Anyone who has met me knows that I far prefer animals to people. One of the best parts of adventuring for me is when I get to bring along our menagerie of pets. A long day of hiking with the dogs followed by an evening snuggle with the cat makes our camping trips so much more fun. At the same time, bringing our entire family comes with a lot more work. We have a fairly solid system in place for our pets and I’m here to share my tips for how to adventure with your pet.
Training
Before setting out for an adventure with your dog, you want to ensure you have the basics down. Don’t conflate a walk around your neighborhood with a hike in unfamiliar territory. The unknowns and margins for error double when you bring along your pup, so be sure you are putting yourself and your dog in the best situation possible. From gear to training, the more you prepare for your dog, the better position you both are in.
Build Your Relationship: Like any good relationship, your relationship with your dog should anchor in trust. I got Charley when she was 2 years old, and she didn’t trust me at all. At. All. To be fair, I didn’t trust her either.
There was a lot of undoing that needed to happen for her, and it took years for us to get to a space where we fully trusted one another. That trust came from a space of learning. I needed to learn what she liked, disliked, feared, and responded to. She needed to know what I wanted and needed from her.
You can’t rush that process, especially with rescues. Charley had to learn over time that I would never intentionally put her in a bad situation, and when she ended up in one, I was there to positively reinforce the behavior I wanted to see from her.
Charley is not an instigator but doesn’t take any flack from anyone either. This balance made her a bit of a puzzle: she’d run away from conflict, but when it came for her, you best believe she would handle it. She was the dog that proved to me that training does not go from human to dog but is symbiotic; we need to be trained just as much as our animals do.
Charley and I failed and succeeded many times together, but we learned how to work with one another along the way. While I know that there are some triggers that Charley cannot get over, I at least know how to anticipate them and best support her when they happen.
Learn Your Methods: My first animal training experience didn’t occur with dogs, it was with a rat named Cleo. I was in college and we were studying classical conditioning, the theory birthed from Ivan Pavlov. Our grade in the class was tethered to our rat’s ability to roll a marble across a track, push said marble through a hole, and pull down a lever. We did so with positive reinforcement: Cleo got a treat every time she completed one of the steps until she could string them all together. Cleo was a champ and together, we secured an A. This was my initial, actual class in training animals.
Classical conditioning has an everyday space with training my dogs, which we have learned with the help of a local trainer and YouTube. We use clicker training so they associate good things (treats) with the sound of a click. We use a bonk (a rolled-up towel thrown toward them) to dissuade bad behavior. It doesn’t hurt, but dogs, like humans, don’t like things thrown at their heads.
We also use a training collar so they can explore off-leash. Charley can be way up the trail, and with a beep sound, she’s immediately back at my side.
This combination of training reinforces what we want to see in our pets so a) they don’t get themselves into bad situations and b) so they can have a little more freedom under control.
Be Consistent: The most important advice I ever received as a teacher was consistency. Apply your expectations consistently, and your students will always know where they stand. Dogs are no different.
Be consistent in your commands, your reactions, and your self-awareness. Because dogs only understand certain words, an expansive vocabulary does them no good. Find your commands, stick with them, and address the behaviors in the same ways with the same temperament.
While “here” and “come” might mean the same thing in our minds, they are wildly different for our dogs. Whatever you decide for your pets, choose your words and stick to them.
Train Your Pet: These systems are not quick and easy. They take time, attention, and consistency. You can’t simply take your dog to puppy class a few times and expect them to behave. Training never stops. Building your relationship is meant for a lifetime.
The more time you work with your dog, the better your dog will be. The better they are, the more you can adventure together. Train your dog.
Hiking with your Dog
I love hiking alone, but I especially love hiking with my dogs. I find joy in their joy. New smells, new sights, and a chance to meet new dogs. They LIVE for it, so I try to take them as often as possible.
These experiences, however, don’t come with total relaxation. On every adventure, I know that I am responsible for two additional, sometimes unpredictable creatures, and I need to be prepared for whatever we encounter. Uneasy terrain, exposed areas, an accidental step on a cactus, wildlife encounters, etc. are all preparations you need to consider when setting out with your pets.
