Tails from the trail and tips on training your human

Hiking With Dogs: Common Trail Dangers to Look Out For

By Bobby Davidson on February 16, 2022

Common Trail Dangers

As hiking continues to be one of the top activities people like to pursue with their pups, not many consider the dangers the wilderness can present. You may be having the time of your life with your canine companion but staying ahead of any danger that may befall you both is the best way to ensure you get the most out of your adventure. As a small attempt to help you keep your dogs safe, here we have listed some of the most common dangers you may come across on hiking trails in general.

Steep Trails

Who doesn’t expect a hiking trail to be steep? After all, that’s the essence of the entire activity. However, the biggest mistake you can make as a pet owner is assuming your dog knows their way around that steepness.

The second biggest mistake people make is leaving their dog off-leash, even if it’s for a while. So essentially, by doing so, you’re exposing them to unfamiliar conditions and also leaving them to figure those conditions out while they are unprotected (without a leash).

Here’s the first thing to do: learn everything about a trail before bringing your fur pal along, and never assume they are wildwood creatures who can find their way around the forest.

A few seconds of you being laid back can easily cause them to tumble over the edge of a cliff they never knew was there.

DO NOT LEAVE THEM OFF-LEASH!

This is more of a warning than a suggestion because no matter how great your dogs are with directions back in the city, leaving them off-leash in an unfamiliar environment is similar to inviting danger yourself.

Unless there are no steep drop-offs or any other potential dangers, you should always keep their leash intact, especially if they like to chase insects and animals.

Poisonous Substances and Parasites

Your dog won’t mind biting on anything that comes their way, and sometimes, what comes their way is more harmful than what you can imagine. It can either be a funny story you can recall later or a matter of life and death. Moreover, just because you’re exploring nature doesn’t mean that the things your dog consumes are safe.

Since they cannot distinguish between what is safe and unsafe to eat, you may want to look out for the following:

  • Poisonous plants
  • Sticks
  • Rocks
  • Feces from other animals

But don’t keep your observation limited to what you can see on the ground because streams can be as dangerous, if not more. It’s quite convenient for your dog to contract bacterial and parasitic diseases even if they gulp a small quantity of stream water. Contaminated streams, therefore, are one of the most commonly encountered dangers on a hiking trail.

Heat

Even though surviving or not surviving heat has a lot to do with your dog’s breed, it isn’t entirely about it. No matter how well your dog’s body can adapt to different weather conditions, you should always carry an ample amount of water to prevent them from overheating.

Some breeds are naturally more prone to overheating, such as “Brachycephalic” dogs (Boxers, English bulldogs, French bulldogs, Boston terriers, etc.).

Additionally, you may also want to consider their health conditions. For instance, are they overweight, have a heart condition, or other factors that make them susceptible to overheating?

What Signs Can You Look Out For?

Your little hiking partner may not be able to speak, but there are always certain signs to look out for, such as:

  • Loud breathing sounds
  • Increased respiratory effort
  • Foaming saliva
  • Lethargy
  • Red gums
  • Seizures or collapsing in worst cases

If you suspect the presence of any of these signs, immediately try to cool them down with water, fans, and shade. However, you may want to consider getting veterinary care later since overheating is never easy on the body and can be potentially life-threatening.

Wild Animals

There are limitless possibilities of what you can come across on a typical hiking trail, but the most predictable of them are wild animals. This has to be one of the most common trail dangers to exist. Therefore, before you plan to take them on a hike, get familiar with the type of wildlife you can encounter.

In any case, you must keep your dog leashed and close to you to avoid letting them discover anything you wouldn’t want them to. It’s hard for dogs to determine what to stay away from, and it often lands them in trouble you could never have anticipated. For instance, dogs are often victims of snake bites since they tend to get curious and investigate their surroundings with a little too much enthusiasm.

Exhaustion

While it isn’t likely for dogs to die from exhaustion, it’s still better not to test their strength for the worst. When you push yourself to reach newer limits and stay on steep trails for long, you also push your dog to do the same, and in some cases, it can lead to exhaustion. Again, exhaustion may not kill your dog, but might exacerbate other issues such as overheating or pre-existing health conditions.

What Signs Can You Look Out For?

The most obvious sign to look out for is your dog lagging behind you. While this isn’t exactly alarming, dogs generally don’t find it hard to keep up with you or be slightly ahead of you too. So, if they are falling behind, it must mean that they are too exhausted to go on. Additional signs to look out for are foaming saliva, labored breathing, and laying down after every few minutes.

The Bottom Line

From wild animals to weather conditions, there are a number of risks that await you and your little pup on a typical hiking trail. This is why getting ahead of any possible dangers you may encounter is the only way to ensure you and your dog have the time of your lives.

by Bobby J 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.
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