Long Distance Hiking With a Dog: Nutrition

Sage anxiously awaiting his TurboPup snack mid-day.

So, if you already read Long Distance Hiking With a Dog: Don’t Do It!, I didn’t successfully talk you out of taking your dog on a long trail with you. If you are going to try, I want to help you do it right. Just like for you, nutrition is one of the next big parts in planning a long distance hike!

Caloric Needs

Calorie-wise, planning for your dog’s hike is tricky and may take some experience to get just right. It really depends on daily mileage, climate, terrain, and whether you keep him/her on a leash. Count on increasing his/her calories anywhere from 50-100% while you are hiking, with closer to 100% needed if he/she is off leash.

Nutrition

Higher quality dog food, available at specialty pet stores, has better ingredients AND more calories per cup. I feed Sage Orijen Regional Red while hiking. It has 470 calories per 4 oz. (about a cup) and its main ingredients are bison, beef, good fats, and a variety of vegetables. It is also fortified with vitamins, glucosamine, omega-3 and 6, and probiotics. Compared to the leading brand of dog food, which is mostly corn, wheat, and water, Orijen is freeze-dried and has 25% more calories (by weight) than even the high-calorie puppy formulations. Though it is more expensive by the pound, you will actually save weight and give your dog more nutrition if you can feed a high quality food on the trail. Dog Food Adviser is a good link to find out the quality of your buddy’s food. Luckily, they are not judging you for eating Snickers for 2 meals a day…

Peanut butter is a great way to boost calories on the trail–for dogs too!

There are some really high quality freeze dried foods on the market for dogs too! The Honest Kitchen makes human-grade foods with really good ingredients. It comes in a powder form, which packs really nicely compared to kibble. It just needs to be re-hydrated with water on the trail. Calorie content per oz. is really high, especially with the line called “Love”, but it isn’t cheap. Also, keep an eye on your dog’s teeth with the powdered food. My dog got noticeable tartar buildup while eating it long term (easily remedied by carrying something for him to chew on).

Weight/Bulk

One way to increase the calories you feed your dog without carrying extra weight or bulk is by supplementing with Turbo Pup meal replacement bars at least once per day. These bars come in a 2-pack that has 500 calories and weighs a little over 4 oz. They also take up half the space of kibble.

Resupply

When I am hiking without my dog, I prefer the buy-as-you-go method of resupply so that I don’t have to deal with post office hours. However, I have found that when I hike with my dog it is easier to do mail drops because:

• I know what kind of food I will be able to get if I just mail it to myself. It isn’t always easy to find a good pet store in small trail towns.
• I can stick to a known food. Switching food on some dogs is hard for them to deal with. Even if you find good food, you may not find the same one your dog ate on the last stretch. Some dogs will get upset stomachs or diarrhea when you switch food quickly.
• I know how much to feed. Because I stick with the same food throughout the trail, I know exactly how many calories in each cup and therefore I can send exactly the right amount for that stretch. Most of the grocery store brands do not list calorie content on the bag.
• I don’t have to waste food. If I buy food in town, I am limited to the size of bag that they sell. Sometimes, the smallest size is 7-8 lbs. Because I don’t usually need to carry 7-8 lbs. of food, I would end up giving the rest away.

If you really don’t want to deal with resupply boxes, here are some hints:

• Choose the “high energy” or “puppy” formula food. They are usually higher in calories (so you can carry less).
• If you are used to feeding your dog high quality food at home, carry at least 20% more, as it will likely be lower in calories and nutrition (not including the amount you are increasing it for the trail)
• Try to buy the same brand each time, to avoid upset stomach
• Consider adding a doggie multivitamin once daily

Town Days

Don’t forget to send yourself enough dog food to get you through any town days you spend. And, like you, it is nice to have your dog bank up some calories in town. If possible, I like to get a can of high-end canned food at the pet store to add to my dog’s kibble.

Pre-Trail

If you are changing your dog’s food for the hike, is a good idea to slowly transition to this food 2-4 weeks before you leave by mixing it with his/her current food. If they aren’t used to getting a nutrient and calorie-rich food, it can cause stomach upset.

