How do I set up a tent safely with a dog?

A slightly larger tent than you might otherwise choose gives a dog dedicated floor space without crowding the sleeping area, which matters both for comfort and for reducing the chance of a dog stepping on a sleeping person during the night. Positioning the tent on relatively flat, debris-free ground, checked in daylight before dark, reduces the chance of a dog encountering sharp sticks, ant nests, or uneven footing near the sleeping area.

A durable groundsheet placed under the tent protects the tent floor from a dog's nails and any dirt or moisture it brings in, and a separate dog bed or pad inside gives the dog its own defined, comfortable spot rather than encouraging it onto the same sleeping pad as its owner, which some tents are not designed to handle the extra weight and movement of comfortably.

Securing a dog with a short leash clipped to a fixed point, or using a portable, soft-sided travel crate inside the tent, prevents a dog from scratching at tent walls, pushing against zippers, or wandering against the tent fabric during the night, all of which risk damaging the tent or letting insects in through a compromised seam or zip.

Keeping a leash and a headtorch within easy reach near the tent entrance makes a middle-of-the-night toilet trip faster and safer, both for finding your way around an unfamiliar dark campsite and for keeping the dog under control near any nearby wildlife or other campers' tents.