Hiking with your dog combines two of life’s greatest joys: basking in nature’s beauty and spending time with your pup. It can also benefit you and your dog’s physical and mental health. I’ve traveled with my pup, Puka, across the United States while I worked travel healthcare contracts. One of our favorite things to do is to go on hikes. We’ve hiked across the US from the California coast to the mountains in Hawai’i, the deserts in Arizona, and the rugged East Coast trails.
If you are thinking about hiking with your dog or are already a hiker and want to elevate your experiences, here are some of my top recommendations. These tips are all geared toward day hiking, meaning a hike that you and your dog can comfortably complete in a day without needing to camp.
The Basics of Hiking With Your Dog
- Speak with your veterinarian
- Get a strong leash
- Bring the necessary dog hiking gear
- Know the trail
- Understand the weather and sun exposure
- Be aware of the elevation
- Carry more water than you need
- Be cautious of any bacteria in the water
Talk to Your Vet About Hiking With Your Dog
“When can Puka go hiking?” was one of the first questions I asked Puka’s vet during his three-month visit. This was when he got his final parvovirus shots, and I was preparing to take him out into the world. I listened patiently as my vet explained the precautions I should take when exercising with Puka. Hiking has been a core part of my life, and I knew it would be something Puka and I would share when he was ready to go.
First and foremost, I recommend talking with your vet to review any precautions for hiking with your dog. If your dog is a puppy, your vet may want you to wait until your pup reaches a certain age and has reached a certain level of bone maturity to hike. On the other hand, your dog may come to a mature age where it’s no longer comfortable for them to hike, and your vet can alert you to that.
If you plan to take your dog out into the wild, your vet may also recommend extra vaccinations, such as Lyme and Leptospirosis. You should also discuss the best method of flea and tick control.
I also highly recommend getting your dog microchipped in case of emergency. In addition to the microchip, I have a collar on my pup with my phone number and an AirTag in a secure holder to locate him if we get separated.
Dog Hiking Leash
Hiking with your dogs means you’ll need to prepare with durable gear. I highly recommend a sturdy leash. A leash is one of the most important things to keep your dog safe on the trail. You don’t want a leash that can get tangled up, such as a retractable leash. Keep it short and durable.
After trying multiple kinds of leashes, my favorite hiking leash is the “Reddy Rope Leash.” I like this leash because it’s strong, and the handle is leather, which is comfortable to hold and allows you to keep a steady grip on your pup. It also has a D-ring clip which gives you a place to clip your poop bag holder, keys, etc.
Dog Hiking Gear
Here are some things I recommend for hiking with your dog.
- Collapsible Dog Bowl for hydration
- Dog Water Bottle also good for hydration
- Bear Bell to deter bears
- Emergency Dog Harness if you have a large dog that you need to carry off a trail
- AirTags with durable holder
- Blue-green algae test if you’re hiking to lakes or rivers
Know the Trail and Trail Safety
Whether hiking alone, in a group, or with your dog, you should continually educate yourself on where you’re walking and the safety hazards and come to the hike prepared!
First, you must know if the trail you want to hike is dog-friendly. The first place I go to learn more about a hike is AllTrails.
AllTrails has rating scales, maps, descriptions, pictures, and user reviews of the hikes. You can also filter hikes by whether or not they are dog-friendly. AllTrials has yet to be 100% accurate in finding out the dog-friendliness of a hike. More often than not, they will say it’s not dog-friendly on the app, but people in the comments will say it is dog-friendly, and if you google the specific hike, you may find more accurate information.
Next, you need to understand your and your dog’s physical abilities. Start short and flat and build from there. AllTrails rates trails by Easy, Moderate, or Hard. If you’re just starting, pick an easy hike. The first hike I did with my dog was Makiki Loop in Honolulu. This is a graded incline, a shorter trail with a canopy of shade to keep you cool and water features my pup could sit in. From there, he progressed to longer trails with more significant inclines.
Come prepared with the appropriate gear, water, and food. I recommend reading and bringing The Ten Essentials for your day hike, whether alone or with your dog.
Understand The Weather and Sun Exposure
Hiking with your pup in extreme weather can lead to injury, sickness, and death. Hiking in the rain can be especially dangerous with your pup. If the terrain is wet and muddy and you have your dog on a leash, there’s a greater chance of you falling and causing injury. I avoid nature hiking in the rain. If I am out on a hike and it begins to rain, I turn around and head back to the trailhead. I’ve been caught in too many close calls with mud and flash floods to risk it.
Heatstroke can be deadly to dogs and humans. You don’t want to risk either of your lives by hiking during extreme heat. Puka and I do most of our hiking right around sunrise to avoid the heavy sun exposure of the mid-day. This is also the best time of day to avoid crowds and get better parking spots. I also try, as much as possible, to pick trails with shade to keep us more relaxed. If you are just beginning to hike with your dog, I beg you not to start a hike in the middle of the day. Get up early, hit the trail, and return to your car when the sun is blazing.
Be Aware of Elevation
The higher you climb, the less oxygen in the air, the colder it gets, and the more extreme the environment becomes. If you or your dog is new to hiking, I recommend starting around the elevation level where you live. At most, add another 500 to 700 feet of elevation gain during your first hike. Slowly build your way up to climbing higher elevations and starting at higher levels. For example, if you plan to drive on a hike where you’re driving up several thousand feet of elevation, then make sure you adapt to the environment once you get to the trailhead and keep the physical exercise accessible.
Carry More Water Than You Need
Carry more water than you need.
Carry extra water.
Bring a water filtration system in case you run out of water.
I can scream this from the rooftops, but many of you won’t listen. Always bring water and/or a way to filter water when you hike. You never know what can happen; the last thing you want to happen is to be on a trail and run out of water. I carry the LifeStraw water filter because it’s lightweight and easy to use.
It’s recommended that people drink at least half a liter of water per hour while hiking moderate trails. The amount of water your dog needs will depend on its size. I pack an extra liter marked for my dog.
Be Aware of Bacteria In Water
Nothing seems more enjoyable than hiking with your pup and letting them dip in the stream or lake. Not to be a fearmonger, but it is worth mentioning that you need to be aware of the water and if there are any toxic bacteria before you let your dog cool off in the water.
Blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, grow naturally in lakes and rivers across the United States. Certain varieties of blue-green algae blooms can cause toxins to form in the water, which are deadly to humans and dogs. Sadly, I see too many news stories and social media posts of dogs dying within hours of being exposed to this bacteria in lakes.
Signs of blue-green algae include:
- Visible “blooms” which may appear green, red, gold, or turquoise
- Thick foam along the shore
- Green appearance of the water
If you are concerned that the water may be contaminated with blue-green algae, you can buy testing strips to test the water before letting your dog enter. Better safe than sorry. Here is an at-home, rapid blue-green algae test that can alert you if there are toxic bacteria in your water.
Final Thoughts on Hiking With Your Dog
Hiking with your dog is a great way to get out into nature, exercise, calm your mind, and bond with your dog over fun adventures. Make sure that you take it slow, be safe, and bring lots of water on your exciting new experience. Happy trails!