If you've followed this blog and the Canine Ability story for any length of time, you've probably discovered that my daughter, dogs and I LOVE to go hiking, camping, backpacking, horseback trail riding...pretty much anything out in nature!
Spending time outdoors with your dog is a wonderful experience--one that can create many memories that last for years to come! Hiking provides a smorgasbord of enrichment for your dog! There are many great smells, sights, and sounds to be found in the forest. It is also great exercise that you and your dog can enjoy together.
Are you convinced that hiking is an activity you would like to try with your dog? Great! Lace up your hiking boots and throw on that backpack...(but I have to warn you, it is addicting!!)
We took full advantage of my daughter Sarah's Spring break from school to hit the trails as much as possible this past week, and as I was posting our photos for our Canine Ability FB page, I thought of a few tips I wanted to share to make hiking safe and fun for people new to hiking and wanting to explore great new trails with their canine friends!
Here are just a few:
--Make sure you are aware of your own ability, and any potential health issues before you hit the trail! When the doc gives you the "all clear," choose the type of hike/trail that suits your individual needs best. Do you like strenuous up/down hikes, or prefer a flatter walk? Do you enjoy being "in the middle of nowhere," or is being around people more your thing? Plan to be out for a day (or two), or just an hour?
Take the time to research the types, terrain, and distances of trails in your area. Get maps and topography information from your park management office (be sure to keep a copy with you when you hike; along with your fully charged cell phone and phone numbers of ranger stations nearby where you plan to hike).
I have a brain injury and multiple sclerosis. My ms is in remission right now, but when it flares, I need to stick to ADA trails (flat, easy trails that are made for people with disabilities). My brain injury never goes into remission, unfortunately, so environmental/auditory overload is something I struggle with on a daily basis. There is nothing is more soothing to me than getting out into the forest, slowing things down, and enjoying the sounds of nature! My doctors are in agreement that hiking is a great activity for me--as long as I am conditioned for it, don't overdo it, and follow instructions from my body to rest when my brain has had enough.
My daughter, dogs, and I enjoy trails where an abundance of wildlife can be found, and far enough in to where we feel as though we're "in the middle of nowhere." We very rarely pass other people on the trails that we hike. We usually pack picnics, sing songs, look for wildlife/fossils, and read devotionals on the trail--thoroughly enjoying time with God, and our own little family.
Take time to consider the types of trails/hiking experiences you would best enjoy.
--Be sure that you and your dog(s) are fit for the type of trail you plan to hike. We hike all year round, but do slow down a bit in the winter when its icy. So in the Spring, before we hit the trails, we hit the pavement of our local community, building back strength and working back distance slowly, to avoid injury.
--Take into consideration the age/physical condition of your pet. This kind of repeats the message of the first tip, but I feel that its important to highlight the unique needs of our older canine friends.
Pictured above is my beloved boy, Dawson--currently nearing 12 years young. Though his spirit is still that of a young dog, I notice his body beginning to betray his will these days.
To make sure that Dawson enjoys his hikes, and avoids injury, I have put him on Cosequin ( joint supplement) to eliminate soreness/stiffness of joints, adjusted his food ration (more on that in a bit), and take into careful consideration the distance of each hike, and forecasted temperature for that day.
As he has aged, Dawson has developed a more intense intolerance to heat, and inability to handle the distances that he used to. If we are going on a shorter hike, or picnic, I'll bring him along, careful to either wet him down thoroughly, and/or tie a ice wrap around his neck to help keep him cool, and keep the trail short.
On sunny, hot days; he spends the day at home, in front of the TV in the A/C and waits to hear all about our hiking trips when we get home. While it hurts me to have to leave him at home sometimes, I know its for his own good.
--Be sure to adjust your dog's diet to his increased need for calories/protein
If you are a weekend warrior, and only hike occasionally, then there's probably no need for you to change anything. However, if you are hiking consistently 2-3 times per week or more, you may need to increase your dog's caloric/protein intake to meet his increased nutritional needs. Be sure to ask your vet on your dogs' pre-hiking check up if he/she wants you to change the way you feed your dog.
