My mixed breed, rescue dog, Pip, is one of my favorite hiking companions. There is something both deeply peaceful and companionable about sharing a hike with her. Also, as a woman, having my dog at my side adds significantly to my sense of security which adds immeasurably to my overall enjoyment.
Pip, and all my dogs of my past, pack their own gear. I tend to load a fit dog with up to 20% of their body weight. Older dogs, long-backed dogs or smaller dogs with less. Larger, powerful breeds with a bit more. Here are 7 things that go on every journey with us:
Pip poses on my property.
On hikes, she is leashed.
Your dog’s ID must have a number on it that works while you are away. No point in people phoning home in you’re 500 miles away in the backcountry somewhere. Use a friend’s number or your cell, if it works reliably and you can keep it charged. For that ID I put REWARD instead of Pip’s name. I want anyone finding her to know it is worth their while to return her.
Love this stuff. Clings to itself so is easy to use and to remove. Great for a quick cover of a ripped paw pad or other wound.
Very lightweight and easy to pack in, these work just as well for humans and dogs. The Red Cross teaches courses on pet first aid. These are an excellent idea if you plan to hike regularly with your buddy.
Benadryl
My veterinarian has advised that if Pip gets stung in the mouth or has some other allergic reaction, Benadryl can help control the allergic response. Please discuss this and the right dosage with your dog’s doctor.
Local Vet Emergency Clinic Info
If something does happen, you do not want to be scrambling trying to find the right local vet. Research this ahead of time (along with closets hospital/clinic for you) and leave that info in your glove box as well as in your dog’s pack. Hope you never need it but if you do, you’ll be glad for it.
Water along the trail can make your dog as sick as it can make you. Either use a bottle that can be used as a bowl as well or bring a lightweight collapsible bowl with you.
Life happens and sometimes leashes and/or collars break. I pack a lightweight slip lead with a “stop” that locks it in position “just in case”.
Now you have some basics. Click these links for more info about how to hike with your dog and where. Have a great time!
“Moose” in the Woods photo credit: OakleyOriginals
These are awesome tips. I have only taken my dog on very safe and short hikes so I haven’t had to think about some of these.
Thanks, Oscar. Was delighted Jeff asked me and had a great time writing this one. Glad you found it useful!
Great post. Also great advice for camping with kids 🙂 We were camping in Acadia when our son had a bad attack of the croop(sp?). Awakening at midnight in a tent in the middle of nowhere to the sound of your child seemingly suffocating is not an experience I’d wish on anyone. And racing out of the park to find the nearest hospital without having a clue where one might be is terrifying. Thankfully, Acadia and the surrounding area is very well marked with those blue signs with an H so we had no problem. But it easily could have been otherwise. Thanks for the reminder.
SO scary! We can prepare all we want but then we have to prepare for that which we cannot prepare for – like croup in Acadia! Glad they had things well marked and everything was okay.
Great advice. Do you have recommendations for fun dog-friendly hikes? I have two – one who likes to take it easy and one who likes an adventure, so I’d like to plan for both kinds.
Hi Dalton – are you in Southern Cal? If yes, check out this article in the LA Times on dog hikes in the area: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-doghikes-html,0,2467478.htmlstory
Hope it is helpful to you and your four-footeds. Sarah
Great resource, thank you! I’m moving to San Diego in November and have been looking for information like this.
Congrats on your move. Gorgeous country out there. Amazon also has two books on dog hikes in that area.
Have fun! (Lucky dogs.)
Thank you so much, those both look great! Buying both now. 🙂
Dalton, you can also find dog-friendly hikes here on SoCal Hiker using the tag cloud down below.
Here’s a direct link: http://socalhiker.net/tag/dog-friendly/
Love this post. I have always hiked with my dogs but we have much less dangerous territory in the UK – only one poisonous snake, rarely seen and ground wasps and hornets nest are rare. I also always take tweezers with me for the odd thorn and small leather booties which were given to me years ago by a participant in the Iditarod which used to run in Alaska
Thanks, Jenny. Tweezers are a great idea. CErtainly small, easy to pack and good idea for us, as well. Thank you!