I already discussed training, an absolute must, in my opinion. You keep yourself and your dog safer, the better trained they are. Here are some other considerations to make when hiking with your dog.
Food & Water: When you set out for a hike, you should always bring water, no matter how long the hike is. You never know what will come up, so be prepared. When you take your dog, you need to double your water supply. Bringing a second dog? Triple it.
Dogs often don’t tell you when they’re thirsty; they’ll muscle through the fun at their body’s expense. Think about your own needs and mirror them for your doggo. If you’re thirsty, so are they. If you’re setting out for a full day, you’ve most likely brought snacks for yourself.
Make sure you have a snack for your dogs. They’re burning calories, too, and often more of them. I have treats on me always so I can train on the trail, but I also do it so they don’t burn themselves out. Charley will come back to me when she needs a little boost. A few quick treats and she’s back up the trail.
Know the Terrain: In 2021, Charley almost made it up Mt. Yale with me. But she didn’t. The final ascent of Mt. Yale is essentially 300 yards of boulders and my old girl didn’t have it in her. She went about 50 feet and turned around. She was shaky, and that was all she had to show me.
I had Summer with me so the two of us could summit separately while the other had a snack with Charley. Had I been alone, I would have turned around with her. Dogs know their limits, so listen to them, especially when they tell you they can’t.
Dog pads are tougher than human feet, but that doesn’t make them invincible. A wrong step could mean a painful hike for your dogs. I’ve picked more cactus out of my dogs’ pads than I can count, which is why preparation is so important. I have tweezers on my multi-tool specifically for the dogs so I can pluck out whatever they get into.
Respect the Trail: While hiking, you may see signs that say “Stay on the Trail,” which are there for many reasons: wayfinding, preservation of flora and fauna, keeping away from animal dens, the list goes on… These same rules apply to your pets.
If your pet is off-leash, have them on steady voice control. I’ve got two bird dogs who love chasing smaller animals, so I am always on high alert for something they can chase after. “Leave it” might be the most useful command you ever teach your dog, and it lends itself to most scenarios you encounter on the trail.
Respecting the trail also means picking up after your pet. Many make the assumption that since other animals are defecating in the woods, your dog can too. That makes sense, right? Wrong.
There are lots of added nutrients and minerals in your dogs food that aren’t often found in the ecosystem where you go hiking. By leaving behind their poop, you are introducing new substances into the ecosystem with uncertain impacts on the surrounding environment.
This chemical difference also means that your dog’s waste will attract other animals; the more your pet leaves along the trail, the more likely they are to draw in unwanted wildlife. And from a courtesy standpoint, if you’re dog is staying on trail, they are also pooping on it. Don’t leave it for other hikers or bikers to navigate around.
Respect Others: Even in the most remote areas in the states, you are bound to run into other hikers on the trail. If you live in Colorado, many of those hikers also have dogs. While your dog may be friendly, others might not. Your dog may love people, but people may not love dogs.
Please be respectful when encountering other hikers on the trail. I make a point to signal the dogs off to the side and make them wait while other hikers go by. When other hikers stop for me, “leave it” comes back into play so the dogs can go past without engaging.
Camping with Your Pets
Whether you’re backpacking, tent camping or hard-shelling it, you must consider accommodations for your pets just like you would yourself. If you’re in a soft shell, your dog is probably going everywhere you’re going, so plan accordingly. If you have a hardshell, you have a little more choice on whether you leave them behind for certain activities.
We prefer our hardshell because it means we can bring Moose. She is accustomed to the finer things in life, as most cats demand, and the trailer becomes her own little chalet.
Regardless of how you do it, there is a little extra planning that comes into play whenever you bring your animals.
Dog Restrictions: Sometimes, you will come across campgrounds with pet restrictions. Most National Parks don’t allow dogs outside of the campground, which is a big consideration to make when deciding to bring your dog. When we were in Black Canyon of the Gunnison, dogs weren’t even allowed outside of your campsite, so Charley stayed with a friend for that trip.
Charley did accompany us to Glacier NP last year, which meant she couldn’t do any hiking in the park. I would wake up early to run with her through the campgrounds and would take her down to the lake where dogs were allowed. A good run and a swim are enough to tucker her out for a day sleeping in the camper.
