Hiking with your dog: 12 tips to always be pup-pared
Whether you’re brand new to hiking, new to hiking with your dog, or simply want to brush up on your etiquette, we’ve got you! In this post, you’ll find the twelve tips we live by on the hiking trails.
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I’ve been a hiker my whole life, but it’s only since hiking with dogs as an adult that I feel like I’ve truly understood the joy of it. Dogs offer us so much – friendship, companionship, true love, pure joy. They are unique characters, each special in their own way, and they have needs. We love them, care for them, communicate with them, figure out what makes them tick. We learn what they need to be their happiest, healthiest pupper selves.
I hiked with our first husky Dagny. She was endlessly sweet, and perpetually catlike. She enjoyed hiking, but would never let you know how much. Hiking was an occasional pursuit, part of a regimen of regular walks. But when we adopted our next dog, Bonnie, our time in the mountains increased.
We adopted Bonnie as an adult. She’s a supermutt with an absolutely darling personality. She was a stray for a few years, serious and self-sufficient as a result. When we started hiking together, she completely opened up, becoming more playful and relaxed. It was incredible to watch, and turned my occasional hiking hobby into a somewhat regular routine. It wasn’t until we adopted our other current dog Ada, however, that hiking became a constant pursuit.
We adopted Ada as a puppy, to be a sister and companion to Bonnie. We were told she is a “mini husky”, but we kind of knew that story was fiction. A DNA test revealed that she’s a mix of Shiba Inu & Klee Kai – a formula that delivered the energy and vocal stylings of a husky, in a smaller package. She’s extremely loving, endlessly playful, and completely high drama. As a baby, she was either running or sleeping, and nothing in-between. As she got bigger, learned to walk on a leash, and developed into her adult self, her energy level only increased. Further, she needed a LOT of mental stimulation. We needed a way to meet all of her needs efficiently, and hiking provided a perfect solution. Bonnie already loved it, and for Ada, hikes provided a bigger dose of physical and cognitive exertion than regular walks.
So our current routines emerged, and Bonnie, Ada, and I became a little pack who hikes several times a week. Of course we’re lucky to live on Colorado’s Front Range, where we have access to an endless amount of terrain. However, the mentality of “hike at all costs for the squirrelly little one”, has pushed me to widen my definition of hiking. It has propelled me to recognize that there are opportunities everywhere to piece together stimulating walks traipsing across a variety of surfaces, encountering a multiplicity of sights, smells, and sounds. So that’s what we do! Sometimes we hike in the mountains, sometimes in the grasslands, sometimes in urban parks, and sometimes over asphalt jungles.
No matter the type of hiking you do, there are a number of things to learn in order to have a fun and successful experience every time. Luckily, however, the learning curve is not steep. The following list is a compilation of tips, tricks, and strategies we’ve learned over the past few years – through googling, trial and error, success and failure.
I wrote this list to support anyone interested in beginning to hike with dogs, or to brush up on your repertoire. Whether you’re a brand new hiker, hiked your whole life, or somewhere in between, these tips are meant to be accessible and easy to implement. At the same time, there’s a level of flexibility baked in as well.
You have to know yourself, and know your dog, and use your best judgement according to the environments you’re exploring. Always be pup-pared, but always be gentle with yourself when things don’t go perfectly. We think the most important thing is to just take that first step into nature with your precious pupper, and be willing to continually listen, learn, and adjust. You’ve got this!
Note: I’m NOT a professional dog trainer. These tips are based on common knowledge of best practices, and our personal experiences won’t necessarily work identically for every dog. Consult a professional dog trainer, and/or your veterinarian for technical advice, or if things aren’t working the way you hope.
1. Bring plenty of water
Always bring plenty of water for your dog. It’s best to have a separate water bottle for them, plus some kind of bowl. The rule of thumb for water for humans is to pack 1 liter per 1 hour of hiking, but to double if you’re hiking in a particularly hot or dry environment. For dogs, there is no set rule, because depending on their size, stamina, etc., their needs can differ. But it’s always best to over-prepare!
Bonnie and Ada drink from water bottles specially made for dogs, that dispense water into a small reservoir. Both pupper gals are medium sized dogs, about 40 lbs each, and I carry about .5 liters per dog, per hour of hiking. As a rule, any time we stop to hydrate, we offer our dogs water as well.
