First time 4Runner camping with my dog / Peeps s'mores & ramen / Chiricahua National Monument

Guess what? I'm adopting a dog! Meet Gunther - an 8 year old dachshund and 100% sweetheart. Finding him was total serendipity, and completely unexpected, so after only being together a couple of days, I took him along camping.
Join us as we get to know one another, and sort out the ins and outs of car camping with a dog on board. From potty breaks, to finding a dog-friendly hike, dealing with dirt, and keeping cool.
Of course there are some majestic boulders, wildlife, and lots of camp cooking. This is day one of a two night, two location adventure. We are at Bonita Canyon Campground, in the Chiricahua National Monument, near Willcox, Arizona.
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THE GEAR
Geek Aire Battery Operated Fan, Rechargeable Outdoor Misting Fan
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Cargo Tie-Down V-Ring Anchors
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Gas ONE Propane or Butane Stove
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24''x16'' Folding Camping Table
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Foldable Electric Kettle
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Sleeping Bag 3 Seasons
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Stella & Chewy's Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Patties Dog Food
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EF ECOFLOW RIVER Pro Portable Power Station 720Wh
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[@jessys9868]

I did the same thing with my new dog. He was a rescue having spent the first four years of his life in a crate. We spent two days at home, then I packed him up, and he and I took off a cross country in my teardrop. We were gone for not quite a month. He did great, as long as he was with me, he was secure. It’s been four years and he is still my steadfast, Camping buddy. They know when you start to get ready! And he’s running back-and-forth between the camper and the kitchen, in the car, the minute the door is open. It is a wonderful life for a dog, fresh air, walks, snuggling with their human. Love your videos… Lucky, you and Lucky Gunther.

[@ShoestringMartha]

Sounds like your pupper won the lottery, with you as parent! 🥰

[@CaravanCarolyn]

Omg, that burrito! 🌯 The turkeys would delight me too. I've only seen wild turkeys once ever. I don't remember where but it wasn't in Arizona! Had no idea we had turkeys.

[@tracker5849]

I'm sure his final years will be very happy!! And adventures every day

[@charmainesouth6807]

I just found your channel while searching for camping hacks. I love how calming your voice is, your videos are very relaxing. Ill be watching more :) Gunther is a sweetheart ❤

[@ShoestringMartha]

Thank you and welcome!

[@DMAC1301]

Just recently found your vids, so relaxing.

[@ShoestringMartha]

Welcome aboard!

[@dawnvierra4063]

Such a little sweetheart of a dog

[@annanne3929]

Lil Man is just the cutest! He appears to be having his best time ever. I have a doxie mix; they are just the best. I hope you get to keep him.

[@ChristineD8093]

That little dog loves you and feels very comfortable with you right off the bat

[@slackleashdogtraining3598]

gunther knows how to “put this on” and go out side.

[@ShoestringMartha]

He knows he can’t be nakey in public 😂

[@54bonkers]

You’ve got yourself a great camping buddy there! Happy adventures together!

[@pamelabaker1806]

OMG! I suck at chopstix too. Tongs! What a great idea!

[@nosleeplisa]

Aww, I love this one so much! I’ve been watching all your vids for a week now and I just LOVE Gunther! I’m so glad to finally come across the video where you introduce him and how he came into your life-it’s clear from the beginning that you two care about each other and it was meant to be 🥰

[@ShoestringMartha]

We are absolutely a personality match! I love that lil dude so much 🥰

[@nomansvan827]

Enjoyed the video, thank you for sharing. Love my dogs.

[@falconmoon2880]

Theres Sweet Gunther and Awesome Martha

[@TheWittyTravelers]

I stumbled on your channel not that long ago and now I have been binge watching your videos! You tell he is absolutely in love with you by the way he watches you - even after only having him for 3 days; I think that is what you mentioned! Obviously you adopted him because I have seen your recent videos😊

[@ShoestringMartha]

Welcome aboard! Yes, we lucked out, and everything eventually worked out for us both, in the end. I couldn't imagine life without him now. 😊

[@2sweetcaroline]

OMG 🤩 Peeps S’mores 🤣😍 Love it! I hope you get to keep your new little buddy. What a precious pup 🥰

