My dog Louie’s ears perk up whenever I ask him if he is ready to go hiking. As soon as I reach for my bright orange hiking day pack, he races to the door and eagerly waits for me to leash him up so we can head to the car and begin our adventure. Once the car door opens, he leaps in the back seat with joy and anticipation of a fun day on the trails. He loves to stick his head out the car window en route to our destination. Louie is my Labrador Retriever mix and our weekends are reserved for all sorts of adventures that usually begin with a hike at a nearby provincial park or conservation area. It’s been our routine for almost a year now. I have always enjoyed day hiking and have been doing a lot more of it since I adopted Louie 4 years ago. It’s our favourite activity.

Louie is roughly 70 pounds and is a fairly athletic dog. He is very active and loves long walks and running around the yard chasing after a frisbee or his favourite football. Most dogs - big or small - make excellent hiking companions if they are fit enough to join you on the trails. Hiking is different than your daily walk around your neighbourhood unless you live out in the woods. It is generally more strenuous as it often involves traversing rugged terrain and travelling on trails with elevation changes. Hiking with dogs takes a bit more planning and preparation than if you were going alone. You can’t just show up at a trail head and start walking. If you are thinking of taking your four-legged buddy for a hike, here are some things to consider.

Age

Dogs of all ages make excellent hiking partners. Like people, older dogs have stiffer joints and may have other ailments like arthritis that reduce their mobility. If you have a senior dog, you may want to consider flatter trails and walking shorter distances to prevent injuries. Puppies have lots of energy but hiking up and down steep hills or walking for long distances may affect the development of your puppy’s joints which generally are not fully formed until they are a year old. While it may be tempting to take your dog on your hiking adventures, sometimes it is better to leave them at home. Especially if it could affect their well-being.

Fitness

Hiking can be quite strenuous for both you and your pup. Before tackling a trail together, make sure your dog is physically fit to complete the hike. The last thing you want to do is to carry her out because she is too exhausted. Try picking a trail that is shorter than the distance you usually go for walks and build up to longer distances. This will give you and your dog the opportunity to adjust and make it less taxing on your bodies. Also, pay attention to your dog during the hike. If she is having difficulties climbing up and down or the distance is too far, try making adjustments for the next time you are out. There are a lot of trails out there and you are bound to find a few that matches your and your dog’s fitness level.

Weather

While we wish we could control the weather, we don’t have the power to. There have been many times when it has been too hot, too cold, or wet for us to head out on the trails. Before you head out, make sure the weather is safe for you and your dog. Avoid hiking in a temperature that is too hot or too cold as it increases the risks of heatstroke or hypothermia. Try staying in the shade on warm, sunny days. Try to hike in the morning or early evening when it’s cooler out and stay hydrated. I generally use apps like Accuweather or the Weather Network to check for temperature, humidity, UV index, and precipitation.

Behaviour

Is your dog reactive when it meets other dogs? Has she mastered basic commands like sit, stay, and lay down? During your hike, you will be sharing the trail with other people and dogs. It is important that your dog is disciplined and is good around people and other dogs. If this is something you need to work on with your dog, consider choosing wide flat trails that give you room to pull your dog away if you need to. I would avoid steep, narrow trails as reactive dogs can make it dangerous. Lastly, remember to follow the trail etiquette.

Essential items for your dog

• Leash: A number of parks require dogs to be on leashes that are no longer than 2 metres (6 feet) in length, unless they are in a designated off-leash area or designated roofed accommodation. A shorter leash makes it easier to control your dog on hikes making it safer for you, your pup, and others you share the trails with.

• Dog brush or comb: Louie loves exploring. Sometimes that means getting burrs stuck in his fur. Depending on where the burrs are located, he may plop himself down and try to remove them. A brush makes it easier for you to remove this nuisance and eliminate the discomfort that the burrs may cause helping you get back to your hike.

• Collar: Make sure your dog wears a snug collar with your dog’s name, rabies tag, and dog license on it. Also, consider getting a tag with your name and phone number in case he gets lost.

• Water: The amount of water you should bring depends on the size of your dog, the duration of your hike, the weather, and the difficulty of the trail. I generally bring about 1.5 litres of water for Louie when we go on day hikes. I keep 500 ml in a soft bottle that goes into his pack, and a 1 litre bottle in my pack in addition to the water I bring for myself.

• Water dish: I use a collapsible water dish for Louie and he absolutely loves it. I pack two of them on our hikes. One goes into his pack, and the other one goes into mine. It is the easiest way to give Louie water to drink on the trails.

• Dog food/snacks: Pack dog food and snacks. Hiking can be tiring and your dog would appreciate the extra fuel. Pack and extra meal for them just in case you get stranded. Consider putting them into a plastic Ziploc bag or tupperware for easy transport and to keep the food dry in the event it starts to rain heavily and it soaks through your pack.

• Plastic waste bags: Pack some plastic bags to clean up after your dog. Don’t leave dog feces behind because it can be dangerous for wildlife. If you run out of bags, dig a hole and cover up your dog’s business. Don’t just leave it. Most Ontario Parks have garbage bins near the entrances where you can drop off your garbage. Make sure to leave no trace.

• Canine first aid kit: Emergencies can strike at any time. Keep a canine first aid kit on hand to treat scrapes and scratches or more severe injuries. Look for a kit that includes non-adhesive bandages, anti-septic, scissors, tick removal tool, cotton pads, tweezers to remove splinters, and latex gloves for when you need to dress a wound. Visit the AKC website to learn about other items you may want to include in a canine first-aid kit.

Post hike routine

There are a few things I like to do after I complete a hike with Louie. While we stick to the trails, there are times we have to move over to the side to allow other hikers to pass us. There are also times that the trails take us close to bushes and tall grass. Although Louie has his flea and tick medicine, I always do a thorough check to see if any ticks have hitched a ride on him. I also look for burrs that may be stuck and remove them if I can. It makes the ride home much more enjoyable for both of us. I also check myself for ticks and remove them with a tick-removal kit. Lastly, before we set off on our journey home, we both make sure we rehydrate and have a small bite to eat. I also give Louie a chance to relieve himself before driving away.