The Ultimate Guide to Hiking with Your Dog by Arden Blumenthal
Choose the right trail. Planning is an essential part of hiking, and it’s even more important when you’re bringing your dog. If your dog is new to hiking or hasn’t hiked in a while, the key is to start slow. Choose an easier hike with limited mileage and fairly even terrain. Slowly build duration and hike difficulty from there. Remember that trail difficulty can also depend on the weather. Dogs overheat and get too cold more quickly and easily than humans. So if you’ll be exposed to direct sun, rain or high winds, pay attention to what the temperature feels like. When you think you’ve found a good match of mileage and elevation for your dog’s fitness level, take a look at the other features of the trail. Are there scrambles? Ladders? Tight squeezes? Are you confident your dog can handle them? If it can’t, are you willing to turn back? Some hikes may be more challenging for your dog because of the amount of traffic. If your dog isn’t comfortable around other dogs or almost pulls your arm off trying to greet them, choose a moderately or low-trafficked trail. Does your dog have a bike phobia? Pay attention to other potential users of the trail so you can make the hiking experience enjoyable for you and your dog. Need help finding the right trail? Check out Best Hikes with Dogs: New Jersey. 28
Hudson County
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Safety first. You probably know what to do if you or someone you know twists their ankle on a hike, but do you know what to do if your dog cuts its paw pad? Bringing a dog on a hike means you’re responsible for its safety, so make sure your first aid kit includes supplies for your dog as well. And if you’re headed to the backcountry, consider bringing an emergency harness in case you need to carry your dog out. The best way to avoid an emergency, however, is to be prepared for the hazards you could encounter on your hike, including snakes, steep cliffs, bears or extreme temperatures. Also, check for ticks regularly. Some tick-borne diseases can be transferred to your pet within 10 hours, and therefore may not be preventable with prescribed tick preventatives.
Photo Credits: Arden Blumenthal
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hinking about hitting the trail with your pup this spring? Read these tips before you go.
