Planning my first solo for next year. Going to take my lab. I like to hammock camp now but haven't done a trip with my dog yet while I take a hammock. Any ideas?

Dogs are pack animals. They love to sleep in a bundle. I suggest you share the hang with your best friend.

That is an interesting question. Not sure how that would work with a dog. I am not sure even a two person hammock is designed for two people to "sleep" in. Will fido stay under you if a critter comes into camp? If not I'd consider a bed with a leash loosely tied to you or some object. Canoe maybe? Hmmm..

Discussed over at Hammockforums.net

Here are a couple of threads on it.

Link 1

Link 2

just search camping with dogs or sleeping with dogs over there

I think I may try an iguana bugnet with a pad and fleece blanket under my hammock. I think I can put it diagonally under me and still have it under my tarp. I don't think he will wake up to critters. We take him car camping and he does fine in the tent with us. I hate sleeping in a tent on the ground though since I started hammock camping. Thanks for the feedback. I'll have to search hammockforums a little more. 

Pretty sure it would not be a good nights sleep with a 70lb lab in my hammock.

A small 2nd hand tent (with flooring) set up besides your hammock with screened side where he can have a visual of you, perhaps? Not to mention relief from biting bugs while he/she's snoozing.
If a big critter approaches camp I'd think dog would utter a low growl which would alert you.
Perfect!
And, yes, such a companion is worth lugging an additional 4 lbs tent.

quote awbrown: "Dogs are pack animals. They love to sleep in a bundle. I suggest you share the hang with your best friend."

There is no way a Lab is going to sleep in a hammock on top of me. Too hot and too heavy.

Iguana Tent

I picked up one of these on ebay for $50. I think this is a great solution. Weighs 2lbs. 

quote Savage Voyageur: "

quote awbrown: "Dogs are pack animals. They love to sleep in a bundle. I suggest you share the hang with your best friend."

There is no way a Lab is going to sleep in a hammock on top of me. Too hot and too heavy. "

My suggestion is a bit tongue in cheek. However, if I'm taking my buddy, he/she's sleeping with me, so I'd make sure his/her comfort is paramount. Skip the hammock and share the tent. There is no way I'm letting my best friend sleep alone, or tied out alone to be eaten by the bugs. He/she is in the tent with me with a comfortable sleeping arrangement made especially for him/her.

quote Koz: " Iguana Tent


I picked up one of these on ebay for $50. I think this is a great solution. Weighs 2lbs. "

Awesome! Improv a makeshift tarp with a piece of visscreen for rainy spells. Have a great trip, btw. Would love to read a trip report (brief or not...) of your first solo w/canine companion.

quote awbrown: "

quote Savage Voyageur: "

quote awbrown: "Dogs are pack animals. They love to sleep in a bundle. I suggest you share the hang with your best friend."

There is no way a Lab is going to sleep in a hammock on top of me. Too hot and too heavy. "

My suggestion is a bit tongue in cheek. However, if I'm taking my buddy, he/she's sleeping with me, so I'd make sure his/her comfort is paramount. Skip the hammock and share the tent. There is no way I'm letting my best friend sleep alone, or tied out alone to be eaten by the bugs. He/she is in the tent with me with a comfortable sleeping arrangement made especially for him/her. "

There's no way I would tie him out with no protection from the elements/bugs. He is a duck hunting dog, so he knows what it is to be outdoors in inclement weather. I really thought about doing a tent, but I hate tents now that I have switched to hammocks. It is such a better nights sleep for me.

My dogs are not allowed on the furniture so I think he will be ok with this setup. I'll literally be about a foot and a half away from him and he'll hear me snoring. I'll have him in the bug tent with a pad and a dog sleeping bag, he'll be very comfy and I'll have that little bug tent touching my hammock and I can reach over and unzip it immediately if I need to. I'll test it out this fall to see how it works and if he's ok with the situation. I have had my labs in a ton of different situations over the years, they are very adaptable.

quote Koz: "

quote awbrown: "

quote Savage Voyageur: "

quote awbrown: "Dogs are pack animals. They love to sleep in a bundle. I suggest you share the hang with your best friend."

There is no way a Lab is going to sleep in a hammock on top of me. Too hot and too heavy. "

My suggestion is a bit tongue in cheek. However, if I'm taking my buddy, he/she's sleeping with me, so I'd make sure his/her comfort is paramount. Skip the hammock and share the tent. There is no way I'm letting my best friend sleep alone, or tied out alone to be eaten by the bugs. He/she is in the tent with me with a comfortable sleeping arrangement made especially for him/her. "

There's no way I would tie him out with no protection from the elements/bugs. He is a duck hunting dog, so he knows what it is to be outdoors in inclement weather. I really thought about doing a tent, but I hate tents now that I have switched to hammocks. It is such a better nights sleep for me.


My dogs are not allowed on the furniture so I think he will be ok with this setup. I'll literally be about a foot and a half away from him and he'll hear me snoring. I'll have him in the bug tent with a pad and a dog sleeping bag, he'll be very comfy and I'll have that little bug tent touching my hammock and I can reach over and unzip it immediately if I need to. I'll test it out this fall to see how it works and if he's ok with the situation. I have had my labs in a ton of different situations over the years, they are very adaptable. "

Sounds like a good plan.

I seen this at REI

https://www.rei.com/media/f8cb0bcb-f4ed-4401-8ff7-a996b04f4b80

Might be just what you want.

https://www.rei.com/product/895879/eno-guardian-base-camp-bug-net

Check it out.

My boys would sleep on pad with a blanket next to me. I even share my pillow with
them at home.