's quite natural for dogs to do it. Ours probably get too exhausted to care.

It would be no problem keeping them in the vestibule, they know their place and they obey. I just wanted to save some weight by not having to bring additional pad and quilt and bug net for these purposes. The overalls would replace microfibre towels we'd be bringing otherwise, adding few grams but much less than a lot of extra begging.

Plus, hot water bottles!!

;)

"rather than go to such lenghs to try to cover your dog head to toe the Hurtta overalls offer the best comprimise, most dirt/moisture will be contained by the overalls and you only have a few exposed areas to dry not their entire body"

Thanks Anthony – I was hoping to create an overall that is lighter (and bit softer) than Hurtta? In particular using microfibre fabric, making overalls double as towels.

Also commercial overalls like Hurtta are designed for dog walking, so not only paws are exposed but also the tummy area. This means the dry mud from the rest of the body will simply fall down through, which is what I'd rather avoid.. Its no big deal the mud that is, but if there is a way to keep it out….

Windshirt coveralls, DWR facing in.

Towel the dogs off so they're not actually dripping and this should prevent you from getting damp/dirty if they're under your quilt, and still allow them to dry.

If you use something light like Argon 67 or Momentum M50 you should be under 2oz ea.