How to hike with an anxious dog – PLAY

By Sophie Moller on Sep 1, 2022

Hiking through the wilderness is exhilarating and worthwhile, especially if you have your furry furry friend next to you. Many dogs enjoy a long outdoor run away from the city. Therefore, if you plan to go hiking somewhere, it is best to bring your dog with you for exercise.

However, hiking with a reactive dog is another story. Anxious puppies are often difficult to manage on hikes. This is especially the case if they encounter other people, dogs and wild animals along the way. Despite the challenges, it’s not impossible to go on a hike with your anxious dog. It just takes a lot of preparation, patience and understanding.

If you want to accompany your responsive dog on your next hike, consider these tips to make the experience hassle-free:

1. Stock up on gear

You invest in good shoes and clothing suitable for hiking as a hiker, and you should do the same for your dog. A collar, harness and leash will keep your pup safe on all your walks and make sure he doesn’t run off unexpectedly. Harnesses, in particular, are great for providing some comfort to a reactive dog. So, you need to find high quality equipment for your dog and try to avoid the cheap looking ones available at many pet stores.

When looking for wearable gear for responsive dogs, make sure it’s the right size—not too loose or too tight. A harness designed for intense physical activity such as cani cross must be suitable for hiking. It should withstand the tug and pull of large dogs, in particular, and last for an extended period of time.

You can find appropriate collars, leashes and harnesses for cani cross and other high octane canine activities at many reputable dog supply stores. Look for ones with a measurement chart for each product. Always check all the necessary information to ensure your responsive dog has something comfortable and safe to wear on your hikes together.

2. Know Your Dog’s Triggers

A dog owner needs to know what triggers their pet’s anxiety. It’s different for every dog, much like it is for humans. As a brief guide for you, here are the most common triggers for dogs:

• Other dogs or animals
• The other people
• loud noises
• Vehicles or bicycles

If you know your dog is anxious but aren’t sure what triggers it, take him for a regular walk around the neighborhood and observe him. Sometimes just staying home can manifest certain triggers. You’ll often know when your dog is having an anxiety attack when you notice any of the following symptoms:

• Assault
• Rhythm
• panting heavily
• Shaking and shivering
• Excessive barking or whining

Once on a hike, be prepared for these triggers to occur. Stay alert and observant at all times. If possible, stay on a hiking trail that hikers don’t frequent. But if you can’t avoid it, do your best to get far enough away from the trigger and your dog. Depending on your dog’s training, you can also do counter conditioning to help desensitize your dog to stimuli.

Plus, hiking with your anxious dog can be fun if you play familiar games with him. Play fetch with their favorite toy or perform basic obedience tricks with them while hiking. This will make your dog less stressed about being in a new place and will learn that not all places are scary.

3. Bring treats

All dogs love treats. Along with bringing enough water for your dog on the hiking trail, don’t forget to bring your furry friend’s snacks. It doesn’t matter if it’s a homemade treat or a store-bought product. This will keep them from getting too hungry along the way and distract them from possible triggers they will encounter on the hike. You can even use treats to reward your dog for calm behavior.

Be sure to only offer your dog a treat if he is behaving properly. This means no treats when they react badly or do something unfavorable while hiking. This will help your dog learn that even if his triggers affect him, he will get a treat if he acts calmly or focuses on you, not the stimuli.

4. Take a break when your dog is too tired

While hiking, periodically check on your dog to see if he is doing well. Dogs can also be physically and emotionally exhausted. So if you notice them acting differently a few minutes into the hike, it’s best to take a breather.

Never force your dog to continue hiking with you if he is too tired to continue. After all, you wouldn’t want others to do the same to you. Your dog’s well-being matters too. And it doesn’t hurt to come back and go home after a good hike. Even if you’ve only hiked for a few minutes, you need to understand that your dog may not enjoy it anymore.

5. Rest and decompress

Decompressing is essential after taking your dog hiking with you. Exploring new places can be mentally taxing on a reactive dog, so it’s important to let them relax as soon as you get home. Let your dog rest for a few hours with no stimuli, no extra activities, and most importantly, no guests.

Make sure your dog rests in a comfortable and secure place. You need your furry friend to settle in after a fun day on the trail. After all, you would also like to sleep after an exhausting day at work or school.

Conclusion

Hiking with an anxious dog is not impossible. If you truly love and understand your furry friend, find ways to have fun together without sacrificing their sanity. It takes time and patience, but eventually your dog will figure it out. Soon they might be excited for their next hike with you.

About the Author:

Sophie Moller is a professional groomer with over seven years of experience and a dog lover. She writes articles on how to live with anxious animals and how to make their life much more comfortable. She enjoys outdoor sports like jogging and cycling in her spare time, especially with her Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Blue.