Do you like hiking and would you like to share this activity with your dog? You are in the right place ! Where to hike with your dog? What to plan for hiking with your dog? I give you all my advice for hiking with your dog!

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Hiking with your dog is a great activity to share with your dog. Here is an outdoor activity suitable for everyone and free! I am a big hiking fan. It's the best way to discover a territory I think. Along the sea, from peaks to valleys in the mountains, through the sunken lanes of the countryside… hiking allows you to discover magical landscapes. we take our time, we are in nature, we are free! By the day or on the road, going on a hike with your dog requires preparation. Itinerary, equipment, advice... let's take stock together before setting off with your dog!

 

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Hiking with your dog: a good idea?

First of all, before you start, you will have to choose a hiking route. When you choose your hiking route, remember to choose it according to your own abilities. 700m of elevation gain over 10km: if you suffer from hip pain, the idea is very bad… Is your dog more sporty or more of a homebody? Is he in great shape or does he have any health issues? So also take into account the physical abilities of your dog when selecting your playground. 

If your dog is not athletic, give up the idea of ​​a hike with him. He would suffer too much. Once gone, you will have to assume and insure because if your dog is too exhausted to finish the hike: you will have to carry him. Take that into account!

Depending on his weight, size, age, breed and character: hiking will be more or less an activity for him… Not all dogs are fans of hiking. Just like with us humans. So if he doesn't like this type of effort, don't force him. Note that small dogs will have more difficulty climbing obstacles and those with small muzzles will quickly have breathing difficulties, for example. But I have already met French bulldogs in the middle of the mountains and who were having a blast, so no generalities on the subject. It depends on each dog. In any case, hiking with your dog is a beautiful activity to do with your dog. 

Where to hike with your dog?

Is your dog suitable for hiking? It remains to find the ideal place. Dogs are prohibited (even on a leash) in national parks, some regional parks and some nature reserves – so as not to disturb wildlife. Some refuges and stopover lodges also refuse animals. It is therefore necessary to inform yourself well before leaving. Violating this prohibition exposes you to a heavy fine.

For more information on the different massifs that allow dogs, read the article Where to hike with your dog. Alps, Pyrenees, Massif Central, Jura… you will find plenty of information to validate your choice of itinerary.

Once the area has been identified, make sure that the hiking circuit does not include any obstacles such as rope bridges, areas to climb, passages on the edge of cliffs, etc. You have to adapt to your hiking companion. You can't get it over these obstacles if it doesn't fit in your backpack or if you don't have a special harness to carry it.

Musher has a panic fear of heights. If she has to jump between two rocks with more than a meter of vacuum, I really have to reassure her before she decides to jump. I have already had to turn back having nothing to carry it safely or make a detour of a few kilometers to avoid an area that is too dangerous.

Musher is a water dog. She loves hikes but I always try to choose the course according to the water criterion. With each swim, she recharges her batteries. It is surprising ! A few swims and here she is again in front of me more motivated than ever. Each of our hikes crosses or runs along a river!

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Hike with suitable equipment

Three possibilities for hiking with your dog:

  • he evolves in total freedom at your side which supposes that the recall is an acquired order which he obeys very well.
  • you practice cani-rando: the dog helps you by being connected to you with traction equipment.
  • you are going for several hours/days and you need your dog to carry his own equipment.

To go hiking with your dog safely, you need a few essentials:

  • water to avoid any dehydration (this is often what weighs very heavy)
  • her necklace with a medal allowing it to be identified
  • sa leave alone to be able to reattach it in case of danger or to cross certain protected areas or if you come across a herd
  • a first aid kit for leg cuts, stings, sores of all kinds with of course the list of veterinarians on the course or nearby
  • his passport
  • a silicone bowl for refueling breaks
  • some special dog energy candies in case of cravings. Dogs also suffer from it, and yes! The greedy musher that she is never forgets the snack breaks! She eats dried salmon, it stinks but it's high in calories!
  • dog boots in case of leg injuries. If a pad is damaged, your dog will limp and the hike will very quickly turn into an ordeal.
  • a carpet? I always have with me a microfiber towel which serves as a carpet. It takes up little space in the backpack but it allows when you stop to define a space for her like her carpet at home. She appreciates it very much. Without this “carpet”, she does not rest and never rests…
  • consist of pack bag for dog in which my dog ​​carries his things

Now it's up to you to choose if you put all this on your back or if your dog can carry a little on his own back... Know that your dog cannot carry more than 10% of his weight. WARNING: it is also impossible to put 10% of its weight on its back without a phase of habituation or training if you prefer. Before departure, you will have to test the bag on several rides with more and more weight and longer and longer rides. Be careful, this is only possible with a dog in perfect health, without back, joint or osteoarthritis problems. Think your dog is like you, if you have back pain and you are made to carry 10% of your weight for several hours, what will be the result?

