It’s been a scorching summer, and hiking has become hard! How are your dogs handling hiking in the heat? Trainer Windy has some tips for helping to make your hikes fun and safe, even in the heat:
Plan ahead.
Water is crucial to staying alert and refreshed while hiking. Try freezing plastic water bottles half full of water several hours before your hike, and then fill the icey bottles with water right before you leave. Take enough for yourself, and your dog(s), plus a little extra. Leave a couple of bottles behind in the car while you hike, so that you definitely have some after the hike, and pack the rest in. This will give you ice cold water while hiking, and lightening the load as the hike progresses is a great motivation to keep everyone fully hydrated! Be sure to take a water bowl with you. There are many collapsible bowls on the market that fit easily in backpack, but even a small tupperware can work, as long as your dog will put their muzzle into it. Remember to take regular water breaks, and use any water left behind in the water bowl to wet the insides of your dog’s ears, tummy, and paw pads. These are the places with the least amount of hair, and the water helps cool them quicker there.
Choose your hikes carefully. Either go early in the morning, while it is still cool out, and the foliage is dewy enough to keep your dog wet, or choose a hike higher up in the mountains (where it is cooler), with plenty of fresh water on the trail and plenty of shade. If you are uncertain where to go, there are hikes with plenty available fresh water around the Sunburst Campground (in Pisgah National Forest), Little East Fork (also in Pisgah National Forest), the Art Loeb trail, and the Mountains to Sea trail, as well as on the parkway trails at Graveyard Fields, Standing Rock Over Look, and Woodfin Cascades Overlook, to name a few. Encourage your dog to drink water at every opportunity (you can teach them to do this by saying “get some water” each time you see them drink water at home and on walks). Water on the trail is great for them to drink, but also they can lay in it, and soak their paws in the cool water. Give them plenty of time to hydrate and cool off.
Consider your gear and how long you plan to be out. While you will probably want to cover your legs with pants to protect your skin from poison ivy/oak, and potential snake bites, you want to be sure the fabric you wear is breathable. Hats can protect you from the sun, but can also trap heat in. Make sure your dog’s pack isn’t making them even hotter. Dog packs are great for carrying extra water and accessories, but can trap heat against their skin. One way to prevent this is to put a cooling vest underneath. Cooling vests use water to keep their skin cooler and provide “sweat”, so make sure to re-wet your cooling vest when you need to. You should also consider carrying a first aid kit for both dogs and people, and for longer hikes consider a sling for carrying a medium to big dog out, just in case the worst happens. Keeping bear spray handy is always a good idea, always be alert to wildlife. You rarely see wildlife when hiking with dogs, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t around. If your dog isn’t great at coming when called, be sure to carry extra motivating treats, and bring a long line with you. It goes without saying that your dog should have identification on its collar, where it is easy for someone to read your phone number if your dog goes missing.
Stay alert.
Pay attention to everyone in your group - people and dogs alike. If anyone is lethargic, or having trouble breathing, STOP in a shady spot and try to hydrate. Having cool water (hence the icey water bottles) to drink will help bring down your internal temperature, and can be used on exposed skin to speed up this process, such as your wrists, the back of your neck, and face. Watch your dogs carefully for limping or heavy breathing and try to keep them within your eyesight. Many people use bells so that they can hear where their dog is in heavy undergrowth, and as a bear deterrent.
Be aware that many of the trails around WNC may not have good cell access, so load your digital map, or pack a paper map if you don’t know the trails. Also be aware that dogs are not allowed on the trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but they are allowed on trails off the Blue Ridge Parkway, on leash. National forests allow dogs off leash, so be aware that there may be other off leash dogs in those areas.