Hiking With Dogs: There’s a reason dogs are man’s best friend. You can take them just about anywhere. When you are first deciding on which pooch to get as your pet, you need to consider your lifestyle. If you’re a couch potato, you may not want to get a high energy breed like the border collie. Don’t set yourself up for failure. Get a dog that likes to go on the occasional walk, not a dog like a husky, which will require a lot of exercise. If you like to go on hikes regularly, then you want to get a pooch who will hike right along with you. Do not set yourself up for failure by buying a dog who needs exercise with the expectation that it’ll get you moving. You’ll both end up miserable. If you love hiking already, just need a friend, then a dog is your best bet.
The Leash
Like your dog, the leash can sometimes be your best friend. If you are choosing to forgo the leash, know that in many places you may be breaking the law. May we suggest that you add a lead rope that you can step on in the event that your pooch decides to run off? Whatever you decide to do, your dog should always follow a command that keeps them from getting into a fight with wildlife. Our favorite is putting your dog in a down position. Your dog should know the signal for this command and do it in the event that he or she ends up away from you and in a dangerous situation. As the master you should teach him or her this. A basic obedience course will cover down. You can use this and make sure it is mastered if you go on an off-leash hike with your dog. However, you should make sure to have a high-quality lead to be sure it won’t rip in the middle of the action, you can find these online on sites like Neewa.
Encountering Wildlife
You can say that your dog is your faithful companion who will defend you in the great outdoors if you encounter a bear or a moose. Know that your dog might run away too. He or she can likely outrun you. Think of them as a companion, not a protector. When you are outrunning a bear, you need to outrun someone in your group not the bear. If it’s just you and your dog, he or she can and will outrun you. Besides, bears can run upwards of 60 miles per hour. You will get eaten if your dog runs too. Dogs can outrun you.
Hiking With Dogs:When you are packing your trail mix, pack food for your doggie too. Unflavored beef jerky makes for the perfect snack for your pup while on the trail.
Water & Food
When you are packing your trail mix, pack food for your doggie too. Unflavored beef jerky makes for the perfect snack for your pup while on the trail. Choose jerky treats that are made from real ingredients and don’t have artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. Artificial ingredients can lead to harmful health effects. The most important thing to have on you is water. You can use your hands or you can get a collapsible dog bowl. Either way, you need hydration and so does your dog.
Pet First Aid
There are kits you can buy for just pet first aid. The most important thing you can do is watch your dog’s feet. Unfortunately, broken shards of glass do happen and if they do they can cause a lot of damage to your dog. You always want to have bandages and antiseptic cream for you and your dog. Do not forget the bug spray. Now you can get these bracelets that have citron on them and keep bugs away. Know that dogs hate citron smell and putting a bracelet on your dog may cause discomfort. Our favorite antiseptic for dogs comes in a spray. If your dog gets injured on a hike you want to take care of it right away.