Off trail, I keep my dog pretty thin. So, a couple of months before the hike, I increase his food a bit and allow him to gain about 4 lbs. (10% of his body weight). Therefore, if I underestimate his food on the trail and he loses a couple of pounds it will be okay. Weight loss was my #1 dog-related health issue on the first long distance hike with my dog.

Thanks for reading! Watch for an upcoming article about “Trail Specific Training”, which will cover trail-specific commands to teach your dog that will make your hike easier and safer.

Long Distance Hiking With a Dog: Selecting a Trail

Long distance hiking with a dog is a great reward at the price of great commitment. If this is your first time to my blog and you plan on hiking long distance (150+ miles) with your dog, please consider reading, “Long Distance Hiking With a Dog: Don’t Do It!”

If you still can’t be talked out of bringing your dog, at least be selective about where you bring him/her. There are certain trails that are more dangerous to hike with dogs, for various reasons. Trails that are extremely hot and/or dry, whose tread is spiky or sharp on the feet, that enter multiple National Parks, that have a lot of rattlesnakes or wolves, that require bushwacking or scrambling, or simply are so far away that your dog would be stuck in the bottom of a plane for an unreasonable amount of time, are not great for dogs. Here are my top 3 picks for long distance hiking with dogs in the U.S.:

1. The Pacific Crest Trail, Washington Section

The PCT through Washington is my number one recommendation for someone who would like to take their dog on a long distance hike. It is 500 miles from the Canada border to the Oregon border, and it offers some beautiful alpine scenery.

Dogs are allowed the entire length of the PCT through Washington, including North Cascades National Park and Mount Rainier National Park (they must stay within the PCT corridor). Along the PCT in Washington, it would be extremely rare to encounter a poisonous snake, wolf, or grizzly bear. There is very little poison oak and the occurrence of Lyme disease acquired by ticks in Washington is very, very low (as it heartworm, from mosquitoes).

The average high temps in Washington, even in the hottest month (August) are still 20F+ cooler than the desert on the south end of the PCT. And, water is relatively plentiful. Also, the trail itself is not exceptionally rocky, like many parts of the Appalachian Trail.

The only thing to be careful about in Washington would be the sheer amount of wildlife. Pikas, marmots, deer, black bears, grouse, skunk, and mountain goats are all regulars. Make sure your dog is on a leash or has very good recall.

2. The Colorado Trail

My dog, Sage, has hiked the Colorado Trail with me. It is also up there with Washington as far as a great trail to hike with dogs. The Colorado Trail is 486 miles through the Rocky Mountains. There is only one place dogs are not allowed, and that is at the Northern terminus (there is an alternate beginning, that is just as beautiful and doesn’t include a road walk). And, hitchhiking with a dog into the awesome ski towns along the trail is pretty easy.

Of special concern in Colorado is giardia. Despite treating my water, I have acquired giardia more than once on the CT (and never on any other trail). It would be a good idea to have giardia (metronidazole) and diarrhea (loperamide) meds on hand for your dog (and you).

You should also be aware that moose are pretty common along parts of the CT, and they can have a bad attitude toward dogs!

3. The Long Trail

Although I haven’t hiked the 272-mile Long Trail that runs the length of Vermont, I am told it is a good trail for dogs. The LT does not go through any National Parks, it doesn’t get very hot nor have any poisonous snakes, water is plentiful, and resupply is easy.

The LT can be rugged in parts. Make sure to have good fitting booties if your dog is not used to a rocky terrain.

And, be careful in Vermont to have your dog vaccinated for Lyme Disease and have him/her on a topical tick preventive as well. You should also be doing heartworm preventive if you don’t already. See my article on “Long Distance Hiking With a Dog: Pre-Trail Health” to make sure your dog is covered for all of these trails.

There are definitely other trails that could work, depending on your dog, and maybe whether you would be willing to hike the trail in the less optimal time of year (for you). But, that is all part of the sacrifice. Happy tails!

Sage’s “Favorite Things” Gear List

Tree’s “favorite things” list was such a hit, I thought I would make a list for Sage, my thru-hiking dog. Here are some of the things that make hiking with a dog a little easier for me.

