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Hiking with your dog: tips for successful tours with four-legged companions

Young dogs should not be taken on hikes

Many people want to spend their leisure time out in the open countryside, where hiking trips give them an opportunity to relax and to recharge their batteries. Most dog owners would not want to miss the company of their four-legged friend on their tours and therefore want to take their dog with them.


Below we will explain why hiking with a dog is not always a good idea and what else you need to consider before your trip.

Are you in control of your dog when hiking?

You should be able to control your dog at all times while hiking. Basic training and obeying important commands such as “come” and “sit” are indispensable so that you can move safely through the terrain.

Young dogs should not be taken on hiking tours

If your dog is very young, you shouldn't take it hiking just yet. This also applies if the little four-legged friend already listens to you very well. This is because the long marches put a great strain on the dog's joints.


If these are still growing, repeated strain can, in the worst case, lead to permanent problems with the musculoskeletal system. It is therefore better to wait with hiking until your four-legged friend is fully grown and its joints are fully developed. Until then it is best for your dog to stick to age-appropriate exercise.

Hiking with dogs: it is not recommended for all breeds

Joint hiking excursions can be a welcome change from everyday life for your dog, too. However, this does not apply to every four-legged friend, as some breeds are just not built to run long distances in one go.


Hiking with a Bulldog or Pug, for example, will prove to be a bad idea in practice. On the other hand, a dog that likes to run, such as a Husky, will easily outperform you when hiking.


Before you take your dog with you on a hike, you should therefore carefully consider whether your four-legged friend has the physical requirements for it. In addition to the breed, the dog's age and any health problems such as joint conditions also play a role in this context.

Hiking trips with your dog require careful planning

If you decide to go hiking with your dog, good planning is essential. After all, you not only have to look after yourself, but also make sure that your four-legged friend's needs are met.


If you want to go on a multi-day excursion and stay over night, it is advisable, for example, to enquire in advance whether dogs are accepted in the accommodation of your choice.


Also make sure that your four-legged friend can master the planned route easily. No matter how good your dog is on foot, it can of course not climb. At high temperatures it is also important that you do not constantly hike in the blazing sun and that your dog has the opportunity to cool off so that it does not get heat stroke.

The right equipment for hiking with your dog

In addition to planning your route and any overnight stays, you must also make sure that you have all the necessary equipment for your tour. What exactly you need depends primarily on the planned length of your hike.


A dog lead, sturdy shoes and weather-appropriate clothing should of course not be missing. Depending on the surface of your route, dog shoes can be useful. However, it is imperative that they fit properly so that the dog can walk well in them. In addition it is advisable to bring a first aid kit for you and your dog, just to be on the safe side.


Other items you should have in your luggage, especially on longer hikes, are, for example, a flash light, a raincoat or a warming coat for your dog (depending on the breed and sensitivity to cold) and, of course, camping equipment for you and your four-legged friend, if you do not want to spend the night in rented accommodation.

Bellfor expert tip: don't forget tick protection

Depending on the region you have chosen for your hike, there may be a high risk of tick bites. Since ticks can infect your dog with dangerous diseases such as Lyme disease, you should not forget tick protection in this case.


In addition to tick tweezers, with which you can remove the parasites if necessary, we recommend applying Bellfor ZEComplete for this purpose. ZEComplete was especially developed as a natural tick protection for dogs and is very well tolerated by your four-legged friend thanks to the absence of chemical agents.



View Bellfor ZEComplete in the shop.

Remember provisions for your dog

It goes without saying that you not only have to think of your own physical well-being, but also about food for your dog. Having enough water to drink is an absolute must. Depending on the length of your hiking excursion, you will also need a sufficient ration of dog food to feed your four-legged friend.


Particularly on longer trips it is advisable to take dry food with you, as it has a long shelf life and is easier to transport compared to wet food. If your dog normally only eats wet food, however, you should get him used to the dry food before your hiking tour, otherwise digestive problems can arise as a result of the change on the trip. Please also note that dry food contains little moisture and that your four-legged friend must therefore drink more water.


In addition, a few healthy dog treats which will give your dog a little pleasure while hiking should of course not be missing.

Bellfor Paw Protection for paw care after the hiking tour

Hiking with you may be a lot of fun for your dog, but at the same time it also puts a lot of strain on its paws. Adequate care of the four legged friend's paws is therefore particularly important after your excursion.


We recommend Bellfor Paw Protection for this purpose. This natural ointment contains selected ingredients such as insect fat, calendula and beeswax.


It is ideal for caring for your dog's stressed paws after hiking and for reliably counteracting problems such as small cracks in the skin.


View Bellfor paw protection in the shop.

Keeping your dog entertained while hiking

There is a lot to discover for you and your dog while hiking. This does however not mean that you should completely forget about additional activities to keep your dog busy. You can keep the excursion exciting and varied for your four-legged friend with little search or retrieval games.

Follow local rules regarding keeping dogs on leads

If you go hiking with your dog, you should always follow the local rules. Last but not least, this also applies to the obligation to keep dogs on leads.


Especially with regard to other people or animals in the area, it is important that you adhere to the rules. Also keep in mind that some dogs have a very strong hunting instinct and can run away if they smell a hare or other potential prey on the way.


If you still want to give your four-legged friend some freedom to roam, it is advisable to take an extending lead with you in addition to the normal dog lead.

Hiking with your dog – our conclusion

As you can see, in order to ensure a successful excursion there are a few things to consider when hiking with a dog. With the right planning and compliance with a few important rules, you can ensure that both you and your four-legged friend will have a good time and that there won't be any unpleasant surprises on your hiking trip.

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