Is 5 Dogs Too Many?

This past long weekend was Krissy’s birthday, and what she wanted to do was go camping. Perfect! We both love camping, and we needed to take Lucky out to work through some of her quirks.

If you know us, you know we have two perfect, amazing dogs: Greta and Douglas. They are a huge part of our everyday lives. Both love camping, although they don't exactly love the drive to get there—especially Doug.

We also had friends heading out on vacation who asked us to watch their dogs, Gus and Beau (we also though we were going to have their brother Dakota but he went to stay with some other friends). These dogs spend a lot of time with ours and have even gone camping together before, so we figured it would be no problem.

Then, forgetting we had already agreed to watch Gus and Beau, we accepted another dog-sitting gig for Coco.

No problem, right?

It's only five dogs in a 28-foot Class C RV.

At one point, we even invited another family to join us and bring their dog. Thankfully, they were busy. Looking back, they may have dodged a bullet.

So, we almost had seven dogs but settled on five for a four-day birthday camping trip.

Are five dogs too many for a camping trip?

The answer is yes... and no.

Meet the Cast

Douglas (Doug)

Doug is our three-year-old Bernedoodle. He is fluffy, snuggly, smart, and extremely anxious. He's definitely a people dog who mostly tolerates his sister. Recently, after getting his medications figured out, he's finally remembered how to be a dog again and has started playing.

Greta

Greta is our one-year-old mutt. We originally thought she was mostly Schnauzer and Poodle, but genetic testing revealed she's primarily Chihuahua.

She is the official greeter of the group and believes she's a cuddle bug. In reality, she just slowly suffocates whoever she's lying on. She proudly embraces her role as the bitch, being the only girl.

Gus

Gus belongs to our friends, the Campbells. He's a three-year-old Double Doodle Poodle and a giant love bug. He's incredibly loyal, a little slow on the uptake, and comes with a generous amount of drool.

He's so sweet that you quickly stop caring about the mess. He loves playing ball and will happily continue until he finds somewhere to dig.

Beau

Also belonging to the Campbells, Beau is a two-year-old Bernedoodle with a beautiful reddish-orange coat.

He is the protector of the group, always standing watch. Beau prefers the highest vantage point available and carefully monitors everything around him. He's skeptical of nearly everything—including food—until proven otherwise. The only thing that can distract him from guard duty is a good neck rub and a hug from one of his favorite humans.

Coco

Coco belongs to our friends, the Packards. He is a six-year-old Shih Tzu and an only child through and through.

He firmly believes that no one should look at him, talk to him, or acknowledge his existence unless it's on his terms. At the same time, he insists on being within six inches of Krissy at all times when his normal owners are not around.

He's adorable and fully aware of it. Coco was born an old man and has remained one ever since.

The Challenges of Five Dogs

The hardest parts of having five dogs were space, temperature control, sleeping arrangements, feeding schedules, and barking.

Space

Being outside wasn't too bad because we brought fencing that created a safe area where everyone could run and play. Unfortunately, there were approximately one billion mayflies and a thunderstorm that forced us all inside for large chunks of the weekend.

When the dogs needed a break—or when we needed them out of the way—we used place beds to create individual spaces. At night, our light-up collars were lifesavers because we couldn't exactly shine flashlights all over the campground every time someone needed a bathroom break which would attract the bugs.

Inside the RV, the dog beds helped each dog claim a little personal space, but moving around still felt like navigating an obstacle course.

The Heat

It was hot. Really hot.

Temperatures were in the 90s, and our RV decided this was the perfect weekend for both the air conditioner and water system to stop cooperating.

So we essentially dry-camped in a giant metal box.

Thankfully, our collection of fans saved us. The dogs practically lived around the water bowl, and my neck fan became my favorite possession.

Sleeping Arrangements

You might be wondering where five dogs sleep in a 28-foot RV.

The better question is: where do the humans sleep?

Coco slept directly on Krissy's head. I started calling him "the hat."

Greta spent the night rotating between under my sleeping bag and under Krissy's.

Doug wedged himself firmly between us and did his best to prevent any other dog from getting too close.

Meanwhile, Beau and Gus treated the bed like a trampoline, jumping on and off throughout the night. They also spent time chewing on their calming alien chew and occasionally relocating themselves across every available sleeping surface, loving the night mat.

By morning, both Krissy and I were hanging halfway off the bed.

Feeding Time Chaos

Feeding time may have been the hardest part of the entire trip.

Normally, Doug and Greta free-feed.

Coco has scheduled meal times but takes forever to eat.

Gus and Beau have scheduled meal times too, but they inhale their food in record time.

Every family uses different food, which only adds to the confusion.

Gus even uses a slow feeder. Unfortunately, it only slows him down from finishing in three seconds to finishing in about thirty.

Most meals involved convincing some dogs to eat while simultaneously preventing others from stealing their food.

Barking

All five dogs are genuinely well-behaved.

Barking, however, is another story.

They barked when Krissy walked away. They barked when another dog passed the campsite. They barked when they heard something suspicious. They barked because another dog barked.

We had access to several bark collars and vibration collars, but quickly realized that innocent dogs were often getting corrected for crimes they didn't commit.

The bigger lesson? The more dogs you have, the harder it becomes to control the barking—especially when every dog believes protecting their humans is their full-time job.

So... Is Five Dogs Too Many?

Overall, this was a fun adventure.

Every single dog was a great camper, and I genuinely enjoyed having all of them with us. Would I want to do it full-time? Absolutely not.

But experiencing it once was worth every chaotic moment.

Doug and Greta probably won't be getting any additional siblings, especially when we eventually hit the road full-time. Between the dogs, the RV mishaps, the mayflies, and the birthday celebrations, it was a weekend we'll definitely remember.

The more dogs, the merrier... at least for four days.

Would you camp with five dogs? How many dogs is too many? What tips or tricks make camping with dogs easier for you?

All the kisses and snuggles,

Anne