--Be sure to carry an emergency first aid kit--for you and your dog...and be sure that you have your vet's phone number, (as well as a local vet nearby to where you'll be hiking), in your backpack. Emergencies are rare but can happen. Being properly prepared will help get your pet to the proper help as fast as possible.
--Take care of the paws! Just as proper footwear is very important to you, proper care of your dog's paw pads is critical to your pet enjoying his/her time in the great outdoors! Be sure to trim all the hair between your dogs' toes and paw pads. This gives them greater traction, and less ability for briars to cling on to your dog's feet.
If your dog has sensitive paw pads, or they are cracking/splitting, get some paw wax (from your local pet store) and smear it liberally on your dog's feet. This will also help with traction on rocks and help cut down on burns from paved surfaces.
---Stay well-hydrated! Be sure to keep you and your dog well-hydrated at all times during a hike. Pack plenty of water (either from home, or bottled), in your backpack; and don't let your dog drink from streams (unless in an absolute emergency), because natural water sources may contain invisible bacteria that is harmful to drink and may make your pet very sick.
Do you have a high-octane canine friend who has energy to spare? If your dog is medium to large sized, purchase a well-fitting (better to spend the extra money for a good one here), doggie back pack and let him carry his own water! Slowly increase the amount of water you ask him to carry until he's fit for the task, and be sure to consult with your vet to find out what weight is safe for him to bear and be sure he's healthy enough to carry the load!
---Keeping your canine cool-- In addition to staying well-hydrated, keeping your dog cool is vitally important to his/her health while hiking. Educate yourself to the signs of canine heatstroke---and have a plan to combat it. If you see the beginning signs of heatstroke, act fast!
Be sure to limit your dog's exposure to higher temperatures in Spring/early Summer until he/she gets used to the higher temperatures.
On the trail, keep your dog wet by pouring bottled water over him, or getting him to lie down in a creek to cool the main arteries underneath him, which will eventually cool his whole body (don't let him drink the water, though!).
You can also tie an ice pack around his neck to combat the heat, or do what I do with my little dog, Gracie---I have a doggie tank top that I soak in cold water and put on her before we set out. If it dries out before the hike is over, I just pour more water from my drinking supply on it. This keeps little Gracie as cool as a cucumber! ;-)
--Throwing out obedience....well, sort of! When I take a typical working, or training walk with my dogs, the rule of the walk is; no sniffing, pulling, or fooling around. However, on our days off, I want my dogs to be able to relax and fully enjoy their hiking experience...and for dogs, smelling is experiencing! So, on the trail, my dogs can smell all they want--(provided they don't block the trail or cause anyone to trip).
While I insist that all of my dogs "heel" when walking on a leash in everyday life, I throw out that rule and tell my dogs, "break!" when hiking. This gives them the permission to go out in front of me single-file while hiking. I have discovered this technique to work the best for my ability to carefully monitor our three-dog/one child hikes.
Many times there are very narrow, single-file spots that overlook steeps hills/valleys below on the trails that we hike. I prefer having my dogs just out in front of me (but never pulling, mind you), where I can keep a good eye on them, provide immediate help if needed, and allow them to pick their way through difficult terrain at their own pace. I can also spot and thwart potential dangers (such as snakes, poisonous insects, etc.) with the dogs up ahead, instead of behind me.
And while I do relax some of my dogs' obedience protocol on the trail, it's very important that any dog who goes hiking has a decent grasp of control commands, because there are many times when a handler needs both hands free to balance/navigate terrain, or modify equipment; and the dog will need to respond immediately to only vocal commands, with no support from the leash.
 | |
| In this photo, Gracie was told by young Sarah to "wait" as she traversed this steep downgrade first. Once she was safely down, she called Gracie down to her. |
Once you find out what works best for you, you can modify your dog's positioning/commands/obedience to your specific needs.
