Tips for Hiking with your dog

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.

Eeyore

Jenn and Ruhni

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.

A quick stop for a drink (this hike we remembered our water bowl) :)

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.)

A Quick Rest on the Rocks

Eeyore playing Hide and Seek :)