A Longer Hike Than We Expected

When we first set out for Cadillac Mountain, ​I trusted my boyfriend James to look up the trail.  Little did I know that he was not the best at reading trail maps.  What he thought was a 5 mile hike of Cadillac Mountains North Ridge was actually an out and back of almost 15 miles!  As you can imagine, we were not really prepared for a long hike. When we got back to the inn we were staying at, Dory was so tired she bonked her head on the doorframe to our hotel room!  We learned a lot from that experience, and I’m happy to share some tips.

#1 Trails and Rules

It’s very important to read your trail rules before you set out on your adventure. You should know how long your hike is, and whether your pup can or cannot be off leash. For everyone’s sake, make sure you read your maps carefully for where you enter and exit!  Always pick up your dog’s waste, and any of your trash too.  I mostly use Earth Rated Bags and find that having something like the Dooloop helps me to continue to be hands free.

#2 Everyday Hiking Essentials

Don’t forget that you still need your daily drivers while you adventure! My all time favorite combo is the Ruffwear Front Range Harness and Mountain Dog Versatile Leash. The harness is very durable and comfortable, and the leash can be worn around your waist or cross body to leave you hands free for coffee or treats. For ease of treating, I also use Ruffwear’s Home Trail Hip Pack because it is a multi-function fanny pack that allows me to store other things in it as well. It has two internal treat pockets plus a place for bags, and loops that you can use to hang another essential: a water bottle. My favorite water bottle is the Messy Mutts Stainless Steel Travel Water Bowl because you can fully drop that thing anywhere and it won’t break, it has an integrated dog bowl, and you can even drink out of it as well (avoiding puppy backwash when possible).

#3 Medication, Identification and Flea & Tick Prevention

Before you leave it is important to make sure that all your pet’s ID tag has your current contact numbers. Make sure that if your pet takes any medications to bring it with you on your trip!  Since we live in Maine, whenever I go more outside than our backyard, I usually give Dory an extra layer of protection. For the 8 months the collar lasts, she is protected by the Seresto Collar for Large Dogs. And then for daily use for both her and us, I recommend you use a potent organic flea and tick spray. I usually spray it onto my hands and apply it liberally to her belly and legs.

#4 Visibility

While you’re out hiking, especially in the mountains, and anywhere at night, there might not be an available light source. So, make sure you have not only a reflective collar, but also something that produces light too.  We like several options by Nite Ize, like the Rechargeable NiteHowl Safety Necklace or the Nite Ize Spotlit Collar Light. Since Dory is pretty furry, we use the collar version as it makes her even more visible.

#5 Emergency Care

If you are going to be traveling any further than an hour out of the closest town, I highly suggest you pack some first aid stuff such as the RC Pet Pocket First Aid Kit or their bigger First Aid Kit.  Having something like this in your pack or at least in your car assures that you at least have the essentials close at hand. If the kit you have has plastic or lower quality scissors, tweezers and needle/thread, I recommend switching them out for stronger, longer lasting ones.

#6 Communication/Treat Tips

Most people bring treats on their normal walks, but when you’re hiking it is super important to have high value treats. Not only are there other people and dogs, but other flora and fauna to be aware of on the trails. That is why communicating with your dog and keeping their attention is important for both of you staying safe!  I tend to use Dory’s food as her treats in order to keep Dory’s calorie content in check as well as being able to treat her for often. One of our all time favorite foods to use for treats is the Primal Freezedried Pronto in Pork.  It’s super easy to handle, and it doesn’t crumble or stain my treat pouch. On the other hand, her highest value treat is our store’s Fish & Bone Chicken Strips.   These jerky strips are large enough to be seen and probably smelled from a fair distance away, and you can break them up easily into training treat-sized bits.

#7 Handling Gear

On that Cadillac Mountain hike, there was a single portion where James had to hand Dory upwards to me on a rock ledge.  That was something very out of the norm for us to be doing, and thus made her pretty nervous. For that reason we bought the Knavigate backpack from K9 Sport Sack in case we needed to carry her in the future, both to save our backs and also to make sure she is held safely and securely. If you only need to hoist them short distances or up ledges, the Ruffwear Webmaster Harness is great for that as well.

– Sylvie Zackrone, Portland Team Member, Dog Maven and Merchandising Whiz, with help from her dog Dory