Trails and short hikes are an awesome
way to get out of the house and
experience the outdoors with your dog.
Today I've got 15 tips to make that as
enjoyable as possible,
coming up.
Ian here with Simpawtico Dog Training and
before we start traipsing around the
woods here, please make sure you're
subscribed so you never miss any of our
videos. Also like our page on facebook so
we can get better acquainted; you'll find
that at facebook.com/simpatico.
training, and don't forget to check the
description below for notes, links, and
resources about the stuff we talked
about.
Now we're here today at Personius Woods
which is the dog friendly area of the
Tanglewood Nature Center in Elmira, New
York. There are five trails here ranging
from about a quarter-mile to just under
two miles. I'm here today with my
nine-year-old boston terrier, Bobo, and
we're going to do the Cottontail trail.
Before you embark on your little mini
adventure you need to think a little bit
about the stuff you're going to wear, use,
and bring so tip number one is to gear
up right. Make sure both you and your dog
are equipped properly for the day's
adventure. The regular hardware you use
may not be the best thing in every
instance. Be flexible and approach each
adventure as its own little thing. For
dogs you'll want to use a flat collar or
a body harness. Front harnesses restrict
some motion in the shoulders so a body
harness is the safest most secure option.
If your dog doesn't walk well on a leash
then a front-hook harness is the best
choice for you, in which case you'll want
to stick to flat trails on firm ground.
Use a solid leash. If your dog is
well-trained a retractable leash will give
them a little more space to have fun.
There is a caveat to using one, though: a lot
of trainers out there and even someone
YouTube say that the best way to use a
retractable is to throw it in the trash.
I personally think that that's superficial
problem-solving. A retractable leash is a
tool and like any tool there are proper
ways to use it and improper ways to use
it, and there are skilled users and
unskilled users. You have to take into
account your handling skills and how
well-behaved your dog is. If your dog is
not well behaved and does not respond to
commands amidst distractions
you should not use a retractable leash.
Also use a seat cover and some kind of
car restraint for your dog.
This will keep your dog safe during the
drive and your car clean after the hike.
Tip number two: identify. Guys, things
happen. Collars break, leashes drop
harnesses slip off.
It's critical that your dog is carrying
ID at all times when they're away from
home so you can make sure they get back
home safely. Number three: obey the leash
rules. Leashes are required for several
reasons.
It's for your safety, your dog's safety, the
safety of other people, and the safety of
other dogs. There are countless variables
in a public setting that you cannot
predict. No matter how good you think
your dog is, it's not always about your
dog causing the problem. Sometimes it's
other people, other animals, and factors
you've never even dreamed of. Also just
because your dog is friendly doesn't
mean all dogs are friendly.
That's called normalcy bias and we
talked about that in the walking safety
video.
Not everyone you meet on the trail wants
to meet your dog.
Some people don't like dogs, or are
afraid of dogs, or can't physically handle
being jumped on. Everyone has the right
to walk in a public place without having
to encounter your loose dog. The concept
of consent applies here just as much as
anything else in our lives.
Tip number four: think about critter
control.
First off, be aware of the kind of
critters you can encounterin your area. Here
in upstate New York we have a ton of ticks.
We also have black bears and, in these
hills, rattlesnakes. The best critter
control strategy is being proactive. For
starters, dog's should have a flea and tick
repellent or treatment.
You may want to consider vaccinating
your dog against Lyme disease too. Also a
bear Bell is a good thing to clip onto
your leash, your dog, or even your
backpack. Most wildlife will beat it if
they hear you coming.
Number five: consider a trek pole or a
walking stick.
Trekking poles and walking sticks not
only help with balance, but also help
reduce the wear and tear on your knees
and legs while improving overall
circulation.
Don't forget to think about first aid. A
good first aid kit isn't just for the
dog,
it's for you too. There are occasionally
going to be nicks and scrapes, bites and
stings, and minor irritations. There may
potentially be more serious cuts and
scrapes if you or your dog take a tumble,
which is always more likely if you're
managing a dog on a leash.
I've got an easily accessible trauma kit
that's attached to the back of my car
seat so I always have it with me.
You could also get one of these small
kits at your sporting goods store and
drop it in your pack or stow it in the
glove box of your car. Please make sure
that you always pack your poo. Dog poop
is one of the most common carriers of
parasites like tapeworm and round worms,
and bacteria like Salmonella, giardia and
cryptosporidiosis. In 1991 the EPA
labeled dog poop as a non-point source
pollutant which technically puts it in
the same category as insecticides, oil
grease, and acid drainage from old mines.
