So You Want To Hike With Your Pet?
It is no secret that a lot of dogs love to hike. They just love the outdoors. They can move, walk, and be somewhat free. They are not confined by the walls of your home. Hiking is one of the best things that you can give to your pet and I know that your pet will love it. However, there are some things that you need to consider first before hiking with your pet. The outdoors is just not that friendly. Your pet may end up getting injured or hurt in some sort of way. Your pet may be anti social also as such, your pet may end up biting people or other dogs along the trail.
Basic Things To Consider First
How Fit Is Your Pet
One of the first things that you need to consider is how fit is your pet. Hiking and backpacking are definitely more strenuous than walking your dog. The uneven terrain, and elevation gain will definitely use a lot of your pet’s energy. Your pet’s body may not be able to handle it. I’ve seen lots of dogs that just refuse to move after a mile or so hiking. You will end up carrying your pet till the end of the hike. So take a look at your pet. Is it really fat and does your pet sleep all the time? If this is the case, your pet may need to exercise more before it is ready to hit the trail. You can always just walk around the block a couple of miles to make sure that your pet is in shape.
How Behave Is Your Pet
The behavior of your pet matters a lot since your pet will be interacting with animals, people and other dogs. Does your pet obey your every command? Does it sit, and stay when you tell it do so? If you let your pet go, it may end up chasing birds, chipmunks and other small animals. You may end up never seeing your pet again. A bear may end up eating your pet if it ever gets lost. You also have to ask yourself if your pet can socialize well with others? There are a lot of trails that are very narrow. You will end up bumping elbows with other people walking towards you. Is your pet well behave enough that it will not bite other hikers? Will it bite other dogs if it sees them? There are also kids that hike. You need to make sure that your pet do not bite the kids that it sees along the way.
Weather
The weather is also something that you need to consider also. Dogs have a fur, and walking under a hot sun in June is just not going to be very comfortable and fun for your pet. It may end up experiencing dehydration along the way. Is it going to be raining? Do you like the smell of wet fur? Is your pet going to get sick because of the rain and the cold wind? Pets are living organisms as well just like human beings. They can get sick. So always check if the weather is agreeable to your pet.
Age
The age of your pet matters. One of my dogs is pretty old. It cannot handle long walks or even be able to hike at all. He has joint problems and other ailments which makes his body not good enough for hiking. Pets that are old have weaker bodies just like human beings. They are not as strong as they used to be when they were very young. So I recommend making an assessment whether your dog is too old to hike. The bodies of old dogs are not that strong. The joints, cartilages, and their physical abilities have greatly diminished. They may even have arthritis which will make it very uncomfortable for them to walk for lots of hours or hike lots of miles.
Trail
One of the main things you need to do is make sure that the trail or park allows you to be able to bring your dog. Some trails and parks, they prohibit dogs. There are also some rules and regulations when you are bringing your pet along the trail. Each park has their own rules so make sure to read them and get to know them before taking your pet on a hike.
Some trails are just too difficult for your pet. Steep trails are often impassable for dogs. You may end up carrying your pet all the time. If the trail is very long, some pets cannot handle that as well. You will end up carrying your pet for more than half the total distance of the hike. This is not going to be fun for you. So do some research and make sure that the trail is not that difficult. Make certain that your pet can handle the trail.
Go To Your Veterinarian First
Ask your veterinarian first if your dog is ready to go hiking. Your veterinarian will give you some tips to keep your pet healthy along the way. He or she will most likely give your pet some sort of vaccine or pet medication to combat worms, parasites, ticks and so on. You will get more information and health tips if you talk to your veterinarian. I am certain also that your vet will know more than me so always talk to them first before going on a hike with your dog.
Dog Hiking Gear You Need To Consider
Here are some dog hiking gear that you need to consider. These are most common items that I see on the trail. They are very useful and helpful. They make hiking more fun and easier for the pet which makes hiking easier and more fun for you as well. These items are a great addition to any dog that wants to go hiking. They are lightweight, compact, and very easy to use. So I am certain that your pet will love these items and you will enjoy them as well.
