Hiking is a favorite activity among outdoor enthusiasts, and for those who own a dog it’s an even better adventure with a four-legged sidekick along. Whatever the season—flowers blooming or leaves falling—hiking is great exercise and a wonderful bonding opportunity for you and your dog. As with any adventure involving a pet, though, a bit of preparation makes the difference between a great day and a difficult one. Let’s look at the top tips for hiking with your dog.
Is Your Dog Ready for This?
Before you plan a route, think honestly about your dog’s fitness. A dog who walks around the block twice a day isn’t conditioned for six miles over rough ground, and the commonest problems we see after a hike are muscle soreness, cut and worn paw pads, and heat exhaustion in a dog who was game but not fit.
Start with short, easy trails and build up. Puppies whose growth plates haven’t closed shouldn’t be doing long or steep hikes, older dogs and dogs with arthritis need shorter and flatter routes, and flat-faced breeds such as bulldogs and pugs struggle badly with heat and exertion. If you’re unsure whether your dog is up to what you have in mind, ask us—we’re happy to help you plan something suitable.
No Dogs Allowed
It’s hard to imagine a spot that wouldn’t welcome your dog, but you can’t assume every trail is dog-friendly. Check the rules for your destination before leaving home—turning up with a dog where they aren’t allowed can mean a fine or an awkward conversation with another hiker. There’s usually a good reason for the restriction, whether it’s a safety concern such as cliffs or a fragile ecosystem that dogs can damage further.
Hiking Etiquette
Once you’ve confirmed your dog is welcome, follow the posted rules and the National Park Service’s B.A.R.K. principles, which are worth applying wherever you hike.
The B.A.R.K. rules for hiking with your dog:
- Bag your dog’s waste—and pack it out rather than leaving the bag by the trail
- Always keep your dog on a leash
- Respect wildlife
- Know where you’re permitted to go
A few other courtesies go a long way. Step aside and let faster hikers pass, keep your dog close when you meet other dogs, and don’t assume every hiker wants to say hello to yours.
Safety First
An unfamiliar trail is full of unknowns. You may encounter drop-offs, wildlife, toxic plants and mushrooms, and other dogs whose temperament you don’t know. Keep your dog on a leash so you can pull them back quickly if you need to, and use a fixed leash of six feet or less rather than a retractable one—on uneven ground, a dog twenty feet ahead is a dog you can’t help.
Make sure your dog is wearing ID tags before you set off, and take a minute to confirm your microchip registration details are current, since a lost dog in unfamiliar territory is exactly the situation a chip is for. It’s also worth having a recent photo on your phone and looking up the nearest emergency veterinary hospital to your trailhead before you go.
Keep Your Dog Hydrated and Cool
Dogs don’t sweat the way we do, so bringing plenty of water is essential. Panting is their main way of shedding heat, and it only works so well—which is why heat exhaustion on a trail can develop faster than owners expect. Offer water regularly rather than waiting for your dog to seem thirsty, and take breaks in the shade.
Adequate water also keeps them from drinking out of puddles and streams, where they can pick up giardia or bacteria such as leptospirosis, which causes gastrointestinal illness and can damage the liver and kidneys. There’s a vaccine for leptospirosis, and it’s worth asking us whether your dog should have it if you hike regularly. Standing water that looks scummy or discolored should be avoided entirely—blue-green algae blooms are rapidly fatal to dogs, and a dog only needs to drink from the water or lick it off their coat.
Know the signs of overheating: heavy panting, bright red gums, thick drool, weakness, stumbling, vomiting, or collapse. If you see them, stop, get your dog into shade, offer small amounts of cool water, wet their paws and belly, and get to a vet—heatstroke is an emergency and dogs can deteriorate quickly even after they seem to have cooled down. The AVMA has a useful list of disease prevention tips for people taking dogs outdoors.
Check for Ticks
Check your dog thoroughly during and after your hike. Even a dog on a good tick preventive can pick one up, and ticks carry illnesses that affect dogs and people alike.
Run your hands over your dog’s whole body, paying particular attention to the ears and inside them, the head and neck, under the collar, the armpits and groin, and between the toes. A tick that hasn’t fed yet can be as small as a poppy seed, so you’re feeling for a small bump as much as looking for one.
To remove one, use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick removal hook, grasp it as close to the skin as you can, and pull steadily straight out without twisting or squeezing the body. Don’t use petroleum jelly, alcohol, or a match—these make the tick regurgitate, which increases the chance of transmitting disease. Clean the area afterward, and keep an eye on your dog over the following weeks for lethargy, lameness, or loss of appetite. Bring them in if you see any of those, or if you’re not confident you got the whole tick out.
Be Prepared
Bringing your dog along means carrying a bit more, but it’s worth it.
Be sure you have the following when hiking with your dog:
- More water than you think you’ll need, and a collapsible bowl
- Dog food if you’ll be out over a mealtime
- Treats to reward good behavior on the trail
- A pet first-aid kit, including gauze, self-adhesive bandage, tweezers, and a tick removal tool
- Waste bags, and something to carry them out in
- A spare leash, or a length of cord that could serve as one
- Booties if the terrain is rough, hot, or icy—and it’s worth getting your dog used to them at home first
Insect repellent should be one made specifically for dogs. Human products often contain DEET, which is toxic to them.
Afterward
When you get home, check your dog over properly. Look at their paw pads for cuts, cracks, or worn patches, feel their legs and body for sore spots and burrs, check between the toes for grass seeds and foxtails, and rinse them off if they’ve been in any natural water. Dry their ears thoroughly if they’ve been swimming, since trapped moisture is a common cause of ear infections. A dog who seems stiff or reluctant to move the next day has probably done more than they were ready for, and that’s worth knowing for next time—or worth a call to us if it doesn’t settle.
Your first hike together might be a little stressful while your dog gets used to a new activity and unfamiliar ground, but making it a good experience means you’ll both want to do it again. Hiking with a dog is fantastic exercise and bonding time that few other activities match. Prepare well, follow trail etiquette, and you may just find a new shared hobby. If you'd like more hiking tips, exercise advice, or your dog is due for their next wellness visit, please don't hesitate to give us a call.