Who else has been personally victimized by the ‘CAUTION WHEN TAKING YOUR DOG ON THIS HIKE’ signs at the beginning of a trail head? The pictures of dogs with snake bites and burnt paw pads are enough to make you pack up and head back home. November 17th is National Take a Hike Day, and obviously we dog parents will want to have our cute adventure pups in tow as part of our celebration, but how do we know we’re taking all of the necessary steps in order to keep our sweet pups out of danger? Here is a complete list of hiking essentials for your dog that will keep your mind at ease and their paws out of trouble.
Booties
Yeah, we all hate to be THAT person, but paw covers are a very important step in ensuring your dog’s safety. Come what may, protective shoes can prevent your dog’s little paw pads from getting burnt on a hot day, bitten by any unwanted critters, and stuck with a sharp stick or rock. Extra points for them just being too cute to handle, also.
Flashlight
Whether you’re hiking at night or you hit a heavily wooded area, a flashlight will be wildly important to equip your dog with. Not only does it increase your dog’s visibility, preventing him/her from walking into something dicey, but it also improves your visibility of your dog (especially in the event that they wander off without you). All around, this is definitely an ‘incase of emergency’ type of product, but will make all the difference if you have it handy when an unsavory situation presents itself.
Collapsible Water Bowl
The collapsible part is the most important, because it saves you room in your already-packed-to-the-brim hiking backpack. Of course, your dog is going to get a little dehydrated on such an intense walk so you’ll have to be ready with a receptacle they will happily drink out of. Theoretically yes, you could just waterfall the water to your dog, but you’ll waste a large part of your extremely limited drinking water to the ground…so let’s just say the bowl is the way to go. Side note: don’t forget to pack water.
Raincoat
This one is just too cute to be fair. Not only will an adorable raincoat protect your dog from rain, but it’s an all-around protector against the elements – it will keep your pup warm in the colder months, protect the majority of their body from bug bites and other unwanted pests, and BONUS it keeps your little one nice and clean so, post-hike bath time isn’t yet another uphill battle.
Ready to get your dog suited up for their adventure?
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Want to read more about finding adventures for you and your dog? Check out these posts:
Tips for Hiking and Camping with Your Dog
Should I Bring My Dog? | Choosing the Best Adventures for Fido
Dog-Friendly Hotels & Other Places to Stay When Traveling with Pets
