| So you want to start to hike with your dog. | | | | a diamond-shaped head. Unless cornered or |
| Hiking with your dog can be a fascinating way to | | | | teased by humans, a rattlesnake will crawl away |
| explore America's great outdoors from a canine | | | | and avoid striking. Avoid rocky areas, crevasses, |
| perspective. Some things to consider:Dog's | | | | caves, and areas where the ground cover (weed |
| HealthHiking can be a wonderful preventative for | | | | or grass) prevents you from seeing the ground. |
| any number of physical and behavioral disorders. | | | | These are all places where snakes are likely to |
| One in every three dogs is overweight and | | | | hang out.If you hear a nearby rattle, stop |
| running up trails and leaping through arroyos is | | | | immediately and hold your dog back. Identify |
| great exercise to help keep pounds off. Hiking can | | | | where the snake is and slowly back away.If you |
| also relieve boredom in a dog's routine and calm | | | | or your dog is bitten, do not panic. Put ice against |
| dogs prone to destructive habits. And hiking with | | | | the bite, tie a rope or piece of clothing around the |
| your dog strengthens the overall owner/dog | | | | leg above the wound (but not so tight you shut |
| bond.Breed of DogAll dogs enjoy the new scents | | | | off blood circulation) and get to a hospital or |
| and sights of a trail. But some dogs are better | | | | veterinarian with as little physical movement as |
| suited to hiking than others. If you don't as yet | | | | possible. In many cases a rattlesnake might give |
| have a hiking companion, select a breed that | | | | "dry bites" where no poison is injected, but you |
| matches your interests. Do you look forward to | | | | should always check with a doctor after a bite |
| an entire afternoon's hiking? You'll need a dog bred | | | | even if you feel fine or your dog looks fine. Keep |
| to keep up with such a pace, such as a retriever | | | | in mind that snakes fill an important function in the |
| or a spaniel. Is a half-hour enough walking for | | | | ecosystem; without them we would drown in |
| you? It may not be for an energetic dog like a | | | | mice and other rodents, so there is no reason to |
| border collie. If you already have a hiking friend, | | | | harm them.If you hike where rattlesnakes are |
| tailor your plans to his abilities.ConditioningJust like | | | | common you can look for the services of trainers |
| humans, dogs need to be acclimated to the task | | | | who will get your dog "snake-broke" for |
| at hand. An inactive dog cannot be expected to | | | | life.CougarsThese elusive big cats are extremely |
| bounce from the easy chair in the den to | | | | shy and are rarely seen. Cougars are fearful of |
| complete a 3-hour hike. You must also be | | | | humans but dogs don't frighten them. Still, they |
| physically able to restrain your dog if confronted | | | | might view smaller dogs as prey - one more |
| with distractions on the trail (like a scampering | | | | reason to always keep your dog close on the |
| squirrel or a pack of joggers). Have your dog | | | | trail.TicksTicks can carry Lyme disease, HGE |
| checked by a veterinarian before significantly | | | | (Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis) and Babesiosis, all |
| increasing her activity level.WeatherHeat and sun | | | | nasty stuff you want to avoid. To help |
| do dogs no favors. With no sweat glands and only | | | | combat,avoid deep grass and bushes. Tick |
| panting available to disperse body heat, dogs are | | | | repellant for you and your dog is a good idea, and |
| much more susceptible to heat stroke than we | | | | always check your dog's fur carefully before |
| are. Unusually rapid panting and/or a bright red | | | | heading home. Ticks can be hard to spot on dogs |
| tongue are signs of heat exhaustion in your pet. | | | | with dark or long fur, but a simple comb can |
| Always carry enough water for your hike. Even | | | | reveal any intruders. If you or your dog gets |
| days that don't seem too warm can cause | | | | bitten, immediately remove the tick. Use your |
| discomfort in dark-coated dogs if the sun is | | | | fingers if you have to. Try to grab the tick as |
| shining brightly. In the wintertime, temperatures at | | | | close to the head as possible and pull straight out. |
| higher elevations can drop well below zero in only | | | | Do not apply any oil before or after removal. If |
| a few minutes. In cold weather, short-coated | | | | any part of the tick remains, or if swelling/itching |
| breeds may require additional attention.AltitudeIf | | | | or other complications develop, contact your |
| you are hiking in the mountains and you and your | | | | doctor/vet.Other Trail HazardsDogs won't get |
| dog are not acclimated to the altitude, take it | | | | poison ivy but they can transfer it to you. Some |
| easy, and allow plenty of time for rest, so your | | | | trails are littered with small pieces of broken glass |
| bodies can get used to the thinner air up | | | | that can slice a dog's paws. Nasty thorns and |
| here.BearsThe huge, ferocious bear ripping | | | | thistles can also blanket trails that we in shoes |
| through a campsite tent in our imaginations most | | | | may never notice. Tumbleweeds are also very |
| likely refers to the grizzly bear. These bears are | | | | thorny and prickly in their natural state, and even |
| long extinct in most places in the Continental | | | | more so when they are dried and blowing. They |
| United States, but we do have the considerably | | | | can stick in a dog's coat, and cut fingers as we |
| smaller black bear. This bear is notoriously shy and | | | | try to extract them.WaterSurface water, including |
| hikers can spend a lifetime in these woods and | | | | fast-flowing streams, is likely to be infested with a |
| never see one. Even so, always check a ranger | | | | microscopic protozoa called Giardia, waiting to |
| station for reported bear activity before starting | | | | wreck havoc on a dog's (and human's) intestinal |
| a wilderness hike. If you see a black bear, stop | | | | system. The most common symptom is crippling |
| and stay calm while keeping your dog close - | | | | diarrhea. Algae, pollutants and contaminants can all |
| bears do not like dogs. Do not shout and quiet | | | | be in streams, ponds and puddles. If possible, |
| your dog from barking. Do not run, you cannot | | | | carry fresh water for your dog on the trail - your |
| outrun a bear and you don't want to look like | | | | dog can even learn to drink happily from a squirt |
| prey. The bear will likely leave the area, but if not, | | | | bottle.copyright 2006I am the author of over 20 |
| talk in a low tone of voice and slowly back away | | | | books, including 8 on hiking with your dog, including |
| keeping your dog by your side. If you decide to | | | | the |
| camp someplace, make sure to hang anything | | | | widely praised The Canine Hiker's Bible. As |
| edible in a tree away from your tent at least 10 | | | | publisher of Cruden Bay Books, we |
| feet above the ground and 5 feet away from the | | | | produce the innovative A Bark In The Park |
| tree trunk.RattlesnakesRattlesnakes are found in | | | | series of canine hiking books found at |
| every state in America. It is not a particularly | | | | During the warm months I lead canine hikes as |
| aggressive animal but you should treat any | | | | tour leader for tours, leading packs of dogs and |
| rattlesnake with respect and keep your distance. | | | | humans on |
| A rattler's colors may vary but they are | | | | day and overnight trips. |
| recognized by the namesake rattle on the tail and | | | | |