7 Essential Tips for Hiking with Your Dog

Dogs! Aren’t they the best companions? (Sorry, cat owners!) More than 60% of Americans have at least one dog in their household. And of course they do: dogs are loyal and fun and love getting outside to exercise! (We wine hikers love to hike with our dogs!)

Making sure your dog gets regular exercise is just as important as taking care of your own fitness. Exercise is good for our bodies and minds, and it’s the same for our furry friends too.

Taking your dog hiking can be an awesome way to strengthen your bond with your furry companion while enjoying the fresh air and outdoor adventure together.

As a veterinary technician with over 10 years of experience in veterinary medicine, I love teaching others how to have a fun and safe time on the trail with their dog. Next time you want to take your dog to the great outdoors, consider bookmarking these 7 tips.

Tip 1: Start Small

If your dog is new to hiking, do yourself a favor and start with short, simple hikes. I recommend a trail that’s close to home and under five miles round-trip. Most dogs seem to enjoy the outdoors but might not necessarily have the energy for multiple miles right away.

Work up to lengthier, harder hikes as you evaluate your dog’s physical fitness level and enjoyment. Start with paved/gravel trails and work up to dirt and elevated hikes.

Tip 2: Be Prepared to Keep Your Dog on a Leash

Most wilderness areas require all dogs be leashed. I recommend a lead that is short (no longer than 6 feet in length). I don’t recommend retractable leashes as they are too long and pose potential hazards.

No matter the reason for the rule (i.e., protect the ecosystem, high trafficked trails, wild animals, etc.), it is important to be respectful of other dogs and hikers so everyone can enjoy their time on the trail. Although your dog may be friendly, other dogs may not be.

And this might come as a surprise to you, but everyone may not want your dog to approach them.

Lastly, do not take your dog where it is not allowed! Apps like AllTrails (use code WINE30 for 30% off AllTrails+) and Strava can let you know whether trails are dog-friendly. (Local/state/national parks websites also include that information!)

Tip 3: Maintain with Your Dog’s Vaccinations & Keep ID Tags Updated

Check with your veterinarian and staff to make sure your dog’s vaccinations, heart worm prevention, and flea/tick protection are current. The outdoors can harbor threats to your dog’s health, from wildlife, to mosquitoes and ticks.

Be sure to ALWAYS check your dog for fleas and ticks when you return home from a hike. Areas to check are in and around the ears, the groin area, under the shoulders and the neck.

In addition to keeping up with your dog’s vaccinations, it’s also important to make sure your dog’s rabies tag and ID tag are up-to-date. Having a required rabies tag is helpful in case of trouble with wildlife–or in the worst case scenario, your dog would get lost.

Your dog should be wearing an ID tag with at least your name and current contact number. Consider getting your dog microchipped by a veterinary professional in case of an emergency. Again, make sure your contact information is current in case someone finds your dog and tries to contact you.

Tip 4: Know Your Dog’s Limits

Dogs are not always forthcoming as to whether they are in pain or uncomfortable. Keep an eye on your dog while on the trail and watch for these signs of distress:

Excessive panting
Loud breathing/coughing
Lagging/falling behind
Shivering
Drooling
Rapid heart rate
Disorientation or lethargy
Fixed pupils

Take rests with your dog, especially with harsh weather conditions like hot/high temps, snow, rain, or below freezing temps. Factors like breed, age, size, type of fur coat, etc. will influence what temperatures are appropriate for your dog.

Tip 5: Bring the Proper Supplies for Your Dog

Having the proper gear and supplies for your dog will prepare you for anything and everything your dog needs while you’re on the trail. Most important is having enough food and water for your dog. Dogs need extra calories and hydration for hiking just like we do.

Having Enough Food for Your Dog

I recommend high-calorie foods like peanut butter (be sure it is Xylitol-free!), jerky, and cheese to reward their efforts and keep up their energy level. You may also want to feed them a slightly larger portion for their regular meals if you’re hiking a lot of miles or on a multi-day backpacking trip. Always consult your veterinarian as to how many calories they recommend feeding your dog on a trip you’re planning.

