Below you’ll find adventure-specific doggie gear lists for hiking, camping, and backpacking.

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Hiking Essentials

If you are hitting the trail for a couple of hours or for a full day of fun, we recommend the following items for your dog:

1. Leash and harness or collar. 

We recommend a lightweight leash with a traffic handle in case you need your dog to be close. We use a 5-foot leash so that Poppy doesn’t get too far. For a harness, we like Hurtta’s Weekend Warrior Harness. 

  2.  Paw wax.

We use paw wax to prevent Poppy’s pads from cracking. Some paw waxes just moisturize while others also provide protection. We use a paw wax that does both. A good paw wax will protect against heat and snow, but for more extreme conditions or surfaces, we use boots.

  3.  Water.

Remember to stay hydrated and bring enough water for you and your dog. We have a platypus reservoir with a hose that we use to share water with Poppy, but some people like to bring a separate water bottle and bowl for their dog. Whatever you use, the important thing is that your system works and your dog stays hydrated. 

  4.  A bell.

We keep Poppy between us (one person is walking in front, Poppy is in the middle, and the other person is behind), but we find it helpful to attach a bell on her to keep track of how close or far she is when we are hiking and backpacking, especially if she is off leash. If she lags too far behind the person in front, we can tell even without looking and can recall her to walk closer. In addition, the bell is nice for letting other people on the trail know that we have a dog with us. Last, the bell acts as a nice warning for wildlife so we don’t accidentally turn the corner and walk face-to-face into deer, elk, bears, roadrunners, etc. (which has happened to us before we used the bell). It gives wildlife a chance to get out of the way before we come upon them. We made our own bell using a small carabiner that we had laying around the house and used one of the bells from her door bell at home. This is super easy and cheap to make on your own, but you can also buy a ready made bell from the pet store. We attach the bell to her collar or harness.

  5.  Boots, if hiking in extreme conditions.

If we are hiking on rocky surfaces or snow, we protect Poppy’s feet with Alcott Adventure Boots. If the ground is hot during the summer, we use breathable boots from Dogbooties.com to prevent her from overheating. We usually put her boots on either the first half or last half of the hike or through the rockiest portion of the hike. She doesn’t usually wear her boots for the entire hike unless the conditions are extreme because we want her feet to be able to breathe. She also wears socks inside her boots to prevent chaffing. Use your own judgement and be cautious when it comes to your dog’s feet. We’ve gone on hikes where the rocks are so sharp that they feel like a cheese grater on your boots, so you can imagine what that kind of terrain will do to a dog’s feet. If Poppy is walking on asphalt around town in the summer, she wears her boots the entire time to prevent her pads from burning. Remember, your dog’s paw pads can get burned (read more about pad burns here).

6.  Bug protection

We use an all natural spray called Cedarcide Tickshield to protect against fleas, ticks, flies, and mosquitoes. This spray is safe for dogs and humans. We use it on ourselves when we are hiking and backpacking. It keeps the bugs away! Cedarcide comes in many different sizes, but we find the 4oz bottle is convenient to carry and has lasted us up to a week when camping. For a 10% discount, you can use the following code: POPPY10 (Cedarcide will also donate 5% of your total to a local shelter if you use that code)

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Camping Essentials

For overnight stays, you’ll need a few more items in addition to the ones mentioned above in order to get through the night.

 

  1.  An LED light.

Don't lose your dog at night! We keep Poppy visible at night using a rechargeable, waterproof LED light made by Ruffwear. The light can be hung from a collar or attached to a harness. Most Ruffwear gear comes with a compatible light-loop attachment point for this light to sit.

  2.  Food and snacks.

Your dog will need energy to get through your adventure! We like to take freeze-dried raw treats and freeze-dried raw food with us because it is light and easy to prepare (just add water!). Kibble is heavy, but a good quality freeze dried raw meal is nutrient-dense and light to carry. We pre-measure each of Poppy's meals and put each meal in a sandwich bag so that we don't have to carry extra food.

