Go hiking with your dog
There is nothing better than taking a walk in the lap of nature. Getting away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and enjoying life in its natural state, we should all opt for hiking from time to time. Of course, regular walks also help us keep fit. The best companion for a walk is your pet dog.
Dogs may have been tamed by man, but they are still better than us when it comes to the harsh life of the jungle. You will have a loyal ally by your side if you take your dog with you. There are many cases in which dogs save the lives of their owners after mishaps during a walk.
There are a few things to keep in mind when taking your pet dog on hiking trips. The most important factors are listed below:
o Make sure your pet dog is healthy enough to accompany you on the hiking trip. Take your pet dog to your vet and have it checked out. Never take a sick dog on such a trip. You will face numerous problems if your dog falls seriously ill.
o Make sure your dog is acclimated to the walk. We take many precautions to protect our feet and other parts of the body from overexertion during the walk. You can’t get shoes for your pet dog. The next best thing is to make sure the dog is used to the stress.
o The best way to condition your dog is to take him for long walks every day. Start with a short distance and keep increasing the distance until you are sure the pet is ready for the walk.
o You can also use activities like jogging, fetching a tennis ball, and swimming to get your dog into good shape.
o After conditioning your pet’s heart, take care to toughen up his toes. Your dog’s paw pads need to be able to withstand the stress. A dog with a bleeding paw pad can become a very heavy load on the walk.
o Prepare your dog’s ID tag and license and make sure the rabies vaccination is up to date. Ask your vet to insert a microchip to make sure your pet dog can be found very easily.
o Never forget the fact that trail restrictions are for your safety. Ignore them at your own risk. If the trail requires the dog to be leashed, obey the rule. Also, be sure to clean up the mess made by your dog along the way.
Keep track of your dog after arriving at your hiking site
Please respect the “No Dogs Allowed” sign. Don’t insist on bringing your dog inside. The smartest way out is to simply find a dog park. These parks allow dogs under voice control to be off leash.
Do not take your dog to such a park unless he has been well trained to obey your commands. If you have a puppy, use a ten foot long leash to train it to come back to you when called. If the pup refuses to comply, use the leash to keep him in check.
