Hiking Vacations With Dogs – There is nothing more satisfying than spending a day in nature with your best friends. If this is your dog’s first walk, prepare a few safety precautions to make it the best experience possible!
Dogs love having adventures with their human parents! Not only is it fun, but spending quality time together is great for their health and their relationship with you! If you’ve always dreamed of taking your four-legged best friend outdoors, a little preparation can go a long way. We’ll help you know when your puppy is “ready” for a hike, how to set him up for success with proper puppy training, and other helpful tips!
Hiking Vacations With Dogs
Puppies under six months old may not be ready to hit the road with you. At six months old, puppies of some breeds are almost adults and ready for longer periods of exercise. Start by planning your miniature garden on easier terrain and for shorter periods of time, twenty to thirty minutes. As your puppy grows, you can extend the time he spends exploring with you!
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Remember, your puppy’s age isn’t the only factor that determines whether he’s ready to hike again! Size and breed play a big role too! Puppies from large breed breeds have a longer maturation period before their growth plates (the cartilage at the ends of the dog’s large bones that harden into bone) become fully stable. Lifting heavy weights for long periods of time can cause injury or even deformity to these developing tissue areas.
Another common problem experienced by almost all types of puppies is injured paws. Puppies need time to develop calluses before walking long distances over rough terrain. Luckily, you can protect your dog’s paws with dog shoes and lotion!
Regardless of age, all puppies should have the correct vaccinations and take parasite precautions before going out into the wild! Depending on your puppy’s age, you’ll want to talk to your veterinarian if you plan on taking it on a nature walk. Your veterinarian may recommend that you wait until your puppy receives a certain vaccine or medication.
For more information about the vaccines your puppy needs, visit our blog “What Vaccines Does Your Puppy Need in the First Year?”
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Your dog may encounter people and other dogs along the way, especially if you plan to visit popular places! Before you head out into the woods, give your puppy plenty of safe, controlled interactions with new people and dogs.
Teach your puppy to stay with you and greet new people and dogs calmly rather than running and jumping on them. If your puppy is still learning to stay with you, it’s also a good idea to keep your puppy outside while meeting new people and dogs.
Check out our blog, “Puppy Life Made Easy for New Owners: Socializing Your Puppy with Dogs and People! Get expert techniques for introducing your puppy to new environments and interactions safely and effectively!
Before you decide to take your puppy on his first hike, take some time to practice his obedience skills! They will help you control your dog, but they are also vital to keeping him safe in the wild.
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One of the most important skills in puppy training is the “come” command. Your puppy should be able to hear his name and the “come” command every time you call him back. Work with your puppy outside in the yard on a long leash to increase the distance between you and your puppy in a safe and controlled way. Switch to a “come” practice where distractions are easier, such as on the sidewalk or in a park.
However, if you know your dog hasn’t learned it yet, or you’re still doing remote retrieval, we recommend keeping him on a leash during your hike for his safety and your peace of mind!
To learn how to keep the cup from jumping, you must buy more and play more! Ask the Puppy Trainer every Wednesday at 1pm PT!
We have briefly mentioned that when faced with a new encounter, you will want your puppy to stay with you rather than run away. To ensure your puppy waits, take the time to train it to “wait” on the command!
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Practice this command outside in your yard with your puppy waiting next to you in a sitting or lying position. This allows them to simply exist in their environment and observe what is going on around them while focusing on being with you. Gradually, you will be able to increase the amount of time your puppy is in “wait” mode, but you can also perform this command in different places.
So when you’re getting ready to take your dog into the forest, if a person, dog, or other animal approaches you, you can have him sit next to you and “wait”!
Imagine that your puppy encounters something that could be harmful to him, such as wild plants, twigs, or rocks. It is natural behavior for many puppies to possess anything they find, often by running away with it. In this case, you want to teach your puppy not to collect anything in his mouth, but to listen when you ask him, “Put it down!”
Practice it by introducing the “Drop-it” command into activities like tug-of-war. You can also use the trading method, where if your puppy doesn’t want to give up something he has, you can offer him something of greater value, such as a treat or a favorite toy.
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When your puppy is taken for their first walk, we recommend keeping them on a leash and harness. Off-leash walking takes some time to get going, and for a puppy that’s entering the woods for the first time, you may have trouble keeping your puppy close during the hike
Good leash behavior will make the experience easier and more fun! Practice walking on a leash and harness with your puppy,
Also, check local dog restrictions as many parks don’t allow dogs!
You may need to provide your dog with protective gear for certain types of terrain. Here are the top three things to consider when taking your puppy for his first walk!
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You may already have a comfortable harness at home, but if not, it’s a good idea to buy one for your puppy’s first walk! Many travel carriers come with extra loops for attaching bags, leashes, and collapsible travel bowls for your dog’s food and water. Some harnesses also have reflective strips so that your puppy can be seen by other walkers on the trail and not mistaken for a wild animal.
As we mentioned before, paw injuries, especially in puppies that are still developing calluses, are very common, so get them walking boots to prevent serious injuries! Let them wear them a few times around the house or on casual walks before wearing them on a hike. This will help your puppy get used to it or allow you to see if it is the right size and fits your puppy.
Finally, it’s a good idea to get a day bag for your puppy so your puppy can travel with his or her own stuff! Measure your puppy to find the right size for his weight and size. This bag will ensure your dog can carry food, water, toys, a trash bag (to keep the sidewalks clean!) and a few emergency items, just in case! Get them used to the weight of the backpack while they’re young, and add more as they grow older and fully developed.
Being prepared for hiking with a puppy is also about being prepared for the potential risks that nature presents. Depending on which state you live in, some of these may be more concerning. Here are some common things to remember and be prepared to keep your puppy safe and healthy!
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Contrary to their name, no, they are not the fluffy tails of cute wild foxes, but the heads of certain summer-germinating grasses that can be found in many places, including sidewalks. The tips of their furry tails contain individual seeds that spread out when dry and are uniquely designed to capture and burrow deeper into objects with every movement. Since our puppies love to play in the grass, they are at huge risk of picking up these spike trackers! Read more on how to stop them from contacting your puppy in our blog!
Microcystins or cyanoinosins, commonly known as blue-green algae, are natural organisms that grow in still water. It thrives in warm temperatures of 75°F or higher and sunny conditions, which is why many cases of blue-green algae poisoning in dogs have been reported during the summer. It can be highly toxic and fatal if swallowed as it attacks the nervous system
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