A colorful summer is ahead and you have probably already made plans for summer fun days - trips to the sea, hiking in the mountains, in the forest, resorts abroad, to the country house, etc. And you, of course, do not forget about your four-legged friend. Well, where are you without him? Moreover, it will be a pleasure for the dog to be with you during various summer adventures. A change of scenery is always beneficial. In the same company with you and your friends, the dog will finally be able to feel like in a “pack”. After all, a flock in her understanding is when everyone sticks together and moves somewhere (in search of food), following the leader.
At home on the rug, where you don't have to run anywhere, and the plate of food is regularly updated, the feeling of the pack is minimized. It even happens that it is not always clear to the dog who is the leader in the house. And hiking with you will remind her of her nature. Well, nature is calling! Go hiking with your dog!
A dog is a rather hardy animal. But, we should not forget that your pet spent the whole winter, and possibly all his life, lying in the apartment on the couch and only a couple of times a day he went outside to use the toilet. Therefore, I advise you to find time before the trip and walk long distances with your pet a couple of times. It will be helpful for you as well.
Hiking with big dogs
Large dog breeds are much easier to tolerate long distances than small ones. Moreover, a dog backpack is asking for his back, in which he himself can drag his food, medicines and so on. Therefore, feel free to give him a chance to be on a par with you - to drag a backpack along with him.
This will be especially useful for an active dog, which rushes like a stung across the lawns and wastes its energy in vain.
Hiking with small dogs
Small dogs are more difficult to manage long tiring walks. Do not forget that their short legs have to keep up with you, taking more steps for the same mileage. Do not hang any load on their back, they already get tired quickly. Consider in advance the possibility that for some time you will have to drag the dog on yourself.
Here we see a plus compared to the situations of large dog breeds. If a large dog rubs its paw during a hike, you will no longer take it in your arms or in a backpack. There is a high probability that your trip on this will be completed.
What difficulties can dogs have on a hike:
Going on a hike with a dog, you should remember that it faces the same difficulties as a person. Let's look at some of them:
1. Calluses on paws. When a dog gets dirt between its toes and turns into pebbles under the influence of heat, there is a high probability that it will rub calluses on its paws. To minimize this problem, buy her soft running dog boots in advance at the pet store - practicing tourists recommend. Or you will have to wash your pet's paws regularly and often.
2. Insect bites. You should remember that sometimes there are insects whose bites can be fatal for a dog. For example, tick - carrier of piroplasmosis. He can attack a dog even in the city, but the difference is that the city has veterinary clinics on almost every street and at the first symptoms the pet is sent to the doctor. There will be no such opportunity in the forest or mountains, therefore it is recommended to carefully treat the dog with preparations for ticks, fleas and other insects (drops on the withers, special collars, sprays).
It should also be remembered that a dog can get a bite from a bee, wasp, bumblebee, hornet, if it sticks to them and sticks its nose into every flower, and even worse, if it digs up a hornet's nest. In this case, you should also be aware of this issue and know how to provide first aid to your pet. Be sure to bring an antihistamine and epinephrine with you in case your dog becomes severely allergic to insect bites. Be prepared to immediately deliver the pet to the nearest medical center, even a human one. If you notice that the area is dangerous, put the dog on a leash to control its movements.
3. Encounter with a forest animal. If your dog meets a wild animal (mouse, hare, ferret) during a hike, the hunter's instinct will immediately turn on. Then you will have to look for your pet for a long time in the mountains, in forests and fields.
To avoid this, you should keep him on a leash, including while resting on the pass. By tying the dog to a tree, you can relax calmly and not worry that the dog will run away to hunt another mouse.
4. wild dogs. Passing by the villages, you can stumble upon wild, stray dogs, which usually walk in packs. They will not approach you with caution and fear. But, your dog, staying in natural conditions, feels a wild heightened desire to communicate with his own kind. She can forget about everything in the world and run away to meet her new friends. You will have to wait a long time for her. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to take your pet on a short leash as soon as other dogs appear in your field of vision.
5. Vegetation. If you went camping with a dog, perhaps the worst thing that can happen to her in terms of vegetation is thorns and burdocks that cling to wool. During the hike, the dog will definitely find them. The longer your dog's coat, the more difficult the situation will be.
In any case, you should take a comb, a slicker brush with you and spend long friendly evenings by the fire, slowly putting the dog's coat in order. You can buy a light jumpsuit for her, which can protect the animal's hair from thorns.
6. Dog food while hiking. If you feed your pet dry food at home, with dog food during the trip there will be no problems. But, you should offer her water more often. In a good way, when feeding with dry food, access to water should be constant. This will not work out on a hike, so try to offer her a drink more often. Watch her condition, thirst will immediately make itself felt. For convenience, you can buy a camping drinker for dogs, or a “dry mustache” tip that can simply be screwed onto a plastic water bottle.
It will be more difficult to go camping with a dog if your pet eats exclusively natural products and has its own personal menu. You should stock up on the necessary products in advance and tune in to the fact that you will have to cook separately for the dog. Or in advance, a little bit, accustom his digestive system to dry food, then at least one feeding a day during the trip, you do not have to cook. Greens, vegetables and fruits the dog will be able to get from you during the day. Plan your meals ahead of time. It is strictly forbidden to change the diet drastically (from natural to dry food, or vice versa), you can harm the pet's digestive system.
7. In bad weather, you should dress warmly. To protect your pet from bad weather while hiking, buy him a raincoat or overalls. So that the baby does not get cold, take a warm sweater with you. During the journey, moving, the dog may not notice the weather, but as soon as you stop to rest, it may freeze. And as a result - a cold. Take care of your dog's kidneys.
In addition to the troubles that can happen while hiking with a dog, there will be many more pleasant, funny, incredible adventures. Therefore, you should not leave your pet at home to be bored without you. Just prepare well for all sorts of troubles, take a first aid kit, stock up on knowledge and you will definitely get great pleasure if you go camping with a dog.
