Hiking: equipment for going on a mop with your dog

Going on a hike with your dog is the guarantee of sharing an awesome adventure with your four-legged best friend, provided you are well equipped! And if I voluntarily put an -s- to “equipped” it is because both master and dog must be well equipped. I'm not talking here about a short walk behind your home, but a hike of several kilometers in the mountains for example. Whether in the Alps, in the Pyrenees, in the Massif Central, in the Jura, the Vosges... there are a thousand and one playgrounds to discover with your dog. Before you go on an adventure with your dog, let me walk you through the checklist of gear you'll need for you and your dog. And at the end of the article, I offer you some great hiking ideas to share with your dog. Ready? Let's check together if you have everything you need in your backpack to get started on the most beautiful GRs in France!

As I mentioned, hiking with your dog requires proper equipment; both you and your dog need it! Your dog has one advantage: it doesn't need hiking boots! It's naturally equipped, and you could say that in this respect, our dogs have a head start. Since the dawn of time, they've traveled on all fours, covering miles to roam and defend their territories, find food, hunt with their owners, herd livestock… While we, on the other hand, need proper hiking boots to fully enjoy the experience! They're the first essential item for any hike! If you don't have good hiking boots , you'll quickly suffer: blisters, ankle and knee pain, and chafing in your shoes…

How to choose your hiking shoes? Surely not according to their color! You should pay attention to:

• the upper of the shoe: is it a high or low shoe (which stops below the maleolus)?
• cushioning: this is the part at the heel, it absorbs shocks and relieves the joints,
• the stone guard: it is the front part of the shoe that protects against shocks against stones,
• fixing the laces: are there self-locking hooks?

When choosing your shoes, pay attention to their stiffness : the stiffer the shoe, the more stability you'll have, but the less comfort and lightness you'll experience. You should choose your shoes based on what you want to do 😉 Pay attention to the shoe size… I was given bad advice on one of my first pairs and I still remember the pain on the descents. My foot slipped slightly forward, my toes were burning, and after more than 1200 meters of descent in shoes that were too small, I cursed the salesperson in the store, believe me! Personally, I opted for Gore-Tex. I hike all year round and I hate having wet and freezing feet! This material makes hiking boots waterproof, breathable, and more durable.

I told you your dog didn't need shoes, but I'd like to add a little nuance… Some dogs do! For a bit of comfort on very abrasive surfaces, after an injury, or if your dog isn't used to long hikes, their paw pads can get damaged very quickly… I always recommend carrying dog socks or booties in your backpack! When you're 15km from your starting point and therefore your car, it's best to have a backup plan to give your dog some relief. I also recommend investing in an ultra-light carrier bag to slip into your backpack. If something happens, even if your back takes a real beating!, you'll be able to help your dog and carry them.

That being said, back to our hiking gear checklist:

• a good hiking backpack (not the youngest's school bag!),
• a backup battery for your mobile phone,
• a map !
• water and a filter to be able to fill up with water as soon as you come across a source,
• food to avoid strokes,
• something to protect yourself from the sun, rain or cold, because the weather changes extremely quickly in the mountains,
• Swiss army knife to be able to cut, tinker...
• survival blanket and first aid kit,
• headlamp if the hike is longer than expected,
• whistle if you ever have to report your presence...

And what about your dog? The same as you: water, food, a first-aid kit, supplies for treating or transporting him in case of an emergency, weather protection… and his leash or long line with his collar or harness. You must be able to put your dog back on the leash as soon as needed! Yes, hiking with your dog is definitely not something you can just wing ! In this other article in the Mag', you'll find plenty of tips for preparing your next outings with your furry friend.

Now that you're equipped, you need to choose your discipline: free hiking or cani-hiking? Here are two very different activities to do with your dog .

In cani-hiking, your dog is connected to you with pulling equipment. You wear a harness or a canicross-style harness, connected to your dog by an elastic leash, and your dog wears a pulling harness. It's crucial to understand that this is a pulling harness specifically designed for this type of activity. Under no circumstances should you attempt cani-hiking with your regular walking harness! Injury is guaranteed! As you can see, in cani-hiking, your dog will assist you. Remember, it's not an electric motor, but your teammate! You must, as they say, pace your dog to go the distance! Keep a close eye on your furry friend and slow down if it takes off too quickly, for example.

I opted for the free ride. Musher doesn't like to tow, she prefers to frolic freely and snort EVERYTHING she can. She has very good recall and obeys me when I say “stop” or “come back” and doesn't really have a hunting instinct. As soon as she considers that the critter is running faster than her (which is the case with all the animals you can meet in the mountains), she stops her race and comes back quiet-cushy...

For a dog without recall and with a strong predation instinct, the mountains are far too dangerous for him to escape you. Keep him on a leash or tether.

I equip Musher with a packsack, so we share the effort. She carries without water and her food for example. Thus, I lighten my backpack a little and I can take with me some comfort items for her: a duvet and a mat for comfortable breaks!

Can you hike with your dog anywhere? Well no! Certain natural areas are strictly forbidden to him. In others, he is allowed to walk there, but on condition that he is strictly kept on a leash. Check well before you go!

Here are 3 great hiking ideas to try with your dog:

• the road to Santiago de Compostela: an itinerant hike lasting several days or several weeks, depending on the section chosen, which crosses France and ends in Spain. In the Mag, you will find the adventure of Stéphanie and her 4 dogs who challenged herself to take a road trip to Santiago de Compostela! She recounts her journey in detail: her preparation, her travel anecdotes, her advice...

• the GR20: one of the hardest and most technical long-distance hiking trails in France! Laura, Thomas and their two huskies have embarked on this beautiful Corsican adventure and their feedback is super formative! They made a lot of mistakes in their preparation and didn't have only good surprises.

• the canirandos and canitrails routes of Claude and Naya; two mountain freaks who swallow the kilometers and the elevations and whose sole objective is to have fun! Quickly discover their favorite hiking trails. Naya had no luck with her first master, but since she met Claude, her life has become an adventure: quickly discover their beautiful adventures. They'll make you want to grab your backpack and get some fresh air!

Whatever course you choose, make sure it is suitable for you and your dog. Never forget that you form a team and that, as a responsible master, you must take care of your furry companion. Do you have enough water? Is he fit enough to do 5km, 10km, 15km or more? If he shows signs of fatigue, what do I do? Is it possible to take a break without being overtaken by the night and risking putting yourself in danger? Is my dog ​​able to carry his equipment on his back without hurting himself? Would I be able to take over if he needed help?

I hope this article has been useful to you and that it has given you lots of ideas for sharing beautiful hikes with your dog. Don't forget to share your photos with the #emmenetonchien W'ouf race!!