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Dog Hiking Backpacks – Dog hiking backpacks are a great way to give your pet more independence. They allow your pet to carry lightweight items like their dog bowls, leash and so on. Make sure that both sides are equally balanced so that you will not hurt your pet. Do not put a lot of items and weight on these backpacks. Too much weight can permanently injure your pet. Try putting crumpled pieces of paper first and let your dog wear the backpack around your house to see if it is comfortable in making use of one. |
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Collapsible Dog Bowls – You will need at least one collapsible dog bowl for your pet. How is your pet going to drink water when it is hiking if you do not have a bowl? A collapsible bowl is lightweight and very compact. These types of bowls are very easy to carry which makes them perfect for hiking with your pet. Make sure not to put a lot of water. Just put enough water while keeping in mind that your pet will need stay hydrated through out the hike. |
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Dog Boots And Paw Wax – Dog boots can definitely help protect the paws of your pet whenever they are hiking. Unfortunately, not all dogs like to wear dog boots. They tend to try to take them off and chew them out. The next best thing is paw protection wax. These wax have been proven to work and have been used by lots of outdoor dogs all over the world. I like Musher’s Secret wax a lot. I am not sure about the ingredients but this stuff really works well and protects the paws of my dog. I am sure that this will help you out as well. |
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LED Collar – LED collar and other types of LED lights for your dog are often very helpful whenever you are backpacking and camping. If it is really dark, you will not be able to see your pet. You may end up wasting valuable flashlight, or headlight battery trying to look for your pet at night. It is even more frustrating when you are looking for your pet for 15 minutes when it turns out, your pet is just at the side of your tent all along. A long lasting LED dog collar can definitely help you find your pet at night. |
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Dog Poop Bags – It is recommended that you take the poop of your dog with you. You don’t really want to put the poop inside your backpack and have it leak out accidentally. A trash bag that is designed for dog poops is what I recommend. I recommend that you just tie it around the outside of your pack also. These poop bags are also biodegradable, affordable, and comes in large quantities. I have nothing but success making use of these. |
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First Aid Kits – I often carry a few items for first aid purposes and I leave the rest at my car. It is because I often carry a lot of items already. I highly recommend that you do the same thing. A good first aid kit can help treat minor injuries, wounds, and damages that was inflicted on your pet. First aid kits are great for you as well in case of emergencies. Your car should have one also. A lot of things can happen while on the road so having a few items can definitely soothe and relieve pain or other types of discomfort. First aid kits can even save a life. |
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Dog Car Seat Covers – Dog car seat covers are very useful. There are many times when your pet will accumulate lots of dirt and mud on its fur and paws because it was hiking with you. A great way to keep your car clean is by using these covers. They come in different sizes and forms. You should get one that will fit your car rather well. These dog car seat covers are also very easy to clean, easy to put on the car and easy to take out. The hassle free characteristics of these items make them well worth having. So I high recommend at least getting one for your vehicle. |
How To Keep Your Dog Safe While Hiking
Edge Of A Cliff
Whenever I come across a viewpoint, I get very excited. There is some sort of adrenaline or exhilaration going through my veins and into my body. So I always try to be very careful when I am at a cliff. Dogs are the same that they are also very careful when they are near a cliff. However, when the owner gets excited, the dog tends to get excited as well. The cliff can sometimes get clouded in their minds. So always remember that when you are hiking with a dog, you should always be more calm and relaxed when you are near a cliff or edge. Your pet may end up falling down if you are not careful enough. Keep your pet close also just to make sure that he or she knows that there is some sort of danger near by.
Fire Towers
Fire towers are not good for pets. I have seen dogs climb fire towers only to be afraid half way through. Your pets tend to look downward. They tend to see how far they have gone up with every step that they make. Sometimes, when they reach the middle, the refuse to move anymore. They will refuse to go up. They start having panic attacks and anxieties about going up. When they reach the top, it is very cramped up there. They are not going to look at the window and enjoy the views. They will get scared. Dogs will have much more fun when they are at the bottom and places they do not feel to be very tight. It is better to leave the pets at the bottom rather than make them go up there.
Do not tie your dogs at the bottom of the fire tower. I remember I saw these two big huskies at the bottom of the fire tower. There are multiple people who want to climb it that there is actually some sort of mini line. I am not afraid of getting bitten so I decided to go up. The huskies were actually very friendly. It turns out that the fire tower was empty. The owners were at a ledge taking pictures. They just felt like tying their dogs on the fire tower. Anyway, to keep the story short, do not tie your dogs at the bottom of the fire tower.
Steep Trails
There are lots of trails that have parts that are very steep. There are many different types of dogs and not all dogs can handle steep trails. They can definitely injure themselves. If you carry them, you may injure yourself also and the dog. If you fall down while on a steep trail, you will end up using your arms to make sure you don’t harm yourself or slide downward. You may end up dropping your pet, and your pet will have no choice but to slide downward to the bottom. This can injure him a lot. So try to avoid trails that are very steep so that you can avoid putting yourself and your dog in danger.
Lakes And Rivers
A lot of websites discourage dog owners to let their pets go to lakes and rivers. They are saying that rivers and lakes are contaminated with bacteria, parasites and other micro organisms that can make your pet sick. I don’t know about your pet but I have never met a dog that hike that can resist a cool river or lake. Hiking dogs tend to get excited when they see rivers and lakes that they tend to drag their owners to the pool of water. Pools of water are very irresistible to dogs. Water keeps their bodies cool and comfortable.
I suggest bringing in lots of water or an outdoor water filter so that your pet will always have plenty of clean drinking water to satiate its thirst. I recommend getting the Katadyn water filter since it is easy to use and easy to carry as well which makes it great for hiking. Also, dogs are not allowed to frolic around pools of water around a campsite or lean-to. It is because backpackers tend to use those pools of water for drinking and cooking purposes. It is not very good when I see dogs swimming around my drinking water lol. I am sure that other hikers feel the same way as well. So try to keep your pet close to you when you are in a campsite.
References:
- https://www.petinsurance.com/en/healthzone/pet-articles/pet-exercise/15-Essential-Dog-Hiking-Tips.aspx
- https://www.active.com/outdoors/articles/9-tips-for-hiking-with-your-dog
- https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/hiking-dogs.html
- https://www.petfinder.com/dogs/living-with-your-dog/banfield-hiking-tips/
- https://hikewithyourdog.com/the-first-steps-how-to-start-to-hike-with-your-dog
- https://www.outdoors.org/articles/amc-outdoors/hiking-with-dogs-a-guide-to-bringing-your-best-friend-on-the-trail