Hiking Safety with Your Best Friend

Brought to you by the AKC GoodDog! Helpline – the AKC’s 7-day-a-week training support service
By: Hilarie Erb

There’s no better hiking companion than your canine best friend, and outdoors is practically every dog’s favorite place to be. But you need to take precautions to keep your dog safe and happy while enjoying the trails.

First, make sure that dogs are welcome. Most state and national parks allow dogs, but there are rules. It’s your responsibility to know these. Dogs can have a big impact on safety and wildlife.

Training so that your dog knows what’s expected is a good idea. Good manners on the trail, your own and your dog’s, will go a long way toward making sure that you’re both welcome. Here are Five Basics to start with. Never allow your dog off-leash or out of your sight. Remember that other people may also be out with their dogs.

Your dog should wear a well-made collar with identification and be on a 6-foot leash. An extra leash in your backpack is a good idea too.

Dogs do not tolerate heat as well as humans do, so pay attention to the weather. If hiking is going to be something you do often, exercise your dog regularly to maintain good physical condition. Being a weekend warrior can be dangerous for a dog! Consider your dog’s breed. Brachycephalic or heavy, short-legged dogs are not good candidates for long treks. Puppies and older dogs need special care.

For a walk in the park, water and minimal equipment are enough. But for longer hikes in remote areas, you’ll need more. Things you should carry:

• Water: Make sure that you have more than enough, and a portable bowl for your dog to drink from. Do not count on streams or lakes; this water might not be safe to drink.
• First Aid Kit: Keep a first aid kit in your backpack and learn how to use the supplies for your pet.
• Dog Evacuation Kit: Have you thought about how you would get your dog to safety if he is injured? A sling designed for carrying dogs will make it possible for you to do this easily. For any dog bigger than a toy breed, this should be in every owner’s kit.
• Dog Boots: It will take a little training to get your dog used to wearing them, but they can protect your pup’s pads from rocks, thorns, and simply too much wear that can cause hike-ending injury.
• Shade: When your dog needs protection from the sun and no shade is to be found, you’ll be glad that you thought to add additional protection to your kit.
• Poo bags: Even in the wilderness you need to carry out your dog’s waste. Yours is not the only dog out there, and it adds up. Nobody wants to see dog waste on the trail, and it is harmful to the environment.
• Good quality backpack: You may need a slightly larger one to have room for the dog’s stuff as well as your own, but a good backpack is crucial.
• Dog pack: If your dog is in good shape, there’s no reason she can’t carry a few of her own things with her own tiny backpack!

Having wonderful experiences outdoors together is enough, but you can also earn titles to show off your dog’s hiking companion skills! Check out the AKC FIT DOG program.

For more tips and advice on training your dog, join the AKC GoodDog! Helpline, a seven-day-a-week telephone support service staffed by experienced dog trainers: www.akcgooddoghelpline.org.