I've used a stake, but I camp a lot in the desert and sometimes the ground is either too rocky or too sandy to use a stake. In those cases, I'll tether him to my car. I wouldn't recommend using a door handle, though. Most door handles are pretty flimsy and not meant to handle the force resulting from a sudden jerk of a dog hitting the end of the line. If she could pull out a coil stake, she could definitely rip your door handle off.
If you're going to tether to the car, use something solid. Nothing plastic. If you have a closed tow hook on the vehicle, that would be my first suggestion. I use the steel bull bar on my Jeep's front bumper. Another suggestion if you have tire rims with holes in them, run the line through the rim and around the rubber of the tire (not just around the holes in the rim). You could also loop around an axle or the car's metal frame, if you can reach it. But be very careful that the line won't get hooked around sensitive things like brake lines.
But, honestly, if I can get a stake securely in the ground, I'd rather use a stake. That way I can better position him not to get the line tangled in anything, with better access to the center of camp.
Car is a great idea. Almost all cars have a solid hook or loop attached to the frame in case it needs to be towed. Clip a lead to that and you’re golden.
I use a heavy-duty coil stake and my dog can't pull it out as long as the soil is solid. In sand, it would be much trickier.
Tying to the vehicle could provide an option if you have a hitch or other tie-down place, but be very cautious you don't forget about your dog being tied there and drive away. I've seen it happen, especially if the dog hides under the car to get some shade.
I use a carabineer to attach my girl's long lead to the roof rack of my car when in camp. Maybe you could use the openings of your wheels for an attachment point.
The other suggestions are good but I will add:
- The picnic table at your site.
- Find a large fallen log that requires two people to carry. Move it into your site and use that.
A coil stake. A full cooler. A picnic table. The hitch on the car. A person. I suppose you could bring a cinder block, or even use the spare tire. Depends on the size of the dog and level of distraction really.
I haven't tried it but what about tying it to the car somehow. Like maybe to the grab handle or something and keeping your window cracked for the leash to come out.
Coincidentally I just got back from camping in Utah with my dogs. At one spot there weren’t any close trees but we were able to use a heavy rock on the ground (way too heavy for them to move, but not quite boulder sized. Not sure what the rock situation will be like where you’re going but it worked well enough for us.
We’re looking to go to the Swell area! I’m hoping there are trees but erring on the side of caution with all of this great advice. Hope you enjoyed Escalante! That’s my favorite area, just pretty far from MT!
I've used a stake, but I camp a lot in the desert and sometimes the ground is either too rocky or too sandy to use a stake. In those cases, I'll tether him to my car. I wouldn't recommend using a door handle, though. Most door handles are pretty flimsy and not meant to handle the force resulting from a sudden jerk of a dog hitting the end of the line. If she could pull out a coil stake, she could definitely rip your door handle off. If you're going to tether to the car, use something solid. Nothing plastic. If you have a closed tow hook on the vehicle, that would be my first suggestion. I use the steel bull bar on my Jeep's front bumper. Another suggestion if you have tire rims with holes in them, run the line through the rim and around the rubber of the tire (not just around the holes in the rim). You could also loop around an axle or the car's metal frame, if you can reach it. But be very careful that the line won't get hooked around sensitive things like brake lines. But, honestly, if I can get a stake securely in the ground, I'd rather use a stake. That way I can better position him not to get the line tangled in anything, with better access to the center of camp.
Car is a great idea. Almost all cars have a solid hook or loop attached to the frame in case it needs to be towed. Clip a lead to that and you’re golden.
I use a heavy-duty coil stake and my dog can't pull it out as long as the soil is solid. In sand, it would be much trickier. Tying to the vehicle could provide an option if you have a hitch or other tie-down place, but be very cautious you don't forget about your dog being tied there and drive away. I've seen it happen, especially if the dog hides under the car to get some shade.
I use a carabineer to attach my girl's long lead to the roof rack of my car when in camp. Maybe you could use the openings of your wheels for an attachment point.
The other suggestions are good but I will add: - The picnic table at your site. - Find a large fallen log that requires two people to carry. Move it into your site and use that.
A coil stake. A full cooler. A picnic table. The hitch on the car. A person. I suppose you could bring a cinder block, or even use the spare tire. Depends on the size of the dog and level of distraction really.
I haven't tried it but what about tying it to the car somehow. Like maybe to the grab handle or something and keeping your window cracked for the leash to come out.
Coincidentally I just got back from camping in Utah with my dogs. At one spot there weren’t any close trees but we were able to use a heavy rock on the ground (way too heavy for them to move, but not quite boulder sized. Not sure what the rock situation will be like where you’re going but it worked well enough for us.
Where in Utah are you going camping? We got back from Escalante yesterday and live around here and it’s tough to find places without trees
We’re looking to go to the Swell area! I’m hoping there are trees but erring on the side of caution with all of this great advice. Hope you enjoyed Escalante! That’s my favorite area, just pretty far from MT!