Having Enough Water for Your Dog

As for water, you should be filtering all of the water that is offered to your dog in the backcountry. Though a serious infection is rare, dogs are susceptible to many of the same water-borne illnesses we are, like Giardia and Cryptosporidium.

On a normal day, a dog should consume between 1.7 to 3 fluid ounces of water per 2.2 lbs of body weight (50-90 ml per kg). (This may vary depending on the breed, age, and activity level of your dog.)

When on a hike and performing what may be considered strenuous activity–as well as in potentially warm to hot weather–the daily amount increases exponentially to close to double! Pack more water than you think you’ll need. Keeping your dog hydrated will prevent heatstroke and severe dehydration.

Bringing a First Aid Kit & Supplies

Lastly, I highly recommend bringing a first aid kit for your dog. Just like you might bring an emergency meal and overnight gear for yourself on challenging hikes, you’ll also want to pack extra food and any necessary medication for your dog. And you should always have a plan for how you’ll carry your dog out if it gets injured.

If you take the proper precautions, you’ll greatly reduce the risk of anything going wrong on your hike. Here is a fantastic list of what to pack for your pup:

Any important medications
An extra meal for your dog in case you’re out longer than you plan
First aid kit
Daypack (optional)
Harness or collar
Leash
ID tags
Collar light
Poop bags
Training treats
Food and water bowls
Extra water for the dog or way to filter on the trail (i.e., LifeStraw)
Treat pouch
Snacks (peanut butter, jerky, or cheese)
Clothing to suit the conditions
- Cooling vest
- Fleece jacket
- Rain jacket
- Reflective vest
- Life jacket
- Pack towel

Tip 6: Doody Calls – Dealing with Your Dog’s Waste

When your dog does its business, you should treat it just like you would your own in the backcountry. If you’re in an area where it’s safe to bury your waste, you may also bury your dog’s waste (in a hole 6-8 inches deep).

In areas where you need to pack out your waste (like alpine areas and environmentally sensitive spaces), you should also be packing out your dog’s waste. Leaving it on the ground isn’t just gross for other hikers in the area, but it can also destabilize the ecosystem because you’re introducing foreign matter into the soil and water systems.

If packing it out, I recommend putting it in a gallon size Ziploc bag to prevent it from touching other things in your pack and reduce the odor. If your dog carries a backpack, you could also line one of the pockets with a plastic bag and have them carry out their own poop bags.

You should always bear-hang your dog’s poop with the rest of your trash when backpacking in bear country. And please don’t leave poop bags on the side of the trail with the plan to grab them on the way out! They often get forgotten along the trail, despite people’s best intentions to pick them up.

Tip 7: Train Your Dog Ahead of Time (& Get Some Training Yourself)

Before you head into the wilderness, work with your dog on basic commands. I personally recommend having your dog be proficient with come/here, leave it, sit, and stay.

Good recall is especially important if your dog is going to be off-leash at all. That way, you can call them back if they wander a little too far from you or you need to leash them quickly. “Leave it” is also important so you can regain their attention if they’re tempted to chase wildlife or nibble at something potentially dangerous.

Remember to train for the situation in a controlled environment first, not in the actual situation. When the time comes to put your dog’s skills to the test on the trail, make sure you pack along plenty of training treats to reward good behavior.

Second, I highly recommend taking a Pet CPR & First Aid course. There are many local companies, animal rescues, etc. that host events for in-person training at a low cost! It will give you peace of mind while having your pet outdoors–and just in everyday life!

Looking for a fun hike for your four-legged friend? Check out our event calendar and filter by dog friendly.

We want to know: what are some things that you have found helpful when taking your dog out on the trail?

Tara McElhinney

WHS Denver Area Ambassador

About the Author

Tara has been working in the veterinary industry for over 10 years. She started first as a veterinary assistant in 2013 while living in Pennsylvania. After relocating to Colorado, she became employed with the Well Animal Institute.

It was there that Tara became trained in and enhanced her skills with anesthesia-free teeth cleanings and holistic veterinary medicine. She moved to Maryland in 2018 to help build another company that performed those same services (formerly Pearly White Pets).

In 2022, she decided to work for herself and she created Dazzling Canines, LLC! If you live in the DMV area of Maryland and are interested in anesthesia-free dental cleanings for your pet, contact Dazzling Canines.