You are used to walking around town together, but how does your pup go from a city dog to a trail dog? Preparation, conditioning, and training are key. Here are a few tips to get you and your dog trail ready:

 

1.    First and foremost, know your directions and be able to read a map. You don't want to get

lost! If you don't have the best sense of direction, go with someone who does or take classes that will help you develop this skill. Carry a map with you for reference. When we go backpacking, we also like to carry a hard copy of the map just in case technology fails (which it has a few times for us).

2.    Research the trail and area you are about to explore. If you are new to hiking or

unfamiliar with the  area, take the time to learn about the area. You will need to know if there are dangerous plants such as poison oak, or if there is wildlife that you need to be aware of such as mountain lions. You can find information about specific trails in hiking books, hiking websites, or apps (Alltrails, Gaia, etc.).

          Make sure to pick out a trail that is appropriate for your skill level and your dog’s skill level. Not all trails and hikes are equal; hikes vary in difficulty from easy, to moderate, to difficult. The more difficult the trail, the more technical it gets. You don’t want to blindly pick a trail your first time only to find out you have to scramble up boulders or hike right next to the side of a cliff. Be honest about you and your dog’s fitness level, know how many miles you are comfortable hiking, and be aware of your limits (Is your body conditioned to high altitudes? Is your dog afraid of heights?). It’s a good idea to ease into hiking gradually. You don’t want to put yourself, your dog, or others in a precarious situation. Safety first!​

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3.    Just like any sport, conditioning is very important. In order to prevent your dog from

sustaining injuries, you want to train regularly. We started training Poppy for hiking and backpacking when we first adopted her at 6 months old. She could only hike a couple of miles at most in the beginning, but we gradually started increasing her mileage and doing more difficult trails over the course of a year as her fitness level improved. Now she goes on 17-mile trail runs with her dad up mountains. Once Poppy developed endurance, we started taking her on backpacking trips and slowly added weight for her to carry. Your dog’s age, breed, and health should definitely be a factor when determining the kind of hike you take. Be sure to observe your dog and listen to him or her; if your dog doesn’t want to continue don’t force your dog to keep going. Take a break if you need one. Slowly conditioning your dog to distance and terrain will insure you are preventing your dog from getting hurt. It also helps them build their confidence and endurance and with time their paw pads will become thicker.​

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4.    A good adventure dog is a trained dog! Make sure your dog is trained in obedience skills

and listens when you ask it to sit, stay, heel, leave it, or come. We definitely recommend getting professional help from a reputable dog trainer. There are many dog trainers around, and not all of them are good, so do your research, ask around, and talk to a few trainers before you decide on one. If you are not sure how to find a reputable trainer, you can start by looking on the American Kennel Club's (AKC) website. They list AKC approved evaluators, and most of these evaluators are also trainers who offer training services (or at the very least, these evaluators can refer you to reputable trainers). We bring Poppy to Zoom Room for obedience and agility classes and train her everyday on our own. You should train your dog regularly regardless of your dog’s age, otherwise they forget or become lazy with their commands. Please do your research on dog trainers as there are many individuals out there who claim to be dog trainers but have no background, experience, or training in dog behavior. Different trainers use different methods to train dogs, and you and your dog may prefer one method over another.

          In addition, you need to maintain effective control over your dog; for some dogs this means voice control while for other dogs this means being on a leash. Never let your dog off leash if they do not respond to your recall or commands, if they chase other dogs or humans, or if they are reactive or aggressive, even if you are in an off leash area. Not all dogs can be off-leash so don’t take your dog off leash if you know that you might be putting others at risk. We respect and appreciate dog owners who keep their dogs under control using a leash and we also respect and appreciate dog handlers who can maintain voice control over their dog. It is also a good idea to put a muzzle on your dog if they tend to bite. We know several dog parents who take their dogs on wonderful adventures while wearing a muzzle. These fur parents are being responsible!

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5.    Be aware of the conditions where you are hiking. In the summer the temperature can get

way above 90˚F (32˚C) in Southern California, which translates into asphalt temperatures above 145˚F (62.7˚F). Temperatures this high are very dangerous to dogs, can result in burnt paws (read more about pad burns here and asphalt temperatures here), and can lead to overheating. We use paw wax year-round to protect Poppy’s paw pads, boots to protect her feet, and a cooling harness to prevent her from overheating. Her boots also protect her feet when we are hiking on very rocky terrain. In the winter, she wears an extra layer to keep her warm or dry and we also put her boots on if there is a lot of snow on the ground. In addition, we bring plenty of water on our adventures and a first-aid kit in case something happens. 

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We hope these tips help you and your dog enjoy the time you spend together on the trail. Happy hiking!