  3.  A collapsible bowl.

Collapsible bowls are nice because they don't take up a lot of space and are lightweight. Some collapsible bowls pack so small they can fit in your pocket!

  4. A bed, sleeping bag, or blanket.

Unless you want your dog stealing your sleeping bag, we recommend bringing along a portable bed or blanket for the fur baby. In terms of a sleeping pad, we recommend getting an extra long sleeping pad that you can use and share with your dog so you don't have to bring along an extra piece of gear. We also bring a compact blanket to keep Poppy warm.

5.  A bug suit if mosquitoes, horse flies, ticks, or fleas are particularly bad.

Mosquitoes, horse flies (flies that bite), fleas, and ticks can be big problem when hiking and camping. One of our favorite pieces of gear that we bring with us on all our summer camping trips is Hurtta’s Sun and Bug Blocker. This bug suit has saved Poppy from being eaten alive on multiple occasions!

We also use Cedarcide Tickshield for her face, tail, and legs (the parts that stick out of the suit). If you don't have Hurtta's Bug Blocker suit, this spray is great for the dog's entire body.

 

Backpacking Essentials

For extended expeditions into mother nature, you and your dog will need to carry all your gear and you’ll need to be prepared for the unexpected. This means that you’ll have a heavy pack, so be sure you and your dog condition yourselves to carrying weight. A caveat: Backpacking is not for everyone; it is hard, you have to go to the bathroom in mother nature, you are off-grid, you don’t shower, and there are a lot of highs and lows. If you choose to go backpacking, here are our essential gear items (in addition to the hiking and camping essentials mentioned above):

 

  1.  A doggie backpack.

If you are carrying a heavy pack, you probably want your dog to help share the load and carry their own stuff. Poppy uses Ruffwear’s Palisades Pack to carry her food and gear when we go backpacking. One of the features we like the most on this backpack is that the saddlebags can detach from the harness. We also love the handle on this pack; it allows us to assist Poppy over obstacles that we may encounter on the trail. Be sure you condition your dog to carry weight by slowly increasing their load. We started with an empty pack and then gradually added weight. Your dog's breed, weight, and fitness level will factor into how much they can carry. You don’t want to overload you dog otherwise their backpack may cause injuries.

  2.  A canine-friendly first-aid kit.

We hope you don’t have to use this, but it is better to be prepared than not. There were a few times when Poppy had an allergic reaction to something in the environment and we were relieved that we had some antihistamine with us. She also gets minor scratches and wounds on the trail (she has a very short coat that offers little protection), so having Neosporin with us helps prevent against infection. All of the items in our first-aid kit can also be used on humans.

  3.  A canine first aid manual.

Unless you are a Veterinarian, you probably don’t know how to address serious dog injuries. If Poppy gets injured we need to be able to manage her injury while we try to get her to a veterinarian ASAP. Use this manual in conjunction with the first aid kit describe above. We carry Sid Gustafson’s Canine Field Medicine: First Aid for Your Active Dog (it is compact and fits great in a pack).

  4.  A cooling vest or harness for summer. 

In order to prevent Poppy from overheating, we use Hurtta’s cooling harness. Dog’s have a harder time staying cool compared to humans; you can read more about how dog’s regulate their temperature by reading this article on the American Kennel Club’s website. It is critical to keep your dog’s core temperature at a comfortable level before they overheat. If we don't have Poppy's cooling harness with us, we pour water over her chest, back, and feet regularly, in addition to giving her water to drink.

  5.  A jacket for the winter.

If your dog has a long, double coat, you may not need a jacket, but if your dog has a short coat or single coat like Poppy, they will likely need an extra layer to help keep them warm. When it is snowing or when the temperature dips below freezing, Poppy wears Hurtta’s Extreme Warmer.

6.  A sleeping bag or blanket for your dog.

When the temperature drops, you'll want to make sure your furry companion stays comfortable. There are many doggie sleeping bags and blankets to choose from and they range in prices. Choose one that fits your dog and your adventure.