Why Hiking is Good for your Pit Bull
Hiking is a form of exercise that your pit bull will not only enjoy but also offer a lot in return health wise. Hiking just like exercise helps push your pit bull’s boundaries, but other than that hiking is important for your dog because?
What to Bring With You During the Hike
It is easy to pack for yourself when planning to go on a hike. Many however haven’t the slightest clue what comes first or last when packing for a dog in anticipation of the hike. A hike can take anywhere from a full day to a week. Regardless of how long your hiking trip will be there are a few must-have essentials to bring with you. They include;
Pit Bull dogs easily get excited on such trips, they want to catch butterflies, jump into puddles, and chase little lizards and all sort of vigorous activity. By bad luck, the dog may end up twisting a joint or injuring himself. Hence a first aid kit is very important as it ensures that your pit bulls life is safeguarded. Some basic items to have in your first aid kit would include;
Above are prerequisites that not only ensures that you and your dog are well-fed and calm during the hiking trip but also ascertains that in the event of an accident, your dog is safe.
Even when you do not think that you are going to be out hiking for long, always pack more than enough food and water for both you and your pit bull. This way in case there’s an unseen occurrence that requires you to stay longer, you will still have enough food to take you through to the end of the hike. Remember to bring a collapsible bowl or rubber bowl with you that is easily retrievable and just as easily packed in a tiny space.
Seeing as you will be spending a lot of time brushing through vegetation and possibly coming into contact with other animals, it is very easy to attract pests. In addition insects like mosquitoes love to pester during the night and can cause irritation even for a pit bull due to its short fur. It is hence advisable to bring with you dog-friendly insect repellent to get rid of fleas, ticks, and bugs. If you do not have insect repellent, some garlic water works wonders as well to keep such insects at bay.
No, you aren’t the only one who will be carrying a load. Let your dog help carry some of his toys, extra water, the first aid kit or some of his food in his own doggy backpack. Do not, however, make him carry on a load that is heavier than he can bear.
Hikes usually happen on very rough terrains. Here, dog boots come in handy by helping protect the dog’s feet from harm. Some paths may be littered with sharp rocks, splinters and crawling stinging insects. Dog boots are convenient enough to accommodate the dog’s walking needs but are tough enough to keep your dog’s paws safe from injury. You can, however, forego the boots if the terrain you are hiking on is fairly smooth and without harmful agents such as broken glass, sharp gravel, or is not too hot or too cold.
However obedient your pit bull may be, it is always advisable especially when hiking with people and other dogs to have your dog put on a collar and an ID tag. The ID tag should clearly show the dog’s name, owner’s name, address, and phone number. Hiking often happens in open areas where it is very easy for your dog to scamper away far off your trail. A collar and tag works as a back up to help you relocate the dog in the event someone else finds him lost.
People often go hiking to get away from the hustle and bustle that comes with life. Some are just looking to switch off their phones and forget everything. However, when there’s an emergencies deep into the mountains and you have no way of connecting to the real world, suddenly hiking without a phone is not such a good idea. Therefore, always keep a fully charged phone nearby when hiking.
What Should You Bring?
If you are camping with your dog in the woods or on the beach, we have comprehensive checklists of what to bring on this website. Below we’ve captured the basic items that you’ll need to bring with you.
How many miles can a dog walk in a day?
Every dog loves going on a nice long hike. It seems like they can hike all day without every getting tired. But how far can a dog actually hike? If you’re worried about your dog getting worn out, here’s what you need to know.
So how far can a dog hike? Most healthy and athletic dogs can hike between 10-20 miles, but every dog is different. It depends on your dogs age, breed, activity level, size, etc. If your dog is healthy they can probably hike farther than you.
There are lots of factors that can affect the total distance a dog can hike. If it doesn’t seem like your dog can keep up there’s always room to improve. Just start off slow, take lots of breaks, and slowly build up mileage as you go. Keep reading to figure out if an extended hike is right for your dog.