Hiking is a fantastic way to get outdoors with your dog for some great exercise and bonding. But before you head out, do your homework. Have you researched the trail? Does it allow dogs? Do they have to be leashed or can they roam free? How long is the trail? Are there water stops?
These are just a few of the important questions you must ask yourself before you hit the trail with your dog. Hiking is fun, but can be dangerous if you are not prepared.
Use these tips to have a safe and enjoyable hike with your best friend.
1. You’re Going to Need Water and Lots of It
We all know that moving around outside in the hot sun can be taxing on your system. Well, the same goes for your dog. The length and the difficulty of the hike will determine the amount of water you’ll need. It’s really not a good idea to let your dog drink from the streams, ponds or puddles, because according to hikewithyourdog.com, “Surface water, including the purest looking of fast-flowing streams, is likely to be infested with a microscopic protozoa called Giardia, waiting to wreak havoc on a dog’s intestinal system. The most common symptom is crippling diarrhea.”
Not to mention all of the other potentially dangerous contaminants that can be found. Remember, your dog is not the only animal drinking from the water source. If a sick animal drank from it, your dog could get sick, too.
2. What Time is It?
The time of day you plan your hike also plays an important role in whether or not you can take your dog. In general, the best time to hike with your dog is the morning, when it’s cooler. Dogs can overheat, which is entirely preventable.
“Don’t plan long, tough hikes in the heat of the day. Leave the big hikes with your older dog for cooler weather. If you are hiking with your dog this summer, don’t leave the trailhead without an inexhaustible supply of drinking water. On the trail with your dog – in any weather, but especially in the summer – if he drops behind you, stop and take a break. If you have a short-nosed breed like a Boxer or a double-coated breed like a German Shepherd, heat will be even more of a factor on a hike,” states hikewithyourdog.com.
3. How’s the Weather?
Depending on where you are hiking, the weather can be a huge factor. If you’re doing city trails, then the weather will most likely stay the same, but if you’re hiking in the foothills, a canyon or the mountains, you’ll need to be prepared for rapid weather changes. Storms can come out of nowhere. Many experienced hikers have been lost or even killed during a sudden storm while hiking. Bring along an extra layer or two, and make sure at least two other people know where you are hiking.
Another thing to take note of when hiking in the mountains is the altitude change.
Heed this sound advice from hikewithyourdog.com: “Regardless of your physical condition, it is common to begin feeling the effects of low air pressure at about 10,000 feet; even lower for some canine hikers. As you take in less and less oxygen you can begin to feel nausea, dizziness, headaches or heart palpitations. Never go higher should you encounter any of these symptoms. Take a rest and if the symptoms disappear, continue on. If they persist for more than a few minutes, turn back. You are most at risk for altitude sickness if you climb too quickly.”
One last thing, when hiking in a canyon, keep in mind that you’ll end your hike with a climb back out. Make sure both you and your dog are ready.
4. What Do You Have to Eat?
Hiking burns mega calories, so you and your dog will need good snacks to sustain your energy. Make sure you’ve brought along enough food for one meal, plus some treats. According to vetslovepets.com, “You need to pack plenty of food for him, and make sure that you pack enough in case of an emergency (such as getting lost in the woods and not being able to find your way back to civilization for several days or weeks).”
They also recommend buying canned dog food as it is easier to carry around and not as expensive as dry food.
5. What’s that Crawling on Your Skin?
We’ve got one word for you: ticks. These nasty little buggers will wreak havoc on your dog and can cause a variety of problems including Lyme disease and anaplasmosis. The ASPCA strongly recommends you do the following: “When your hike is finished, give your pooch a thorough once-over for ticks and other creepy-crawlies. Pay special attention to her belly, ears, and any skin folds and crevices. If you do spot a tick, treat the area with rubbing alcohol and remove the parasite immediately by slowly pulling it off with tweezers. Be careful when removing a tick, as any contact with its blood can potentially transmit infection to your dog or even to you. Wash the bite area and keep an eye on it for the next few days — if irritation persists, contact your vet.”
Some other things you’ll need to bring include ID tags, a retractable or long leash, a copy of your dog’s most current vaccinations, a first aid kit and poop bags. Just because the other animals poop in the woods, it does not mean your dog should also be allowed to do the same thing. Poop carries with it a whole host of parasites that can have adverse effects on any wild animal that eats it. Do Mother Nature a solid and clean up after your dog.
PHOTO: cotesebastien