If you’ve done any hiking or backpacking, inevitably you’ll come across dogs, running happily alongside their owner(s) enjoying the wonders of nature. Your thoughts will fall in one of three camps.
1) What kind of crazy people bring pets out like this?
2) Good for them. Seems like they’ve got a good dog. I would never bring ______ here. No way.
Or
3) That looks like fun. I’m going with my dog.
I fell in the last group. When I got Rxoy, unbeknownst to her, she was/is being groomed as my hiking/backpacking buddy. She recently completed her first multi-night backpacking trip, and we both learned a lot. To better help you backpack with your canine, I’ll step back, and let the dog give the advice. (I’ll interject in bold, if necessary)
Advice from a dog
Buy me a backpack. You get one, why can’t I? I’ll feel important having something on, and can carry up to 1/3 of my weight, so feel free to put some of YOUR junk in the pack, too. (Don’t start your dog out with too much weight. Work up gradually.)
Bring more food than I normally eat at home. Water, meadows, trees, new smells … it’s a lot to take in, and trust me, I’ll try. However, it takes energy, and I’ll need to eat more. (Pet stores sell ultra-light weight collapsible food/water dishes.)
Are you prepared if I get hurt? (Thom G. has a great article on this site about canine first aid. Read it, and talk to your vet about his/her recommendations.)
How well do we REALLY know each other? Have you taken me hiking before? Have I been off my leash for extended periods of time? What was I bred for? If I’m a hunting dog – well, it doesn’t take a genius to see I might like to go chase something when I smell it. (I watched my dog catch wind of something, and disappear, swifter than I thought possible into the thicket for awhile.)
If I DO take off, don’t take it personal. I’m a dog, it comes with the territory. I have to check things out. Just remember, I’ll probably return very near the spot I left. Be patient.
Got room in your tent for me? I like to be warm, snore and stretch out. If you’re uncomfortable, too bad.
Can I swim? I might like swimming, even if I’ve never done it before. If by chance I get out in the middle of the lake chasing a duck, only to remember I don’t know how to swim – and begin sinking – guess who gets to come get me?
If we hike above the tree-line, you’ll need to bring something to pack my dookie out with. Think it smells bad at home? Try packing it around for a few days. (High altitude waste doesn’t decompose well. It’s recommended that all waste – human or canine – is packed out when hiking above the timberline. Gross, but so eco-friendly.)
Rumor has it that if I go explore, and find a bear, I’ll run back to you for protection and the bear will follow me. If that happens are we still friends? (No.
Even if I behave well off my leash, bring it.
A ball to fetch wouldn’t hurt either. A dog can only chase chipmunks for so long. (I forgot a ball, and regretted it.)
If you plan on going to a National Park – then I have to stay in the car. I’m not allowed on trails. I won’t be thrilled. I might find something to chew on to pass time, how about your seats? (Bored dogs are bad dogs.)
Did we do obedience school? No, you say, maybe that’s why I haven’t seen you for a few hours.
Bring some of my friends, and their owners. I’ll have someone to romp with, and we can wear each other out. Make sure my friends are well-behaved, or they could convince me to take off for awhile.
Check the terrain and distance of our hike. I don’t like scaling rock walls any more than you do. (I don’t have thumbs.)
Most Important. Take me with you whenever you can, and I’ll get better at hiking. And it’ll be something we both can enjoy for years to come. (So true.)
Brian Rueb is a north state writer, photographer and educator. Click here to see more of his photography.
