Tips For Backpacking With a Dog
While it can be peaceful to hike alone, it’s always great to set out on an adventure with a pal. What better friend to bring along on a hiking trip than your furry sidekick? Going backpacking with your dog can be a lot of fun, for both you and your pooch. However, it does come with it’s challenges. Below are some tips for backpacking with a dog that will help make your experience go a bit more smoothly.
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1. Not All Dogs Are A Fit
Before you dive too deeply into our tips for backpacking with a dog, make sure you consider whether your dog is suitable for backpacking. Some dogs simply won’t be a good companion to bring on the trail. We still love them anyway!
Certain dog breeds are not fit for long distance hiking. Small breeds such as dachshunds or pugs have to put in a lot of work to keep up with you and may tire quickly. They are also a more appealing target for predatory animals and birds. Larger, active breeds such as shepherds, labs, huskies, and dalmations have the endurance and personalities to enjoy long hikes.
The age of your pup is also something to consider. If your dog is still a puppy, you may want to leave him behind for now. The stress of the trek can be too much on a developing body and a puppy’s obedience isn’t as dependable.
On the other side, old dogs should probably be left at home as well. At an advanced age, the hike may be too much on their joints and their waning energy levels.
2. Choose The Right Trails
When you’re hiking with a dog, you have to be a bit pickier with the trails you go on. For starters, you’ll need to check all rules and regulations for the forest ahead of time. Make sure the trail allows dogs and be aware of any restrictions they have around dogs in the park. There may be rules around keeping your dog on a leash or keeping them out of certain areas.
Another thing to consider is the type of wildlife you may encounter on the trail. Are there rattlesnakes, bears, or mountain lions in the area? You should know what to do if you come across any of these animals and how to handle your dog in that situation. Learn more about bear and mountain lion encounters in our other articles!
There are other dangers to be aware of as well, such as cliffs, heights, and narrow passages. You may feel comfortable pushing the limits and exploring risky grounds, but your pup might not be. Stay away from any areas that may be too dangerous or frightening for your dog to explore.
Finally, make sure there is plenty of water and shade along the trail. Dogs can get very hot while hiking all day. A nice dip in a lake or a break in the shade can do wonders for their energy levels. Avoid any trails that are completely bare of shade.
3. Start Off Easy
An important tip for backpacking with a dog is to start them off easy. An animal may seem like the have the energy and stamina to take on an 8 mile trek, but they need to build themselves up to it.
You wouldn’t run a marathon without doing a few training runs first, would you?
Dogs are the same. They need to build up their endurance, especially if they typically live a more sedentary life.
Start out with some day hikes of varying lengths. Observe their behavior and energy levels so you can assess whether they are cut out for a long trek. If your dog behaves well on the trails, is obedient, and seems to enjoy the long hikes, keep extending the mileage. Eventually, you’ll be confident in his/her ability to keep up and stay out of trouble on a multi-day trip.
4. Make Sure They Are Well- Trained
Hiking with a disobedient dog can be frustrating and dangerous. If your dog tends to go against commands, you may want to leave him at home.
Taking a poorly trained or mischievous dog out in the backcountry can lead to any number of bad experiences. They may get lost or have a run in with a dangerous animal, for instance.
This is especially true if you plan to let them roam off-leash. Always keep a leash handy and make sure they stay close. You’ll want to be able to grab them if you encounter an animal or another hiker. For us dog lovers it may be hard to believe, but some hikers don’t want your dog to approach them. Encourage your dog to leave strangers alone unless they welcome the encounter.
5. Pay Attention to Their Behavior
The one bad thing about dogs – they can’t talk to you. They can’t ask you for a break, tell you they are hungry, or request a sip of your water.
Not with words, at least.
They do their best to tell you these things with their behavior. Watch how they carry themselves to get a sense of their energy levels and to see if they are having difficulty keeping up. If they begin drooling excessively, breathing too heavily, or slowing their pace down significantly, you may be pushing them too hard.
Give your pup plenty of breaks and words of encouragement if you notice their energy start to dip. Slow down your stride and consider shortening the hike, if that is an option. If you have many more miles to cover, take an extended break with plenty of water, food, and belly scratches to build up that energy again.
6. Have a Practice Run With Your Gear
A dog may be confused or even frightened by some of the gear you’ll be using on a backpacking trip. An often overlooked tip for backpacking with a dog is to introduce them to some of this gear at home.
This is especially important for items like a tent, sleeping mat, or dog pack that they will be using directly.
Set up your tent in your backyard and invite your dog inside of it. They may be afraid or overwhelmed at first, which is totally natural. Allowing them to gradually become more comfortable with spending time in the tent at home will make getting into the tent in an unfamiliar place a lot less frightening.
