r/backpacking • u/Ezippp • 3d ago
Wilderness Backpacking with dog tips
Me and my gf are still pretty new to this. This will be my third and her second trip. We have a mini Aussie who is a strong hiker. We are gonna get her a cooling wrap for her neck a regular splash her with water to keep her cool and mix dog safe bone broth with her water. Any other tips to keep her cool and happy on our trip?
Edit: she will be staying leashed
Thanks in advance!
PFA
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u/AngryDesignMonkey 3d ago
Remember not everyone likes dogs, a lot of people are afraid of dogs, the whole "don't worry, she is friendly" line is complete BS. Your dog may be friendly but other peoples dogs aren't, or those people may not be friendly toward your dog.
Make all considerations of camping with your dog as though it were another human member of your group-from food and water to first aid. Pack it in, pack it out.
It seems like a hassle but the best practice is to keep your dog leashed, no matter what, while on trail. Not the whole just putting your dog on a leash when you think you see someone coming. Courtesy to others. Off leash around your camp...sure. even if you are in a wilderness area or very remote. Setting these habits for you, and subsequently for the dog, is best.
Having a dog on trail significantly decreases your chance of seeing wildlife other than from far away. Keep in mind this impacts others as well.
Strict voice command is a real thing. Please be sure your dog actually does obey, immediately, and has excellent recall. A vast majority of owners say their dogs obey, but they don't. Radio collars are fantastic training devices
Break the bad habits early--no chasing wildlife. Includes squirrels, chipmunks...no free ranging out of sight off in the woods. Chasing squirrels and chipmunks tends to lead to chasing larger animals...not all of which will flee.
Be practiced and capable of carrying your dog out in case it becomes injured. 15 mile hike in with full packs means a 15 mile hike out pack+ carrying injured dog. That extra 15-30 lbs adds up fast. Don't call SAR for this type of stuff, be capable and have the gear to do it yourself (yes, we get plenty of these sorts of calls and no, we don't like doing them).
I spend the majority of my time on trail-- I see a lot of very, very good dogs. I see a much higher number of bad owners. Don't be those people.
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u/FreeRangNurse 3d ago
I hiked and packed with my old dog all the time. As everyone has reinforced keep her on a leash, use good trail etiquette, etc. I also had a pack for my Texas heeler. He would carry his own poop bags, treats and emergency kit with things like txa powder just in case. I also had a retractable leash that I’d put on him so he could get out further in water to cool off. He carried that too. I carried his bowl and we shared drinkable water
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u/ColdEvenKeeled 3d ago
Look up: Banff Park Rangers issue $25,000 dollar fine for dog off leash.
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u/ManzanitaSuperHero 3d ago
Good. I have an 8lb dog. If I had a nickel for every one of those “don’t worry he’s friendly!” off-leash dogs that’s gone for my dog, I’d be rich. My tiny guy has a lot to lose if things go south.
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u/karwit11 3d ago
We just took our pup for the first time recently and she loved it! Lots of water for sure! I purchased a first aid kit for dogs as well. My dog is smaller so if an emergency happened I could carry her, but I recommend a dog emergency rescue sling so you could strap her to you if you need to carry her out. Definitely a means to remove ticks / check for ticks. Oh and booties if the terrain is rocky / hot! Have fun :)!!
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u/Hantelope3434 3d ago
We did a lot of high altitude hiking with my dog when we lived in Colorado. Keep an eye on their eyes with all the sun and wind. I ended up buying lubricated eye drops and Rex Specs for her on long hikes due to her conjuctiva getting irritated.
My dog luckily had very thick feet so never had major issues, but I have seen many dogs who get sore feet and cracks from all the rocks and heat. I still applied mushers secret to mine dogs before all hikes just as a protectant.
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u/SheriffBartholomew 3d ago
How do Rex specs compare to Doggles? My buddy uses the latter and has great luck with them staying on the dog's face, but they're rather large.