Additionally, best not to let your dog drink wild water (streams, ponds, lakes, standing puddles), as this can have bacteria, parasites, chemicals, or algae that can make them sick.
2. Always leash your pup
After checking to make sure that the hike you’ve chosen is dog-friendly, you should always check the leash rules. Most dog-friendly trails require dogs to be on a 5 or 6 foot leash. But even if you find a trail that allows off-leash dogs, you should carry a leash, and make sure they’re comfortable walking on it.
Leash rules exist to ensure your dog’s own safety, the safety of wildlife, and to protect other hikers. It’s also important to help protect other people’s dogs, who might be reactive. If you do hike on trails where dogs are allowed to be off leash, it’s best to always call your dog over to you when approaching another dog, and never let them chase wildlife.
Bonnie and Ada always hike on leash, and I typically clip leashes to our backpack straps with a carabiner, or use a waist leash. This way, my hands can be free, but I’m still following the leash rules.
3. Pack out your dog’s poop
Never forget to carry poop bags, and never leave their poop in the wild. Dogs, and the contents of their poop, come from outside the ecosystems we hike, and thus are not part of those naturally sustaining cycles. Bacteria and pathogens in dog poop can disrupt sensitive ecosystems. You should always enter into a hike with a pre-determined system for packing out their poop.
Bonnie and Ada carry their own waste in their own backpacks, which is a system that I love! But it works just as well to designate a pocket in your own backpack for it (just don’t forget to take it out when you get home!)
4. Choose hiking trails wisely
Know your dog’s capacity, and choose trails accordingly. Dogs are eager to please, and will push themselves beyond their capacity to keep up with you on a trail. It’s part of why dogs are so lovable, but it can also lead to exhaustion, illness, injury, etc.
If you’re just starting out, it’s best to choose short, easy trails to get them used to hiking. Once they have more experience, it’s fine to take them out on longer/harder trails if you’re confident they can handle it. Of course their capacity depends on their size and breed as well, so the most important thing is to know and listen to your dog.
We use AllTrails to find & track our hikes. We highly recommend the pro version so you can download maps and still have access to tracking when outside of cell serice. Our rule of thumb is to limit a hike’s difficulty to about half of what I think Bonnie and Ada can handle. I never want to get into a situation where their strength/stamina gives out. I tend to stick to easy-moderate hikes, between 1-6 miles, and under 1,000 feet of elevation gain, and this range is what you’ll find in the majority of our trail recommendations. We find this spectrum is perfect for wearing us all out, but not pushing the pupper gals beyond what they can handle.
5. Be prepared for all types of weather
Always check the weather forecast in the area you intend to hike, and arrive prepared. There are a ton of companies who make outdoor apparel for dogs, and it can make a huge difference! On a hot day, a cooling vest is fantastic. On a rainy day, it’s great to offer your dog a slicker, which can keep them regulate thier temperature and give them more stamina. And on a cold day, they might need some insulation.
Of course this also depends on their breed, and Bonnie and Ada are the perfect example of very similar sized dogs with very different needs. Bonnie is white, with single coat fur. She does well in hotter weather because the sun reflects off her, but she shivers in even moderately cool weather, so I always pack an insulated jacket for her. Ada, on the other hand, has dark-colored double husky coat fur. She gets hotter in the summer than Bonnie, so the cooling vest is our go-to. However, she almost never needs a jacket outside in cold weather, but wears a waterproof shell in a super wet environment.
6. Protect your dog’s paws
Dogs’ paws can be incredibly sensitive, so be aware of what kind of surface you’re planning to hike, and prepare accordingly. Paw wax is great for winter hiking on snow & ice, because it provides a protective barrier that keeps their paws from getting too cold. Booties are made by several companies, and can protect their paws on rocky or particularly rough surfaces. Booties are also great if your dog likes to romp in fresh snow, because sticks and rocks embedded in snow can easily cause injury (we’ve seen it on the trail far too often!)
