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