5 Tips For Hiking With Your Dog

Today, 7 June, is Global Running Day. Some of you may choose to hit the trails with your dog, so we thought we’d share a few tips.

1. Make sure your dog is well-trained and is fit and healthy enough. Take into account your dog’s breed, size, age, and personality to ensure your dog would make a suitable trail companion.
2. Keep your dog on a leash and stick to the designated trails. In New Zealand, we have a lot of endangered flora and fauna that need protection. Therefore, it’s important dogs don’t go wandering and upset these species. Keeping to designated trails also reduces the spread of diseases, such as Kauri Dieback.
3. Take a dog bottle with fresh drinking water to ensure your dog is kept hydrated. Just like us, our dogs need breaks, snacks, and water to keep their energy levels up and prevent heatstroke. Make sure your dog has fed at least 1 hour before embarking on your journey, and 30 minutes after.
4. Respect the hiking environment and other trail users by picking up after your dog. Use pet waste bags to clean up after your dog and put them in rubbish bins as you come across them.
5. Be prepared with plenty of pet supplies. While you might want to travel lightly, it’s still important to ensure you’re prepared and have all the supplies you might need. Here’s a list of supplies you might need

• Food and treats
• Fresh and safe drinking water
• Leash and Collar
• Disposable pet waste bags
• Pet first aid kit
• Pet sunblock and insect repellent
• Protective dog clothing and booties
• SteriGENE disinfectant spray to disinfect gear, including footwear

This global running day, we hope you have fun taking to the trails with your best friend while having fun and being prepared.