[@tjfm59]

the subject is turkeys. the other week after my 6 inch snow fall. ALL of them come over to my place for food. have bird feeders out. this yr i counted about 20. down from 24. 6 of them have names. 2 sets of brothers the 2 bird set is tom jake & jake tom. there are about 2 yrs old. the other 4 are also brothers. an are around 6 years old. there names are the 4 turkeys of the apocalypse. these 6 are allways together in their respective sets. my other neighbors from across the road include 5 does, ma & pa pheasant. usually have a pair of wood ducks show in the spring. on the lot i have, alvin & his wife in the garage. red & his mrs, ( 2 red squirrels) numerous gray squirrels all vieing for the seeds in the feeders. my flightly fiends & the squirrels are VERY finicky eaters. about 2 years ago the brand of peanuts i get switched from viriginias to spanish reds. talk about turned up noses. same goes for the suet i put out. it has be the peanut company brand not the generic brand or i can give them the home made. have recently added meal worms around the suet. look up pileated woodpecker. have a breeding pair that shows up all year long. lol, some one has actual found a use for peeps.

[@ShoestringMartha]

It's a whole dang aviary!

[@tjfm59]

@@ShoestringMartha snicker snicker snicker. that's not counting my chickadees, blue nuthatches, cardinals, bluejays, hairy& downey, red headed, redbellied woodpeckers, juncos on there way north, purple finch, house finch, gold finch, had a couple of brown creepers once. robins, redwing blackbirds, starlings(nucence bird), last but not least my red throated humming birds when they get here. have about 3 pair when they show up. alvin jr was out an about today he got 2 walnut halves. alvin jr lives 1 house to the south.

[@Mimiw28]

Wow, your copilot is so chill and so cute.

[@ShoestringMartha]

One of the benefits of adopting a middle-aged dog!

[@vickilgabriel8499]

Omg I love you more and more with each video!

[@sm3296]

I’ve been binge watching videos on different ways to car camp and trying to figure out what’s best for me. Years ago I camped with my kids and an old tent trailer but I’ve never camped on my own. I definitely see having a little buddy along just makes it more enjoyable. I really enjoyed the slow easy pace of this and showing how the pace of being alone camping. That’s so appealing. Just what I need right now. Saw your folding bed video and think that’s brilliant. I’ll be happily following along your travels with wee buddy and love your humour too.

[@zoedemers2732]

Tanya's has the best burritos!!!

[@ShoestringMartha]

The one we tried was 100% legit! 😋🌯

[@donnas2023]

Gunther is so much your dog. What a beautiful blessing for the both of y’all 🥳💃🏿☮️💕

[@leekorkmann3704]

Great video. Your so clever 😊

[@flynnsylvest257]

Thank you so much for your videos. I am especially a Gunther fan. I look for him in every shot and so enjoy the connection between you two. I have been sorting through dilemmas about how to provide sufficient comfort for my 90 pound Lilly Belle (lab/chow mix) for camping trips with her. I am very interested in where you found the long print cushion you are using as your bed. I have been looking for something like that. Again, thank you for sharing all these wonderful videos. I find them quite soothing--vicarious camping.

[@ShoestringMartha]

Welcome! He’s really changed my life (for the better) and has been such sweet company while camping. This is our bed. Hope it’s cushy enough for Lilly Belle ☺️ www.walmart.com/ip/Urban-Shop-Printed-Soft-Portable-Crash-Pad-Blue-White/4768452

[@kristaenos3925]

I really enjoy all of your camping videos, especially the kitchen box and bed tutorials. It has me feeling very inspired to get my 4-runner camp ready. I also love how you incorporate your meals into the videos. Welcome to your adorable little camping companion, I look forward to seeing more adventures with the two of you!

[@ShoestringMartha]

I'm very glad to hear that! Once my year of camping every month challenge is done in the Fall, I plan on getting back into some builds. I have a bunch of ideas! (not all of them good 😂 )

[@meganshields8530]

If you fire roast a peep, does that make it rotisserie chicken and therefore "healthy"? Asking for a friend.

[@ShoestringMartha]

I'll allow it. 😂

[@tracker5849]

I like the way you think

[@missroxanne7123]

Gunther is having a ball! He said you are the best mom ever! So cute!

[@sandyschneider6792]

💕

[@kristiecox7350]

He’s so cute! Our baby passed in Nov and we won’t be replacing him anytime soon. But I sooooooo miss him. He went everywhere with us. Ha, love that sugar rush s’mores idea 😂

[@ShoestringMartha]

💔 💔 💔

[@barbarajeanne8351]

Omg, pulling out the peeps! Awesome ❤️

[@capaddler]

Just found your channel with the folding platform bed. Looking to create one for my son. Now looking around the vlogs. ❤🐾❤. I travel with my two puppies. 🐶s are great to travel with. Thanks for sharing.

[@ShoestringMartha]

Yes they are! A lot more responsibility, and a few more restrictions, but absolutely worth it.