1. Turbo Pup Bars

On trail, Sage loves that he gets one extra meal a day, in the form of a TurboPUP bar. They are basically meal replacement bars (think ProBar) for your dog. They are 500 calories, weigh a little over 4 ounces, and pack much smaller than dry dog food. Depending on what brand of food you buy your dog, these bars (he prefers bacon flavor) can be half the weight and volume of kibble! They go into each resupply box.

2. Groundbird Gear Packs

Sage’s favorite pack is made by Groundbird Gear, a dog pack company started by a long distance hiker. He has tried 3 other brands of packs and they always rubbed his armpits raw after about 1.5 weeks on the trail. The GBG packs are custom made to fit your dog and they are light weight. I like the roll-top version–as Sage eats through his food on a stretch, it is easy to reduce the size of the pack and makes it less likely to snag on bushes.

3. DogBooties.com Boots

DogBooties.com makes really inexpensive (a set of 4 is $12) and light weight dog booties used by mushers and polar explorers. Sage likes them because, unlike the other brands he has tried, they are less built up and they stay on far better. It seems like they are less cumbersome to him than the ones with rubber soles. One thing I will say, though, is that they will wear down pretty quickly if your dog is off-leash and sprinting back and forth in them all day. You will want to order the heavier denier model, and have a backup or two in the pack if that is how your pooch hikes.

4. Tyvek Ground Sheet

While I like the Gossamer Gear Polychro groundsheet for me, Sage likes his more durable soft-structured Tyvek. Cheap, light, durable, water resistant. When I lay it out for him at the end of the day, he runs right over to it and curls up on top of it.

5. Custom Made Sleeping bag

Sage is a wuss when it comes to the cold. I will wake up and reach over to him during the night and he will be shivering if it is below 45F out. On those nights, I will lift up the top of his custom made sleeping bag and he gladly snuggles right into it. His daddy used a damaged men’s sleeping bag and shortened it. It weighs about 10 oz.

Before the sleeping bag, I used a size XS down vest on him at night. That worked out okay, too.

Also, these sound like a great lightweight idea!

6. Backpackers Pantry Pack Bowl

Sage anxiously awaiting his TurboPup snack mid-day.

The Backpacker’s Pantry Pack Bowl is a cheap and light (0.8 oz. when cut to size) flat-folding bowl. They are similar to what you would have if you cut the bottom off a Platypus bottle, but with a larger base. It also has lines on it to help me measure out his kibble. When this thing comes out of the pack, Sage gets excited!

7. Pack Towel

Okay, I won’t lie. Sage could care less about his pack towel. But I like it a great deal, so I infiltrated his list. This thing has come in handy drying Sage off after a Colorado rainstorm, and once when Sage decided to roll in something nasty.

8. Gossamer Gear ThinLite Pad

Again, Sage is a wuss in the cold, so he carries a square of Gossamer Gear Thinlight foam insulation. He enjoys the insulation from the ground at night. Mommy likes the seat pad during her lunch break. Win, win.

Thanks for reading. Keep following for upcoming articles on “Nutrition” and “Selecting a Trail” for Long Distance Hiking with Dogs.

Sage the Wonder Dog has hiked the Tahoe Rim Trail, the Colorado Trail, and the Bigfoot Trail.

~Tree

Long Distance Hiking With a Dog: Pre-Trail Health

Let’s just say that you have already decided your dog is going with you on a long-distance hike with you, despite reading “Long Distance Hiking With a Dog: Don’t Do It!”, if you are going to do it, let’s just make sure you are not going to be an asshole and get your dog hurt. Of course, if you are reading this, you are intending on getting all the info that is out there and taking the best care of your pooch, and you are probably not going to be an asshole. Good. Now we can move on. Sorry I may have implied you might be an asshole. I am sure you are a good person.

Here are some medical considerations for before you hit the trail (start some of these 2+ months before your departure date). In a future post, I will discuss on-trail first aid in the sad and scary event your dog tears a pad, gets quilled by a porcupine, gets a water-borne illness, or gets bitten by a rattlesnake.

