Camping with our Miniature Schnauzer, Angel, has changed how we choose a campsite, settle in, and plan our time away from the travel trailer. Some of the most useful lessons have come from ordinary moments: someone walking close to our site, finding a comfortable place for her outside, or deciding that the weather is a good reason to go home early.
Our trips have included four days at Palmetto Shores RV Resort in November and three days at Savannah Lakes RV Resort in March. We’ve learned that a good trip with Angel starts with making room for her needs alongside our own.
Here are the camping lessons that have made a difference for our family.
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1. A Quieter Campsite Makes Sitting Outside Easier
We now look for campsites with less traffic and fewer people walking past. Angel doesn’t bark at every person or dog she sees. She usually becomes more concerned when someone gets very close to our campsite.
When she becomes alert or distracted, we call her name or whistle to get her attention. Choosing a quieter site reduces how often we need to interrupt our time outside to redirect her.
That has become part of our booking decision, alongside making sure the site fits our travel trailer. A campground can welcome dogs and still have individual sites that feel much busier than others.
We explain our site-selection priorities in How We Choose the Best Campsite at a Campground:
https://travelersandaschnauzer.com/how-we-choose-best-campsite-at-campground/
2. Angel’s Outdoor Setup Is Simple—and Close to Us
Before we settle outside, we make sure our outdoor rug is down. Angel usually rests on the rug or sits in one of our laps. Most of the time, the lap wins.
We keep her secured with her leash. While we’re seated with her, we attach the leash to our chair, but that is part of our supervised setup rather than a place to leave her alone. Anyone considering a similar arrangement needs to account for whether their dog could pull or tip the chair.
Our lesson has been to plan for where Angel actually wants to spend time. She doesn’t need a separate activity for every moment at the campground. Often, she wants to sit with us while we enjoy the campsite.
3. Setup and Departure Go Better When Someone Stays With Angel
During setup and departure, Angel sits with our daughter. That gives her company while we handle the trailer tasks.
Inside the camper, she spends most of her time outside the crate with us. We put her crate in the main living area when she needs to use it, including the brief times we leave her alone.
Having that division of responsibilities makes Angel’s care part of the routine. We know who is with her while other family members concentrate on setting up or getting ready to leave.
For the trailer tasks themselves, see our Complete Travel Trailer Setup Checklist:
https://travelersandaschnauzer.com/travel-trailer-setup-checklist/
4. Weather Can Change the Trip, Not Just Our Plans for the Afternoon
We’ve used cooling towels during warmer weather and extra blankets on cooler trips. We’ve also dealt with windy conditions and learned to be deliberate about the awning.
We bring it in during storms or wind to help prevent damage. We also retract it when we leave the campsite or go inside for the night. We don’t leave it extended simply because the weather looks calm when we step away.
On a camping trip, an approaching hurricane led us to pack up early and head home. That remains one of our clearest camping lessons: sometimes leaving early is the right decision.
Before a trip, review current forecasts and official alerts, and follow campground instructions. A reserved campsite does not mean conditions will remain suitable for the entire stay.
5. A Camera Helps Us Check on Angel, but Has Important Limits
If Angel stays behind at all, it is typically for a brief errand to a nearby grocery store. She is crated while we’re away, and we check on her frequently even though the trip is short.
A view of Angel does not confirm that the trailer’s temperature is safe or that the air conditioner is working. Neither camera should be treated as a dedicated temperature monitor or shore-power failure alarm.
Before leaving a dog in a trailer, confirm that the campground permits it, assess the weather and indoor conditions, and make sure you can return promptly. Every dog has different needs; our brief grocery trips do not establish a suitable unattended period for another dog.
What Our Two Cameras Require
We use a Reolink E1 Pro indoor camera and a Tactacam DEFEND cellular camera. Both point at Angel rather than the surrounding campsite.
| Camera | What it needs for our remote checks | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Reolink E1 Pro | Plug-in power and a working Wi-Fi internet connection | Losing power to the camera or losing its internet connection can prevent remote viewing. |
| Tactacam DEFEND | Battery power, an active paid data subscription, and cellular reception | We notice a slight viewing delay. Battery power does not guarantee cellular service or successful viewing. |
Having both gives us different connection options because service varies between locations. We haven’t encountered battery-life issues with the Tactacam in our use, but that is our experience rather than a guarantee for every trip.
Manufacturer information confirms the Reolink’s continuous-power requirement and the Tactacam’s battery-powered cellular operation. The current Tactacam plan also needs to support the viewing features you intend to use.
Reolink manufacturer information:
https://reolink.com/us/product/e1-pro/
Tactacam manufacturer information:
https://www.defendcellcam.com/defend-security-cam
Our Return Plan Matters More Than the Camera View
If shore power failed, the battery-powered Tactacam could still provide a view as long as its battery, subscription, and cellular connection remained available. That would not establish that cooling was still working. We would return to the travel trailer.
We would also return if we saw Angel in distress or could no longer check on her reliably. A delayed or unavailable image is not reassurance that everything is fine.
The practical lesson is to keep errands brief and nearby, confirm remote access before leaving, and avoid depending on visual checks alone when loss of cooling could endanger a dog. A camera cannot correct a power problem or replace someone returning to the trailer.
The Cameras We Use
After considering those limits, these are the two models we’ve used:
Reolink E1 Pro Indoor Pet Camera (paid link):
https://amzn.to/4oD7OYp
Tactacam DEFEND Cellular Security Camera (paid link):
https://amzn.to/4gS8BTl
6. Angel’s Packing List and Nearby Veterinary Care Belong in Our Trip Preparation
Camping with Angel means packing her supplies as deliberately as we pack our own. Her food, bowls, leash, harness, waste bags, medications, bedding, towels, and familiar toys all need a place in our preparation.