[@tracyd7432]

Gunther is so cute, so quiet, and super chill! Love him! Love the sounds of all of the birds and the beautiful morning view! Great video - Thank you for sharing!

[@ShoestringMartha]

He is a pretty fantastic camping companion, and for the *most part* -- quiet. He does try to protect "his" territory from "intruders" (just people walking by, minding their own business 😂 ). I found that putting him on the bench with me calms that down.

[@HeathersHikesAndAdVANtures]

Such a cute co-pilot! Fingers and toes crossed for a successful adoption soon! 🤞

[@gloria5873]

Very nice video! Gunther is so cute and he's very lucky to have you. You are taking very good care of him and he's a happy little dog. Love your videos

[@donnaintexas4406]

Love Gunther! Nice blog...Came by way od Caravan Carolyn! ❣

[@dianeclarke2618]

Love that you have a camping buddy, dogs have no idea about size comparison.... So Gunther will likely protect you with the heart of a Rottweiler.

[@ShoestringMartha]

So true -- he is utterly fearless! 😂

[@dianeclarke2618]

We were blessed to share our lives with A Jack Russel Terrier...... She had no idea how little she was and protected me with the heart of a Lion.

[@rslooby6130]

Watching this in December 2024. You can tell Gunther is going to live his best life as a traveling buddy. Too funny about the Julia Child video...we lived down the street from her prep chef.

[@ShoestringMartha]

That's so cool!

[@rslooby6130]

I used to watch The French Chef after school at a friend's house. Dark Shadows was on after...my mom didn't want me to watch that show!

[@joyceullom8037]

Your dog is a cutie and I hope you can adopt him❤️

[@ShoestringMartha]

Gunther is a solid part of our pack now!

[@paulavaden5139]

Gunther looks to be a good camping buddy. Maybe a more self contained small french press for coffee? Bird above is sweet until a poop drop threatens. Fun times!

[@ShoestringMartha]

I did enjoy using my french press, the one time I brought it, and I love how it's insulated. I just dislike how large mine it. To save space, I may just pull the trigger on one of those metal french press / mug combos, that are specifically for camping.

[@katmogstad1692]

My butane canister sometimes hisses because it gets dislodged during transit. I usually reset it each time…before locking it into place and engaging the on switch.

[@ShoestringMartha]

Must have been something like that! I ended up using it with the torch, and it was fine. 🤷🏻

[@tarawebster6797]

Great video. I love the new pup! He seems like he's going to be a great camping companion!

[@kelliecorum5427]

❤TFS!

[@J2DXPLR]

Gunther is adorable! We stopped by Chiricahua a few years ago in late spring and it was snowing and foggy, we were escorted out of the park because they wanted to close off the main roads. We want to go back and visit soon~

[@ShoestringMartha]

I bet it was gorgeous though!

[@anneli1735]

Gunter is looking like he never did anything else but camping with you his whole life 😂 love Dackel / Teckel myself and he‘s so alike but having something else in his genes?

[@ShoestringMartha]

It's hard to see it, but Gunther is all dachshund! He's a "soft-coated wirehair" or "silky" dachshund - a cross between long-haired and wire-haired. His curly coat and little potbelly tend to hide to sausage shape. When I bathe him, you can see it much more clearly. 😂

[@anneli1735]

@@ShoestringMartha yessssss that’s been coming up as my second thought possible - needs better shape as his obesity is very hard on his bone structures prone for damage 🥹 best companions ever ❣️and as a German (being brought up with a brown longhair btw) I find it so funny giving him the German name Gunther 😂 perfect match! In German that’s pronounced with the “u” like in 📚 books, so didn’t catch it right away but when reading the name ☺️ In México and Cuba they call them Salchicha (sausage) 😆 Love your tours and that you didn’t cut out the mishaps 😝 learning so much from them 😉

[@ShoestringMartha]

Oh yes, it is something we have been working on 😬 He is on a strict diet and daily walks (paused now because of the heat). Since we adopted him and that video posted, he has lost a couple pounds, but it’s an ongoing challenge. Thanks for watching and Gooooonther says hello to your teckel 😃

[@youngheart1065]

Fantastic little camping buddy! I’m leaving Saturday for a nice 5,000 mile road trip. Montana to Damascus Virginia AT trail days weekend. Then back through the Grand Canyon, Jackson Hole and Yellowstone NP. I love my “retired life”!

[@ShoestringMartha]

Sounds like a spectacular journey -- safe and joyous travels!

