Tips to Hike Safely with Your Dog

The fall is a great time to get out and explore the world (or at least take some hikes around your home). It is cooler, so you don't have to worry about overheating and making sure that you take extra water along. The changing colors of the leaves are always a spectacular thing to see! 

What could be better than taking our beloved dog along for the hike? Nothing really, unless you are not prepared. 

Here are some tips to make sure that you have a safe hike with your dog. 

Make sure that your dog is ready for it. It is important that you take into consideration the health of your dog. Does your dog love to run and play outside for hours? Then, a hike may be fun for both of you. 

Your puppy or older dog may not be able to go for miles! The puppy may not have enough endurance, and your older dog may have some arthritis, which may be holding him or her back. Your smaller dog may struggle with a long walk, especially if you are a fast walker. Shorter walks on flat surfaces may be fine for puppies, older dogs, and small dogs. 

Make sure that your dog is well-trained before heading out on a hike. Your dog needs to know some basic commands while out on the trail. At the very least, your dog should know how to stop, stay, and come.

Then, don't forget to plan where you are going. You should never just decide to go for a hike with (or without) your dog. Instead, you should have a plan, along with a map of the route that you are taking. 

While doing this, you will be able to find out if you and your dog are in good enough shape to complete the route. You may want to talk to others who have traveled that way, to make sure that the footing is good. They may also be able to tell you about things that you need to look out for. 

On the day of your hike, you should check the local weather reports to make sure that you will have good weather that day. If they are calling for rain, you may want to stick to a shorter hike if you decide that you want to head out anyway. 

Always, always, always let someone know where you are going. Though you may not be a child telling your parents where you are going, the truth is that it is a good idea to let someone know your plan. That way, if you don't come home when you are supposed to, someone will know to come looking for you. 

Take enough supplies along. You should bring water and snacks on every hike that you take. This also goes for your dog. He or she is going to need water to keep going, too. You can't just assume that your dog will find water in the creeks and streams where you are going. Not all of these water sources are safe for your dog to drink from. 

You also need to carry a bowl around for him or her to drink out of. Lucky for you, they make collapsible bowls that you can easily carry on your hikes. This one even has a lid if you would prefer to carry bowls of water at times. 

Please note, this is an affiliate link where I will receive compensation if you buy the product, without any extra cost to you.

Make sure that your dog is protected against fleas and ticks before heading out. The truth is that your dog should be protected all year long against these nasty critters, but in the fall, fleas and ticks are just looking for a warm place to live. 

You and your dog could get infested with a disease carried by ticks, such as Lyme disease. Flea bites can cause a lot of problems, including itchy and sensitive skin. 

I recently wrote an article about why you should keep your dog on heartworm and flea and tick prevention all year round. If you haven't had a chance to read it, you can check it out right here. 

Hiking can be a great way to spend some time with your dog. However, if you aren't careful, it can turn into a nightmare. You need to make sure that both you and your dog are in good enough shape to get through the hike. Training is also a necessity, so that you can keep your dog under control at all times. You also want to make sure that you plan your trip, take plenty of supplies (including a water bowl), and let someone know where you are going!

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Previously published on Medium and/or Newsbreak.