Bonnie and Ada always wear paw wax in the winter. Ada is the little husky who should be the heartier dog, but she lifts her paws and whines in even a little bit of snow or ice. Thus, we tried paw wax first for her, and it worked amazing! She never complains when she’s wearing it. So we started putting it on Bonnie as well, because there is literally no downside to the moisture and protection it provides. We are currently training to wear booties, so we have this option as well on hikes with deeper snow.
7. Ensure your dog has proper tags
You should always check to make sure your dog has their standard identification tags with your name and contact info, as well as their tag indicating rabies vaccination. Some cities, counties, and states have additional regulations, so always check beforehand by googling the area you’ll be in.
Bonnie and Ada always wear their tags, and also keep an info card in their backpacks. We additionally keep a gps collar on Ada because her recall is nonexistent, so if she somehow gets loose on a trail, we can track her. It’s come in handy more than once!
8. Prevent fleas, ticks, and other beasties
There are several methods of preventing creepy crawlies, from topical treatments, to oral medication, to natural sprays. Talk to your vet, find out what is of concern in your area, and make decisions accordingly.
We give Bonnie and Ada an oral flea/tick preventative, because we spend so much time outdoors. But I also use a natural spray bug repellant on each hike, depending on the season and location.
9. Defer to other hikers on the trail
Traditionally, when passing another hiker going the opposite direction, the person hiking uphill has the right of way. However, with a dog, it’s polite to always move aside and let other hikers pass.
Additionally, it’s up to you if you want to let people pet your dog. However, you should never assume that other people want to, and should guide them away from people unless they ask and you deem it ok.
Bonnie and Ada practice their trail manners regularly by moving off trail for other hikers. The girls are first told to sit, and then “leave it”, while other hikers pass. I always keep a pocket full of training treats to help this process along if they have a hard time listening. The pupper gals are also both extremely gentle with all people, and love attention, so if someone asks to pet them, I tend to say yes. But again, that’s an intentional choice that every dog-owner should be prepared to make and articulate on the trail.
10. Defer to other dogs on the trail
This one is so important, it deserves to be a point of its own. When other dogs approach, it’s best to double down on trail manners. You can never assume another dog is socialized well, or under voice control, or friendly with other dogs. And you can never assume another dog-owner’s goals for their dog. When you see another dog approaching, it’s always best to move as far off the trail as possible, and follow whatever protocol you know works for your dog.
Bonnie and Ada use the same “sit”, “leave it” protocol that we do for human hikers, and it works well when I have enough time to see the dog approaching, and fully implement it. I always have a pocketful of training treats, and reinforce this protocol regularly to keep them consistent. Neither Bonnie nor Ada are reactive or aggressive with other dogs, but both can be provoked to get rowdy by a particularly playful pooch. And because rowdiness can create an unpredictable environment, I never let them meet other dogs on the trail when I’m hiking them together. It’s simply too unpredictable, and too many factors for me to control.
11. Respect wildlife
Never let your dog chase or harass wildlife! Pretty simple. Small rodents and birds are pretty common to encounter on the trail, and can be incredibly enticing for pooches. If you’re in an area with large predators, you should know what to expect, and study how to respond if you encounter them.
Bonnie and Ada practice the “leave it” command for ignoring small critters. When we encounter moose or elk, I hold training treats in my hand as we walk past at a wide berth, to get the girls to focus on and lick my hand instead of being attentive to the animals.
12. Hike your dog’s hike
Perhaps the most important tip of all is to be willing to hike your dog’s hike. Dogs want to stop and sniff a LOT. This is ok! In fact, it’s good! Sniffing is the way they get to know spaces, and a huge part of their enjoyment of their time outside. Working on training, and hiking for the exercise is all ok. But it’s fine and good to stop to let them chew on a stick, roll in the grass, chase a pine cone, or stop to sniff a spot for a few minutes (all while on their leash of course!)
Bonnie and Ada practice all the good manners listed in the points 1-11 to deter rascally behavior in situations that could lead to danger. Additionally, they also trust that I’m going to let them play, frolic, sniff, and have fun when they’re not ignoring critters or walking nicely on their leashes. Just like I like to sit on a cliff edge and admire the scenery, my pupper gals like to sniff and play. So we make sure there’s time for everything, so we all get to enjoy our favorite parts of hiking.
