5 Tips for Hiking With Your Dog
Hiking with your dog is fantastic. I take Charlie with me every time I go on a dog-friendly trail. Although it’s great, there are some things to think about when hitting the trail with your 4-legged friend.
Look up restrictions ahead of time
This seems like a no-brainer, but look up the restrictions ahead of time.
The best place to find the rules for hiking with your dog on a given trail is to visit the website of the governing agency. For example, state parks will have rules about pets on their website as does the forest service. If you are scrolling through AllTrails you can use the filter feature for trails that allow dogs. This is great if you’re browsing and want to quickly see your dog-friendly options.
Two common restrictions for dogs include using a leash and staying on roads/paved paths only.
Don’t plan your trip to a national park or monument assuming you can bring your dog because most don’t allow them on trails. While most trails do require dogs to be on leashes, some don’t. Knowing if you’re in an off-leash area is good if you’re hiking with a dog that’s reactive.
While hiking with your dog it’s important to keep the principles of Leave No Trace in mind. This is especially true in fragile environments like the tundra. My dog loves to kick up dirt after he goes to the bathroom and because of that, I am extra careful when hiking with him in the high alpine areas.
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Bring extra water and a bowl
Your dog will get thirsty and water is a good way for them to regulate their body temperatures. Thinking ahead on your dog’s water needs is important when you take them out for an adventure.
While your dog will likely drink out of a pond or stream, it’s best to filter their water (more on that in the safety section!). To drink the filtered water your dog will need a bowl. There are some creative options when it comes to portable water bowls and they don’t have to be bulky and awkward to carry in a backpack. A quick pro-tip for all of the small dog owners out there, if you bring a Nalgene water bottle you can use the lid as a mini water bowl for your pup!
Go Early
Hitting the trail early is great advice all around but it’s important when you’re taking your dog. Dogs are impacted by the heat similarly to humans. If your dog is black, brown, or a breed that is more meant for the arctic, go early to beat the heat.
If you wait for the hottest part of the day you risk the ground being too hot for your dog’s paws. This is something that is easily overlooked. If the ground is too hot to touch for 10 seconds it’s too hot for your dog to walk on.
Know the additional safety concerns when hiking with your/a dog
Safety while hiking with your dog is slightly different than if you left them at home. A big one is water. Dogs can contract diseases/parasites from unfiltered water. So when a dog drinks out of a stagnant pond, you’re gambling with the poops. In some cases (at least here in Colorado), there is an algae that can be fatal to dogs. If you’re in an area that has these blue-green algae look ahead of time to see if it’s a current problem. At least in CO, the state parks’ Facebook and Instagram pages are updated with this information.
You also should think about wildlife. Wildlife is a big reason leash laws exist in wilderness areas. Even though you might be hiking with your pomeranian, bears and moose still see it as a canine and a threat. This would make an encounter more dangerous. A mountain lion would see your pomeranian as lunch. Always make sure you can see your dog and stay alert for wildlife.
Be mindful of mileage and altitude
If you have one takeaway from this post let it be to choose the trail for your dog, not for you.
Think of the terrain you will encounter on your hike. If there are a bunch of large boulders that would be good to know if you have a small dog. Sketchy water crossings are also good to know about ahead of time. Charlie hates water crossings and if there is one that is wider than three steps I have to put him in my backpack. I’m still not sure if he hates water crossings or the backpack more. Because of that, I try to avoid trails with lots of stream crossings while the snow is melting.
Pay attention to your dog. You might think it’s a 12-mile day but if your dog can only hike 6 miles, it will be a 6-mile day. We’ve all probably had our dogs decide it was time to rest while on a walk. Keep your dog’s mileage capabilities in mind so you don’t push them too hard. Same goes for altitude. Altitude can impact dogs similarly to humans so pay attention to their energy levels and if anything seems off head back down. I’ve heard many sad stories of people trying to take their dogs on a 14-er (a mountain above 14,000 ft) and their dogs just can’t make it back.
Hiking with your dog can be a blast. It’s so fun to watch them see and experience new places. Keep these tips in mind the next time you go out so you and your pup can have a great time. If you’re wanting to hike with a puppy, know that these tips are only for adult dogs. Puppies are a totally different ballgame and too intense of hikes when they’re too young can hurt them. Talk to your vet about this and work with them to come up with a plan on how to adventure with them. Happy hiking!
