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Tips for Hiking with your dog

April 22, 2010 by Conor Davis

We’ve had a long string of nice weather here in Alabama, and it just screams that it’s time to get back to the great outdoors. One of my favorite things to do is spend some time hiking the beautiful trails we have here with my furry kids. While I was on a recent short hike dusting off the cobwebs and shaking out the dust, I thought it would be a good idea to share some things that I’ve learned over the years while out with my dogs.

As with any place fun, the closer we would get to the north trail head at Oak Mountain State Park the dogs knew it and got more excited with every tree we passed. Being the first time out there this spring we were all excited to get in the car and get going. Pulling into the parking space didn’t happen a moment too soon because if Eeyore’s (my male Golden Retriever) eyes got any bigger and his ears got any perkier I would have been afraid he’d hurt something! Ruhni (my female Golden Retriever) however, was typically luke warm about the impending physical exertion; she takes after her father like that.

Piling out of the car, with the dogs safely on leash of course, we gather our supplies for our little hike. Backpack, check. Hiking Poles, check. Sunscreen, check. Snacks for the people, check. Snacks for the dogs, check. My cellphone, charged and with the number for a local vet, check and check. Water, check. Dog water bowl, uhhhh, Fail. Jenn (my partner in crime) and I were in such a hurry to get out the door we forgot the water bowl! Luckily I had a plastic cup in the car I can use for the dogs to drink out of. But, this reminds me that preparation is key for a fun, safe hike with the dogs. So I rerun through my mental list again just to make sure I’m covered:

Weather — Clear and sunny. Perfect
Distance and Terrain — Easy 2 mile hike, easy climbs with a few small rocks. Nothing treacherous.
Water — Usually carry a liter per person/dog for a short hike. AND SOMETHING TO DRINK IT FROM (oooops)
Snacks — Healthy people and dog kind. Nothing can perk you up more than a beautiful view and a yummy snack! (My personal motivation for all the physical exertion!!)
Vaccine Records — always good to have handy. Even if it is just a cell phone pic!
Phone # for a nearby vet — you never know what could happen. Be prepared, especially if you are not near home
External parasite protection — Frontline, Advantage, Advantix, etc. are important here in AL because ticks are VERY bad and they harbor many communicable diseases. (and of course some OFF or similar deterrent for yourself)
Proper training equipment — having proper training equipment can make a big difference in how much fun you have. If you are fighting your dog all day, or you don’t have a long line to let your dog run some you are decreasing the amount of fun you both have. Experiment with what you need, but I like a lightweight 4-6 ft. leash for the dogs to drag, a long line, and a training collar
Puppy Toys — to a Golden Retriever a hike without a tennis ball is a near sin.

All good, except for a water bowl, I didn’t do too bad. Like I said, shaking out the cobwebs…

Setting off we always start the same way, under control. We wait before we cross the street. The dogs sit and stay while we read the trail head signs. We heel closely the first couple hundred yards. This sets our intentions for the hike and builds a level of control from the beginning. I always forget that my favorite trail starts off rough, a steep 100 yard climb. Jenn and Eeyore hit it with their usual pace, ready to conquer. Ruhni and I however are just ready to be at the top. Cresting the top of the first hill we are rewarded by a beautiful view of the upcoming hike through the rolling hills of the pine forest up to one the peaks of Double Oak Mountain.

Being our first hike in some time, Eeyore is ready to go. He is always our trail leader, we could be 4 miles in, taken 4 different trails, across a stream or two and you tell him to “go to the car” and he can always find it. Who needs GPS. So today Jenn is keeping him under a little more control so he doesn’t take off in an excited run and leave us all in his dust. About 30 minutes into the hike, Ruhni reminds us it is time for her union mandated rest break and finds a nice soft patch of grass to lie in. So we oblige and have a seat with her and break out the water and bowl, err, cup. Hydration while hiking is a major factor. You have to remember that dogs can’t tell you when they are thirsty, so you must regularly offer them water (we aim for every 30 minutes when hot or strenuous). I believe I heard one time that a 2% loss in hydration results in a 15% decrease in energy. Whether or not that’s actually a fact, I believe whole-heartedly in it. So a little water all around and we are good to tackle the next section of the trail.

The next section of trail is where it gets fun. A steady uphill climb to the summit with the path sprinkled with massive granite boulders. It looks like someone tossed a handful of them on the side of the mountain. It’s beautiful, but can present a few challenges with the dogs. There is always a chance of wildlife hidden in the cracks of the rocks, if your dog isn’t sure footed in these situations yet they could slip and injure themselves, smaller rocks can move underfoot creating a danger for not only who is walking on it, but anyone behind them. So when it comes to terrain changes and unique surfaces pay close attention to what your dog is doing. Ruhni and I like to play like a mountain goat, but she is not as sure footed as Eeyore yet, so I watch her closely and keep hold of her leash so that if she slips a little I can help steady her. (And as a note we do not climb on rocks higher than 4-5ft tall together, it is foolish to climb anything higher with your dog since they cannot grasp the repercussions of a misstep, you HAVE to be your dog’s conscience and reasoning.)

