Climbing with Your Dog 101
One of our all-time favorite activities to do with our dogs is climbing. If your dog enjoys a good mix of hiking and relaxing, then they might enjoy tagging along for your next climbing trip, too! 🧗🏾♀️
As with anything new, becoming a climbing dog might take some time and a bit of trial and error. To help you, we’ve put together our top tips & tricks below. Before you know it, your dog will think of your local crag as their second home.
Safety First
Safety cannot be overlooked before embarking on your climbing expedition—big or small. From training to the right gear and everything in between, a good day can quickly become a bad one if you’re not prepared.
Location: Make sure you’re familiar with the location you plan on exploring. Pack a map, read up on the area, check the weather before leaving, and be sure to tell someone where you will be and when you plan on returning.
Pro Tip: Climbing areas tend to be overly exposed. It is important to monitor any potential weather hazards in the area before and during your trip to avoid lightning danger. As you’re hiking to your spot, take note of safe places along the way where you and your pack can wait out a storm, if need be.
First Aid: Depending on where you choose to climb, you might not see anyone else the entire time you’re out. It is important to know basic first aid not only for yourself, but your furry friend as well. There are a lot of great dog-friendly first aid kits available (some as small as 3 oz), or you can even make your own!
Pack Smart: Whether you’re bouldering, top roping, lead climbing, or sport climbing, you’ll want to make sure you have the right safety equipment packed. Always check your ropes, carabiners, crashpads, and helmets before departing.
Be sure to have an adequate amount of food and water in your pack, first aid supplies, and clothing layers appropriate for any weather conditions you’ll encounter. Don’t forget a safe leash to tether your dog to a nearby tree when it is your turn to climb. Still not sure what to pack? Watching our 11 essentials for time outside with your dog video is a great place to start!
Pro Tip: It can be hard to keep up with how frequently your climbing gear has been used. Take advantage of this free app, GearLog, to track your usage and know when it is time to replace essential equipment.
Fuel Up
By now, we know how important it is to have water and snacks packed for long excursions, but did you know fueling your body (and your dog’s) before the adventure is just as important? Staying hydrated during your climb has a lot to do with how you prepare leading up to your time outside. Be sure to drink plenty of water the day before a long trip, and don’t forget to hydrate when you get home as well.
When it comes to fueling your pup, Free Spirit dog food has the right protein and nutrients for any of your bucket list adventures.
Take Your Time
Just like anything new, take time to introduce climbing to your dog. Let them sniff the gear, explore the crash pad (that could easily be mistaken as a comfy new dog bed 😉), look over the noisy, metal carabiners and trad equipment, and become comfortable being tethered to a tree with you working near them before hitting the trail.
It might take your dog time to get used to this new style of adventuring. Start out with shorter climbing trips, so they can become familiar with the activity before working up to longer, extended expeditions.
The truth is, not all dogs will enjoy joining you on your climbing adventures, and that is okay! Never challenge your dog to do something they do not like or feel comfortable with. There are many other ways to get outside with your dog. Maybe they are more of a kayaker!
Have Fun!
Don’t be afraid to get a little dirty and have fun out there! We love keeping up with all of our fans’ adventures, so be sure to tag @TriumphPetFood so we can share your accomplishments on our social channels.
