7. Travel Dogs - Camping & Portable Setup

Best for

Camping, caravanning, road trips, farm stays, day trips, holidays, temporary yards, and outdoor travel setups

Main problem solved

Dogs burying bones, losing chews, dragging bones through dirt, or turning camp sites into a messy chew zone

Primary setup

BoneZone® used as a portable chew station with a suitable freestanding base, timber base, pegs, or temporary fixing

Best dog type

Small to medium dogs for pegged temporary setups; larger or stronger dogs may require a heavier fixed or weighted base

Setup style

Portable, supervised, removable, travel-friendly chew station

Video

🎥 Add setup video link / icon here

BoneZone® alloy Clamp-Post / pole

Main vertical support for the jaw assembly

Fixed BaseMount or portable base arrangement

Holds the Clamp-Post upright in a freestanding travel setup

Timber base, pegged base, or suitable platform

Provides temporary ground support where permanent fixing is not available

Heavy-duty tent pegs / ground anchors

Help secure a suitable portable base into grass, dirt, or firm ground

Suitable screws, bolts, or fixings

Secure the BaseMount to the travel base or platform

Plunger pin / height-locking pin

Sets and locks the working height

BoneZone® jaw assembly

Holds the bone, chew, or treat

BiteLock™ jaw insert, where suitable

Helps grip irregular bones, round bones, or awkward chew shapes

Spill mats

Helps contain mess, drool, blood, crumbs, marrow, and bone fragments

Cleaning bucket and stiff nylon brush

Useful for cleaning clamp parts, mats, and travel gear after use

Ground type

Firm grass, compacted soil, stable gravel, concrete, decking, or patio areas are better than soft sand or mud.

Dog strength

The temporary base must suit the dog’s pulling strength. Strong dogs may overpower light portable setups.

Base stability

The base should not rock, tip, slide, lift, twist, or drag when pulled by hand.

Peg suitability

Pegs or ground anchors must suit the soil type. Loose sand, wet soil, or soft ground may not hold securely.

Camp layout

Keep the setup away from fire pits, guy ropes, tent entrances, vehicle wheels, camp kitchens, and walkways.

Dog position

The dog should be able to chew with all four feet on the ground and its neck/back in a natural posture.

Wildlife and pests

Raw bones may attract ants, flies, wildlife, other dogs, or camp-site pests if left out too long.

Camp rules

Check campground, caravan park, park, or property rules before using raw bones or pegging into the ground.

Supervision

BoneZone® is a controlled chew station, not an unsupervised feeding device.

1

Choose the travel location

Select a clear, stable area away from tents, fires, vehicles, walkways, ropes, sharp objects, and other dogs.

2

Choose the base arrangement

Use a portable freestanding setup suited to the location, such as a timber base with BaseMount, pegged grass setup, patio/verandah base, or future folding BasePad arrangement.

3

Check ground conditions

Make sure the ground is firm enough to hold the base or pegs. Avoid loose sand, mud, soft soil, unstable gravel, or sloped ground where the setup can shift.

4

Secure the BaseMount

Attach the BaseMount to the timber base, platform, or suitable portable support using appropriate screws, bolts, or fixings.

5

Peg or anchor where suitable

If using grass or soil, secure the base with heavy-duty tent pegs or ground anchors. Pegs must be driven fully and positioned so the dog cannot step on or chew them.

6

Insert the Clamp-Post

Drop the alloy Clamp-Post into the BaseMount and confirm it is seated correctly and locked where required.

7

Set the height

Use the index plunger pin fixed to the lower jaw frame to set the jaw assembly at a comfortable chewing height for your dog.

8

Add spill protection

Place a washable spill mat, tray, or designated ground-cover area underneath the chew zone where needed.

9

Test before use

Pull the pole and jaw assembly firmly by hand from different directions. If the base shifts, tips, lifts, or twists, do not use it until it is secured properly.

10

Add the bone or chew

Load the bone into the jaws using the bone-loading instructions below.

11

Supervise the session

Stay close enough to monitor chewing, base movement, dog comfort, pests, other dogs, and whether your dog is targeting the bone instead of the hardware.

12

Pack down and clean

Remove leftovers, clean the jaws, wipe the Clamp-Post, wash the mat, and pack the system away clean and dry where possible.

1

Choose a suitable bone or chew

Use an appropriate bone, raw meaty bone, air-dried chew, or pet-safe chew suitable for your dog’s size, chewing style, dental condition, and diet.

2

Choose travel-appropriate items

At camp or on the road, consider lower-mess chews where cleanup, flies, ants, or food storage are an issue.

3

Find the best clamping point

Choose the thicker or more stable section of the bone. Avoid clamping only the thinnest, sharpest, or most brittle end.

4

Select the jaw face

Use the jaw face or BiteLock™ arrangement that gives the best grip without crushing the bone unnecessarily.