As the trail clears out a little and the dogs have settled into their pace, Jenn and I decide it’s time to give them a little freedom. That certainly does not mean take the leash off and let them go tearing off the trail into the woods wherever they want to go. That means we will drop their leash and let them lead us up the trail 20-30 yards. This takes some time to train, but is so nice because it gives your dog a chance to run without you having to worry about what they are getting into. The way we trained this is to use a long line and let them drag it. Every time they would go too far or try to step off the trail we would give them a quick correction with the long line and remind them to stay on the trail. When they would get too far ahead we would step on the line and tell them to wait. Anytime we came to the top of a hill, creek, or tree across the trail we taught them to wait so that we could see what’s on the other side. And with practice and consistency, they started to understand. And it's also very important to keep an eye out for other people walking on the trail. If someone is approaching you should take hold of your dogs leash and walk them again, because not everyone is a dog lover.

With Eeyore leading the way, we make it to the top of the mountain. We make our way to our usual place to take in the view, and of course my favorite part, have a snack. Only in a place like this, sitting on top of a mountain with Jenn and my furry kids and a beautiful carpet of pines laid out before us stretching to the distant beginnings of the Appalachian Mountains, can you achieve a special contentment from life.
After taking a long break and enjoying the rewards of all the hard work, we pack up and prepare for our trek back to the car. Ruhni and I are thankful it’s all down hill.

Heading back down hill the dogs try to pick up the pace so we have to be diligent reminding them that we have 2 less feet on the ground so it takes us a little more time so we don’t hurt ourselves. Thankfully dogs are sure footed, having 4-paw drive, but things do happen on the mountain. Twisted elbows and shoulders, trips and falls, snake and insect bites, and for this you need to be prepared. You may not know dog first aid, but all these things are handled roughly the same as with people.

I will give you a few tips on transporting an injured dog. For joint issues or anything where your dog cannot walk easily you have a couple options. First is to carry your dog. This can be difficult with any weight dog, but if it is your only option try to carry your dog over one shoulder similar to a fireman’s carry. But there are easier options with a couple tools. If the injury is minimal you can make a makeshift sling using a shirt or jacket and this will keep most of your dog’s weight off the injured area. You do this by running the jacket under the dog’s chest or waist depending on the injury. Then you hold the sleeves and keep an upward pressure to lesson the amount of weight on the injured area.

If the injury is more severe, then you can make a sled to carry your dog. You use 2 hiking poles, or strong sticks, as a frame. You then run the two poles through a shirt with one pole out each sleeve and then lay the dog on the shirt. You can either hold just one end and pull with the back end dragging, or have a buddy hold the other end so you can carry your dog. I certainly hope you never need these not-so-perfect emergency measures, but it is good to have them in the back of your head.

Since it’s still early we decide to take a little diversion down a side trail that has a great little creek the dogs love to splash around in. Again Eeyore knows where he’s heading and starts to pick up his pace. Getting to the creek first, he knows he has to wait for permission. Some times of year this creek is a stagnant pool of slime, algae and god knows what. And we always follow the rule that if we wouldn’t get in, then neither are the dogs. It’s important to remember that dogs are susceptible to the same internal parasites we are, so again we have to be their conscience and reasoning.

Along the same lines it’s important to remember that unless you know a stream is running with FRESH rainwater, don’t let your dog drink it. Bacteria and contaminants can be found in most water sources. If they drink a sip or two, which Ruhni usually does, don’t freak out. Just try your best and don’t rely on streams and creeks as your dog’s water source.

After their refreshing dip it’s time to make our way back to the car. One of the main reasons we make that diversion, especially in the hotter summer months, is to prevent any signs of overexertion or heat stroke. Dogs are good troopers; they will work past the point of exhaustion. So always keep an eye out for excessive panting with the tongue very far out of the mouth and lips pulled back, redness of the eyes, white gums, and dragging their feet while walking. If you see a combination of these things then take a break and cool off your dog with water. Remember that dogs don’t sweat to cool off like we do.

Getting back to the car Ruhni makes it abundantly clear she is ready to go, never taking her eyes off the car door! But we’ve gotten into a habit of doing a post hike exam. Checking for external parasites like ticks, and cuts or abrasions especially around the paws and pads, sticks or briars in their fur that can irritate the skin later, and any signs of over exertion. That being done, the mutts dive in the car ready for their next adventure!