Dog Harness Extra Small
dog harness extra small Hiking With Your Dog: What To Take With You Taking your dog on a hike with you can be an enjoyable experience, provided you have the right hiking gear to accommodate the bo...
dog harness extra small
Hiking With Your Dog: What To Take With YouTaking your dog on a hike with you can be an enjoyable experience, provided you have the right hiking gear to accommodate the both of you. Taking your best friend along shouldn't bog you down with extra gear but you will need to consider where you are going and how long you plan to hike in order to ensure you have what you need for a safe trip. Whether hiking for an afternoon or taking an overnight trek, you should make sure to stock your backpack with the following items to help Fido, Lassie or whom ever you take with you have as much fun as you do. • Adequate water for both you and your dog. If you know that there will be water sources along the route, carry a water bottle with you that you can refill if needed. If you are unsure about water availability, pack 1-2 quarts of water for your dog for a day hike plus enough for yourself. Collapsible dog bowls are good for dogs that may not drink from a stream or from a water bottle. • A leash. Most trail ways require that your dog be on a leash or harness while hiking. A leash will also help keep order should there be a lot of dogs on the trail with you. • First aid kit items. Most pet injuries while hiking occur on the pads of their feet. The pads can easily be cut on sticks, stones and roots in the ground. You should stop hiking intermittently to check your dogs paw pads for cuts or blisters. Have the appropriate bandages and disinfectants with you in case this happens. • Proper ID tags for your pet. The dog tags should include information on your pet's vaccination as well as your home address and phone number. Make sure the rabies tag that you received from your veterinarian is attached to your dog's collar. • Clean-Up Items. Zip-lock bags are great for hiking trips to reduce the odor of the feces while on your hike. Be sure to pick up all your dog's feces while hiking using paper towels or your bag and dispose of it in a garbage container. Also carry a towel to clean off your dog should he or she get into dirt or water. • Snacks or Treats. Your dog will get tired just as you will. Make sure to pack a few treats to keep him energized until you get back home. However, you don't want to over-feed your dog while hiking or they may get sick. Treats can also be helpful in getting your dog's attention should they run off unexpectedly. Above all, make sure your dog is up to the challenge of an afternoon hike. Make sure they are healthy and well-nourished before setting out on the hike. Older dogs should be treated to a trail way with a level terrain and with little to no incline. Small dogs should be taken on well groomed trails that won't have a lot of low hanging brush or leaves that may cause eye or skin irritation. Pay attention to the signs your dog may give while on a hike that there is something wrong. If they avoid the sunshine or lay underneath leaves they may be dehydrated and need to stop for a long drink of water. If their stride becomes labored or if they favor one paw over another, they may have gotten a sliver or cut on their pad. Your dog will tell you what they need while outdoors so long as you listen. ~Ben Anton, 2008 About the Author |
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Taking Your Dog Hiking Or Camping
Walking around the block might be enough for your dogs day-to-day exercise but sometimes you might want to go a bit further. There's absolutely no reason why you can't take your dog on a cross-country trek - no reason that can't be overcome at least. If you fancy taking your dog with you on a camping or hiking trip, these pieces of kit could prove handy:
Dog Backpack
Dog backpacks may look a little odd, but their appeal is their practicality, not their aesthetic qualities. Built to a high standard of durability for rugged conditions, where your pet could be travelling through rough terrain and weather for several days, these pieces of kit have two big advantages.
The main one is fairly obvious; they increase your carrying capacity significantly. Depending on the size and fitness of your dog, you can keep extra water, food and other accessories for your pet in the backpack and save you the extra weight. Some backpacks even have built in water bladders so your pet can take a drink when it needs to (with a little training of course). The second advantage to these is that the harness of the backpack can be useful when it comes to crossing difficult terrain; if you need to lift your dog over an obstacle or take a firm hold onto them whilst crossing a river or stream, the straps provide an easy way of doing just that.
Dog jacket/coat
Of course a backpack won't protect your dog from the elements, so if you're planning on spending a long time outside or in adverse weather then a waterproof, windproof jacket will help protect your dog. Even with all that fur your pet can still get cold. An extra layer of insulation can help make sure that they enjoy the hike even once the rush of playing in the mud wears off.
Dog Boots
Another piece of canine clothing that won't win any awards for aesthetics, these small boots can help smaller dogs keep their grip in all kinds of terrain. If you're planning on fell running or hiking up steep terrain with a loose surface, these can be a useful investment in helping your dog to keep up with you.
Roll-up sleeping mat
If you're planning on spending a night out in the wild then this is a much more practical idea than carting a dog bed on your shoulders. Like a normal sleeping mat - just smaller and more portable - this will insulate your pet from the cold, hard ground and provide a far comfier surface for your four legged friend. Of course this accessory doesn't have to be used solely for hiking and camping trips; if you're travelling anywhere, this is probably a much more practical choice than the bed you have at home.
About the Author
Rupert Brown regularly contributes articles on savic dog crate. To know more visit http://www.muddypaws.co.uk/