Pre-Hike Vaccines and Preventives

On top of the routine vaccinations your dog gets, consider what etiologic agents are of concern in the backcountry where you are going out, as well as the types of bugs and snakes you could encounter in that area. Especially know/ask about the serious ones: lyme disease, heartworm, leptospirosis, rattlesnakes, etc. If you do decide to get new vaccines, make sure you get them boostered (if they require one) well before you go out so that your dog has time to build immunity before you hit the trail. Also, make sure you do not get them at the same time as other vaccines, if possible. Not only does that let your dog’s immune system work more efficiently on the antibodies for that particular agent, but if there is any type of vaccine reaction, you will know which vaccine your dog is reacting to.

Leptospirosis,”lepto” is a very serious bacterial illness that your dog can acquire by drinking untreated backcountry water and can be transmitted to you from your dog (http://www.cdc.gov/leptospirosis/). I, personally recommend getting your dog vaccinated for it, since your dog will most likely be drinking lots of untreated water and because this illness can be fatal. Again, make sure your dog gets the last injection (if he/she hasn’t gotten it before, you usually have to get 2 injections) at least 2 weeks before you leave. Try and find a vet who stocks the lepto vax as a lone vaccine, not as a combination, unless you have had the combination done on your dog in the past. Ask your vet where on your dog the injection was given and watch the injection site, as well as your dog, closely for any reaction. Reactions to lepto vaccine are more common than many other canine vaccines.

If you are going somewhere that has rattlesnakes, you might consider rattlesnake aversion training (I have heard really good things about this but haven’t done it) and/or the rattlesnake vaccine. The vaccine is a series, so make sure you start them well in advance of your trip. They will not protect your dog 100% from rattlesnake bites, but they will buy you some time to get to a vet if he/she does get bit.

Lyme Disease is a big deal in many parts of the U.S. and acquired by the bite of an infected tick. (http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/stats/maps/interactivemaps.html) Know if you are going into those areas and consider the vaccine for your dog if you don’t already get this vaccination. You should also consider flea/tick preventive in these areas. I have used Vectra 3D and Parastar Plus on my dog. It can be applied to your dog and will be good for up to a month. I prefer the ones that you get at your vet because they are guaranteed by the drug company for efficacy and in case of reactions. They do kinda stink, so I only recommend it if you are going somewhere where the risks of getting the disease is high, vs. the small risk of dousing your dog with chemicals (who is snuggling in your sleeping bag with you). Apply it several days before you go to let the odor/greasiness dissipate.

Heartworms are life-threatening to your dog. They are actual worms that invade the dog’s heart, and the disease is acquired from infected mosquitoes. If you don’t already do a year-round heartworm preventive, check whether you are going into an area where heartworms are common (https://www.heartwormsociety.org/pet-owner-resources/incidence-maps). Chances are if you are hiking a long distance, you will go into an area where it occurs, as experts are saying that it is spreading contry-wide in the U.S. If you don’t usually do the annual heartworm preventive, make sure that you have your dog tested for heartworm before starting him/her on the preventive. It’s important to test her/him before, because if your dog is already infected and you start him/her on the preventive, it can make him/her very sick. The preventive is in a tablet form and you give it monthly. Again, you can get it from your vet.

The cost is already adding up. Are you changing your mind about bringing your dog yet? No? Okay, read on.

If you are going out for several months, don’t forget to stock up and carry or mail the monthly preventives in your bounce box or resupply boxes. Your vet will prescribe you several months’ worth, but if you are far away from home and you run out, you may have to pay for an exam before another vet will prescribe them. It will cost you more in the long run.

Also, before you head out to an area, consider looking up the phone numbers and addresses of the veterinary clinics and emergency vet clinics in the towns you will be passing by and enter them into your phone or keep them written down.

Paws

Probably the most common injury to backpacking dogs are injured paw pads and torn toenails. Both can bring your hike to a halt. Before your hike, make sure to toughen up his/her pads and cut his/her nails. Sage plays a lot of fetch, and we ramp it up even more before a long hike. Because of this, he has never ripped a pad, not even while walking on cinder, granite, or obsidian. His nails also continue to grow on trail, despite the mileage. So, I cut them right before we go, and then usually have to send his nail trimmers in a box about a month later. It also helps to protect the tent floor when they are shorter.

Long Distance Hiking With a Dog: Don’t Do It!

Are you thinking about long distance hiking with your pooch? You have come to the right place if you’re looking for advice! I am a Vet Tech and a multi-trail thru hiker with lots of experience hiking long distance with a dog.