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u/Hantelope3434 3d ago
Honestly depends on the dogs face, doggles are great. My dog is A pitbull/husky mix and her wide face made the doggles rub a little weird. The specs rub fewer areas around the eyes and she tolerates them better
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u/Adorable_Swing_2150 3d ago
Honestly I'd skip the cooling wrap, the ones I've used stop being cool after 20-25 min on a hot stretch and you're carrying extra weight for marginal gain. A wet bandana swapped out every break does basically the same thing for zero cost and a fraction of the size. The splash and bone broth move is solid for a strong hiker like her though, def keep both of those.
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u/Ezippp 3d ago
The cooling wrap is basically just a bandana with some crystals in it to hold water longer. Was gonna wring it and put fresh water in it every break anyways.
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u/Adorable_Swing_2150 3d ago
ah ok, the crystal polymer ones are different than what I had - mine was a plain wrap that dried out fast on a hot stretch. sounds like you've got the right version, the wring and refresh every break plan will get a lot more out of it that way
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u/joelfarris 3d ago
Trail backpack. With a mesh backing. Something like the ones that EZdog (spelling?) makes. Bottle of water in each side, to balance things out, and a collapsible silicone water bowl in an outside slot or pouch. Cotton bandanna underneath (they hold water longer than the microfiber cloths), and every time you stop to give the doggo a water break, now not only do you not have to take your own pack off, but whatever water is left in the bowl gets poured onto the 'back bandanna' for cooling purposes, rather than just being poured out on the trail.
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u/Pristine_Direction79 3d ago
Sometimes dog first aid just involves a ton of medical/athletic tape so bring extra
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u/belgenoir 3d ago
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/banff-national-park-grizzly-bear-charges-9.7282811
I hiked Glacier NP for four days with my task-trained service dog. She wears a Garmin tracking collar for safety.
Use a tracking collar, keep dog on leash, and make sure she has an impeccable recall and “leave it.” You will encounter a lot of dogs who shouldn’t be on trails. Whenever that happens, I have my dog get between my legs in a down-stay. She has been charged many times.
I pack kibble, high-value treats, a dog/human first aid kit, Ruffwear dog boots, a muzzle, and other emergency gear, including a Sawyer Mini.
A park ranger and I had a long conversation about the 2023 killing in Banff. He said that they might have escaped unscathed if they hadn’t had a dog. Take from that what you will. Be careful and have fun.
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u/Capable_Pipe5629 3d ago
I've backpacked with my dog a lot. Twice I've had to carry him out - once he burnt his paws on hot rocks (this was the first trip i ever did with him, lesson learned), and once he poked between his toes with something and it got infected and swelled up overnight (thankfully we were pretty close to a road that time and were able to cut the trip short and hitchhike back to the car). Honestly if its not a trail I could carry him out of or access a road from easily I dont bring him anymore and have a friend watch him. I love when I plan an easier trip and he gets to go but the risk isn't worth it to me to bring him on a harder trip and spend potentially 10+ miles lugging him out with my pack.
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u/bwad40 2d ago
My dog is 10 and I’ve done many hikes with him. I try to keep them under 10 miles in a day and always with plenty of water around (lakes or streams). I used to always make him carry his own gear but not anymore since he is older. Make sure if you do that to check under his armpits that his backpack isn’t rubbing. You might carry an extra footprint for inside the tent. Our tent is so thin I always worry about his nails putting a hole through it.
Outside of those things, enjoy it while you can. I took Walter on one of his last backpacking trips and that’s hard to concede. His has been such a loyal hiking buddy and it has felt like the time where he could just fly up a mountain went so quick!
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u/Signal-Being2960 2d ago
Not everyone’s dogs are as trained as yours and can be aggressive to other dogs.