Awesome! I'm not trying to scare you.
All of us dog owners deal with dog poop
every day and if you're smart by using
baggies, disposing of it responsibly, and
watching your hands you'll be fine. But
allowing many dogs to poop in an area
that is not picked up can potentially
lead to serious issues.
Case in point: the EPA estimates that two
or three days worth of poop from a
population of about a hundred dogs would
contribute enough bacteria to temporarily
close a bay and all watershed areas
within 20 miles of it to swimming and
shell fishing. Wow! Plus dog poop
doesn't biodegrade like deer or squirrel
poop does, and it's annoying to see, smell,
and especially step in when you're out
walking. Bottom line is pick it up, pack
it out, and dispose of it like a grown-up.
Even though the outdoors are beautiful,
keep an eye on your dog and watch for
signs of heat stroke. If your dog's
internal temperature gets over a hundred
and nine degrees you're going to have
serious trouble.
Know your dog's limits and don't allow
them to overexert themselves. They'll
just keep on truckin to make you happy
so you've got to be sensitive and smart.
If you see a bright red tongue hanging
out the side of their mouth, deep labored
panting, lethargy and other symptoms you
should get into the shade, stop, and wet
their chest and armpits. In serious
cases heatstroke can even be fatal;
you may need to hightail it to your vet.
Best bet is to be proactive though so
make sure you take breaks. Whether or not
your dog is getting overheated it's a
good idea in any event to stop and take
periodic breaks. Sit on a bench, hang out
in the shade and get a drink of water.
Tip 10: bring a carabiner. There are
plenty of reasons why you may want to be
hands-free for a moment. Being able to
clip to your belt, backpack, a tree, or a
bench can be very beneficial. If you need
to get something from a pack. get a drink
of water. or just want to take a picture
of something cool being able to secure
your dog for a moment is important. Don't
cheap out on this.
Do not buy you one of those carabiners
you find at Walmart next to the register
to put your keys on. These are not rated for
weight and the pins will fall out of the
hinge. Get a climbing carabiner with a
locking gate. I picked this one up at
field and stream for about 16 bucks and
I've got two more locked to D-rings in
the back of my car. Train a bomb-proof
recall. Having your dog come when you
call is not just a basic skill it's a
potentially life-saving one. A fun way to
proof recalls is to have your dog come to you
every so often during your walks. Every
hundred yards or every ten minutes or so
stop, call your dog to you and then reward
them immediately with praise and the
continuance of the walk. Train a
bomb-proof Leave It. Out here there are
mushrooms and fungus on the trail. In the
fall like this you might not see them
amongst the leaves but your dog's nose
will sniff it out.
There's also mistletoe, poison ivy and
poison oak, sumac, not to mention wildlife.
Don't just practice your Leave It inside
in the kitchen.
Take it outside and proof it with
distractions while you're in motion. Thirteen:
bring a towel. If there's dirt, mud, or
snow on your dog a brief toweling down
will be a necessary step before they get
into the car. Wiping them off is also a
good time to do a post-adventure
assessment. Use this time to check for
ticks,
most importantly. You should have a tick
remover in your first-aid kit or at
least one that you brought along. Also
look burrs, cuts, and allergic reactions.
Immediate issues can be addressed with
your first-aid kit. Make a note of other
stuff to take care of when you get home.
Finally guys the last one is just being
an ambassador for dog owners. Don't let
your dog trample vegetation off the
trail, don't let them chase small animals,
don't let them harass other people out
walking, and definitely don't let them
leave poop everywhere.
Having our dogs in places like this is a
privilege and a responsibility so we need
to act accordingly. Privileges can be
taken away if there are too many
incidents involving off-leash dogs and
dog pooping left behind.
It's up to us to be responsible and keep
these places open to dogs. There aren't
enough places as it is, so set an example
of what responsible dog ownership should
look like.
Well that's it everybody. Thanks for
joining me and Bobo on our little
excursion today and I hope you found
those 15 tips useful. Question for you:
what are your favorite short trail and
hiking tips...what gear do you recommend? What are
some things maybe we forgot?
Let me hear from you in the comments.
Don't forget to give us a thumbs up if
you learned something useful and as always:
keep learning, keep practicing, and we'll
see you next time. Thanks for watching!