If you want to take your dog along for your hiking adventures, you’ve got to take their safety and experience into account. Here are some great tips.
You don’t have to leave your dog at home to enjoy some wonderful hiking adventures in the wilderness, but you need to know what your dog might do and how to keep them safe and comfortable while on the trails. Dogs can add a great deal of enjoyment to your hike, especially if you watch them to see how they react to various experiences in the forest.
Teach your dog to hike
You’ve got to start while they are puppies and teach dogs proper behavior and commands, especially if you want to be able to have them off the leash while on the trails. You heed to start wit short and slow hikes before increasing the distance and pace. Make sure your pup doesn’t have any issues with hiking by taking to your local veterinarian first. If you’re consistent in your teaching, your dog will get the idea and understand how to go hiking with you.
Water and snacks
You need water during a hike, but so does your dog. You should have at least a quart to drink from during the hike and know of locations where you can get more water if you need it. A collapsable bowl can be a great way to give your furry friend a dish of water that they can enjoy. Bringing along some snack for you and your pup, giving them more energy on the trail, and rewarding them for good behavior.
Weather is important
It’s a good idea to check the weather before hiking, regardless of whether you take your dog with you or not. If it’s going to be an extremely hot or humid day, you might want to leave your dog at home. Some dogs can overheat in cooler temperatures, and asking them to exert themselves during a hike can make things worse. If the temperature is greater than 80 degrees Fahrenheit, you should leave your dog at home and let them stay safe and comfortable unless your dog is fully conditioned to work in these higher temperatures.
Get your dog wet
Your dog doesn’t have sweat glands and can quickly start panting heavily to cool down during a hike. One way to make your dog more comfortable while hiking is to hose them down before the hike begins and find a place for them to get wet or go swimming during the hike. The water will help them stay cool. If you won’t be near any water, you should consider a cooling coat or bandana for your pup to ward off the heat.
Watch your dog during the hike
Some puppies can be extremely energetic and won’t have too many issues with uneven terrain or elevation changes during a hike up a hill or mountain, but older dogs can certainly have issues with these changes. If your dog begins panting heavily or refuses to go on, be sensitive to this and rest so that your dog can regain some energy. This is a good time to give them some water or a snack, which might help them feel better about going onward.
Check their paws
Part of the training for hiking with your dog is to teach your pup to let you check their paw pads regularly. You want to make sure their paws haven’t become injured on the trails. You have shoes on to protect your feet from jagged rocks or hot walkways, but your dog does not. You could consider some protective booties, but these will also need to be part of your training regime to get your dog to wear them. Be patient with your pup and keep their paws safe and protected on the trails.
Leashes matter
If you’re hiking with your dog on public trails and there’s a chance of meeting other hikers, you need to keep your dog on a leash. This will prevent your pup from disturbing other hikers and the wildlife of the area. Teach them proper commands to come back to you or be still while on the trail. Your leash shouldn’t be too long, especially if you have a curious dog, but it shouldn’t be so short that your pup can’t explore a little, either.
Hiking with your dog can be one of the most rewarding ways to enjoy the outdoors, but it takes training, patience, and planning to keep you and your pup safe while on the trails.