Nothing better than taking a walk in the lap of nature. To get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life and enjoy life in its natural state, we should all opt for hiking from time to time. Of course, regular walks also help us keep fit. The best companion for a walk is your pet dog.

Dogs may have been domesticated by man, but they are still better than us when it comes to the harsh life of the jungle. You will have a faithful ally by your side if you take your dog. There are many cases in which domestic dogs saved their owners’ lives after mishaps during walks.

There are a few things to keep in mind when taking your dog on hiking tours. The most important factors are listed below:

o Make sure your pet dog is healthy enough to accompany you on the hiking trip. Take your dog to your vet and have him checked out. Never take a sick dog on such a trip. You will face numerous problems if your dog becomes seriously ill.

o Make sure your dog is acclimatized for the walk. We take many precautions to protect our feet and other parts of the body from excessive stress while hiking. You cannot get shoes for your dog. The next best option is to make sure the dog is used to stress.

o The best way to condition your dog is to take him for long walks every day. Start with a short distance and keep increasing the distance until you are sure the pet is ready for the walk.

o You can also turn to activities like jogging, looking for tennis balls, and swimming to get your dog in good shape.

o After conditioning your pet’s heart, take care to harden the toes. The pads of your dog’s foot must be able to withstand the strain. A dog with a bleeding foot pad can become a very heavy load on the walk.

o Prepare your dog’s nameplate and license and make sure the rabies vaccine is up-to-date. Have your vet insert a microchip to make sure your dog can be found very easily.

o Never forget the fact that the trail restrictions are for your safety. Ignore them at your own risk. If the path requires the dog to be on a leash, obey the rule. Also, be sure to clean up your dog’s mess along the way.

Keep track of your dog after arriving at your hiking site

Respect the ‘No dogs allowed.

Do not take your dog to such a park unless you have trained him well to obey your commands. If you have a puppy, use a ten foot long leash to train the puppy to come back to you when you call. If the puppy refuses to obey, use the leash to keep him under control.