If you are a hiker and have a four legged friend, the chances are he’s going to be your number one choice when it comes to selecting a trekking companion. Your dog will love exploring new ground with you but they’re going to need a lot of care and attention. We’ve put together a few tips and recommendations to help you best prepare for your doggie adventures.
Before you go your dogs need to be physically ready to take on the hills: get their claws trimmed to prevent them cracking or snagging;build up fitness by gradually extending the length of the walks you take together;carry out worming and tick treatments and ensure your dog is fully vaccinated.
Search for a suitable route: if your dog likes to be off the lead, search for routes that avoid fields of livestock; keep your dog on its lead unless you are confident it will respond to your commands; adhere to instructional signage and don’t let your dog stray off to no go areas.
Dog Food/Snacks: prepare some snacks – dogs need extra calories on hikes too so don’t forget to pack some tasty calorific treats. They’re also useful for keeping them entertained when you stop for a rest. Things like dried sprats are packed full of protein and they weigh next to nothing.
Mountain Paws have a great range of products suitable for treks in the hills.
Dogs are tough but sometimes they do suffer injuries in the hills. We’ve outlined some of the potential issues and how best to deal with them using the Mountain Paws Dog First Aid Kit. It contains 40 canine specific components that will help you to get your dog back home or to the vet if necessary.