Need Shelter Advice!

Unless you know your dog will sleep well under a tarp, I would suggest one of the Tarptent models. While I prefer a simple tarp/bivy combo, when I go out with my dog the only way he will calm down is if he is in an enclosed tent. Guess it goes back to his crate training and needing the comfort of a defined space. That said if your dog is ok under a tarp with you I would just get a simple Oware Flat-tarp. Simple,durable,cheap with many options to pitch.

How big are your dogs? The Shangri-La 1 is an excellent option and more storm proof than a simple tarp, easier to set up, more robust fabric, two huge vents, and tension locks all the way around. Plus it only weighs a pound. The design of it does create a vestibule in the front that is of reasonable size, however your dogs may be too big.

The other option is the moutain laurel designs trailstar that is quite large and offers room for dogs.

Dog size is definitely a deciding factor.

I have a Tarptent Rainbow which is long so has a good amount of room at the end. Depends where you’re dogs like to sleep whether you need long or wide. Tarptents also offer bug protection. With a tarp, or the Golite, you might want a bivy or bug net too.

Oware makes quality, inexpensive, and light tarps. I have their 2 person Cattarp. If it fits two people, it should fit a couple dogs.

I don’t backpack with dogs, so maybe someone else will answer this, but unless you leash them at night, a tarptent would keep your dogs from wandering off to investigate the bear, or worse skunk that goes sniffing around your food at night.

Jonathan, David and James – Thank you so much for your feedback – you all had good suggestions and brought up good points. I feel silly, but it never occurred to me to leash the dogs to ME at night – I would definitely have to rig up something for that if I were to use a tarp tent as I know they would try to sneak out to guard/investigate. My dogs are somewhat sizable, a tall 60lb collie/pointer and a more dainty 45lb collie/mc nab – so I don't know how well we would squeeze into the Shangri-La – Fortunately the folx at GoLite are good about returns so I can always pitch it on the lawn to see!
Thanks again boys, I really appreciate it!

Melisa,

I second the other posters in starting off with a more enclosed shelter. Even dogs accustomed to long days on the trail can act differently in the woods once the sun goes down, and an enclosed shelter tends to be a more comforting presence for them, and by extension you. In my mind, camping with a dog under a tarp, or under the stars, is a bit more "advanced."

The SMD Lunar Duo provides a great deal of room for the weight if you have pups that like to sprawl, and a few extra pieces of closed cell foam for them to sleep on goes a long way towards making them comfortable overnight. Lots of other good threads on these topics on BPL that should show up in a search. Good luck!

James

Hey-
I frequently hike with two dogs, one about 90 pounds and one about 75. It's nice to have some extra room with a couple of muddy pups in the tent! I'd consider checking out the Shangri La 2…