Happy Tails on the Trail - hiking with dogs

Animals, May, 1999 by Paula Abend

Get the most out of hiking with your dog.

"Ah, the fresh new scents of wilderness. The excitement of spotting a jackrabbit or deer. And a chance to share all this with my favorite human!" If dogs could talk, perhaps comments like these would escape their lips. But dogs, of course, simply react like the animals they are. With eager gait and tail held high, their body language reveals pure enjoyment. At this moment, an owner knows he or she has made the right decision: to go out hiking and do it with a dog.

Kent Dannen, who often takes to the trail with wife Donna and one or more of their six Samoyeds, waxes over the experience. "It's a mutually beneficial relationship," he says, "that can greatly enhance a wilderness experience."

A photographer, writer, and an activist for keeping trails dog-accessible, Dannen turns to the eloquence of his heroes--naturalists such as John Muir and Aldo Leopold--to help him make his point.

Of his stranding on, and subsequent escape from, an Alaskan glacier with his dog, Stickeen, Muir wrote, "At first the least promising and least known of my dog-friends, he suddenly became the best known of them all. Our storm-battle for life brought him to light, and through him as through a window I have ever since been looking with deeper sympathy into all my fellow mortals."

When Dannen met Leopold's daughter and asked how the famous naturalist gained such deep insights, she replied, "My father had the modesty to learn from his dogs." Leopold himself wrote, "My dog ... persists in tutoring me, with the calm patience of a professor of logic, in the art of drawing deductions from an educated nose. I delight in seeing him deduce a conclusion, in the form of a point, from data that are obvious to him, but speculative to my unaided eye. Perhaps he hopes his dull pupil will one day learn to smell."

Whether you are talking about increased wildlife-viewing opportunities, a strengthened person-pet bond, or the increased sense of security a dog brings while in isolated areas, a canine may be just the hiking partner you are looking for. But how can you make sure the experience is safe and pleasant for both person' and pet?

Plan ahead: First make sure dogs are permitted on the trail you are interested in hiking. The rules on whether dogs are allowed, and under what conditions, are usually set on the local level, even on federal and state-owned land. For a list of hiking and pet-accessible areas on federal land, visit the Web site, www.recreation.gov. Remember, policies do change, so always check with the local authorities. You'll also want to be sure the trail you've chosen is appropriate for your dog's fitness level. Remember, muscle strength and footpad toughness take conditioning.

Bring the leash. Many parklands require dogs to be leashed at all times. But even when not required, they're a good idea, believes Dannen. "You'll see a lot more wildlife with a dog on a leash," he says: you get the benefit of the dog's sharper senses without the chance that the dog will chase away and/or harm the wildlife. You'll both be safer, too. A leashed dog won't get lost or end up with a snout full of porcupine quills, for instance. And the presence of a dog is likely to keep dangerous predators, such as mountain lions or bears, at bay. Still need more reasons? Unleashed dogs may disturb other hikers and increase the chances of the park banning dogs altogether.

If you are in an area that permits it and you decide to let your dog off-leash, be sure he is trained to respond to voice commands, and keep him in sight.

Pack smart. Backpacks designed for dogs allow your four-footed trail buddy to help shoulder the load. Most dogs can safely carry 2 5 percent of their weight. Be sure to take plenty of water and a bowl. Treats are always appreciated, and for longer trips dog food, too. Other items to take along include a towel, a good pair of tweezers to remove ticks, a dog toy, and plastic bags for poop pickups. Some dogs wear booties for rough terrain, but if your dog has never worn them before, he may not tolerate them. Some things you don't want to include in your dog's pack: that expensive pair of binoculars she may inadvertently bang into a tree or your field guide, which may never be the same after a sudden jump into a stream.

Be courteous. That means more than simply keeping your dog on leash. Yield to other hikers on narrow footpaths. Don't let your dog spook larger animals that may be on the trail, such as horses, llamas, or burros. When encountering larger, less maneuverable animals, step well off the trail and allow them to pass. Pick up after your dog as well as yourself. Promoting a positive image of dogs and their owners will help keep trails open to pets.

Be aware of health risks. Keep your dog up-to-date on vaccinations. Don't allow her to drink from lakes, rivers, or streams, since water-borne parasites such as giardia may be present. Check frequently for ticks, which may carry Lyme disease. Be cautious of temperature extremes. Your dog may have a fur coat but is susceptible to frostbite, just as you are. In snow, check your dog's feet for ice balls that may form between toes. In hot weather, take it easy; watch for signs of heat exhaustion/stroke: loud panting, rapid breathing, red tongue and gums, weakness, and staggering. Get the dog into the shade, slowly cool the animal down by wetting him with water, and bring him to your veterinarian as soon as possible.