Hiking with Your Dog: Some Tips to Get Started on the Trails
For years I went solo hiking until I got a dog, now I can’t imagine hitting the trails without my best friend. It’s such a great way to bond with your dog, and honestly, nothing makes me happier than seeing her excitement when we get to the trailhead. When I was finally able to get a dog, I made sure I adopted one that seemed like an outdoorsy dog, which is how I ended up with my Husky/Supermutt, Kiara. I adopted her at a year old and worked up her endurance and didn’t take her on any of my bigger trips. Now that’s she fully grown at two years old, she’ll be going with me on every trip she’s able to come on.
The following tips are for day hikes, not overnight trips. Looking to go backpacking? Check out this post by REI or this one by Backerpacker.com.
Note: Everyone trains their dog differently, please don’t leave any negative comments.
Prepping Your Dog for the Trails
The most important thing before taking your dog on the trails is knowing what they can handle. If your dog has never hiked (or walked for that matter) longer than 2 miles, how can you be sure they can handle a 6-mile trail with lots of hills?
If you have a younger dog, check with your vet before hiking. You want to make sure their bones are fully developed before having them do anything too strenuous.
Gear to Bring
6-foot leash (retractable leashes are not recommended)
Collar (quick release, martingale, etc.)
Training tools (prong collar, e-collar, etc.)
Treats (lots of them!)
Harness or backpack (if needed)
First-Aid kit
Water bottle/bowl
Booties (if hiking in rough conditions)
Poop bags (always bring extra)
ID Tags (Rabbies, State, and Name - including “if lost” information")
Pet safe insect repellent
Tick remover tool
Pet cleansing wipes
Tracking tool (Apple Airtag, Fi Collar, etc.)
Trail Etiquette
Make sure your dog is even allowed on the trail you’re planning to go to. Nature Preserves, National Parks, and other protected areas don’t always allow pets, so be sure to check beforehand if that place allows them. If you want to hike off-leash with your pup, find out if that area even allows it as most require a 6-foot leash.
When in doubt, follow the National Park Service’s B.A.R.K Ranger initiative:
Bag your pet’s waste
Always leash your pet
Respect wildlife
Know where you can go
Obedience Training
Before hitting the trails with your best friend, make sure your pup has some basic training. Meaning, socialize your dog so it doesn't lose its mind every time it sees a person or another dog. That’s honestly the main thing you need to be worried about, but it’s always good to train your dog with good leash manners. If you plan on letting your dog off-leash, you MUST have some form of recall with them, whether it’s verbal or collar. You need to be able to recall them quickly if needed.
Going off of that, if you see another dog or person while your dog is off-leash, recall them. Just because your dog is friendly does not mean the other dog is, or maybe that person is terrified of dogs. It’s simple trail etiquette; respect other people on the trails.
My dog is overly friendly and wants to play with every dog she sees (we’re working on that) and luckily doesn’t care about other people. So when we see a person or another dog, I recall and leash her, step off the trail, and wait for them to pass. I use this as a training moment, I reward my dog when she disengages from the other dog.
I’d like to note though, that dogs aren’t perfect, they mess up. It’s our responsibility to care for, protect, and advocate for them. Recently I was out hiking with my dog and I leashed her and moved off the trail when we saw another person and dog. That dog was off-leash and the person didn’t recall their dog fast enough so it came charging at mine, so naturally, my leashed dog became defensive and I had to yell for the other owner to recall their dog. The entire time I had my dog positioned behind my legs so there was a barrier between the two dogs.
Clean Up
Just because you’re out in nature doesn’t mean you can just leave your dog’s number two on the trail. And please, please, don’t bag the waste and then leave it on the trail… that helps no one. Dog waste can cause problems for the wildlife and even pollute the water nearby.
I always have a couple of rolls of waste bags on me when I take my dog hiking. A trick I’ve learned to make it easier to carry the bags out is to tie the knot on a carabiner that’s attached to either your hiking bag or leash handle. That way you don’t have to physically carry it. Another option is if your dog wears a hiking backpack, then you could also put the waste in one of the pockets so the dog carries their own waste.
Trail Hazards
Wildlife
Depending on where you’re hiking, you’ll be in the home of a variety of wildlife. This could mean bears, deer, raccoons, etc. Your leash and/or a good recall could protect your dog from a bad encounter. It would also prevent them from chasing after deer for example and getting lost. Not to mention ticks! Be sure to have the proper protection for your dog to avoid Lyme disease.
Weather
If you’re hiking with your furry friend in hot weather, pay attention to them. Dogs can only pant and sweat through their paw pads to cool off, so be sure to rest often in the shade to give them a chance to cool down. And make sure to bring lots of water for them; if you’re thirsty, odds are they are too!
On the other side of the spectrum, if you’re hiking in very cold weather, consider more gear if needed. Some dogs don’t have a lot of fur and could get cold very easily, while some have double coats and don’t need anything to keep them warm.
Plants
You should never let your dog eat things when you don’t know what it is, but especially out in nature where unknown plants are everywhere, and they could very well be poisonous to dogs. Having a good “leave it” or “off” command would be a good idea to teach your dog.
Bodies of Water
There can be many waterborne pathogens in bodies of water, so avoid letting them drink the water. If they’re going swimming, make sure to give them a bath afterward as well. If the water is too deep or has a strong current, carry your dog across regardless of their swimming abilities.
What to do After the Hike
Make sure to check your dog (and you) for ticks afterward. You’ll want to check everywhere, especially between the toepads and ears. Also look out for Foxtails, Burrs, and anything else that doesn’t belong on your dog.
As stated before, if you take your dog swimming, be sure to rinse them off to get any possible waterborne pathogens off them.