5

Place the bone into the jaws

Position the bone so your dog can chew naturally without biting too close to the clamp faces, striking the pole, or pulling the setup sideways.

6

Tighten the jaws

Tighten until the bone is firmly held and cannot be easily pulled free by hand. Do not overtighten fragile bones.

7

Check dog access

Your dog should be able to chew from a comfortable stance with all four feet on the ground and its neck/back in a natural posture.

8

Check base movement

Watch the base during the first few pulls. If the setup shifts or lifts, stop and secure it better before continuing.

9

Supervise the first session

Watch how your dog interacts with the setup. Adjust clamp, angle, jaw position, base position, mat position, or height if needed.

10

Remove leftovers

Remove bone remnants when the session is finished, especially raw bones or anything that may spoil or attract pests.

11

Clean the area

Wipe down the jaws, Clamp-Post, BaseMount, mat, and surrounding ground or floor area. A bucket of warm soapy water and a stiff nylon brush is great for cleaning clamp parts.

Temporary setup limits

Portable setups must be tested before use. If the base moves under hand force, it is not ready for the dog.

Small to medium dogs

Pegged temporary setups are generally better suited to small or medium dogs with controlled chewing behaviour.

Large power chewers

Larger or aggressive chewers may require a fixed base, heavier platform, concrete fixing, wall mount, post mount, or commercial-style setup.

Ground anchors

Keep pegs and anchors fully seated, visible to humans, and positioned so dogs cannot chew, trip, or step on them.

Camp hygiene

Raw bones should be treated like raw meat. Do not leave raw bones sitting around camp after the session.

Wildlife and pests

Remove bones quickly to avoid attracting ants, flies, wildlife, birds, rodents, or other dogs.

Heat and sun

Do not leave raw bones in the heat. Keep sessions short in hot weather and provide shade and water.

Other dogs

Campgrounds and public areas may have unfamiliar dogs nearby. Supervise closely and avoid creating competition or conflict.

Trip hazards

Keep the setup away from tent ropes, walkways, caravan steps, fire areas, vehicle doors, and cooking zones.

Hardware chewing

Do not allow dogs to chew the Clamp-Post, jaw assembly, BaseMount, straps, pegs, mats, or fixings.

Supervision

Always supervise chewing, especially in unfamiliar environments or around other animals.

The base tips or lifts

Base is too light, pegs are weak, dog is too strong, or the ground is too soft

Stop use. Add stronger anchoring, move to firmer ground, use a heavier base, or change to a fixed setup.

Pegs pull out of the ground

Soil is too soft, sandy, wet, or loose, or the dog is pulling too hard

Use longer/heavier pegs, change peg angle, move to firmer ground, or use a different base arrangement.

The setup slides on concrete or decking

Base has no grip, surface is smooth, or dog is pulling sideways

Add non-slip backing, use a heavier base, reposition the jaw angle, or use a fixed BaseMount where permitted.

The dog can pull the bone loose

Bone is clamped on the wrong section, jaw face is not gripping well, or jaws are not tight enough

Reposition the bone, clamp on a thicker section, use a better jaw face/BiteLock™ arrangement, then retest by hand. Try to trap bones between two large ends to prevent slide-out.

The dog drags the whole setup

Dog strength exceeds the temporary base arrangement

Use a heavier base, fixed base, post mount, wall mount, or another stronger setup. Temporary travel bases are not suitable for every dog.

The dog chews the pegs or base

Pegs, base edges, or hardware are too accessible or the dog is targeting the setup instead of the bone

Reposition the bone higher or further from the base, cover or move exposed hardware, and supervise closely. Stop use if hardware chewing continues.

The setup sinks into soft ground

Ground is wet, muddy, sandy, or too soft to support the base

Move to firmer ground, use a larger timber base or platform, or avoid using the setup until conditions improve.

The area attracts ants or flies

Bone residue, raw meat smell, or scraps are being left behind

Remove leftovers immediately, clean the jaws and mat, and dispose of waste properly.

The dog looks uncomfortable

Jaw height is too high, too low, base is unstable, or the dog cannot stand naturally

Adjust the jaw to chest/shoulder-friendly height and reposition the setup on flatter, firmer ground.

The mat becomes filthy

Ground is muddy, wet, dusty, or covered in grass seeds, sand, or debris

Use a heavier washable mat or tray, move to a cleaner surface, and wash the mat after each session.

Other dogs approach the chew zone

Campground layout, smell, or raw bones are attracting attention

Move to a more private area, shorten the session, supervise closely, or avoid raw bones around unfamiliar dogs.

Cleanup is difficult while travelling

No water, no bucket, no brush, or no clean drying area

Use lower-mess chews, carry a small cleaning kit, wipe down parts immediately, and do a deeper clean when water is available.