Should I bring my dog hiking?

• The answer is YES, but know your dog’s limit. Some dogs can only do small trails, while others can do 10+ miles. Also, some dogs might want to do more, but their bodies cannot, so keep an eye out for excessive panting, slow movement, or any other signals they might be sending you.

• For all breeds, you should start walking / hiking in small increments, as you do not want to hurt their joints.

• Remember to check for ticks after walks with a tick comb

Checklist for Hiking with your Puppy or Dog (life jacket for swimming)

Must Have

• Water and Water Drinking Bowl

• Durable Harness and Leash

• Collar with Name and Phone Number

May Need

• Booties -this protects their paw and paw hairs from debris, sharp objects, and prickly things that stick to their hairs easily. Sometimes on hikes, we’ve seen dog parents stopped on the side to take things out of their dog’s paw, which causes them to limp. Every hike, people ask us where we get out boots from, and if our dog hated it.

• Backpack - if your dog is small, it may not be capable (yet) to do long hikes. So, instead of limiting the hikes you can do, why not bring a backpack so they can sit inside once they have reached their limit?!

• Life Jacket - if your dog may not be the best swimmer, or, if you don’t know if your dog can swim! Sometimes we hike to lakes.

• Jacket & Raincoat - depending on the weather, you may need outerwear for your dog

• Cooling Vest - if it is a hot day out, consider giving your dog a cooling vest to prevent overheating

• Dog Wipes - to clean your dog once the hike is done

• Towel - if you plan to hike to a beach or lake

• Goggles - when we take brioche for very sunny hikes or if he goes biking in our backpack, we want to protect his eyes!