Hiking With Dogs: Nova’s Gear Guide
Nova LOVES to hike and is not picky about where we go, although I think she would choose the woods over an urban trek if given the option. We have done a lot of hiking in the Western New York region, completing more than one WNY Hiking Challenge hosted by Outside Chronicles. It has introduced us to some new hiking locations in the area while satisfying the goal oriented part of my personality. This spring we decided a change of scenery might be nice, so we took Nova on her first vacation to the Adirondacks where she completed her first two high peaks, Giant Mountain and Rocky Peak Ridge, and the fire tower climb on Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain. While she regularly hikes at home, the mountain terrain presented new challenges she has not encountered before. Luckily, our prior experience and a bit of research before our trip ensured that we were well prepared. Whether you prefer to summit mountain tops or take it a bit easier, I hope our gear list will help you prepare for your next outdoor adventure!
The information & links shared below are not in any way influenced by sponsorship/compensation of any kind. These are products that I use with my own dog & recommend to clients based on personal experience.
Harness
I am a huge advocate for harnesses, especially when it comes to hiking. The number one feature I look for in any harness is an open shoulder design to allow for the most natural movement with the least amount of restriction. For “easy” hikes I use the Kurgo Journey Air Harness which has a padded, open shoulder design, front and back rings for leash connection, and a handle for basic spotting/assists. When it comes to more technical hikes with rock scrambles that will require a lot of spotting and lifting, I use the Ruffwear Flagline Harness. This harness offers the same main features as the Kurgo but is designed to disperse the pressure of lifting with a second strap on the belly panel. Not all harnesses are created equal and while one brand or style may work well for a certain dog, a different breed or a dog with different proportions may not be as well suited for that style. You may need to try out a few different harnesses to find the one that best fits your dog.
Long line
Long lines are always a must have, whether we are on an enrichment walk at the neighborhood park or exploring mountain trails on our way to the summit. I have a variety of lengths that I use regularly, but the two you will commonly find in my hiking pack are my 10' and 20' biothane lines made by CSJ Creations. The shorter line is great for heavily wooded areas, narrow trails, or those with heavy traffic. The 10' allows a little more freedom than a standard 6' leash without allowing her to get too tangled in nearby bushes or wrapped around trees. The 20’ is great for open areas where there is plenty of space for more exploration and it has certainly come in handy when descending steeper sections of trail where I can allow her to move ahead and wait for me. Biothane lines have been my go to for quite awhile now based on the material’s durability, strength, and ease of cleaning. They come in a variety of thicknesses, lengths, colors and hardware options so you can customize to your likes and needs.
Water Bottle/Bowl
While it may be tempting to let your canine hiking companion grab a drink out of any nearby water source, it can actually be dangerous in some cases. We always avoid low flow streams and rivers, ponds, and other stagnant bodies of water, as they can be contaminated with bacteria, parasites, or algae that can cause gastrointestinal upset or infection. Bringing along plenty of fresh water will help to keep your pup hydrated and cool on their adventures. My go to water bottle is a 2-in-1 water bottle with a silicone top that flips up into a bowl and easily stores in the side pocket of my hiking pack. While this has become my preferred solution, there are lots of other options available as well: bottles with attached bowls, or silicone pop up bowls that can be filled from any regular water bottle or hydration bladder.
First Aid Kit
While not likely necessary for short local trips, it is not a bad idea to keep some first aid supplies on hand just in case. For longer hikes I highly recommend carrying at least the most common items in your pack, which can be useful for dogs and humans. Our recent trip to the Adirondacks included climbing a number of rock faces, which were rough on Nova's paws, causing some tearing of her paw pads. A couple of gauze pads and some medical tape protected her feet from additional tearing so that she could enjoy the rest of the hike. There are a number of pre-made first aid kits available if you don't know where to start; Kurgo is just one of many suppliers you may want to check out, they even offer a free downloadable pet first aid handbook. If you rather put together your own custom kit, check out the top rated kits for a list of items that may be most useful to you in case of an emergency. A few item suggestions to get you started: tweezers, gauze pads, medical tape, self adhesive bandage wrap, antibiotic ointment, and antiseptic wipes.
Tick Remover
Unfortunately, even dogs on flea and tick preventative may end up with a tick attached at some point. Having a tick remover tool on hand will allow you to remove the tick quickly to avoid potential infection.
Snacks!
Long, challenging hikes will likely mean that your dog will be burning quite a few more calories than they normally would. Packing some food or treats for a snack on the trail will help to keep their energy up. It is likely you will stop at some point during a long hike to take a snack/rest break, consider offering a snack to your dog during these rest periods. Shorter hikes won’t require as many calories but I still always bring along some treats to reward for check ins, off leash recalls, or ignoring those enticing chipmunks!
Other Considerations:
Now that you have the essentials, you may want to consider adding a few additional items to your list.
1. GPS Tracker
If your dog is spending time off leash while hiking, a GPS tracker may provide you with some piece of mind should you become separated at some point. GPS trackers can be usually be connected to a collar or harness and allow you to track your dog’s location via a cell phone app, typically with a subscription fee. There are a number of options available on the market such as the Whistle and the Fi, which a number of students use for their dogs. I would encourage you to do some research to compare functionality, reading customer reviews to find out if they perform up to customer expectations. Keep in mind, these trackers may have limited capabilities in areas where cell service is unreliable, often when hiking in more remote locations.
2. Rescue Sling or Backpack
Hopefully you will never encounter a true emergency on the trails but accidents can happen. Should you find yourself in a situation where your dog cannot continue on foot, are you prepared to carry them out? There are options available such as the Fido Rescue Sling or the K9 Sport Sack which may be helpful should your canine companion need assistance.
3. Dog Boots
Rocky terrain or winter weather can be tough on dog’s paw pads. From tears to extreme cold, you may want to consider purchasing a set of dog boots to protect their paws. I have not utilized dog boots up to this point, but I recently received a recommendation for Ruffwear Dog Boots , so they are on my list of options in my search for an appropriate pair for Nova’s next big hike!
We can’t wait to head out on our next big adventure but in the meantime we are looking forward to checking off the rest of our summer hikes for the 2022 challenge. For those of you in the Western NY area, join our SUPERNOVA SCOUTS Facebook group and share hiking and event information with other dog adventurers. If we missed any necessities on our list, that you would recommend based on your own hiking experiences with your dogs, we would love to hear from you!
