Can You Take a Dog Hiking?

Hiking with your dog is one of life’s greatest joys. Most dogs love to hike outdoors and would love nothing more than to explore it with their favorite human.

However, if you are going to take your dog hiking, you need to make sure that you are well prepared and that your dog is in good shape before you go hiking. Not only does your dog need to be healthy enough to handle the hike, but you also need to know the basics of training to keep him safe.

It’s often surprising to learn that dogs are not allowed on all hiking trails; I know it’s happened to me. When I think of hiking and camping, I see it as the perfect way to spend time with my dogs and do something we all enjoy. But after doing some research, I found out that not all parks and trails allow dogs, especially national parks, although there are some exceptions.

7 best places to hike with your dog.

1. The Appalachian Trail, from Georgia to Maine.
   The Appalachian Trail (also known as the A.T.) is 2,180 miles long and runs through fourteen states, from Georgia to Maine, and is one of the most beautiful hiking trails in the United States.

The A.T. features a wide variety of hiking trails, from exceptionally rocky and challenging to easy day hikes, making the A.T. suitable for any type of hiking ability. While most of the 2,180 miles are dog-friendly, there are a few sections that are not safe for dogs and three areas where they are not allowed:

• Smoky Mountains National Park.
• Bear Mountain State Park Museum and Trailside Zoo.
• Baxter State Park

1. Runyon canyon — California
   Located in Los Angeles, Runyon Canyon is the perfect destination for locals. It is home to one of the largest off-leash dog parks in the country, covering 90 acres. There are also three main hiking trails of varying degrees of difficulty, all of which are dog-friendly but require leashes outside of the dog park.
2. Red Rock Canyon — Nevada
   Just 17 miles west of Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area receives more than 2 million visitors each year. Red Rock Canyon is a multi-use area with 26 marked hiking trails. The park is open for camping, hiking, horseback riding, climbing, and biking. Dogs are allowed in the reserve but must be leashed.
3. Acadia National Park — Maine
   Acadia National Park is perfect for camping and hiking with your canine companion. There are more than 100 miles to explore, including carriage roads that are all dog-friendly. The park even features a 27-mile scenic loop along the ocean. Dogs must be on a leash no longer than six feet.
4. Dorothy lake — Washington
   There are several hiking trails at Dorothy Lake, including one that is easier for beginners. For hikers looking for a longer trail that leads to other lakes, there are connecting trails. Be sure to check-in at the trailhead before heading out.
5. Fairmount Park — Pennsylvania
   Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park has miles of trails covering more than 9,200 acres. Fairmount has woodlands, wetlands, and water features for you and your dog to explore. But remember to keep your dog on a six-foot or shorter leash at all times.
6. Lake Mohegan — Connecticut
   Mohegan Lake consists of 170 acres with trails and a man-made lake ideal for fishing and swimming. Dogs can walk and swim in Mohegan Lake. There are two main trails, marked in yellow and red. The red trail is the shorter and easier of the two and is only 1.6 miles. The yellow trail is only 2.5 miles long but includes steep terrain.

Preparing Your Dog for a Hike

It is important to take care of your dog to ensure a good hike. Before you head out on a hike, you should first make sure your dog is healthy enough to handle the hike you’ve chosen. And to do that, you need to train your dog on hiking trails so that he is fit for a longer hike.

Depending on your dog’s health and endurance, you may need to start with a mile or less on the trail.

Remember that hiking on the trails is very different from walking on the sidewalk. Your dog needs to be strong enough and the pads on his paws need to be properly conditioned to withstand rougher terrain.

In addition, your dog must be properly trained. The trails can be quite narrow, so they need to know how to safely pass other people and dogs. It is also important that your dog knows the “off” and “put down” commands to make sure they don’t eat harmful things that are on the trail.

It is also important to make sure your dog’s vaccinations and preventative medications are up to date, including

• Flea and tick prevention
• Heartworm prevention
• Rabies and distemper vaccines
• Lyme disease vaccination — optional, but vital for dogs living in high tick infestation areas.
• Leptospirosis vaccination — optional, but ideal for hiking dogs to protect them from parasites in standing water.

Finally, make sure the hiking trail you choose is dog-friendly.

Groom your dog while hiking.

When you and your dog are ready to go hiking, there are a few important things to keep in mind to ensure your dog’s safety:

• Take breaks to rest, even if your dog doesn’t show it; it needs to rest and rehydrate.
• If the temperature is high, you should shorten the hike and make sure to take more breaks and carry more water.
• Also, consider using a cooling vest or bandana to keep your dog’s body temperature cooler.
• Learn about the symptoms of dehydration, heat exhaustion, hypothermia, and poisoning in dogs before you go.
• Take the time to learn about basic first aid for your dog; you don’t want to be caught off guard.

What you need to take your dog on a hike.

There are a few essentials you should pack when hiking with your dog:

• Bags for picking up dog poop (or tools for burying it).
• Dog-specific first aid kit, ideally with a first aid manual.
• Portable food and water bowls, collapsible bowls work great.
• Sturdy leash and harness
• Boots to protect paws on rough or hot terrain
• Identification tags with contact and medical information
• GPS collar for longer trips
• Jacket depending on weather conditions (waterproof jackets are best in cold weather)
• Lightweight collar for long night walks
• Water and food: dogs need an average of one ounce of water per pound of body weight, but more during hikes and hot days.

You are now ready for a hike with your dog.

Hiking with my four dogs is one of my favorite activities; it gets us out, in nature, where we can all enjoy the peace and quiet. I have been hiking with dogs for over 20 years and unfortunately have had my share of problems. However, being prepared has prevented these incidents from becoming too serious.

To ensure that you and your dog have the best time hiking together, take some time to research and prepare so that you can both enjoy your hike.