taking dogs to the top end?

scotia59 · Senior Member

taking dogs to the top end?

Santa · Guru

We took our young Lab up there from Adelaide in August 2012 without problem, be aware when heading up there that station owners lay dog baits so keep an eye on your dog during rest/camping stops, if they pick up a bait it all over

We were advised ticks can be a problem, we didn't encounter any biggrin

You cant take dogs into national parks, so need to make other arrangements, i.e. pay someone in a CP to dog sit or book the dog into a kennel, Darwin kennels are very expensive, we found a place a bit south of Darwin, HumptyDoo, just off the main road, called Dog Tainers, a dog shipping company who also have an excellent and reasonably priced boarding facility biggrin

Hope this is of some help.

scotia59 · Senior Member

thanks Santa, will check out the HumptyDoo Dog Trainers.

Santa · Guru

scotia59 wrote:
thanks Santa, will check out the HumptyDoo Dog Trainers.

Not dog trainers, dogtainers, as in shipping containers. smile

pawsoz · Senior Member

Hi
I lived in Darwin until 2011 and regularly did a trip down and back every 2nd year whilst I was up there with the dogs!

Not quite sure where you are starting out from but Pt Augusta has a low fee camp behind the footy club rooms that is pet friendly and there are places to let dogs have a stretch close by.

If you are self contained a great camp on the way up is Lake Hart - no facilities but great views, you can let your dogs have a run there too, I have stayed there almost every trip and walked for hours arong the edges of the salt lake!
Top up with fuel at Coober Pedy, Glendambo and Marla are both dog friendly and at Marla your dog can actually get to run on whatever is left of the town oval!
I usually camp at the Finke rest area about 130k's south of Alice Springs, you can run your dog on the dry river beds, in all the time I have been going up and down never any baits down there.
Unless I have to do some business in the Alice I usually go right on through to Aileron Road House, they have a caravan park (10.00 with power pool washing machine) dog friendly and a lovely walk on the Station that guests are welcome to do.
Banka Banka is a good spot to stay the other side of Tennant Creek, with real green grass!
The old Daly Waters pub is dog friendly and there are bush areas out the back where they can have a stretch off lead there.
There are a few more over night camps I can tell you about if you want to pm me.
In Darwin there are only a few caravan parks that accept dogs that are close in - the Malak/Koa CP's on Mc Millans Rd (signed off the Highway), the Caravan Park at Coolalinga is dog friendly but it is about 30'ks out of the city.
As for kennells, yes the one and only time I ever flew down for a week-end I left the Whippets at the kennels at Humpty Doo, Dogtainers is the pet travel side of the business and I am sorry but I cannot for the life of me recall what the kennels are called....A1 Boarding Kennels comes to mind though....the Whippets survived - I was miserable though and suffered seperation anxiety.

annie

Santa · Guru

I have a feeling your right, A1 Boarding Kennels was the name rolling around in my head as well, http://www.a1kennelsandcattery.com.au/ yep, just Googled it.

The Koa CP at Malak is dog friendly it's also crowded, run down and way over priced, $55 for first night and $50 per night thereafter, won't be returning.

Tumbling waters is a bit further out but a much better option. smile

Allara · Senior Member

I am currently in Darwin with four dogs. September should be ok for your dog, what breed is it? September is the very beginning of the build up and it can be very humid, it took my dogs a fair while to aclimatize to the heat up here.Think about buying it a 'cool coat' (you can look them up on the net), if not make sure you have air conditioning.

The cheapest place to stay, with dogs is Robbie Robbins Campground on Stuart Hyw near the showgrounds, last I heard it was $25 per night. Look them up and give them a call. Very basic, but ok. Adelaide River Showgrounds is about 90Kms south of Darwin and $27 per night, has grass and likes dogs.

There are a lot of dog shows in Darwin end July early Aug and camp sites are few and far between, so book early, as I said Sept is the start of the build up to the wet so a lot of tourists will be heading off so make it a little easier.

