The Equipment You Need to Make Walking With Your Dog Much Easier
I started hiking as a way to travel during COVID and almost immediately my dog, Doberman Clementine, fell in love with him. We found private campsites where she could run endlessly; we drove up and down the west coast and camped on the beach. She loved to explore new places, lazy streams, and chasing deer. And because I love my dog, I also love hiking.
What I’ve found about camping is that while it’s technically about being somewhere with “less”, you’re constantly getting new camping gear. The items that really made camping better for us were the ones that made camping better for my dog.
Great dog cart for when your dog can’t be off leash
In most cases, Clementine could not be let off the leash. Sometimes we were in cramped campsites with others and/or in national parks. You also usually can’t tie anything to a tree, so a flexible dog cart was essential. If you have a dog, you already know the Ruffwear brand; no wonder they make an excellent hitch system for dogs.
The attachment system it uses means you can attach it to any fixed location, which is why I used a picnic table leg and roof rack on my car a lot. It was versatile enough to go around almost any circle, from a telephone pole to a simple T-pole. The cart itself was smooth and I simply attached it to the back of Clementine’s harness. I could shorten the length of the cart depending on how high the line was so it wouldn’t hang on the ground. And it packs easily into your bag when you’re done with it. Most importantly, I always felt that Clementine was well protected.
Dog bed to keep your dog off the ground
It turns out that my dog loved most of all to lie in the sun, looking into the unknown. She especially liked doing it from my camping chair, so I bought her her own. This easy-to-install raised bed is a metal tripod with a weatherproof bed that slides on top of it. It was perfect for a dog the size of Clem and kept him off the ground and out of the dirt.
The construction on it was great and I liked that it folds easily into a bag.
Luminous collar
Black dog owners unite. In my fenced backyard, the location of my fang was never a problem. In the middle of nowhere, I needed to know where she was, and this glowing collar did the job perfectly. I could easily press a button to activate it at night and deactivate it when we went to bed.
You cut it to size and it comes in any color you want. What I like is that you can choose whether to get it with USB charging or with replaceable batteries. While I usually choose USB when I’m out and about with unreliable power, batteries work best for me.
Dog sweatshirt for cold mornings and late nights
The world doesn’t need more dog clothes, but I thought it worth mentioning that the best piece of clothing I’ve ever found is a skinny jumpsuit made by Kurgo . It kept my dog warm more than anything else I found (and I bought a lot of dog clothes). It comes in all sizes and was lightweight but really effective at retaining body heat. If you’re worried about how your dog will look compared to other dogs, don’t worry, he’s athletic.
First aid kit and bandage in case of unforeseen situations
If you have a dog, you should have a first aid kit that has everything you need for your pet. I wouldn’t buy a pet first aid kit – I’ve never found a first aid kit with what you really need. Instead, make sure you have a few rolls of gauze and waterproof tape , neosporin , saline spray , tweezers , nail clippers , a tick comb , and a few strong plastic bags and duct tape. Plastic bags and duct tape can act as a rain cover for a cut and wrapped leg.
I was worried about what would happen if we got stuck somewhere and Clementine couldn’t get out. So I found Airlift – a sling that is easy to put into a backpack. If ever needed, it will help you get the animal out of trouble. For $100, I thought it was like snow chains that I never unpacked – insurance.