Anyone who shares their life with a dog has a completely different view of nature. The mutual trust and the unique connection are also evident when hiking with a dog. You can find out what you should pay attention to in the following blog post.
We'll show you important tips for unforgettable and relaxed hiking tours with dogs. This will sustainably strengthen your relationship in a unique way.
Can you go hiking with any dog?
No. Not every dog is suitable for hiking. Especially for older and chronically ill dogs the tour can be completed quickly torture become. If your four-legged friend suffers from osteoarthritis or another degenerative joint disease, hiking with a dog is not right for you!
If your four-legged friend prefers to relax comfortably on the couch and sees walks as a necessary evil, you won't have any fun on a hiking tour together either. Puppies and particularly anxious contemporaries should also go for normal walks.
The following applies to all other skins: You know your dog best. Is he happy to run and explore, stands your common ground Dog walking tours nothing in the way. However, you should definitely adapt these to the needs of your furry friend. dogs with special short legs need other dog walking tours than larger breeds.
At what age can I hike with my dog?
Your Dog should at least 1.5 years be old. For Puppies however, are long hikes much too stressful. In addition to a lack of fitness, the primary issue here is: Protection of bones and joints in focus. During the growth phase, these can suffer significant damage on a short (and especially long) hiking trip. It is not for nothing that the rule of thumb applies: 1 minute per week of life as a guideline for puppy walks.
However, from puberty onwards, hiking tours with dogs are possible at any time. You should adapt the length and intensity to the health of your furry friend.
How do I prepare my dog for hikes together?
First of all, your should Dog in good condition have. If he is only used to short walks, a long hike with your dog can become a challenge. In order for you both to have fun on the adventure together, you first have to ensure that you are in the right condition.
Expert tip: Long and extensive walks form the basis. Constantly expand this in terms of intensity and duration. You should also make sure that your four-legged friend has mastered the dog basics.
The Hiking with a dog contains one or the other Challenge. In order to master this, your dog must be available and be able to walk behind you on adventurous sections of the route. If he sees himself as a scout and always wants to be the vanguard, this can quickly become a problem for both of you.
Even enthusiastic hunters and self-proclaimed cattle drivers are not a real asset on dog hiking tours. It is all the more important that yours Dog hears perfectly even in dangerous situations and has excellent sure-footedness. You can practice this by walking off the beaten path with your dog during your preparation.
- fallen tree trunks,
- Gratings etc. invite you to practice in a playful way.
The right equipment for hiking with a dog
Just like us humans, ours also need Suitable equipment for dogs for the Hike. Accordingly, you should do yours Outdoor backpack choose the appropriate size. You need the following equipment for hiking with a dog:
Water and drinking bowl:To ensure that your dog can meet his fluid needs while on the go, a drinking bowl is a must. Foldable bowls have proven particularly useful here. They can be folded up to save space and are particularly light.
GPS tracker: They give every dog owner a good feeling. Especially if you want to explore hiking trails with dogs, you can be on the safe side with a tracking system. The tracker can be easily attached to the collar or harness.
You can see where your dog is at any time using a corresponding app. However, this only works if the tracker is switched on. So always make sure your battery is charged.
Tow line: A tow line and adjustable leash are also part of the basic equipment. The towing leash allows your dog a large range of motion. The leash is particularly suitable for narrow and steep passages.
Dog harness: In order to be able to explore all hiking trails with dogs without any worries, your dog should wear a well-fitting dog harness. The towing line can be safely attached to this without injuring the sensitive cervical spine. An attached grab handle has also proven useful. You can easily hold your dog to it if necessary.
First aid kit: This set for people and animals is part of the most important basic equipment when hiking with a dog. In addition to bandages, ointments and medication for wasp stings, it should also contain suitable dog shoes. This means your dog can finish the tour pain-free if a paw injury occurs.
Treats: Of course, they shouldn't be missing on a hiking trip with a dog. As we all know, the way to the heart is through the stomach and your furry friend deserves a reward every now and then for his great performance.
Emergency carrying system: When hiking with dogs, despite all caution, accidents or health problems can occur in which the dog can no longer walk independently. An emergency carrying system can be the solution. This system, often referred to as a dog carrier, usually consists of some type of sling or harness that is placed around the dog and allows the owner to carry the dog without injuring themselves or causing the dog further pain .
