Tails from the trail and tips on training your human

Safety Tips For Hiking With Your Dog | You and your dog are best friends. You enjoy playing fetch with him in the yard and snuggling on the couch, but now it’s time to go hiking with your dog. Although your dog makes a great travel companion, especially for any outdoor adventure or activity, making sure he will be safe and sound on the journey is your responsibility. Here are some safety tips for hiking with your dog:

Consider The Leash Laws

What if you let your dog off-leash in a place where it’s not allowed? Your best bud might enjoy meeting others on the trails, but what if he meets someone on the way who doesn’t feel the same way about him?

Keep in mind, some people are frightened of dogs or may have an aggressive dog with them.

Before heading out, take some time to do your research on your chosen trail to ensure your pet’s safety.

If you are looking for ways to get your four-legged friends outside and run around with him, off-leash areas are perfect because you can unleash your pup’s energy while still having a little bit of control over where he goes.

But if your dog doesn’t always respond when called back or is prone to chasing after wildlife, it’s best not to put these ecosystems at risk.

Carry Necessary Supplies, Including Food And Water

As a dog owner, you know that anytime you head out on the trail with your pup, they need more water than humans do. So while for shorter walks, it’s not necessary to lug along extra liquids and dishes for your best bud.

Any time there is risk of overheating from being in the sun for too long or heavy exertion like climbing incline hills, consider bringing some collapsible dishware and plenty of fresh water for them.

Dogs are not as well equipped to deal with the heat of summer like humans. They have fur coats, so they lack a way to sweat and cool down when it gets hot outside. To make sure your dog is safe from overheating, always bring plenty of liquids on any hike you go on during the warmer months. Just remember to also pack an easily collapsible dish for your dog, in case he needs some water while out roaming around under the scorching sun or through swampy marshes.

Bring A First Aid Kit

Every dog deserves the best, so be sure to have a first aid kit for your furry friend. It’s always good to handle an emergency with care and preparation because accidents happen without warning.

A tough adventure like mountain climbing can sometimes cause injury, such as cuts on the pads of their feet or even scratches. Keeping your pet safe is easy when you’re prepared beforehand. You can pack things like ointment and bandages and more into a handy pack that will fit over your dog.

Make Sure Your Dog is Fit For a Hike

When it comes to hiking, some dogs rise up like the mountain they dwell upon while others waddle in their wake. If you have a pup in either group and are looking for an easy hike with them, listen closely.

Very young pups can’t handle long distances or intense activities as well as those who’ve reached maturity, so don’t push him past his limit just because he looks healthy enough. Dogs are vulnerable to overheating in the summer. If you notice that your dog is lying down, or if he is panting intensely or foaming at the mouth, these could be signs that he needs some time to cool off and relax for a while.

Just like humans, dogs can lose their fitness if they don’t work out often enough during wintertime when there’s snow on the ground all day every day. Gradually build up with short walks around town until spring comes back so your pet is ready for days of hikes.

Keep An Eye On Your Dog

There are many things that a dog could eat while out on the trail, and some of them can be very dangerous. Some of these items may include mushrooms, cattails (which dogs should not ingest), pinecones or any other object with needles in it that might poke your puppy’s mouth, and random socks – which you wouldn’t want to find when doing laundry.

You should never be afraid to inspect your dog’s mouth when you see him chewing on something, because that could mean he is eating something dangerous. If it seems like there may not be anything harmful in their mouths but still makes you uneasy, try getting a sample of what they were chewing and take it with you to show the vet later just in case.

You can prevent many incidents by keeping your dogs leashed at all times unless absolutely necessary. However, if this is unavoidable don’t forget about watching over them so as not to miss any important details.

Conclusion

Hiking with your dog is a great way to make precious memories with your best friend. Make sure you are prepared for anything by following these hiking safety tips. If you have any questions, consider consulting your vet.

We want all of our furry friends to stay safe on their next outdoor adventure so they can come back home happy and healthy.

by Maria A Davidson

We are in business to provide great products for the outdoorsy hikers, campers and their dogs; and to help clean our parks, rivers and oceans for a better planet earth for hikers and their dogs.

Parks Clean

Parks are high-traffic areas in most cities. This means that trash is bound to show up in and around your park and playground.

When discussing ways your family can help clean your local park, don’t overlook a literal cleanup! Picking up trash will make a huge difference in the appearance and vibe of your park. A clean area will encourage others to keep the park pristine. When picking up trash and debris, make sure to wear gloves to protect yourself, and put trash in appropriate receptacles or lawn bags. You can also contact your local trash company to schedule a pickup when you are finished.

Rivers Clean

The storm drain on your street collects the water from your roof, driveway, and sidewalk and funnels it directly in your local lake or river. Nutrients from grass and leaves, pet waste, and fertilizers “enrich” our lakes and streams — feeding algae blooms and harming fish. Chemicals from washing your car in the drive and household chemical spills add up, taking a nasty toll on our favorite swimming areas and fishing spots. Soil can also be picked up by runoff, reducing the clarity of water and hurting fish.

So as you prepare your lawn and garden, here are a few helpful tips to keep our lakes and rivers beautiful and safe for all of us.

Use mulch and vegetation to keep soil from washing away.
Sweep or rake grass and leaves away from street curbs.
Mulch and compost grass clippings and leaves.
Keep paved surfaces to a minimum.
Capture water runoff with a rain garden and rain barrels.
Wash your car on the grass, where the water will get filtered.
Keep chemicals away from storm drains.
Collect your pet’s waste.
Aim your rain-gutter downspouts onto grass.

Beaches Clean (do it for the ocean)

In 2007, the United States Senate and House of Representatives passed the National Clean Beaches Week Resolution to recognize the value of beaches to the American way of life and the important contributions of beaches to the economy, recreation, and natural environment of the United States.

Clean Beaches Week, celebrated annually July 1-7, offers the perfect opportunity to encourage stewardship and volunteerism along our coastlines. But where do you even begin? Follow these tips to get started.

Identify a clean-up site. Choose a place that needs some TLC, making sure that volunteers can safely access the site. Get permission, if needed, for your clean-up event, perhaps from the local parks agency.
Choose a site coordinator. (That might be you!) A beach clean-up takes a lot of work and needs an organized person to keep everything on track before, during, and after the event.
Visit the site in advance. The coordinator will need to know where to set up a volunteer check-in station, where to leave trash and recyclables, and what area(s) volunteers will clean.
Gather supplies. Depending on your location, you’ll need supplies such as trash bags, a first aid kit, hand sanitizer, wipes, and large coolers of water. You should also provide (or ask volunteers to bring) items such as reusable work/garden gloves, reusable water bottles, sunscreen, and bug spray.
Plan how to handle the recyclables. Reach out to recyclers in your area (and perhaps your community’s solid waste departments) to make arrangements for accepting any glass, plastic, and aluminum that you collect.
Line up event partners. Contact local businesses for donations of drinks, food, and supplies. Ask a local solid waste hauler to donate their services for trash removal.
Plan for handling hazardous waste. Determine how you’ll dispose of any medical and sewage waste you might find. One solution: A wide-mouth container with a tight-fitting lid, such as an empty laundry detergent bottle. Clearly label that it contains hazardous waste.
Get volunteers to help. Recruit friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors. Create an event on Facebook and ask volunteers to sign up online. This will give you an idea of how many people to expect and will help communicate event details.
Stay safe. Be prepared for a variety of health emergencies, from minor cuts and scrapes to heat stroke.
Take photos! Post pics online to share the success of your event and recognize volunteers for their hard work.