If I am still here send me a PM and I should be able to babysit Fido for you.

Cheers
Allara

turbopete · Senior Member

you hav,nt had a dog till you have had a border collie,,,just the best dog ever

Santa · Guru

turbopete wrote:
you hav,nt had a dog till you have had a border collie,,,just the best dog ever

Long haired dogs in the top end? nope, not a good move.

pawsoz · Senior Member

comments re dog breeds and long haired dogs reminds me to remind the original poster to get their dog/s on tick treatment as soon as they get up Darwin way especially if they have a long haired dog, easy with the Wizzie Whippets....ticks stand out like .....!
Santa, you are right about KOA and Malak CP's knowing how to charge! But then so do all the 'close in CP's' they were clean and tidy enough when I was there last year for a short visit though.
May be worth staying in close for a night or two whilst the City stuff is being done and maybe a meal in town is being enjoyed....think Darwin Sailing Club at Fannie Bay! Then relocate out further....
Now last year one of the boarding kennels advertised in the forum classifieds for a touring couple to work in return for a camp site.....take a look and give them a buzz they may be interested in doing it again!

annie

turbopete · Senior Member

Hi Sants by way of explanation,,these days with varied breeding not all borders are long haired,mine is from pure b/c working dog stock and is a tall dog,,, not short hair but is medium length,,you are imagining those beautiful long haired dogs (roughs) seen at shows and clipping which you would need to do in tick areas solves the problem and i admit is more comfortable for the dog tho the purists would disagree with clipping

and as far as national parks go,,my dog goes where i go so they can stick their national parks where the sun dont shine

-- Edited by turbopete on Sunday 24th of February 2013 11:06:32 PM

Allara · Senior Member

Hi Peter,

Great to see a BC fan! My dogs go everywhere with me as well - it's a case of "must love dogs"

I have been up here, Darwin for nearly 12 months and have no trouble with ticks etc. My dogs are shown so are not clipped, they have accliamatised and spend time with the air con during the humid times, but on the whole cope well.

I worry more about crocs if we go near the water so I keep them on lead - otherwise they would try to round them up! They work the sheep when I am back home on the farm, very versatile animals.

Cheers

Allara

Wandering Whitfields · Veteran Member

We travelled with our best mate Baxter for 6 months, and when we could not take him into the National Parks we just went to the nearest local vet and they took him for the day or the night, most we paid was $11, dearer at the kennels though.
Also there are dog groomers who are willing to take care of them to, you just have to ask, and the word "NO" never hurt anyone.
Gloria.

scotia59 · Senior Member

thank you everyone for your replies and lots of info for me to look through and research. i am sorry I have been so slack in getting back to you all.

Annie, thank you, you have really helped, we were in two minds as to whether or not to take our dog, she is a German Shepherd, 12yrs old and a big softie! I did not like the idea of leaving her for the 5 weeks we are to be away, I think she would pine for us, but all the options you and the other forum members have given us are great.

Gloria, what an excellent idea, I never even though of asking the local vet to look after her.

thanks everyone.

swinks · Member

what do you mean the dog will pine for you.no you will pine for your dog your holiday will be crap if you leave your mate behind.
cheers

p.s vet sounds like a great idea they will no doubt have animal cares also.

Red Dog · Senior Member

I have lived and worked in WA for many years know and do a lot of bush camping and dont go any where with out my mate

and yes baits are a real problem they are dropped from the air and land just about anywhere I have found the easy way and the safest is to fit my dog with a mussel one that allows him to grink but not eat, but you must choose one that allows

plenty of air in the front, cheers keep safe Red Dog

Red Dog · Senior Member

I have lived and worked in WA for many years know and do a lot of bush camping and dont go any where with out my mate

and yes baits are a real problem they are dropped from the air and land just about anywhere I have found the easy way and the safest is to fit my dog with a mussel one that allows him to grink but not eat, but you must choose one that allows

plenty of air in the front, cheers keep safe Red Dog