Four Things You Should Know Before Hiking with Your Dog
If you love exploring the outdoors with your four-legged friend, check out these tips on hiking with your dog!
1. Pick up your dog’s poop, it’s a law!
Fun fact: The Pooper Scooper Law originated in New York in 1978. Since then, most of the nation has adopted the law, and it does pertain to areas other than public parks and sidewalks (though that’s the most common use of the law). There are a few areas where this law is exempt. Overall, however, it’s enforced from coast to coast in the USA. Sure, it’s unlikely you’ll be caught and fined for not picking up your dog’s waste. BUT, the fact of the matter is that dog poop is not good for our environment. I could probably write a whole article on that topic, but for now I’ll just tell you that yes, you should be picking up your dog’s poop, even when you’re out in the wild!
After cleaning up after your dog, remember to pack the bag out with you! I wanted to joke about the fact that there is no magical poop fairy that will go along the trail, picking up used doggie bags. Unfortunately, on a recent hike, I realized that I was the poop fairy. Be courteous and don’t leave poo bags for other people to pick up.
2. Always have a leash while hiking with your dog.
Though there are trails that do not require your dog to be on a leash, there are many that DO require your dog to be on a leash! Before letting your dog off-leash, always check the signage at the trailhead to see whether or not it is allowed. There are many reasons behind leash requirements.
If your dog does not obey on the first command, does not come back to you the first time you call, or has a high-prey drive, please do not let your dog off-leash! It is rude to other hikers, other dogs, and the wildlife.
I am an advocate for keeping your dog on leash. Many areas in Colorado are home to snakes of various types, including rattlesnakes. A rattlesnake bite can quickly become deadly for any species. Hiking with your dog on leash and staying on the trail is the easiest way to lessen the chances of an encounter with wildlife.
3. Don’t forget extra water when hiking with your dog!
It may seem unnecessary to point this one out, but it’s surprising how often I’ve seen people on the trail without water for their dog. It’s not safe to assume that you’ll be able to find water on the trail. And even if you do, it can be unsafe for your dog to drink the water. Lake and pond water often contain parasites and bacteria that can make your dog very sick! I carry a large Nalgene in my pack, plenty of water for both me and my dog on most hikes. If we’re going on a longer hike and/or one with scarce shade, I will bring an extra liter of water to be safe. Sometimes I’ll even keep an extra bottle in the car in case we drink everything I took on the hike!
One item I recommend is a collapsible dog bowl. They are perfect for sharing water with your dog, they weigh next to nothing, and take up very little space.
4. Pay attention to the weather.
Enjoy a hike on a summer morning, before it gets too hot! Hiking with your dog earlier in the day also lessens the chance of encountering a thunderstorm.
At a popular hiking area near my home last summer, two separate rescue calls were made over one weekend. For both calls, rangers had to carry the dogs down the trail due to extreme heat exhaustion. The dogs made it down safely thanks to the park rangers, and were cooled off at the base of the trail. Dogs can’t handle heat in the same way that humans do and have a more difficult time cooling down. Keep yourself and your four-legged friends safe and don’t hike when it’s too hot! A general rule is to keep your dog at home if the temperatures reach 90 degrees or above, but all dogs handle heat differently, so pay attention to where your dog’s threshold is!
