Dog Safety Tips: Hiking 101
For most Coloradans hiking is a favorite pastime in the warm summer months. For us dog lovers, hiking is the perfect opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors with our pets. If you and your pooch are new to hiking, or it’s been awhile, it’s a good idea to brush up on dog hiking safety.
Hiking Safety Tips
Bring Plenty of Water
While this might seem like a no-brainer, it can be easy to forget to bring enough to keep you and your pup hydrated. Planning a long hike? Let your pup help carry the load! Visit your favorite outdoor store and explore their doggie hiking packs. Often times equipped with hydration bladders and storage compartments, these harnesses can help you and your pup prepare for a day on the hiking trials. Note that your dog’s pack should never exceed more than 30% their body weight! So pack in plenty of water and stop often to rehydrate with your furry companion.
Take Time to Rest
As we noted above, it’s important to stop often to allow your dog to rest. During your stops, be sure your pup is not showing signs of dehydration or overheating. See our complete post for tips on spotting and preventing overheating.
Train Your Pup
You wouldn’t set out on a hike that you were not prepared for physically, do not expect this of your dog. Even if he or she often exhibits bursts of energy, stamina it something you will have to work up to. Begin with shorter hikes, not much longer than the walks your dog is used to. Over time you can introduce more extreme terrain and longer distances.
Nutrition Time
Just as you might need to consume extra calories before, during and after a vigorous hike, so too might your pup. Depending on the length of your hike, level of difficulty and your dog’s level of fitness, you may need to give him a little extra on hiking days. Consider giving him an extra half serving of his normal portion about ½ hour before taking your hike. If you plan to hike for several hours, you may want to bring another ½ portion with you to allow your dog to refuel.
First Aid Kit
Always pack a first aid kit when venturing into the wilderness, especially when you are with dogs or children. Having antiseptic and liquid Band-Aids can come in very handy if someone gets a scrap or a pup suffers injury to a paw. It’s also a good idea to bring tweezers in case you encounter ticks or need to extract a splinter. By having these simple, lightweight objects on hand, you can increase the likelihood that everyone will be able to complete the hike.
Sit Means Sit: Denver/Littleton Dog Training
At Sit Means Sit South Denver, we proudly offer world class Littleton dog training services. As the area’s leading providers of Littleton dog training, it is our mission to help our clients care for and protect their fur babies. If you are interested in receiving more tips on pup safety as well as our Littleton dog training programs, follow our blog! Here we will be covering topics that impact your dog’s health and safety. While you’re here, visit us on social media and get in on the fun: Facebook, Twitter, Google+!
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