If you have the slightest doubt about his abilities: go to the veterinarian for a check-up!

comparative dog pack bag

Ruffwear Approach Pack

Features
 

The choice of dog backpack is paramount. It must fit your dog's anatomy perfectly so as not to injure him during exercise. Its weight is one of the first criteria of choice as well as its equipment. Soon, I will offer you a comparative article of several packsaddle harnesses.

A little tip: remember to pack what you put in the bat bag, in case of rain or if your dog jumps into the water before you have had time to remove his harness: this will avoid making the porridge of croquettes for example…

If you want to test the bivouac, I recommend reading the article dedicated to this practice: Camping with your dog. I do it from time to time with Musher, so I shared my experience and my advice with you.

Dog on Skype Emoticons 1.2 Tips from Musher and Sophie: – “You don't know which bag to choose? Discover our Top 5 best pack bags for dogs ! "

The cani-rando

Your dog can help you during the hike! Please note that he will not be able to carry a bag AND help you. You will have to choose! Some dogs are more comfortable exercising than others. Musher is willing enough to give me a hand. I admit that she prefers to be free, nose on the ground and sniff the good smells as she pleases. But in less dangerous or protected places, I hang it on me. I wear a special harness connected to an elastic lanyard attached to the pulling harness of Musher. Here again the choice of material is crucial. I will tell you more about it in a future article. The equipment for this practice is the same as for the practice of canicross. 

Dog on Skype Emoticons 1.2 Tips from Musher and Sophie: – “Comfort and safety are the essential points of a good harness for your dog! Find my selection of the best pulling harnesses just here ! "

The dangers of hiking

To hike safely, there are several points on which you must be vigilant. Nothing too bad, just common sense points that I prefer to repeat here out of conscience.

  • You are responsible for your dog and what he does. Do not let him wander and meet all the hikers you come across or other animals. Some mountain cows only moderately appreciate your dog coming to sniff their little calves up close. A gore would be disastrous….
  • Your dog must absolutely obey the recall if you want to let him loose. Some dogs have a hunting instinct, others are rather runaways. Adapt to your dog and don't hesitate to reattach it when you approach a marmot camp, for example, or a place where a few sheep are grazing...
  • You absolutely must refresh it and offer it a bowl of water very regularly. You can also water it for avoid heatstroke. Musher wears a refreshing vest that I wet very regularly. Be careful in the mountains, the sun is strong, light-skinned dogs can get sunburned. Protect them! Better to leave early and not walk in the middle of a dodger!
  • Take breaks to play with him or just to rest. If you feel the need, so does he. There is no point in running, you have to…. you know the rest 🙂 Musher particularly loves swimming and nap breaks against me!
  • Check the condition of his paws regularly! As for you in your shoes, it can heat up for his paws! If you fear blisters, he also fears leg injuries. This is where the boots will be very useful in the event of a problem in slightly hilly areas. If your dog can no longer put his paw down because you have nothing to relieve him, it's back home sooner than expected and the holidays are over! A wound under the legs requires a few days of mandatory rest for rapid healing...
  • Does your dog fit in your backpack? in case of problems, have you thought of a plan B to transport your dog?
  • The mountain can be dangerous. If your dog runs in all directions, without paying attention to where he puts his paws and his nose, he may fall into a ravine, come across a nasty viper who will not hesitate to show him who is the boss or a patou who risks to become very naughty if your dog is going to play in the middle of his herd. If he is crazy you will have to be vigilant for him!
  • You may come across snowfields, those heaps of snow still present in some places even in summer… Musher loves sliding in the snow. Be careful that your dog does not ingest this snow. He would be sick for sure! We had watched Musher well despite everything she was sick for 48 hours after her snow tasting! Beware.

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