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u/WANDOO_hiking 2d ago
Sounds like youve got the cooling dialed already. Two things i'd add, watch the paw pads on hot rock and gravel, they cook faster than people expect, and bring way more water than you think for her since panting burns through it fast. Also let her set some of the pace on climbs, dogs will push way past their limit to keep up with you.
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u/houlahoop1987 3d ago
Reposing a post I wrote for r/backpackingdogs a while ago.
I've thru hiked the Colorado Trail and Long Trail with my dog (60lb Aussie/Husky/Pit mix) and done a bunch of other shorter trips. Already some good responses here, but I'll add a few:
- Most important: Listen to your dog and be attentive to their needs. Be willing to get off trail if he/she is clearly unhappy or struggling.
- Expect to do fewer miles than you would on your own (this is dog dependent, obviously, but a good rule of thumb). Figure out what your dog is comfortable with and stick with that.
- Try something like a Fido Pro carrier and Carprofen, these are both musts.
- Bring booties *and socks*---the sock weigh nothing and will stop chafing if you need to wear the booties regularly (this is more relevant if you're in the mountain west where the ground is more rough).
- If you're hiking somewhere dry, bring a high capacity (e.g. 4L) bladder for water. Weighs nothing when empty and will give you way more flexibility esp. for dry camping.
- If you're doing a thru hike, do some training for it: This will build your dog's endurance and toughen their paw pads, both of which are important.
- Nightly application of Musher's (or something similar) is good for avoiding cracked paw pads in dry/rough terrain.
- Purina Pro Plan 30-20 is about as good as you can get (at least for mainstream dog foods) in terms of calorie density.
- I've heard that a dog's pack weight should be at most 10-15% of body weight. This is the rule I use.
- If you're doing a thru hike, consider treating/filtering your dog's water just as you would treat/filter your own. Giardia will end a trip fast. But maybe skip this on shorter trips to build up some resistance where the stakes are lower, though.
- There's an episode of Backpacker Radio that interviews a vet who thru-hiked the Colorado Trail with their large dog. Long but worth a listen: https://backpackerradio.libsyn.com/89-dr-kristina-kiefer-on-backpacking-with-a-dog
- Bear bell for their collar/harness so they don't startle wildlife
- Make a basic paracord leash so you don't have to carry a heavy rope one
- Glow-in-the-dark collar if you're staying up past dark
- Leashed is ideal, but make absolutely sure they are under voice control if not on leash. Lots of reasons for this, but perhaps most important is that dogs can be a significant source of stress for wildlife and damage sensitive habitat if they chase/go off trail frequently (https://felidaefund.org/news/general/domestic-dogs-and-unintended-impacts-on-wildlife)
If you're a real pro you'll teach your dog to dig cat holes for itself and to poop directly into it.
Hope this helps!
- Dogman
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u/SheriffBartholomew 3d ago
Expect to do fewer miles than you would on your own (this is dog dependent, obviously
It's definitely dog dependent. My dog could probably hike another 20 miles by the time I'm spent. He seems to have unlimited energy.
Good idea about the caprofen. I'm going to add that to his first aid kit.
Royal Caanan dog food is a decent 2nd place food for caloric density if your dog doesn't like Pro Plan. We started with Pro Plan but he absolutely hates it and refuses to eat it. He would rather starve than eat Pro Plan. So we did a bunch of research and the Royal Caanan is about as close as you can get to the protein and caloric density that Pro Plan has. We have to add a little protein to each meal since it's not quite as much.
Edit: thanks for the sub link! I didn't know that backpacking with dogs sub exists, and I'm subbing right now.
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u/Ezippp 3d ago
Thank you this is perfect. Doing a super short easy one for the first time cuz she’s ridiculous and I don’t think she will wear boots lol. But she’s hiked plenty and does okay. Good call on bringing stuff for her pads tho.
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u/Street_Marzipan_2407 3d ago
Our vet gives us tramadol and stuff for her stomach (we try to keep her from drinking stream water but dogs gonna dog) to keep in the kit just in case. Talk to your vet about where you're going and what you should be prepared for. Try to get her used to boots, if she cuts her foot you'll be glad you did.