[@thatcampingchic3817]

Perfect travel companion, hope all went well with the adoption. 🐾

[@ShoestringMartha]

Lucky for us, Gunther is firmly part of the family now!

[@VVilde36]

I am also scraping the coffee grounds of life back into the cup lmao

[@ShoestringMartha]

A little more complicated -- and probably a little contaminated -- but still worth it!

[@milesandhikes]

This was fun. And your new dog is adorable!! such a cutie!

[@emmieHD]

You are inspiring me to setup my 4runner for camping! Congratulations on your adoption. Gunther seems like a great camping buddy. I really enjoy your videos. Thank you for sharing your adventures.

[@ShoestringMartha]

Yesss! DOOO EEEET!

[@lindaclements7608]

Love your videos, just found you, love, love your new dog, I travel and would not be without my Border Collie, she is my co pilot in my MoHo here in Australia …..

[@ShoestringMartha]

Welcome! I'd never heard the term "MoHo" before, and now it's officially in my vocab. 😂

[@jorjastonej]

Your doggie is so good and cute.

[@jeniferokeywsu]

I’m binging your videos lol. The comment about the melting Nazi! I forgot about that!!! That show scared me so much as a kid haha. Regarding movies, do you just download something before you go out??

[@ShoestringMartha]

Same! I wanted to put a gif of that scene into the video, but when I found it -- I forgot how gross it was! 😲 Yeah, for movies -- a couple days before I head out, I rent one through AppleTV and download it. The rental doesn't begin until you start playing it.

[@roadtriplover.]

HAHAHAHAHA!!! Listening to turkeys while camping would totally delight me, as well. You promise to share a recipe video soon and didn’t you do just that with the Peeps Smore?!?!? How excellent! I wish Peeps were available all year, cuz I’d be making Peeos Smores on every campout. :-) Your new family member is adorable. Within the last month, I’ve also adopted a new companion. She’s now 5 1/2 months old and 42lbs. That’s sounding like she’ll be moose sized when grown. Her brother is 80lbs, and they have 2 feline siblings. It’s a menagerie for sure, but so much fun on a camping/hiking/picnicing trip. Am I the only one who goes on picnics, these days??

[@ShoestringMartha]

Well I suppose it counts as a recipe 😂 In that case the birria ramen video will be a bonus recipe! Congrats on the new addition -- an kudos to you for traveling with a pack! Wow! Also picnics are highly underrated.

[@mastandstars]

Thanks for mentioning places when they have vegan options. Lil guy seems peaceful.

[@ShoestringMartha]

Even as an omnivore, I was quite tempted by the choices they had! Gunther is so chill - I love him so much.

[@tracker5849]

What type of "burger" was that you fed Gunther?

[@ShoestringMartha]

They are Stella & Chewy freeze dried patties. They came with him from his last home. amzn.to/3qF6cUi

[@tracker5849]

@ShoestringMartha thank you maam. Thank you for rescuing him and giving him a forever home. He's got a great life. My tiny 4 lb little girl is 13..I'm going to try these. Dry food is just to hard for her even with her pedialite water on it

[@ShoestringMartha]

Awww! 🥺 He really enjoyed them and they were convenient for camping. The only reason I cut them out, is because he has liver issues, so I had to shift him to a low protein / low fat diet.

[@VVilde36]

🥰🤣

[@evelyngorfram9306]

Melting Nazi Peep butterfly s'mores - you just don't get content like that on any other channel. :) & Gunther is an absolute cutie-pie.

[@ShoestringMartha]

I was going to include a gif of that scene, but I forgot how gross it was! 🤣

[@lynnef3297]

😂😂😂

[@carolineannie7223]

is he wearing a cooling vest? where did u get that from?

[@ShoestringMartha]

Just a regular, padded harness, from PetSmart! But could probably work as a cooling vest, if dunked in water. 🤔

[@katmogstad1692]

Not savages, but…..use the tongs to eat the noodles. 😂

[@ShoestringMartha]

I'm calling it "Korean-style", after all the Korean solo women campers I follow. They almost always use tongs to eat their noodles, and after trying them myself, I am a convert 😂

[@katmogstad1692]

I guess it will work if you use the spring-loaded style. 😉

[@katmogstad1692]

“No dogs allowed” is something you may see a lot. Definitely will change your plans.

[@ShoestringMartha]

I think that's one of the reasons I held off on getting another dog for so long. It does restrict where you can go and what you can do. The expectation is that the joy of having them along makes all the responsibilities worth it. 😊

[@carolineannie7223]

no no not the peeps!!!!!!! no no no!!!!

[@ShoestringMartha]

😈🔥🐤