Backpacking Trip With Your Canine Friend: Important Things to Remember

Just like us, our canine friends love to soak in the sun, enjoy the wild scents and have fun outdoors. So, why not give them a gift of health and happiness with a weekend backpacking trip this year? Most dogs, irrespective of their size, make excellent backpacking companions but backpacking with dogs takes more thought and preparation than going alone. This guide to backpacking with dogs covers some important tips to ensure safe and fun backpacking trip with your canine companion.

PREPARING FOR THE TRIP

Once you’ve decided to embark on an adventurous journey with your furry sidekick, you should start preparing for the trip ahead of time. Keep in mind the following things:

Make sure your pet is fit

The first step to planning an outdoor trip with your dog is making sure your dog is physically fit. Get your pooch checked by a good vet to ensure your dog is fit enough to handle the trail conditions. Also, make sure his vaccinations are up-to-date.

Decide whether you want to go on a long trip or a shorter trip

Most of the dogs do well on short hikes but if you intend to take your dog on a longer trip, you have to train him before starting anything too strenuous.

Find a good quality dog pack

In addition to being properly prepared yourself, you have to pack stuff for your furry sidekick too. A dog pack can be very useful as your dog can carry most of his stuff himself in his tiny dog pack. Buy a well fitting dog pack otherwise it will make your dog uncomfortable. Initially, make him wear his pack for some time and then progress to wearing the pack on regular walks; this way your pooch will soon get used to wearing it.

Don’t forget the essentials

Buy a water container to keep your pooch hydrated and a collapsible doggy bowl to feed him/her during the hike. Pack lots of treats to keep his energy level up during the hike.

Identification tag and collar: Buy a good quality collar and identification tag for your dog and have your name, address, and phone number written on it.

DURING THE TRIP

When you are hiking with your four-legged friend, here are some important things to keep in mind to keep your dog happier, safer, and the environment cleaner.

Always keep your pooch under control

Keep your dog under your supervision and under control at all times. While it’s always enjoyable for pet parents to watch their furry kids running free, it’s not a good idea to let your dog off-leash. We tell you why –

• Off-leash dogs can chase wildlife and get lost in the woods.
• They can get attacked by wild animals.
• An off-leash dog can chew on things like wild mushrooms and plants which can be very dangerous – even deadly.
• Your dog may meet other loose dogs on his way and can get involved in a dog fight.
• Not all people are fond of dogs. So, if you want to avoid outspoken dog haters, always keep your dog with you on a leash.

If you decide to let your dog off-leash, make sure he is always in sight and within range of your commands.

Clean up after your dog

Always, clean up after your dog just as you would after yourself. Dogs’ excrement contains harmful bacteria that can harm and disrupt local wildlife, groundwater supplies and native habitat. So make sure to carry out your dog’s poop or bury it in a hole that it at least 6-8 inches deep.

Keep your dog safe

There may be some elements in the wild that can pose a danger to your dog. Here’s how you can ensure the safety of your dog:

• Never allow your pooch to chew on or eat any wild plants.
• Keep your dog calm and close when approaching cliffs.
• At the end of each day, check your dog’s whole body for ticks and other parasites. Also, check his paws to ensure they are in good condition.
• Never allow your dog to drink water along the trail. Just like us, our canine companions can catch waterborne diseases, so, always give him boiled or chemically purified water only.

Carry a dog first aid kit

Emergencies can happen all the time, so don’t forget to pack a first aid kit tailored to your dog’s needs. Basic components should include the following:

• Medications recommended by your trusted vet
• Canine Eyewash
• Tweezers to remove ticks
• Wet wipes for wiping off muddy paws
• Petroleum Jelly
• Superglue to patch torn pads
• Vet wrap
• Antibiotic ointment
• Gauze Roll
• EMT gel to seals wounds and promotes healing, vet wrap
• Antihistamine for allergic reactions
• Hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting if your dog ingests something toxic

Have Fun

Last but not the least, have lots and lots of fun with your favorite backpacking companion so that when you both turn old and gray, you will have lots of amazing memories to cherish and share with the world. Also, check out the best Alcohol stoves for backpacking by Globo Surf.

Also, read How to hitchhike – A short Hitchhiking guide to get you started