Charley and Duck were with us in Arches, which had similar restrictions. Since we were so close to Moab, we could take them for some fun hikes outside the park and leave them for our adventures inside. Basically, if you bring your dog camping in places with dog restrictions, prepare yourself for twice the activity.
Temperature: Yes, dogs have fur, but depending on the dog and the conditions, their coat only goes so far. The first backpacking trip I did with Charley had us camping over 11,000 ft in June, which means the temps drop significantly at night. Covering her in my clothes as I had planned just didn’t cut it, so I ended up sharing a very snug mummy sleeping bag with her. If it wasn’t for each other’s body heat, I’m not sure how that trip might have ended up.
When we got home, I immediately ordered a sleeping bag for her. It may seem excessive, but she loves it. It comes with us backpacking, tent camping, and in the trailer. We keep it around the fire at night so whenever she gets cold, she can nose herself inside. Check out my recommendation in the gear section below.
Respect Other Campers: If you’re camping in a designated campground, adhere to the rules they have in place. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve had off-leash dogs wander into our campsite. Their owners aren’t paying attention, barking ensues, and it puts us all on edge.
If you’re dispersed camping, you have a little more freedom for your dogs to roam, but even some dispersed sites put you close enough for others to be bothered by your pet.
If your dog barks incessantly, training is a good thing to establish before you set out camping. Our alarm clock in Salida was an orchestra of dogs barking at one another across campsites. Thankfully, Charley and Duck didn’t choose to get in on the action but were on high alert for whatever the other dogs were barking at.
Respect the Campsite: I already mentioned picking up after your dog on the trail. Please please please do the same at your campsite. There’s nothing worse than setting up your tent to discover that you are setting up in the last dog’s bathroom. It’s common sense, and common courtesy, but as my favorite adage goes: Common sense isn’t for everyone.
On the Water
Summer and I got married under a gazebo in the center of a lake surrounded by mountains. When we were planning, I really wanted to have Charley be a part of the ceremony, but the lake part was going to be a dealbreaker. Charley will spot a body of water from football fields away and head straight towards it. You can’t stop her. She must swim.
Because of Charley’s love for the water, we try to bring her on our paddling adventures as well. Like hiking, these adventures call for additional preparation, but water sports can boast even more significant challenges due to the heightened danger. If you’re bringing your dog on the water, here are tips to keep you both safe.
Swimmers or Sinkers: Some dogs are made to swim, others not so much. We never got Charley’s DNA tested, but Summer thinks she is a Chesapeake Bay Retriever due to her water-wicking wavy fur and webbed feet. Her extra skin, extra fat, and barrel chest also help her swim at the surface rather than sinking to the bottom. Charley is comfortable swimming in lakes and rivers and always manages to keep herself safe.
While Duck got her name in part because of her webbed feet, she is denser, which causes her to sink more than float. It seems obvious, but make sure your dog can swim before putting them out on open water. You don’t want to discover your dog has an innate fear or hatred of water when you arrive. Take them to a place where they can get their feet wet, literally and metaphorically, before setting out for a day on the water.
Safety: The same goes for people and pets; life jackets save lives. Even if your dog is a great swimmer, they get tired and a life jacket will help keep them afloat. Lifejackets also keep your dog safe if a storm blows in, which I have unfortunately had happen a few times out on the water.
One time, we got pushed between some rocks, and Charley got tossed out of the boat. Her lifejacket brought her to the surface, but the surface it brought her to was under my boat. I had to reach under my kayak to get her out.
Her lifejacket probably saved both of our lives that day because I was able to see where she was in the water and could grab the handle to get her out. Had I not been able to see her, I would have jumped in to find her and who knows what would have ensued between the rocks.
I’d also like to point out that I was blowing my emergency whistle on my lifejacket for help to which everyone on the shore just took out their cameras and started filming instead… If someone is blowing their whistle on a boat, it is an emergency and you should try to help however you can.
The extra investment of a lifejacket for your dog should be a no-brainer if you plan to bring your dog on the water.
