Hiking with Your Puppy

 

Hiking with Your Puppy - Puppies can Hike too! 

Hiking with your puppy can be a cute bonding experience and good exercise for everyone. As long as you are properly prepared, it can be a super fun first-time experience!

Take it easy when hiking with a puppy:

The first thing to keep in mind is that your puppy is growing fast, and its skeleton is still developing. Pushing past the daily exercise limit can cause future health issues such as growth plate injuries. (A growth plate is the area at the end of bones- it is soft when they’re young and hardens as their little bodies mature.) Your pup may be a ball of energy and try to keep up with you even when he shouldn’t, so you have to be the good dog parent and know her limits. A good rule of thumb for hiking with puppy is 5 minutes for every month of age. 

A few tips when hiking with a puppy:

• Definitely no hiking before pup is at least 6 months of age. (skeletal growth is still happening!)

• Consider mini- hikes. Anywhere from 15-20 minutes, in a nearby park or the neighborhood for practice. Get your puppy warmed up 😊 

• Make friends! Taking lil pup out for some dog park socialization can be good practice for interactions she may experience with new dogs on a trail. 

• Leash training: Get puppy out of the habit of pulling against the leash. When you go hiking with puppy, this will be no fun for either of you. As positive reinforcement, offer a treat when he doesn’t rush ahead. 

• Bring a puppy backpack. Puppies get tired and will likely need a break before you do. Protect their developing bones and muscles by scooping them up as needed.  A puppy backpack is super helpful, especially if you can get one with a bit of extra space for your puppy hiking essentials. 

• Teach your pup to come when called. Start with a specific call word and praise her when she comes to you. Before hiking with your puppy, try using a long leash and gradually shorten it if she ignores you. Other options are a recall dog whistle or a positive tone of voice. Keep it happy! Dogs can feel the emotion in our voices 😊 

 

Lightly pack your puppy backpack with the things you need to keep pup safe and comfy on his first hike! Be a great human for your little dog!