Tips before Fido joins you on the trail

The warm weather can create several safety issues for dogs and their owners.


Tips before Fido joins you on the trail

A dalmatian is walked along the trail in Peters Canyon Regional Park.

Q. Dear Marie, I've just adopted a 2-year-old shepherd mix from the animal shelter. We've named her Bonnie. She is lively and lots of fun and has already settled nicely into my home. I can't say enough good things about her, and to anyone who thinks that pound-pets are rejects, you've just not given these guys the chance they deserve. My husband and I are avid hikers. We'd like to take Bonnie with us but this will be a brand new experience. We've never hiked with a dog before. Do you have any tips that you can give us? – Thanks, Jeanne, Jerry, and Bonnie

A. Congratulation on adopting Bonnie! I completely agree that shelter pets make great companions, and I wish there were more people like you giving dogs like her a second chance. More and more often, animals at shelters have been given up due to economic reasons rather than anything else. So just like Bonnie, a pretty significant number of shelter dogs are already trained and essentially turn-key pets.

As far as hiking goes, always check to see if dogs are welcome on the trails you plan to visit. Generally, dogs are allowed on leash in most areas, but there are some environmentally sensitive locations that prohibit dogs. I'd hate to see you make a long trip for nothing.

You'll want to make sure Bonnie is physically ready for hiking. To do this, walk in your neighborhood with her two to three times a day, gradually increasing the distance. Even though she won't protest, if you take her out on a 5- or 10-mile nature hike without working up to this distance, she's going to suffer physically. Dogs mask muscle aches and pains, so you won't know she's in any discomfort.

This time of year there are a lot of foxtails and burrs in wooded areas. These nasty little plant parts can end up in ear canals, nostrils, between toes, or wound up tightly in fur. They can cause ear infections, ruptured eardrums, and skin injuries. Be sure to thoroughly check Bonnie's ears, nose, toes, and coat after every hike and remove all burrs and foxtails before they create problems. This is also a good time to check for ticks which tend to latch on under tails, behind ears, and in the warm parts of the abdomen, especially around the inside tops of legs. If you haven't already started using a product such as Frontline, I would definitely recommend it, especially since you will probably be hiking through tick-infested areas.


You'll also want to make sure Bonnie has plenty of water. Carry a collapsible bowl with you and bring along extra water. Remember, dogs cannot cool themselves the way humans do, so watch for signs of over-heating and get Bonnie into the shade whenever possible. I recommend hiking with dogs in the early morning or early evening when it is still relatively cool.



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