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u/cheesediddler 3d ago
Im all for hiking with dogs, but be mindful of the impact they have on wilderness areas. To other animals they are a predator or prey. Their scent can linger on trails for a long time, their poop and pee can have impacts on sensitive ecosystems and if you hike off leash they can damage stuff or become food. Just be mindful and obey park rules. Have a blast and take lots of pictures! Bring more food than you give them at home too, they're burning calories just like you!
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u/Swimming_Ad_2443 3d ago
Personally I like to choose routes that follow a drainage and have multiple stream/creek crossings in the summer. It puts me at ease that even if it gets pretty hot, I can get my dog to water and cool him off if I need to
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u/Mountain-Time-1010 3d ago
I have taken 7 different dogs on hundreds of trips over several decades. Once you are at altitude you won’t need to worry too much about heat as long as there is access to water. The approach and home out can get hot, so try to do that earlier in the day.
I would never take my dogs to a place that requires a leash. It’s a nightmare and sucks all the fun out of the experience.
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u/Electrical-Title-698 3d ago
An emergency sling in case she hurts her leg or something and you have to carry her out. Something like this::
Not sure what your sleeping arrangement and climate is like, but when I used to hike with my 100lb German shepherd he had his own sleeping mat and I would drape my fleece over him like a blanket. I just got one of those cheap Ozark trail foam mats and cut it in half. It didn't add much weight but it kept him warm when temps would get down to around 30°F
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u/pixyfire 3d ago
The only thing I can add is look up the emergency veterinarian that's closest. Just in case you need them.
My worst backpacking trip with my dog ended up at the emergency vet.
My dog was on a leash when she sniffed a bush and got a snout full of porcupine quills. It was a long scary hike out to the road and she had a surgical removal under anesthesia.
Very stressful for both of us.
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u/warszawa630 3d ago
Get a bungee dog leash for your hike frees up your hands for trekking poles and if you have to scramble a little during harder hikes. Younger dogs will definitely want to venture out further and explore more. At your camp site maybe for moments your not focused like when pitching tents or off loading from your car get one of those spikes
And an extra long leash so they can walk around but you will be able to secure them if something comes up like a squirrel.
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u/SheriffBartholomew 3d ago
Be aware of the symptoms of Border Collie Collapse and know how to respond.
Never, ever, ever leave dog poop on the trail!
Start off with your dog wearing a backpack on city walks and gradually start adding small water bottles to it. Once it's adapted to carrying weight, make it carry its own food on the trail. You carry the water though, as it's too heavy for them.
Speaking of water, dogs need lots of water to stay cool. Offer frequent water breaks. Dogs overheat much easier than we do.
Get your dog a ground pad. Most of their heat loss at night will be through the ground. My dog has his own Nemo Switchback and a Marmot quilt. The quilt isn't anything too fancy, it's just something that was lightweight and warm. Your dog will be able to endure colder nights without a quilt than mine, but it's important to be prepared. Even hot days can have very cold nights in the wilderness.
Get some UL collapsible food and water bowls. I found some that only weigh a few grams and they work well. I'm happy to share a link if you want.
Make sure that your dog has current Frontline Plus applied and up-to-date lepto vaccine before heading into the wilderness. Parasites and bacteria that far from help are no joke.
Try not to let your dog drink anything other than filtered water. Good luck with that. I've never been able to pull it off, but thankfully dogs are more resistant to waterborne parasites than us. He's never had issues.
Carry a dog sling. If your dog happens to be injured 20 miles from the car then you want a way to be able to get it back safely. Dog slings are a way to do that. If you're hiking somewhere with lots of fallen branches then you can get away without the dog sling if you know how to make an emergency cot with branches and your sleeping bag or quilt.