You should also make sure items such as their leash or water bowl are working appropriately before each trip. Much like you should be doing with all your other gear on your packing list.
7. Let Them Carry Their Load
Bringing along a dog on a backpacking trip will expand your packing list, which means more weight on your back. However, you can reduce how much you need to carry for the dog by allowing her to carry some of the gear.
There are plenty of comfortable dog backpacks like the ones below. With these, your pet can carry their food, water, treats, and poo bags so you don’t have to.
- Integrated harness with rear mounted leash ring
- Reflected trim for visibility
- 8 adjustment points
- Durable cotton canvas material
- 4 adjustable straps for optimal fit
- Padded mesh undersides for comfort
Just make sure not to overdo it. Most dogs should carry bags that are only 10% of their body weight or less. Some dogs may be able to carry more over time, up to 25%, but always start out easy on them.
If you plan on giving your dog a backpack, make sure to take them on test walks with the bag first. Some dogs do not tolerate a backpack well and it’s better to find that out before you hit the trail.
8. Keep Them Well Fed and Watered
If you backpack often, you should know that you need to consume a bit more food to fuel your trek. The same goes for your dog!
Feed your dog a bit more food than usual and make sure the treats and food you give them is healthy and rich in nutrients. Figuring out exactly how much more to give your dog on a backpacking trip can be tricky. Talk to your vet to determine the specific needs for your dog.
- Freeze dried to preserve 61.6% more nutrients
- High in omega 3s
- One ingredient only
Full Moon Organic Chicken Jerky Dog Treats
- 100% human grade
- Natural sugars to keep treats soft
- USDA inspected meat
Be sure to keep their food safe from thieves, too. Store their food just as you store your food, in a tree, bear canister, or using a pulley system. The scent of their food is just as tempting to racoons, mice, and other animals as it is to your pup.
Water is also incredibly important. Every time you stop to take a drink, pour some water out into a bowl for your dog to have. Keep an eye on the wetness of their nose. Dry noses are a sign of dehydration and should be addressed ASAP.
It’s a good idea to filter their water just as you filter yours. The pathogens and bacteria in some natural water sources are just as harmful to them as they are to you. Watch their stool for abnormalities if they drink from a potentially dirty source.
9. Check Them For Ticks
If you leave with only one of these tips for backpacking with a dog, it should be this one. Check your dog for ticks thoroughly and often.
Ticks can carry a ton of harmful diseases. Unfortunately, a dog can be quite the tick magnet. Finding the ticks in their fur can be really difficult, especially if they have dark hair. That’s why careful and frequent inspection is essential for keeping your dog healthy.
You’ll want to find the tick before it attaches, so check all the hot spots they like to hide in. Around the ears, under the legs, between the toes, and around the collar are all areas where ticks like to nuzzle into. If you spot a tick after it attaches, use a pair of tweezers to remove them properly.
10. Know First Aid
Before you head out on the trail, brush up on some basic first aid for dogs. We all hope that we won’t need to put our first aid knowledge to the test, accidents do happen. Treating a wound on an animal is different than treating a wound on a human.
You can find online, basic first aid for pets classes on the Red Cross’s website here.
Make sure you modify your first aid kit to include any items that may be needed to treat your pup. Any medications your dog may be on should be included in that kit as well.
11. Be Aware of Potential Dangers
The forest can be a dangerous place. Before taking your dog backpacking, figure out how you are going to handle potential obstacles or risks.
Wild animals are an obvious threat to your pet’s safety. Be sure to have a plan in place if you come across any predators.
However, keep in mind that harmful creatures aren’t always big and hairy. Plants can be a sneaky threat that can do a lot of damage to your dog’s health. Keep your dog from eating vegetation or sniffing around in any unfamiliar greenery.
Cliffs, steep hills, and bridges are another potential hazard. Cats may always land on their feet, but dogs aren’t so lucky. If you can’t avoid these areas, bring along a harness with a handle like one of these. These allow you to keep a tight grip on them in sketchy situations.
12. Bring Extra Sleep Gear
You and your dog will both be tired at the end of the day, make sure you have a good sleep set up to help you both recover.
An important thing to consider is your tent size. If you plan on bringing your dog backpacking, you should have a tent sized to fit an extra person. While this isn’t the most weight – efficient, it will give you and your pup the space you need to sleep comfortably.
An extra sleeping pad or blanket is also necessary. A small, closed cell pad will keep them warm and comfortable throughout the night. They even make dog sleeping bags that are a perfect fit for chilly weather treks. They may be furry, but they can get chilly, too!
Photo by Patrick Hendry on Unsplash
