Last Updated on April 25, 2018
Hiking with dogs is a great way to spend time in Nature and enjoy the adventure with the best companion ever. However, it doesn’t come without responsibilities–to keep your dog safe and sound throughout the journey.
To avoid troubles on the trip to mountain-tops, you should consider following seven top tips to ensure safety and happiness of your pooch:
- Visit the Vet:
Before you consider taking your Fido on the hiking trail, make sure that he is in good shape and health. Obese or sick dogs aren’t perfect companions for the tour. Aged dogs suffering from arthritis or young dogs whose bones are developing yet should not be considered too.
If your dog is all ready for the trip, visit the veterinary to have a complete check-up and necessary vaccinations (especially against Heartworm caused by mosquitoes). You can consult him about the dosage of the medicines that you may have to give the Fido in case of emergencies.
- Make a Blueprint of Trail:
Do your research on the leash laws of the hiking trail. Don’t allow your Fido to either scare or run after wild animals in the area.
Select a path that’s not rocky or steep. You can get some booties for the pooch to walk easily past such trails.
Moreover, keep in mind that the dog cannot bear extreme weather conditions so it’s better to plan it during moderate weather.
Never drink water from the streams, instead chart out the places where water will be available on the way.
- Prepare Before Leaving:
Your dog might be a hyperactive one, but walking up and down the slopes for long time-periods can be tiring. Take your dog on short and easy trails and gradually increase the difficulty levels. Moreover, ‘recall training’ should be strong so that you can save your pooch from dangers in time.
- Food and Water Requirement on Trail:
Beware that the pooch will need food in small portions every hour of hiking on the trail. He will require lots of water to stay hydrated and energetic. Don’t make the dog start panting out of thirst.
Some dogs having long furry coats suffer from overheating due to lack of hydration of body, so be careful about the basic needs.
- Pack Fido’s Backpack:
Get a comfortable bag for the Fido that fits perfectly to the dog’s body. The bag’s weight should be about one-third of the total weight of pooch to be carried comfortably for long. You can pack poop bags, treats, favorite chew toy, toothpaste, water bottle, first aid requirements, etc. in the bag.
- Clean Up After the Pooch:
Be responsible for the mess your dog makes on the way. Always clean up after your pooch and dispose off the waste using poop bags. You can use a pooper scooper to pick up and bury the dog waste into the catholes. Why should you get a poop scooper? click here for more information.
- Have Your First Aid Kit:
Box the first aid necessities of the Fido separately. It should be containing tweezers to pull out thorns, disposable razor, bandages, sock for covering the injured paw, heat/cold pack, Gatorade (a rehydrating solution), active charcoal (to remove poison that’s ingested).
Have an absolutely trouble-free trip with your Fido and let us know about it!
Author Biography:
Fiona Appleton is a Labrador owner. She is the manager of https://ultimatehomelife.com/ that has been developed to help people solve the troubles of pet ownership. She is an active advocate of animal protection campaigns. She wants people to understand that dog-behavior is reflective of our behavior.