Tails from the trail and tips on training your human

Day of Hiking: Taking your dog on a hike is one of the best experiences. It can be a great bonding time for you, especially if you cannot give time to your furry friend because of your busy routine. However, taking your pet on a hiking trail demands a lot of preparation.

You need to ensure your safety, your dog’s safety, and the safety of others hiking on the same trail as you. Not only this, but you also need to provide your dog with extra care post-hike.

However, if you’re new to this or want some more information about how to make the better experience for you, then you’re at the right place. This article will list down some top tips you can use before planning a hike day, including some aftercare tips.

Top Tips For a Hassle-free Dog Hike

Visit a Vet

Before you even plan to take your dog for a hike or even start training it, you should plan a visit to the vet. This is important because a physical check-up will indicate if your dog is ready for an impactful exercise. Moreover, it can also help you stay up-to-date with their vaccinations, which is a must-do if you take them on a hike.

Select a Dog-friendly Hike Trail

This should be the next step after a vet visit. Unfortunately, some hike trails do not allow dogs with or without a leash. This means that you need to conduct your research for local hike trails that allow dogs before you can even begin training them. One of the reasons dogs aren’t allowed is due to safety issues.

Get a Dog Backpack

You will need some essentials to spend a full day at a hiking trail easily. Similarly, hiking with dogs also calls for packing some of the stuff they will need. The best way to ensure that you pack all of it is to buy a dog backup. You need to make sure that the backpack’s weight and its contents do not exceed your dog’s weight. There are many varieties of dog backpacks, including ones you can attach at the front or as a harness. Some examples of items that you should pack include:

Sunscreen

If you’re hiking during peak sun, then you should consult your dog’s vet for canine sunscreen. Using one will help protect your dog from overexposure.

Dishes

Ideally, you should carry collapsible containers for dog food and water. This creates space in the backpack which other important items can utilize.

Dog boots

Make sure dog boots are breathable, so your dog’s paws ate protected from the heat. They are also handy when it comes to taking a dip in the water as they are waterproof.

Dog Leash

Make sure you have a dog leash on your dog and a spare one in its backpack so that there is no problem if you misplace it. This is important as some trails do not allow dogs without a leash.

Start Training

Training is an important aspect of hiking. Whether it is you or your dog, training allows your body to face the rigorous hike. Ideally, you should start training by taking your dog out for a walk. Increase walk times slowly while also taking them to slightly difficult topographies, so they are well-prepared. Moreover, you can also take your dog for a practice hike to one of the easier trails to see how the experience would be.

Ensure Hydration

During the hike, make sure your dog is hydrated. You can train your dog to drink water from a water bottle, or you can carry a dish you can pour water in. You may stop by a water body such as a stream or waterfall to drink water, but don’t rely coming across one. Your dog may be needing water after some time, which can be a hassle for you if there is no water body in sight.

Take an Aid Kit

Preparing an aid kit with necessary items such as a band-aid, wool socks, gauze, and even Pedialyte for your dog is important if you plan to take them for a hike. However, consult your dog’s vet before you give them anything. As such, as them for a checklist of items you can include in your dog aid kit.

Be Vigilant

This is an important tip because it considers the safety of all those who are hiking on the trail. Firstly, you should have your dog on a leash, so you have control over it. This way, you can move away from harming plants or other animals. Moreover, be careful when it comes to the topography of the trail. Ask beforehand or be vigilant as there could be ditches or water bodies that your dog may fall into.

Leave No Trace

You may have packed some essentials for your dog, including some treats for it. When you treat your dog or take out any of its essentials for use, ensure that you pack them up and take them home with you. If you see dog treats on the hiking trail, make sure to pick them or dispose of them. Not doing so would be going against trail etiquette, which states that you should only leave behind footprints and nothing else.

After Hike Care

If you have had a successful hike day with your dog, you should reward them for being with you throughout the trail journey. However, even though rewarding means treats, you should allow your dog ample rest time and even increase its appetite or water intake. Don’t take it for long walks and try to cut back from too much play. But once you notice your dog is back to its normal routine, you can resume all activities.

Bottom Line

With these tips, you should be prepared to have the best hiking experience with your dog. All you need is some planning, some training, and a little bit of rewarding your dog. Just make sure that you only plan all of this when you have selected a dog-friendly hike trail. You don’t want your plans to go to waste.

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.