Ambassador Highlight | Tips for Adventuring With Your Pack
Adventuring with Tia is one of my favorite things to do. Both of us live for the days when we can get out and explore the world around us. We have spent a lot of time on adventures and on these explorations, I have learned a few tips and tricks that helped the excursions go smoothly for us. Here are five tips to help create the best adventure for you and your pup.
Find Dog Friendly Locations
First and foremost is doing enough research to find dog friendly locations. Before we even leave the house, I spend a lot of time figuring out where to go. As much as I would love to take Tia everywhere, dogs are often not allowed in various National and State Parks or even on different trails. I am always looking for places that we can go together without breaking any rules. I also always check the local leash laws wherever we are going. Apps like Alltrails and Hiking Project will list whether a trail is dog friendly. State and National Park websites will also list what parts of the park dogs are allowed to visit. Planning ahead will help create a great start to any adventure.
Pack Proper Gear
Depending on the adventure, we always make sure to bring the right gear. Having the right gear will make all the difference on how your day will go. If you are going camping, bring a sleeping bag for you and for your pup if you have one. The nights can get cold and sleeping on the ground increases the amount of heat lost. We always bring a lot of extra blankets to pile up to keep everyone warm as well as a leash, regardless if we are hiking or camping. If we are backpacking or hiking, we bring a good hiking pack, lots of poop bags, snacks for the trek, a good map of the area, and a first aid kit fitted for both humans and dogs. When hiking, dogs spend a lot more energy, so they will need more food than they would need normally. If the trail doesn’t have water, be sure to bring a water bowl and water.
Leave No Trace
It is always important to follow proper Leave No Trace protocols while you are exploring. The biggest thing to remember to do is to be sure to pick up your dog’s poop. Bring poop bags and a way to take the poop back with you. There are dry bags, packs or pack hooks you can use to carry the poop bag so you don’t have to smell it. Some people use an old water bottle to carry out poop to help with the smell. Make sure to stay on marked trails and do as much as you can to not create social trails. While it can be fun to create cairns out of stone, it can cause potential environmental problems. It can confuse hikers as well as disturb homes for animals and plants. Please be sure to leave the stacking to the trail smiths and park rangers. Always pick up litter that you find and leave the place you are visiting better than you found it!
Have Good Trail Manners
Sometimes we can all get very excited to be outside and see the beauty nature has to offer. It can be easy to forget that other people are out enjoying it as well but might not appreciate having your dog run up to say hi. It’s important to be sure to have good manners and make it enjoyable for everyone on the trail. Check the leash laws and be sure to follow them. If the trail is off leash, your dog should have a good recall before you trust them off leash. A good trick to teach your dog is “touch”. Train your dog to touch your hand whenever they hear the command. That way, if they took off down the trail, calling touch will bring then straight back to you. I always make sure Tia comes back to me if we ever see another person or animal on the trail ahead. I try to keep my eye out for wildlife and make sure to leash Tia if I see any animals around us that she could scare or chase. We do our best to be respectful and kind to others by stepping off the trail to let others pass.
Tell People Where You’re Going
The last tip I have is to always make sure someone knows where you are and when you plan on being back. The last thing anyone wants while out exploring is an accident, but just in case something does happen, if someone does know where you are and knows you aren’t home when you said you would be, they can take action. Hopefully it never happens to you and your pup, but it is always good to be prepared.
Now that you have everything you need to prepare you for your adventure, the most important tip is to have fun. Getting outside is the one of the best things you can do and no matter how big or small your adventure is, be sure to enjoy your time. Your dog will love the fresh air and show their gratitude with a plethora of kisses before bed.
