Is it safe to have a dog near a campfire?

Keeping a dog leashed or on a reliable stay a reasonable distance from the fire's edge, rather than allowing free roaming right up to the flames, reduces the chance of an accidental step into embers or a spark landing on fur, which can happen quickly and without much warning. A dog that startles at a sudden pop or crackle from the fire is also less likely to bolt dangerously close to the flames if already secured a safe distance away.

Embers can pop and land a surprising distance from the fire itself, sometimes landing in dry grass or directly on a dog's coat without being immediately noticed, particularly in a longer-coated breed, so periodically checking a dog that has been sitting near the fire for any singed fur or a hot spot helps catch this early.

Sitting a dog on the upwind side of the fire, away from where smoke naturally drifts, reduces coughing and eye irritation from smoke exposure over a longer evening around the fire, similar to keeping people comfortable on the smoke-free side.

A dog's natural interest in food cooking over an open fire can lead to it getting too close trying to investigate, so keeping cooking equipment, skewers, and hot pans out of easy reach, and supervising closely during actual cooking, prevents both burns and an unwanted grab at food. Never leaving a dog unattended near an active fire, even briefly, remains the single most important rule regardless of how calm the dog normally is.