Tails from the trail and tips on training your human

Dogs for a Hiking Trip | Dogs love being outdoors. They are active and playful creatures who would enjoy a quick run or a long peaceful walk any time of the day and anywhere. Whether it’s a beach day, road trip, or hiking tour, it’s understandable why you would want your furry friend next to you.

While all of these trips require planning and preparation, they are not as challenging as hiking. To enjoy hiking with your dog and make memories on the trail, you and your pet must have some physical training that builds stamina. Alongside this, you should fully trained your dog to follow orders so that you can comply with trail etiquettes.

Thus, if you’re looking out for some tips and tricks on hiking with dogs, here are nine things you may want to consider when preparing your canine.

9 Tips To Prepare Your Dog

Consider Its Age

Before you start training your dog for hiking, make sure you evaluate its age. If your pet is a puppy, then it’s not a good idea to take it hiking as it does not have the energy to climb up difficult terrain. Even with training, it will not have the stamina needed to continue on a high-altitude hike.

Moreover, if you have a senior dog, it may lack the vigor and agility needed to maneuver through twists and turns during hiking. Therefore, before physical preparation, make sure your dog is in a suitable age bracket to take up the challenge.

Know Its Nature

Your canine may tick all the boxes for a great hiking partner, but if you haven’t understood its nature, then it may be troublesome when you’re hiking with dogs. Since all dogs vary in their nature and attitude, you should consider if your dog can withstand challenges and difficulties in a not-so-ideal environment.

However, if your pet gets rowdy easily, and takes time to calm down, then it’s probably not a good idea to have them accompany you on a hiking trek. A great way to test this is by paying close attention to its behavior when you’re outdoors.

Vet’s Permission

One of the most important aspects of hiking preparation is seeking the vet’s permission for any strenuous activity. Your pet may not show any signs of illness or anything of that sort, but visiting a vet may reveal an underlying condition that could have aggravated during a hiking trip. Furthermore, it’s also important to sort out their vaccinations to protect from any illness during the journey. Hence, make sure your pet’s vet gives you a green signal by eliminating all possible risks that might hinder a wonderful hiking experience.

Physical Training

One of the safety tips for hiking with dogs is to train them physically, so they have enough stamina to withstand this challenge. To do this, you should take your dog for regular walks, so their calf muscle develops and they get used to running long distances.

Moreover, if you plan to make your dog carry their own backpack, then practice walking with a full backpack so they can get used to carrying some weight. However, make sure the backpack does not strain their body and is synonymous with your pet’s weight.

Test Your Commands

Before taking a hiking trip, make sure your dog remembers your commands, so you have control over it. Try to create scenarios where you can practice certain commands to see if your pet remembers them. One aspect of trail etiquette is ensuring your dog is obedient. However, this is only possible if your dog is able to act on your commands instantly. Moreover, you can develop special commands for hiking if you and your dog are frequent hikers.

Know Trail Rules for Dogs

Although hiking with dogs is a popular activity, it’s your responsibility to find out trail rules beforehand. Some trails do not allow dogs, even on a leash, so it may become an issue if you discover it at a later stage. Therefore, to save yourself and your dog any trouble, make sure you check out your chosen trail’s website or talk to people who have used the trail before.

Go For A Test-Run Hike

Before you choose a challenging hiking trail, take your dog for a test run on a slightly less challenging hike. This way, your dog will get acclimated to the altitude, environment and even the wildlife present on the trail. When you’re hiking with dogs, you may discover things you may need to work on before embarking on a difficult trail. Thus, consider this test run as part of the preparation.

Feed Them Accordingly

When you’re preparing your dog for hiking, it’s using all its energy to build stamina and muscles. Therefore, make sure you feed it accordingly, even if it means increasing the usual diet. To get a better idea, talk to your dog’s vet, and they may suggest your dog some supplements to ensure health and nutrition.

Make Them Carry a Dog Backpack

To make sure you are prepared for everything, make sure your dog has a backpack of its own. You may also strap it onto your canine, so your weight is shared. Ideally, a dog backpack must contain items that your pet will need during the hike. A collapsible bowl, first-aid kit, and seasonal clothing are some of the items you will need. But before you begin hiking, make sure you cross them all from your list, so you don’t miss out on anything.

The Bottom Line

Having a loyal companion and protector by your side as you enjoy scenic views while hiking is one of the best memories you can make with your pet. However, this does not mean that you don’t consider trail etiquettes along with your dog’s physical health. Therefore, you must ensure you train your dogs by undertaking all safety tips, so there is little chance of your pet troubling you at a high altitude.

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.