Dogtrekking in German means dog long distance hiking. The dog sport is especially popular in many countries, such as Poland, Belgium and Austria, but is also becoming increasingly popular in Germany.
What dog trekking is all about, what your dog should be able to do and what the equipment looks like for a common tour, you will learn in the following. We will also explain why the nutrition of your dog is so important during dog trekking and what you have to pay attention to when feeding him.
In short, dog trekking is simply a long hike undertaken with the dog. Long in this context means that the distance covered is at least 80 kilometres, which are usually completed within one to two days.
For shorter distances between 40 and 80 kilometres, on the other hand, one speaks of doghiking, whereby the difference to dogtrekking is limited to the distance covered. In the case of large differences in altitude on the tour, the distance can also be somewhat reduced during both dog trekking and doghiking.
If you love to spend a lot of time in nature and like to take your dog with you, you will get your money's worth in dog trekking and will be rewarded for your efforts not least with the view of great landscapes.
Similar to the Canicross, the dog is connected to his two-legged companion, who wears a belly strap for this purpose, by a pull line during dog trekking. The line has a shock absorber and is usually two to three metres long.
Dog trekking is therefore in principle a discipline from the draught dog sport, even if the main focus is less on dynamics and speed, but on endurance and the draught performance of the dog is clearly lower.
The trails, as the tracks are called in dog trekking, are usually done alone or in groups with up to four teams of man and dog. Usually only one map is used for orientation, which is why Dogtrekking requires some experience in reading maps.
Even though the speed of dog trekking is manageable compared to most other dog sports, the burden of long marches should not be underestimated.
Dog trekking is therefore certainly not suitable for every dog. A pug or a dachshund will hardly be able to cover such a long distance, while a hunting or herding dog may be in its element during extensive wanderings through nature and blossoms.
However, regardless of the exact breed, Dogtrekking is basically about your dog being healthy and having a certain level of fitness. It is therefore advisable to train before you dare to tackle a distance of 80 kilometres or more.
Start with longer gas laps and gradually increase the distance you have covered. After all, dog trekking should be fun for both you and your dog and not completely overburden you.
In recent years Dogtrekking has increasingly established itself as a competitive sport. At these events, ambitious hikers can compete with each other and try to complete the trail in as short a time as possible.
For this purpose, all participants receive a map and directions from the organiser. In order to ensure that all teams run the planned route and do not take a shortcut anywhere, they have to pass several checkpoints on the way.
Even if it is left to each owner to decide how seriously he wants to take the subject of dog trekking, the tournaments offer at least experienced dog sportsmen a great opportunity to get to know other hikers and even to run the tour together with one or the other participant.
If you want to do dog trekking, you need some equipment. After all, both the dog and its owner have to be provided with everything important on the long hike. First of all, you will need to buy a suitable pulling line with a belly strap for you and a suitable harness for your dog.
You'll also need sturdy hiking boots to keep you safe off-road. Trying dog trekking with simple sports shoes or other unsuitable footwear is not a good idea.
Through the long marches on remote routes Dogtrekking demands a lot from the paws of your dog. It is therefore common for suitable dog shoes to be prescribed at events. In addition, it makes sense to care for your dog's paws with an ointment.
We recommend Bellfor Paw Protection Ointment for this purpose. Selected ingredients such as beeswax as well as coconut and insect fat ensure that the rich ointment optimally protects the strained paws of your dog after dog trekking and effectively counteracts small cracks in the skin.
Of course your dog has fun dog trekking and enjoys the time he can spend with you. However, you should not forget that the long hikes are also associated with an additional burden.
A feeding according to your needs is therefore essential for dogs who do dog trekking. In this context, you should pay particular attention to the increased energy requirements that the extensive physical activities entail.
The best way to cover this is with a high-quality dry food such as Bellfor Premium PUR Aktiv. The feed consists exclusively of natural ingredients and contains a lot of meat and fish. In addition, it supplies your four-legged friend with valuable carbohydrates from corn and rice, which serve him as an energy supplier for dog trekking.
In addition to an overall higher energy requirement, dog trekking also means that your dog needs additional proteins. These serve him to maintain the muscles, promote regeneration and support your four-legged friend to remain healthy and efficient in the future.
We therefore recommend that you supplement your dog's daily diet with Bellfor Fitness Powder. The natural preparation with insect protein, chia seeds and dried bananas provides an optimal supply of all essential amino acids and is therefore the perfect choice for dogs who are busy with dog trekking.