Going Out on the Trail with Your Dog

Do you have a furry friend watch you pull out the driveway as you leave for your trail outing? Your dog can also enjoy the fun and benefits of being in the woods and on trails as well. Dogs have a lot of energy and require exercise too. Depending on the type of dog you have will determine the extent of running he can do. Most medium to large size dogs from the hunting or working class groups (or a combination thereof) do well with trail running. Keep in mind that an overweight or older dog may have a tough time trying to keep up but will still like the outing, so exercise accordingly. Before the first time, it’s a good idea to talk to your dog’s veterinarian about what you have in mind for him. It’s important that your dog can deal with the rigors and intensity of a trail run. If you are mountain biking with your dog, bikes can move right along at a good pace and cover many miles. If the dog is just a puppy, it’s recommended to leave him home until he is at least 9 to 12 months old. After he has gotten a little older, start your first slow and short outing someplace where you can work out the little details. Dogs are instinctively pack animals and if you lead they will follow. Since he will be off the leash he needs to know a few important commands. The most important ones are “stay” and “come”. Control of Fido is very important because of all the distractions on the trail. Distractions come in many forms, such as other people and possibly their dogs, horses, wildlife and vehicles. 

If you start your outing from a spot near a busy road, it might be a good idea to keep him on a leash until you are ready to leave. I have found another good way to break him in is to take him with a group of other people and their dogs. He will most likely be so excited to be in the woods, around you and the other dogs that he will follow without question; again it’s the pack idea. Before you hit the trail you should have a checklist for Fido. Your list should include a water bottle just for him, a leash, and some first aid supplies and maybe some treats to lure him back when he strays. I also like a bright orange vest, it makes them more visible to you and others and a good idea during hunting seasons.

So, you and your dog are headed down the trail, now what? Well you’ll find that while you are following some kind of trail, your 4-legged buddy will be running from one side of the trail to the other, smelling all those scents that dogs love. Some dogs can put on a lot more miles than you, so keep that in mind when watching your mileage because he will have more. Most dogs will want to be out front, but because of their sniffing, they may lag for a few and then come charging up thru. It’s important for you to hold your line, because that is what the dog is expecting, dodging and trying to predict where he will go could lead to a collision. A few things that the new trail dog must also learn is to stay away from the bike’s front wheel or ski tips and even stopping in the middle of the trail, not good. Usually if you shout “Go!” works, but sometimes a collision happens. Both you and the dog need to be alert and aware of what is going on. Sometimes a friendly low speed bump to the rump from your front wheel or ski pole can quickly bring this important point clear.

There are some dogs that have so much energy or get so excited when they get out on the trail that controlling them can be a real handful if not nearly impossible. You need to evaluate the excitable dog. The last thing you want is for him to take off and end up lost. I have had good luck with training collars for dogs off leash in the woods. Some people don’t like them for whatever reason but I feel corrections for unwanted behavior and done properly can keep the dog with me, safe and sound. With something like this, it requires time and work but it may be the best way to train your dog in a big wide open wooded area. All E-collars have a “beeping/tone” option which is the desired end result form of correction. All my dogs that have worn e-collars have had excellent recall with just the tone sound. Discussing training collars would require more space then I have here and there is good info on the internet. ‘SPORTDOG’ is a good place to start.  

An important side note, if it is very warm and muggy outside you may have to leave him home but that is easier said than done, so in my case I’ll pack us some water and just hike instead of a bike ride. If it’s really cold outside your dog may like a jacket and/or dog booties, ‘RUFFWEAR’ makes quality dog stuff.

Trail time with your dog can be a challenge, but patience and time will make it well worth the effort. Just remember, that it will be difficult to pull out the driveway without taking your buddy along. Happy trails to you and your furry friends!