However, this may not be the advice you want to hear: I really don’t recommend long distance hiking with a dog. If you can, have someone reliable watch him. Seriously.

Okay, don’t get me wrong, I love my dog more than almost everything in the world. Sage, trailname “Justa”, has hiked the Colorado Trail, the Tahoe Rim Trail, the Bigfoot Trail (twice), about 400 miles of the Continental Divide Trail, about 800 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, and about 1000 miles on lesser known long trails. Nothing makes him happier than getting out on the trail and it can be very rewarding to have him with me. All I am saying is that hiking long distance (300+ miles) with a dog has special challenges that you should know about before you make this decision.

Hike Your Dog’s Hike

Having my dog with me affects where I can hike, what time of day I can hike (and therefore my mileage), how much crap I have to carry, where I camp, how and where I can resupply, where I can find lodging in town, how much money I spend, how I will get to/from the trail, and sometimes whether I can finish my hike at all. Everyone I have talked to who has done it, agrees that is comes with sacrifice.

I met a hiker at PCT Days last year, trailname “Luna”. She and her husband hiked the PCT that year, 1600 miles of which they had their dog “Sup Dog” with them. We got on the subject of hiking with a dog and she put it into perspective. “It’s no longer Hike Your Own Hike. If you have your dog with you, you will be hiking “your dog’s own hike”.

Where You Can Hike

As for where to hike, your options will be more limited. Want to hike the Pacific Crest Trail, the Pacific Northwest Trail, or the Grand Enchantment Trail? What will you do with your dog going through all of the National Parks? Dogs aren’t allowed in the backcountry there. Or maybe you are thinking of the Arizona Trail or the Oregon Desert Trail? How will your dog do in 110 degree weather with no water for long stretches? You know when you are too hot. Will your dog tell you if he is too hot before it is too late? Are you prepared to hike at night? Can you carry your dog if he gets heat stroke?

Dangers

Dangers to your dog are numerous on a long hike. They include fatigue, hypothermia, and heat stroke. He could easily get stung by a bee, quilled by a porcupine, bit by a rattlesnake, attacked by a predator, rip a pad, break a bone, eat something toxic, eat something infected, fall, drown, or get lost. He could acquire Lymes disease, leptospirosis, giardia, salmon poisoning, heartworm, hantavirus, or an allergic reation to poison oak (what even is half of that crap?). Yeah, all of these things could happen to you, too. But, he may not be thinking clearly about these dangers when he smells that rotten fish carcass or chases that coyote up the trail. What will you do then? Do your WFR skills translate well to dog biology (remember, he probably won’t tell you exactly what is wrong with him)?

Maybe I am overly cautious about the dangers. But, as a Veterinary Technician (= animal nurse), I have seen almost all of these things happen. Also, as a border collie owner, several of these things have happened to us (ugh)! We can put ourselves into a fair amount of discomfort while hiking, but I don’t think it is right to do this to our dog. We sign up for the responsibility to these creatures when we adopt them–to keep them healthy and happy.

Planning

It is going to change how you plan for your hike too. When you get to a road to resupply, how will you hitchhike with a wet and muddy dog? In town, you want to take that handy local shuttle? Nope. Want to find a hotel room for under $120 that allows pets? Maybe you will have to go to a different town. Are you going to even find something for your dog to eat in that convenience store? Or, are you willing to help carry 20 extra pounds of dog food? You will likely have to re-think your whole resupply strategy.

Being a Dog

Finally, it is tiring enough hiking, but are you prepared for the amount of supervision your dog will require? There he is, chasing the last black footed ferret in the state. There he goes digging up someone’s cat hole. Gross! There he goes for a swim in the cow pond right before it’s time to crawl into the tent for the night. Wait, is he trying to take a crap in the middle of camp?

Still ready to take on the challenge (and reward) of bringing your dog with you? I want to help you learn from my experiences and do it right. Please see “Long Distance Hiking With a Dog: Selecting a Trail“, Long Distance Hiking With a Dog: Pre-Trail Health” and “Sage’s Favorite Things Gear List“.

Happy tails!

Sage and Tree have been featured in Dogster Magazine and are brand ambassadors for TurboPUP and Groundbird Gear hiking-related dog products.