Hiking Vacations With Dogs

Hiking Vacations With Dogs

Hiking Vacations With Dogs – Since Colorado is a place to enjoy the great outdoors, my husband and I also like to bring our dogs with us. It’s a great way to get our pups out of the house to exercise and socialize with other people and dogs.

First, let me introduce you to our fur babies. We have two puppies named Juno and Bailey. I know, I know, they are so cute! Juno is 8 and Bailey is about a year and a half.

Hiking Vacations With Dogs

Hiking Vacations With Dogs

If you’re planning your own hike, here are some tips we’ve learned from our adventures with Juno and Bailey to help you have fun and keep your pup safe. Although we live in Colorado, these tips will work wherever you decide to walk your dog.

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Let’s start with the basics. Will the dog you plan to bring actually go for a walk with you? If you’re not sure, it’s best to start with a short walk and work your way up to longer walks. If your dog is aggressive, won’t be able to walk over rough terrain like an older puppy, or is a small breed that expects to be by your side, it’s best to leave Max alone and leave him at home. . Take a walk around the neighborhood. Also, depending on where you plan to hike or what time of year it is, the trails may be too hot for your feet or the snow may be too cold. In general, heat is less of a problem if you’re walking on dirt roads than on pavements. You can always do a manual background test to be sure. As it sounds, place the back of your hand on the floor. If it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for their feet. 

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But it’s good for puppies to socialize while they’re young, and meeting other people along the way is a great way to do that. You still have to be careful. If your puppy isn’t fully housetrained, make sure you don’t let other dogs get too close. He will probably be afraid of other dogs at first too, so it will be a slow process. In addition, puppies will not be able to walk the entire route on their own, especially if the environment is rocky or uneven. So expect to carry the little guy. When Bailey was a puppy, I bought him a dog carrier for his first walks until he was old enough to walk the entire trail on his own.

Here is the phone company contact we got for Bailey. I chose the big one so I could grow Bailey. He was about 2 1/2 months old in this picture and weighed almost 10 pounds.

The next big thing is knowing the rules where you ride. Are dogs allowed too? Does your dog need to be on a leash? If dogs are allowed to run off leash, do you need a permit for them? If there is a stream or pond, are your dogs allowed to dip in the water? Know the rules and follow them, or you could be fined or penalized. 

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A common rule in almost all gardens is to clean your pet according to the rule. First of all, it’s just common courtesy. No one wants to accidentally come in because your dog knows you’re lazy or unprepared to handle it. They can spread the disease to other dogs and even children if they go to the trouble of leaving the jewelry behind. Too bad, isn’t it? Be sure to bring a poop bag to clean up. Many parks have wash stations, but it’s always best to be prepared. Like I should have cleaned it with a leaf earlier… Not fun! Do not recommend! There are bins at the start of most routes, but there aren’t usually many along the way, so you may need to carry some. But it’s not that bad. Believe me, I’m always there! We usually tie the bag to the backpack until we find a trash can. Plus, if you have a dog, picking up poop on the road isn’t the hardest thing you’ll ever experience. So be nice and pick up the poop!

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Here is the bag dispenser we got for Juno from PetSmart. It is attached to the corresponding collar.

One of the best purchases we’ve made since we started walking with our pups is a harness. I had no idea until I bought these, but they really do make a huge difference. We use these not only for walking but also for easy walks around the neighborhood. Game changer! First, a harness is easier to control than a leash, especially if your dog is a puller like my puppies. They don’t choke as much and are easier to hold if needed. Another reason we leash our dogs is to be able to take them to difficult places to walk. That’s why I made sure the harness we bought had a handle. For example, if a part of the path is too high to jump over a rock, we can use the harness to easily climb up and down without injury.

Hiking Vacations With Dogs

We actually have different types of harnesses for Juno and Bailey. Bailey’s seat belt is Kong brand and is a bit stronger because he’s younger and tougher than anyone else. The Juno is a little simpler than what I found on Amazon, but it’s good quality and gets the job done. And of course, Bailey’s is her usual purple, while Juno’s is her usual pink.

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Here is the link to Juno’s harness. Juno weighs about 35 pounds and looks big. I never see Juno as a big dog, more like a medium sized dog. However, when measured it seems to fall into that category. Be sure to read the size charts to help you decide which size is best for your pup. Fortunately, this harness comes in many different colors and sizes.

Here is Bailey’s harness. It weighs about 45 pounds. The harness is PetSmart’s Kong brand, cute and sturdy. It comes in 4 different colors and sizes. I originally bought Large and X-Large because they were among the sizes. The XL was too big for her so we kept the Large. Then be sure to check the size chart again. Even if it was big, it would have been too big for Juno, who is about 10 pounds bigger than Bailey. Another great feature of this harness is that it has multiple zippered pockets and waste bag support.

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PetSmart has also launched Arcadia Trail, a line of outdoor dog gear that looks great for hiking. This bundle includes harnesses, life jackets, boats, even tents and much more for your pups. I haven’t had a chance to check out the line in person yet, but it looks like there’s some great gear for your next adventure with your pup.

It goes without saying, but next time, be sure to bring water for your dog. And bring the right amount of money for the planned trip. We like to pack a water bottle or two and bring a collapsible container that fits easily in the backpack. When there are other thirsty dogs whose owners have accidentally forgotten their water, we want to share it with them too.

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This brings me to my next point. Make sure your puppy is up to date on vaccinations and get the Bordetella vaccine! Although Bordetella is primarily used to prevent kennel cough, during kennel boarding, dogs in social situations can also contract this disease. That means dog parks and walks and anywhere your pup can interact with other dogs. Better to be better than sorry. And it’s usually around $20 per serving. If you have any questions, be sure to talk to your vet about vaccination, as they are the experts.

And here’s my two cents about off-leash dogs. In addition to making sure this is allowed and that you have the correct permission to do so, be smart. I know some states require your dog to pass a voice test where they only hear your voice. Honestly, going off the leash doesn’t seem like a bad rule to follow. Do you know your dog will come when you call, or do you think he will? If you’re trying to train your dog to stay off leash, that’s fine. But remember to stay close. I can’t tell you how frustrating it is to have a dog on kennels and not have an owner. For us personally, Bailey is always connected.

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