Do you actually know the basic equipment for bipeds? We present these to you in our article „Ultralight outdoor equipment: packing list for a multi-day hike" before. Even if you decide to go on a day trip with your four-legged friend, you will find valuable tips and advice here.
Tips for hiking with a dog
So that Hiking with a dog in Germany and Co. for Highlight for the both of you becomes, you should do some in advance Pay attention to things. We have put together the following tips for you:
Choosing a suitable route
Be sure to adapt the route to your fitness level. When it comes to dog hiking tours, the focus should always be on the fun factor. Therefore, be sure to choose a route that you can both master without any problems. Pay attention to both the length and the specified altitude.
Plan enough breaks
Hiking with your dog should always be quality time together. These also include
- comfortable breaks with enough time for regeneration,
- delicious snacks,
- Water
- and cuddles.
The right weather for hiking with a dog
At Dog walking tours plays that Weather one overarching role. Avoid absolutely Hot days. Even if you focus mainly on shady hiking trails high temperatures are extremely stressful for your furry friend.
There dogs In contrast to us humans, only about that Paw pads sweat Overheating and circulatory collapse can easily occur in summer.
That's why you should take precaution cool and moderate temperatures prefer. At the Mountain hiking with a dog You should also give preference to dry weather. At Rain Stony passages can quickly become slippery and therefore a danger to you and your four-legged friend become.
The food supply while hiking
Also the Feed supply plays while hiking with a dog a major role. If your dog Dry or wet food If you are used to it, pack it in sufficient quantities. When hiking in the mountains, think with yours Dog that he has one increased energy requirements has. To cover this, you can Crowd briefly on the hike increase.
Are you cooking however, for yours Fur nose or barfing, this can become a problem when walking with dogs. But don't worry! For these skins there is something called Dry barf, the you “activate” with a little water can. This means your dog doesn't have to miss out on his usual meals when he's out and about.
In this case, you should not switch to dry or wet food. Because your dog can react with diarrhea and vomiting and this can be a danger when hiking.
Alpine tip: You can transport water for your furry friend with our stainless steel drinking bottles. Ours are ideal for cooked food or dry and wet food
Attention cows
On Hiking tours with dogs that can too one or another danger lurks. One of them are free-roaming cows. If you have to cross a mountain pasture while hiking in the mountains with your dog, take yours Dog to be on the safe side on the leash. Cows can mutate into mother lions if they sense danger to their calves.
Therefore, you should avoid walking close to the cows. Because young bulls can also be a danger to you and your dog. They often underestimate their strength and run towards you innocently out of sheer joy and curiosity.
Conclusion
If you consider a few things in advance, hiking with your dog can become a milestone for your relationship. Exploring nature together is an important aspect of canine behavior and bonds you together forever. Ideally, your dog gets to know you as a reliable and caring partner who can be relied on in all situations.
FAQ
Can you go hiking with any dog?
No. Not every dog is suitable for hiking. The tour can quickly become torture, especially for older and chronically ill dogs. If your four-legged friend suffers from osteoarthritis or another degenerative joint disease, hiking with a dog is not right for you. Even dogs who prefer to relax comfortably on the couch and see dog walks as a necessary evil will not have any fun on a hiking tour together.
Puppies and particularly anxious dogs should go for normal walks. The following applies to all other dogs: You know your dog best. If he enjoys running and exploring, nothing stands in the way of a dog hiking tour together. However, you should definitely adapt these to the needs of your furry friend. Dogs with particularly short legs require different dog walking tours than larger breeds.
At what age can I hike with my dog?
Your dog should be at least 1.5 years old to go hiking with him. Long hikes, on the other hand, are far too strenuous for puppies. In addition to a lack of fitness, the primary focus here is on protecting bones and joints. During the growth phase, these can suffer significant damage on a short (and especially long) hiking trip.
It is not for nothing that the rule of thumb applies: 1 minute per week of life as a guideline for puppy walks. However, from puberty onwards, hiking tours with dogs are possible at any time. You should adapt the length and intensity to the health of your furry friend.