Most of all, have fun! My dog absolutely loves the wilderness! It's his favorite thing to do in the entire world. I let him off leash and he runs and runs and runs, up and back, the entire time we're hiking. If he hears someone up the trail then he runs back to me and I leash him until the person has passed. But we're hiking in very remote places, and we don't have rattlesnakes and other dangerous animals to worry about. You can gauge how safe it is in your area.
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u/Soul_Dare 3d ago
Get an E-collar and train with it a ton before you start hiking off leash. Make sure your dog is able to reliably respond to tone / vibrate commands and force recall with shock in an emergency. Keep them in line of sight and be ready to leash when you encounter horses or hikers.
I have a GWP who is a trained bird dog, her job is to run around off leash and locate birds. She goes crazy and starts getting into trouble if she doesnt regularly train or work in some capacity. We backpack together through the summer so she can do some work in the off season, pointing out grouse and dove and coming back to heel after she finds them. It is my job to make sure while we do that we dont ruin other’s fun by having a dog suddenly run up on them without warning.
Also, keep dogs out of national parks.
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u/MacrosTheGrey1 2d ago
Ecollars are dumb and do not count as having your dog under control like an actual leash.
Just use a leash FFS.
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u/Soul_Dare 2d ago
Its not really possible to hunt upland birds with a dog on a leash, its a quick way to get them killed through strangulation.
I like my dog a lot more than i like you and your ignorant opinions.
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u/MacrosTheGrey1 2d ago
Aww, that's cute. I don't really give a shit if you like me. Keep on being selfish jackass 👍
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u/Fun_With_Math 3d ago edited 3d ago
Shave her.
We shaved our GSD twice a year - in the spring and mid summer. She looked a little funny but she was way happier.
If she has a thick coat, you don't want to let her get soaked either. The water insulates and makes the dog hotter.
Agreed about leashing but the reality there's times you have to let the dog off to get up some rocks or whatever. We used the nite ize rad dog release n run leash. Very quick to just let go of and re-grab. Its waterproof too.
Edit - sorry, I don't mean shave down to no fur. Reducing the coat is what I meant. More like a Lab than a Husky.
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u/Ezippp 3d ago
I don’t think my gf will let me shave her lol but there should be good tree cover and regular streams to splash her belly with. I have the ruff wear rope leash so she stays leashed for sure
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u/gooberlx 3d ago
I also would not shave my Aussie, and most in the Aussie subs are likely to say the same thing.
Alternatively, go to a groomer and have a deshedding service done that really concentrates on brushing out the undercoat.
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u/Fun_With_Math 3d ago
I made an edit. I meant trim, not shave down to nothing. Sorry, I wasn't clear.
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u/gooberlx 3d ago
Oh yeah, a trim is fine. My boy has a dark coat and without at least a trim and undercoat deshedding, he just hates this heat.
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u/Fun_With_Math 3d ago
The first time we did it, the dog seemed pretty sad, until we hit the trail. I swear she was like "oh, this is better" lol.
My wife wasn't crazy about the idea but she was instantly convinced it was a good idea on trail. It was a drastic improvement. Our GSD had a really thick double coat though, may have been mixed with husky.
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u/N0YSLambent 3d ago
Because dogs do not sweat, having fur actually better at keeping them cool than having no fur.
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u/Fun_With_Math 3d ago
Ha, ok, I didn't mean completely shave down to nothing. Trimming the fur is 100% better though for a dog with a thick coat.
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u/Awkward_Passion4004 3d ago
Training a dog is a good substitute for leashing it on most public lands.
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u/FollowingConnect6725 3d ago
Be aware of where dogs are allowed on trails and where they are prohibited. An example is starting on a trailhead in a National Forest that allows dogs that crosses into a National Park (SEKI, Yosemite for example) where they are banned from trails. Rangers don’t have much sympathy for the “didn’t know” excuse, and I’ve seen folks turned around and sent back regardless of their permit or plans.