Hiking with Dogs – 7 Essentials for Desert Trails

There’s something special about hiking in the desert with a dog. The calm and serenity of the vast landscape is peaceful. But you also know in the back of your mind that the place you’re in could kill you if you’re not careful. These tips will help you make the most of your desert hike and keep yourself and your dog safe.

GoPetFriendly may earn commissions or revenue from some items through the links below.

Bailey and I spend a lot of time hiking. And having lived most of my life in the Midwest, visiting the desert comes with a certain amount of anxiety. The desert commands respect. Also, when hiking in the desert with your dog, you should take precautions to ensure their safety.

When I looked for tips and resources and couldn’t find them, Bailey became my guinea pig. Together we created this guide to the equipment you need for desert hiking with a dog. We hope it makes planning your trip easier.

Essentials for desert hiking with a dog

Bailey believes the only equipment needed is a ball. However, if you’re hiking in the desert, you’ll need to prepare a few other things.

Dessert Dog Essentials #1: Water

It may seem obvious, but when hiking in the desert with your dog, you need to bring water. lots of water. When hiking, I always bring water for Bailey. However, being a dog, she occasionally replenishes my tap water with samples from streams, lakes, and puddles.

When you’re hiking through the desert with your dog, water is unreliable. A river that was flowing last week may be completely dry today. Therefore, you should consume all the water you and your dog need while hiking.

You can carry water for you and your dog, or use roughwear to let your dog have his own drink. hydration dog backpack.

Teaching your dog how to drink efficiently can also reduce the amount of water you need to carry around. My old dog Duke only drank from the bowl, so anything he couldn’t drink was wasted.

Bailey and I developed a great system, but it took some practice. Sometimes I ask Bailey if she wants water. Then she will sit facing me. Then I squirt water into her mouth from the water bottle.

It’s not natural for dogs to drink water this way, so they may spit it out a little until they get used to it. Take it slow and give only a small amount to drink each time.

using collapsible water bottle It will work. The key is the pop-top, which allows you to create a “watering hole” for Bailey. Of course, any water bottle will do, but it can be rolled up for easy storage.

Desert Dog Essentials #2: Dog Boots

In Chicago, Bailey occasionally hiked in the snow and wore dog boots to protect his paws from the salty winter streets. But in the desert, her boots never leave my backpack.

Dogs regulate their body temperature with their paw pads, so Bailey doesn’t always wear boots while hiking. It can cause her to overheat. Rather, I think of them as emergency equipment. It’s what you carry when you get injured, the ground gets hot, or you encounter an unpleasant road surface.

Read more ⇒ Which dog boots are best for your dog?

Dog boots are an absolute must if you’re hiking with your dog on hot sand, like we did in Great Sand Dunes National Park. we, Ultra Paws Rugged Dog Boots A second Velcro strap keeps the boots firmly in place. However, there are many options for dog boots.

Let’s do more ⇒ Tips for visiting Great Sand Dunes National Park with your pet

Desert Dog Essential #3: Sit Pad

If it’s a long hike, you may want to stop and take a few breaks. What I always carry with me is small seat pad For myself – this is a smaller version in my size Thermarest sleeping pad. And seeing that Bailey was having a hard time finding a place to rest, I decided to find a place for her too.

It may seem like overkill, but the desert is littered with rock fragments, thorny bushes, and cactus needles. If you want to enjoy a leisurely lunch along the trail, bring something comfortable for your dog to lie down on. With a small investment, you can make everyone’s day more enjoyable.

Desert Dog Essential #4: Fine tooth comb

This is a new addition to my hiking gear and was a special requirement for desert hiking with my dog. A fine-toothed comb allows you to quickly and easily remove cactus thorns, goat head thorns, and sand burrs from your dog’s paws and fur. Plus, it won’t get caught on your fingers. Well worth the $2 investment.

Desert Dog Essential #5: Tweezers

If your cactus spines are too small to be combed, have splinters, or have bee stings stuck in them, a pair of tweezers can save the day.

A fun fact (albeit a big one) I learned is that even if your dog doesn’t care, you can get poked by a ride caught in his fur or spikes hanging from his leash. That means there is.

Read more ⇒ What to do if your dog gets stung by a scorpion

Desert Dog Essential #6: First Aid Tape

When hiking in the desert with your dog, it goes without saying that you should carry a proper first aid kit. But it doesn’t come with most things pet first aid tape. This is as important as carrying a Band-Aid for yourself. and you can do it order onlineor pick it up at a pet store.

The tape is self-adhesive so it won’t stick to skin or fur. Therefore, it will not cause additional pain to your pet when wrapping or wrapping the pet’s injury. The tape is stretchy, so apply it as loosely as possible to avoid blocking blood circulation. Then, get your pet to the appropriate medical attention as soon as possible.

Read more ⇒ Make a DIY pet first aid kit

Desert Dog Essential #7: Benadryl

Dirty Dog’s Secret: Bailey likes to eat bees! Seriously, she’s like part frog when things get messy. She also caught a few. And so far, she hasn’t had any negative reactions. But just like in humans, pet allergies can start at any point in life. Adding Benadryl to the first aid kit was important to both of us.

At your next veterinarian visit, ask your dog’s doctor if they recommend giving your pet Benadryl for allergic reactions. If they approve, we will confirm the appropriate dosage. Then, put a note with that information in your first aid kit along with your medication so it’s ready to go. (The dosage of Benadryl for dogs is much higher than for humans, so it’s important to know how much to give.)

Read more ⇒ Compare top dog backpacks

Bonus tip: Rattlesnakes!

Although they will do their best to avoid you and your dog, if you are hiking with your dog in the desert, you are likely to encounter a rattlesnake. If you plan to spend a lot of time on desert trails, or if your dog hikes off-leash, consider vaccinating it to protect it from rattlesnake bites.

Having your dog vaccinated will give you more time to take him to the vet if he is bitten. Opinions vary, so ask your veterinarian what’s best for your dog.

I hope this will be helpful to those who are planning to go hiking with their dogs. If you have any other desert hiking tips, please share them in the comments below.

Please visit amazon store Learn more about the products we use to make traveling with your pet easier, safer, and more fun.

(17,449 visits, 1 visit today)