Hiking can be a great activity to do with your dog. Regular hiking trips can help to keep your dog in shape and allow both of you to see new sights and experience new environments. It’s important to stay safe and know what to expect before setting out to hike with your dog. When preparing to go for a hiking trip, here are a few things you’ll need to remember to bring along for your dog:

• A leash, preferably longer than 6 feet which allows some roaming room but is still comfortable for you to hold. You can also try using a waist harness instead, to attach the leash to your hip instead of having to carry it around.
• A portable water bowl or a dog water bottle.
• Plastic bags to clean up after your dog

In addition to these two mandatory pieces of equipment, you can also consider bringing along the following:

• A toy for your dog, such as a tennis ball
• Some dog treats
• A dog backpack. This will allow your dog to carry its own water bottle and plastic bags while hiking with your dog.
• An extra collar and leash. You never know what might happen on your hike and don’t want to get stuck far away from home with no way to have total control over the situation.

Make sure that you and your dog are ready for the hiking trip. If you have a fat pooch who’s been a couch potato since he was a puppy, your dog probably won’t be ready for a day-long hike. Get your dog in shape gradually and look before you leap into a long hiking trip with your dog. Keeda and I sometimes go to the undeveloped area in the back of the neighbourhood, where there are large sand dunes and patches of trees and clearings. It isn’t as great as hiking in a proper forest, but there’s plenty of open space to run, play, and explore freely.

Many people choose to let their dog roam free off the leash on hiking trips. This is great in hiking areas where off-leash dogs are permitted. Make sure that your dog is well behaved and has a good recall if you decide to do this. This way you can avoid any potential trouble while hiking with your dog on your trip.