---Don't discriminate: Little fur people love hiking, too! Yes, it's true...little fur people DO love to go hiking!
Our Gracie may be little, but she's big on the inside, and has a LOT of hiking miles under her belt! She's a great hiker, (and resident snake spotter!)... and absolutely LOVES the great outdoors! While little dogs are great hikers, there are a few things to keep in mind when you take your little one out on the trail...
Be sure to keep your little dog on a leash at all times (most parks require your dog to be on a leash or remote anyway). Even though Gracie has a great recall, we always keep her tethered to one of our backpacks---for her safety. Hawks, owls, coyotes, and other predators have been known to grab little dogs very quickly, and without a sound. Keep your little one tethered to you so they can't wander into the path of a predator!
--"Oh, my hair!" Little dogs often have well-styled hair doos. If you want to keep your little dog free of mats and cool as a cucumber, the doo must go! Consider having your dog shaved down in the summer and kept as short as possible in the winter (layered for warmth with sweaters/coats) instead of a long-haired doo that will get filled with briars, burs and mud. I keep Gracie (a Shih-tzu/Bichon mix), in a "puppy cut" all year round...and shave her with a shorter blade in the summer. *Note: I would never shave my double-coated breeds in the Summer (Nadja, a German shepherd...and Dawson, a Collie), as the same second-coat insulation that provides them warmth in the winter, helps to block out the heat and cool them in the warmer months.
Gracie says, "I know lots of folks think us little dogs are too small to enjoy the great outdoors--but that's just not true! Don't leave your little dogs home! Take them out on the trail/camping with you! Properly conditioned and prepared, we can keep up, and literally "run with da big dogs!" ;-)
--Bugs, bugs, everywhere! Face it, if you spend enough time outdoors, you're going to have to deal with bugs! But that doesn't mean that bugs should ruin your hiking trip!
Be sure that your dog is treated with a flea/tick preventative whether they are hiking or not. Fleas/ticks can carry diseases that are very harmful for your pet..and you. My guys are all treated with a spot-on preventative all year round.
Flea and tick preventative is a must, but won't help against other nasty insects that you'll find in the woods. Mosquitoes, chiggers, and "no see ums" plague many a hiker and can make a trip miserable. To prevent this, I spray myself, daughter and dogs with a chemical-free bug repellent (that I got from an organic products distributor) right before our hike. I also do a thorough bug-check (on us, and each dog) when we get back to the car.
---Share the trail...and remember, not all dogs (and other hikers) are friendly! My dogs, my daughter and I enjoy the company of other hikers/dogs---We prefer to be off on our own, but are not opposed to an occasional trail-sharing from other teams. But keep in mind that not all dogs/hikers enjoy or want company on the trail! Some people go to the forest to escape and crave solitude--not company. Share the trail and respect others' desire for privacy.
It's never a good idea to let dogs meet while they are on a leash, and remember that not all dogs are good with new dogs; so be sure to keep an eye out ahead for approaching hikers/dogs, and give yourself the time to find a space to "pull off" the trail to allow others to pass while keeping your dog safe behind you.
--Take time to smell the flowers! Be sure to take frequent breaks (especially when the weather is warm) to re-hydrate and catch your breath a bit. We usually pack a protein-packed picnic (and include special protein-packed doggie-lunches!) to recharge our bodies and give ourselves a chance to rest and just soak it all in ;-)
 | |||
| Taking a lunch break along the trail |
 |
| Sarah taking time to enjoy the sight of an early Spring flower growing in the rocks |
The best tip of all is---our canine friends want to spend every minute that they can with us. Let them; and enjoy them ;-)
Happy hiking!!
1 comment:
Awesome article! Can't wait to take my pups hiking with us this summer. We are working on endurance right now. I have to catch up to the dogs. :)
Post a Comment