Caesar and I are preparing to head for Tennessee to hike in the Great Smoky Mountains. While we’ve done several hiking trips around Ohio, this will be our longest trip so far. Through trial and error, I’ve learned that there are some must-haves when taking your dog on an extended hiking trip.
1. Water, Water, Water
This is the most obvious item. Usually, when we travel I stop and get a 24 pack of water. Depending on the time of year, you may need more or less water. On trails, I do not personally drink a lot of water in order to avoid having to use the restroom, but this doesn’t work for dogs. They need as much water as they are willing to drink, especially in the spring and summer when it’s hot.
Usually, most of my backpack is filled with bottles of water for Caesar. I also try to pick out trails that run along rivers or creeks. This really helps cut down the amount of water I have to carry because Caesar loves to play in streams.
My rule for packing water, though, is to pack way more than I think I will need. Even with a stream here and there, on a recent four mile hike, Caesar went through five bottles of water.
I carry a collapsible water bowl that I hook to my backpack. I prefer the collapsible bowl because it is light weight and doesn’t take up a lot of space.
2. Harness/collar and leashes
I used to make Caesar wear a doggy backpack and would have him carry his own water, but as he’s gotten older and waddles more, I wanted to make it easier on him. Now, we stick to using a padded harness.
I almost never use Caesar’s collar. I opt for a harness so he’s not choking himself and because it has a handle on it that has been useful several times on steep climbs. In Hocking Hills, the handle made it far easier to help him up rocks.
Though I’ve yet to actually need it, I always pack an extra leash just in case. Whether you opt for a collar, doggy backpack, or harness, make sure it fits properly, that your dog can’t slip it, and that it isn’t rubbing roughly, which can cause sores to develop.
3. The right food and treats (and bowls)
Caesar doesn’t take treats from strangers and apparently he doesn’t like to eat his dog food in strange places. In Hocking Hills, he refused to eat which is not something you want to deal with when you’re trying to hike 10 miles with your dog. You and your dog need energy to hike and that comes from eating the right foods.
In Hocking Hills, I ended up having to feed Caesar eggs and cooked meat so he would eat. On our next trip, a few weeks later, I packed a food that I knew he couldn’t resist – wet dog food. Because I don’t want to spoil him, I now take half wet and half dry food to mix. The important thing is that he eats.
I also make sure to pack healthy treats while we are on the trail to give him a little something for his stomach. So far, some of the best treats I’ve found that he can’t resist are Blue Wilderness Trail Treats.
Don’t forget to pack a dog food bowl and water bowl if you are staying over night! Otherwise you might find yourself making a trip to the store (I learned this the hard way).
4. First Aid Supplies
This is for both you and your dog. After Caesar managed to rub through a thorn bush in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and after I got blisters so big I couldn’t walk right for a week, I realized just how important a first aid kit is. While the pet store sells really nice, fancy dog first aid kits, after some research, I found that the human first aid kits work just as well for one-third the price. They come with bandages, wound cleaning supplies, aspirin, Neosporin, and other items that are safe for your dog. The only extra thing I added for dogs was a tick tornado, which is an item that is used to pull ticks from skin with ease. Luckily, I haven’t had to use that yet.
So far, the Johnson & Johnson first aid kit found at most stores has had everything I have needed when the occasion arose.
5. Grooming supplies
This one isn’t a total necessity if you are lucky enough to have a pet store with a pet wash near. In Ohio we have Pet Valu’s that include dog washes. I realized after washing Caesar at a hotel that it was much easier to pay the $10 fee to bathe him at Pet Valu.
However, not every area has a dog wash. Hocking Hills did not and I learned that it can be pretty important to bring a towel and shampoo along unless you want mud in your hotel bed.
Not only does giving your dog a bath after a hike clean them of mud and dirt, but it gives you a chance to feel them over to make sure no critters are hitching a ride. Whether you give your dog a bath or not after a hike, I highly suggest you inspect them for ticks and other pests. I certainly don’t want anyone hopping aboard the SS Caesar.
The towels came in handy when Caesar took a dip in the river when we were close to the car. I was able to dry him off before he got back into my vehicle. There is a lot of sand in Hocking Hills and Cuyahoga Valley National Park thanks to the abundance of sandstone. Giving him a bath and brushing him off with a towel before we got to the hotel was a necessity.
Miscellaneous
I’m not going to give this a number because this category is technically not “necessary” things, but it gives you an idea of other items I pack for Caesar that are nice things to have around.
Carseat cover and seatbelt. If you travel with your dog a lot, I highly suggest getting a hammock carseat cover. To me, this is a must-have for my car. It’s prevented a lot of dirt, hair, and stains from making their home in my backseat. In addition, I always bring the seatbelt attachment with us on long trips. It connects to the car seatbelt clip and onto your dog’s harness. In case of a car accident, this could prevent your dog from injury or from flying through your windshield.
Bandanas. Dog’s look friendlier in scarves. I’m not sure this is a fact but I swear there is truth to it. Caesar gets a lot of compliments on his bandanas so I always pack them. Plus, he looks more adventurous with them on.
Poop bags. This probably should be on the “necessary” list but I didn’t include them because a lot of dog friendly places provide these. Almost every rest stop I’ve been to has doggy bags available, but it’s always good to take your own just in case. Don’t ruin it for other dog owners: clean up after your dog.
Treat holder. Attached to the outside of my personal backpack is four things: pepper spray, poop bags, Caesar’s water bowl, and a treat holder. The treat holder makes it really easy for me to reach back and grab Caesar a snack. I get a lot of my best photos of Caesar by using treats. I’ve found the treat holder pretty handy. It beats taking my backpack off every time.
Through trial and error, you’ll find out what your dog needs and what he can live without on an extended hike. Most of this stuff is not needed if you are just taking a day-trip together, but I’ve found all of it very useful when I stay overnight somewhere.
With our bags packed, Caesar and I are headed to the mountains! Happy hiking!