Last month I did something I hadn’t done in five years: I had a proper holiday.

Now, if you follow me on social media, you might be mistaken for thinking that I’m always swanning around somewhere. And you’d be right, but most of the time I’m working too. I actually haven’t had a no-laptop week off since 2021.

I didn’t think this one would be any different, mainly because I actually love what I do, so I find it hard to switch off. But switch off I did, and it was the perfect time to do it because my partner and I went off-grid in a campervan with the boys to some of the more remote spots in western Scotland.

In seven nights, we only spent one at a campsite for a well-needed shower and water restock. The rest of the time we found some stunning spots where we either saw no one, or very few people.

Quite frankly, it was bliss, and my brain felt like it had a proper reset.

My whippet boys were already pretty used to campervan life. I travelled around the UK in one for a month in 2021, and I also have a micro camper conversion in my car. But I thought I’d share some of the products I was particularly glad I brought this time, even if, in some cases, I was equally glad I didn’t have to use them!

Off-Grid Camping With Dogs: 5 Essentials I Would Pack Again

1. Nilaqua Dry Shampoo

Now, having mud-adverse whippets, I nearly didn’t bring this! I’ve had it in my car for about a year after meeting the team at trade shows, and I also know how good it is because my friend Debbie uses it on her poo-rolling whippets.

As the weather looked mild for our trip, I nearly left it behind, but as it was Scotland, I didn’t want to risk it. And I’m glad I didn’t!

On one of the days we were exploring near where we had camped up and went through some really quite boggy sections and the boys came back with orange feet.

Back at the van, the wipes I had weren’t making much of a dent, but a quick squirt of the Nilaqua foamed up immediately and I could see all the mud and silt lifting. Which leads me neatly to my next essential…
Nilaqua Website

2. DotDotPet Eco Biodegradable Towels

Another product I’d had in my car for about a year, but these came in handy for so many things.

After foaming up the Nilaqua, I used the large towels to wipe off the excess, as well as whenever the boys got a bit wet.

I love these because they’re reusable, strong and biodegrade after 90 days, so we ended up using them for spillages, mopping the floor, cleaning condensation from the windows and even as temporary tea towels.

There will definitely always be a stock of these in the van now, and they’re really reasonably priced too.
Dot Dot Pet on Amazon

Clearly not one of my whippets! I took this of this photo of the product a while ago.

3. Dicky Bag Portable Dog Poo Bin

If you like to explore and haven’t got one of these yet, it’s a game changer – it’s basically a sealed, portable dog poo bin.

I hike in a lot of places where there aren’t bins, and with Scotland’s right to roam we were quite remote a lot of the time, so having my Dicky Bag attached to my walking bag was brilliant.

No carrying a poo bag for miles. And no eau de dog poo wafting around either.
Dick Bag Website

4. Ruffwear Extra-Long Bungee Waist Lead

I use this all the time anyway when walking in the fells. It’s just not worth gambling when a woolly magician might pop up unexpectedly.

But they were particularly useful while we were camping because the handles clip open. I could attach them to the van and the dogs’ harnesses, giving them a bit of freedom to move around while we were parked up without them being completely loose.

Ruffwear Bungee Lead Website

5. Poorly Paws First Aid Kit

Thankfully, this is the one product I didn’t need to use, but I’d much rather have it and not need it than the other way around.

It’s super compact, so it’s easy to pack and either leave in the van or pop into your rucksack when you’re heading off for a walk.

When you’re camping somewhere remote with your dogs, having some basic first aid supplies with you just makes sense.
Poorly Paws Website

Things I Wish I’d Packed for Camping With My Dogs

Ruffwear Knot-a-Hitch

I saw Ruffwear advertising the Knot-a-Hitch on LinkedIn and, although it’s pricey, I can really see the appeal after this trip. It’s essentially a hitching system that creates a line between two points, with everything you need to allow your dog some freedom to move around camp while still being safely attached.

For two whippets who would quite happily investigate if they can smell a picnic half a mile away, I think this could be a really useful addition for our next trip.

An Extra Squishy Dog Bed

Whippets need comfort!

I’ve had a yellow Joules ‘Chesterfield’ bed for about five years and, although it’s a nightmare to wash, it’s super squishy so it can be stuffed into quite a small space. I had some throws with us as well, but Shadow commandeered the dog bed. Even though both dogs slept on our bed in the van, Bertie moved around much more trying to find somewhere comfortable. So I’ll definitely be investing in another compact, squishy bed before our next trip.

A Few More Dog Camping Essentials Worth Packing

A couple of honourable mentions that were also useful along the way.

Fettle goat’s milk powder: This was great for the first few days when the boys were being a bit fussy with drinking water.

Healing balm: I used The Dog and I balm, but very sadly they’re temporarily closed. Something like Lyonsleaf Calendula and Marshmallow balm is 100% natural and also brilliant to have around for little bites or scratches, for you or your dog.

Would I Go Off-Grid Camping With My Dogs Again?

Absolutely. It took me a surprisingly short time to properly switch off from work, being somewhere with very little signal, and nowhere I needed to be was probably exactly what my brain needed.

There are definitely a couple of things I’ll add to the packing list next time, but most of what worked best was fairly simple: things that kept the dogs clean, comfortable and safe without taking up half the van.

Do you go off-grid or campervanning with your dog? I’d love to know what your absolute essentials are too. There’s always room for one more thing in the van… probably.