Gear For Your Pet
Summer and I are total gearheads, so it makes sense that we would invest in gear for our adventuring pets. Other than the basics (leash, collar, food), these are some items that will get you and your furry family member started.
Collapsible Bowls: Space-saving is a huge deal when setting out on an adventure. Invest in a set or two of collapsible bowls for your dog. We have car bowls, camper bowls, and hiking bowls, pretty much every time I set out I carabiner a collapsible bowl to my pack. We even have a little set for Moose since she is, as most cats are, very particular. You can find collapsible bowls at any pet store.
Utility Pack: If you take your dog out with you a lot, it helps to have all their gear in one place. In the past, I would have to transfer the pet gear to whatever pack I was taking out that day. I was searching for something that could permanently house everyday needs (treats, waste bags, bowls, training tools), which is when I found Wilderdog.
Wilderdog is a company that specializes in dog gear and apparel. While you will pay a bit of a premium on some of their gear, it’s built to last, and last it has.
I found this utility pack in a gear shop in Gunnison, and it does everything I need it to. No more switching out gear place to place; I just throw on this pack and I’ve got everything I need.
Dog Backpack: Backpacking with your dog means extra gear to carry. We expect our dogs to help shepherd the load. With a pack harness, your dog will be able to carry food, bowls, and other small items.
When finding the right pack, make sure you find something that holds most of the weight towards their shoulders and upper back. Too much weight on their lower back and hips can cause pain along the trip and down the line for your dog. Most gear shops let you bring your dog in to try out the gear before you buy, which I definitely recommend for fitting your dog for a pack.
My favorite dog gear company, Wilderdog, also has its own version that comes in an assortment of colors. I’ve found that their sizing chart is quite accurate, so make sure to measure before you order. Check out Wilderdog’s dog backpack here.
Sleeping Bag: As I mentioned earlier, a dog sleeping bag may seem ridiculous, but it helps keep them warm in less than ideal temps. You can find an inexpensive bag on Amazon, but I love the new bag I upgraded Charley to. Her new bag is also from Wilderdog made from durable fabric and is warm as can be. It comes with a stuff sack just like your own sleeping bag and packs down pretty well. You can check it out for yourself here.
Lifejacket: As you can tell from the water section of this article, a dog lifejacket is a must if you are spending any time on the water. Not only does it keep your dog safer, but it also allows you to grab ahold of them when you need to. There are a lot of brands out there, but all help keep your dog afloat.
Some come with reflectivity, like the one we just got Duck. She and Charley are both very dark, so they blend right into the water. having a lifejacket makes them more visible. We recently invested in the Arcadia Trail High Visibility Life Jacket for Duck. I like it because it is reflective and has an extra floatation pad that goes under the chin to keep her head above the water. Check it out for yourself here.
Tether: If you’re still working on recall like we are with Duck, you want to invest in a tether for your campsite. You’ll deal with a little tangling while they get used to it, but it’s better than hanging on to a leash all trip, or worse, having to continuously retrieve your dog from somewhere they shouldn’t be.
Stake it to the ground or tie it to something heavy, it will give you and your pet a bit more freedom. You can find a tether at any pet store and at most grocery stores. There are even retractable options that help with detangling, but those must be staked to the ground. If you do a lot of desert camping or frequent very rocky areas, these might not be the best option for you.
Tethers work great for dogs and cats alike. Spaz, our old cat, had his own tether since he loved being outside, but was a bit of a wanderer. If you want to break your pets into camping, a tether is a necessary investment.
Rescue Harness: This is one of those things you never want to have to use, but you don’t want to be without it when you need it. As I mentioned, dogs can get themselves into tricky situations, and sometimes those result in injuries.
We were gifted the Airlift by Fido Pro Emergency Rescue Sling, which comes with me everywhere the dogs go. This is just-in-case gear, but if you have ever had to carry a 50+ lb. dog down a trail, I imagine you’ll have one in hand soon.
Final Notes
Adventuring is always more fun with your best four-legged friends, so make sure you are prepared to keep them safe along the way.
If you have additional questions about how to adventure with your pet, post them in the comments or send us a message here.
Happy exploring!