We also check nearby veterinary care before camping trips. Knowing where to seek help is part of planning for Angel, even when we hope we won’t need it.
Rather than repeat our entire packing list here, we keep that detail in Our Dog Travel Bag: What We Pack for Angel:
https://travelersandaschnauzer.com/dog-travel-bag/
Our Camping Checklist for Families With Dogs covers how her supplies fit into the broader trip preparation:
https://travelersandaschnauzer.com/ultimate-camping-checklist-for-families-with-dogs/
7. Cooking Equipment That Does Several Jobs Makes Packing Easier
Some of our useful camping gear serves the whole family. Our Ninja Woodfire Grill lets us prepare different foods without bringing several separate cooking appliances.
We also use our Ninja Combi for different meals, including air frying fries while burgers cook on the Woodfire Grill. That is a real example of how we use the two appliances, rather than a suggestion that every camping family needs both.
Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill (paid link):
https://amzn.to/4p281Vn
Ninja Combi All-in-One Multicooker, Oven, and Air Fryer (paid link):
https://amzn.to/4fXHKoD
Our Link2Home cord reel has also been useful for having several connection points for charging or powering suitable devices. Multiple outlets do not increase the reel’s total electrical capacity, however. Check the exact reel’s ratings and each device’s instructions, including whether outdoor use or an extension cord is permitted. The reel recommendation is not a recommendation to run both cooking appliances through it together.
Link2Home 25-Foot Cord Reel (paid link):
https://amzn.to/4uPMP6m
What We Would Tell Another Family Camping With a Schnauzer
Start with how your own dog behaves. Angel tends to notice activity close to our campsite, so quieter sites help us. She likes sitting with us, so our outdoor setup keeps her nearby. When trailer tasks need our attention, she stays with our daughter.
The larger decisions matter too. We’ve ended a trip early because of an approaching hurricane, and any time away from Angel stays brief and nearby. Those choices have shaped our camping routine more than adding another item to the packing list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Angel bark at everyone passing the campsite?
No. She generally barks when she feels someone is getting very close to our site. We call her name or whistle when we need to redirect her attention, and we now prefer quieter campsites.
Where does Angel rest while you’re camping?
Outside, she usually rests in our lap or on the outdoor rug while secured with her leash. Inside, she spends most of her time with us outside the crate. Her crate goes in the main living area when she uses it.
Do your cameras keep working if campground power fails?
The Reolink needs plug-in power. The battery-powered Tactacam can remain available if its battery, cellular service, and subscription are working. Neither camera view should be treated as confirmation that the trailer’s temperature or air conditioning is safe.
How long do you leave Angel alone at the campground?
If we leave her at all, it is typically for a brief trip to a nearby grocery store. We check frequently and return afterward. We do not use the cameras as a reason to extend our time away.
Travel and Product Notices
Product Recommendation Notice: Products recommended throughout this article are selected because we believe they may be helpful for families traveling with their dogs. Recommendations are based on our experiences where applicable, general travel knowledge, product research, and suitability for the topic. Readers should evaluate products to determine what best meets their individual needs.
Travel Information Disclaimer: Travel information is provided for general planning purposes only. Regulations, policies, pet requirements, availability, admission fees, weather conditions, and operating hours may change. We recommend confirming current information directly with the applicable business, attraction, campground, airline, or government agency before traveling.
Accuracy Notice: We make every effort to provide accurate and up-to-date information. However, travel policies, operating hours, pet rules, reservation procedures, pricing, and other details may change without notice. Always verify important information directly with the official provider before making travel plans.
Veterinary Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is intended for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered veterinary advice. Every dog has unique health needs. Always consult your licensed veterinarian regarding questions about your pet’s health, medications, allergies, nutrition, or medical care before making changes to your pet’s routine or treatment plan.
Weather Disclaimer: Weather conditions can change rapidly and may affect travel safety, campground operations, hiking conditions, road access, and outdoor activities. Always review current forecasts and official weather alerts before traveling.
RV & Camping Disclaimer: Safe RV operation and campground use require proper planning, equipment maintenance, and adherence to manufacturer recommendations and campground regulations. Always follow applicable safety procedures and consult qualified professionals whenever necessary.
Pet Travel Disclaimer: Every pet has different needs, abilities, and comfort levels while traveling. Evaluate your dog’s health, temperament, and travel readiness before each trip, and verify current pet policies with transportation providers, accommodations, attractions, and campgrounds before departure.
Product Information Disclaimer: Product features, specifications, availability, warranties, and manufacturer recommendations may change over time. Always review the manufacturer’s official information before purchasing or using any product discussed on this website.
External Links Disclaimer: This article may contain links to third-party websites for your convenience. Travelers and a Schnauzer is not responsible for the content, availability, accuracy, or privacy practices of external websites. Readers should review the policies and terms of any website they choose to visit.
Safety Disclaimer: Every travel situation is unique. Always exercise good judgment, follow posted rules, comply with local laws, monitor weather conditions, and prioritize the safety of yourself, your family, and your pets. Travelers and a Schnauzer is not responsible for decisions made based on the information contained in this article.
Outdoor Recreation Disclaimer: Outdoor recreation involves inherent risks that may include changing weather, wildlife encounters, uneven terrain, and other natural hazards. Always prepare appropriately, carry necessary safety equipment, follow park regulations, and evaluate conditions before participating in outdoor activities.
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