Adventuring with your Dog
Looking to take your 4 legged friend out on adventures? Read on to get some top tips when adventuring woth your dog!
If there is an easy way to enhance your day on the hill, on the water or at an evenings campsite, it is to bring along your dog. Ever enthusiastic, they will never complain at the midges, rain or a false summit. Instead, a wag of the tail and the unfaltering joy of spending time with you will shine through!
At Beyond Adventure we regularly take dogs out on trips. Usually, it is on an organised private trip (not everyone gets on with our canine cousins), and they regularly make our day! We have put together some advice below to help you out getting started and avoiding misadventures. Through our work with Mountain Rescue, incidents in the hills involving dogs are not uncommon, but by some extra planning these can usually be easily avoided.
Before you Start
Think about how old your dog is and their suitability for the adventure you have planned. Puppies and young dogs (depending on the breed) experience rapid growth between 6 and 12 months. During this time, your dogs joints, bone and soft tissue will be developing quickly addling days are to be avoided. If you are unsure, get in touch with your vet for more advice!
How fit is your dog? If they used to going for short walks in the park, maybe think twice about taking them up 3 Munro’s! When adventuring with your dog we have found that starting off on easier hills, introducing a dog to the environment whilst building up stamina will pay dividends in the future.
Adventuring with your dog on the Water
We love taking our dogs onto the water with us, some of our favourite paddles have been with our companions alongside us. But if you are thinking about taking your dog in a canoe for the first time, here are some things to think about first.
Environment & location
Think of your dog like a first time paddler. You wouldn’t take a novice straight away on a 10 day expedition or down Class 3 rapids! Introduce them slowly to the craft, the environment and how you expect them to behave when they are out with you.
A gentle paddle where you can egress at ease, where your dog swimming wont be a problem and where there are no hazards downstream will make a good start. If your dog enjoyed this, consider if there is a good next paddle!
Size of dog v size of craft
Not all dogs were born equal! What are you paddling? If it is a 16ft canoe there should be plenty of room for your dog, but a kayak or paddle board may make the experience a lot more dynamic.
Consider what size and breed your dog is - are they already confident in the water, do they swim regularly? Big dogs take more space and are harder to get back into a boat, make sure you are able to look after them at all times!
PFDs
This is essential for taking a dog on the water. Even if your dog swims regularly, they may not be used to swimming in open water, away from the shore, or the currents and rapids that they may encounter in a river.
Dog PFDs (personal floatation devices) are easy to find online and from high street retailers, make sure they are well fitted and suitable for your dog.
At Beyond Adventure, we will not take a dog on the water that does not have a PFD.
Packing enough
Remember and pack for your dog as well! Make sure they are well fed, watered and you can warm them up if they end up in the water!
Adventuring with your dog in Hills
A dog in the hills is an absolute joy. Nothing beats a long hike with your adventure mutt, but you are taking to the hills for the first time, please read on!
Weather
In Scotland, the weather can change at the drop of a hat. Make sure you are happy with the forecast before setting out and be prepared for it to deteriorate rapidly. Always have a look at MWIS to get a clear picture for what is happening on the high ground.
Fitness
Like any activity, your dog will need to be prepared physically for the hills and rugged terrain that they will encounter. Although they may be well walked and fit as a fiddle, being in the hills for a full day can tire even the fittest of dogs.
Another aspect to think about is conditioning a dogs paws. The rough, stony ground of the Scottish mountains can cut and bruise the pads of the paw, these will take time to toughen up.
So, short hikes in the hills will help condition your dogs paws and physical fitness before you tackle bigger days out!
Go prepared
Assuming that you have packed enough for yourself, dont forget about your dog! Plenty to eat, water and a way of keeping your dog warm is essential - there are some fantastic jackets you can by for dogs, remember even the hardiest of dogs can get cold!
A light that attaches to your dogs collar or harness will helpful in fading light and poor visability whilst a whistle will help you call your dog in high winds.
Terrain
If your dog hasn’t been in the hills before the are likely to come across terrain that is totally foreign to them. Cliffs, gorges and steep terrain will play a part in the day If your dog isn’t familiar with these features, make sure that they stay safe when around them. Consider keeping your dog on a lead if you are unsure if they can be trusted to keep themselves safe!
What to do if your dog gets into trouble?
It is a common story when adventuring with your dog - dog gets into bother, owner tries to rescue dog, owner gets into trouble, dog sorts itself out.
Like all scenarios where you are dealing with an emergency or rescue please remember to look after yourself first. If your dog is in water, or stuck on a cliff - ask yourself, can I keep myself safe in that environment? Do I have the skillset to help my dog?
If the answer to the above questions is no, don’t put yourself in harms way.
Prevention is always better than cure, please think about your plans and make good decisions when you are out and about with your dog!
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