Here’s How You Can Train Your Dog To Be A Great Hiking Companion
Hiking in the fall is perfect for soaking up scenic views of changing foliage and enjoying the crisp autumn air. There’s arguably no better season for our furry friends to explore the great outdoors, either, as cooler temperatures lessen the risk of overheating.
So, if you’ve ever wanted to train your dog to hike alongside you, now is the time.
Certain breeds are naturally great hiking companions, but don’t let that deter you. Practically any pup can enjoy a nice hike if you tailor the terrain and distance to your own pet’s abilities.
To make sure you both stay safe, though, you will have to train your dog before hitting the trail: here’s how.
Training Your Dog To Hike With You
While there are some trails where unleashed dogs are allowed, most areas will require your furry friend to remain leashed at all times. That’s why nailing down loose leash walking as a skill is key for success.
It can be dangerous to bring your dog on a hike if they have a habit of pulling or dragging you down. You’ll want to teach your dog to keep pace as you stroll without any tugging on the leash, hence the name “loose leash walking.”
To work on this, start by walking your pet around either inside your home or in your backyard. Keep the environment quiet, and as your pup gets more confident and maintains pace, you can slowly add distractions.
A “low-level” distraction might be someone walking farther in the distance. Then, a higher level distraction may include another animal or person crossing your path.
nenetus – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual person or dog
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Next, you should incorporate some pacing cues into your dog’s repertoire. Remember that hiking on a trail, which can be steep, rocky, or filled with other obstacles, is much different than sauntering down your neighborhood street.
This is where pacing cues come in handy. Certain words like “easy” or “wait” can let your pup know that they need to slow down.
On the flip side, a cue such as “let’s go” can instruct your pet to pick up speed. As you practice these cues, don’t forget to reward good behavior!
Other helpful cues relate to managing your dog’s focus. For instance, teaching your dog to respond to “watch me” will get them to make eye contact with you. This can allow you to control where your dog is looking and come in handy in the event of a distraction.
If another dog or even a wild animal, like a skunk, shows up on your hiking trail, you will be able to redirect your dog’s attention and lessen the chance of them rushing toward the distraction.
You can start incorporating this skill slowly, telling your dog to look at you when it is quiet and no other diversions are present.
Then, add in other distractions, like a person walking by. Your dog will realize that looking at you and earning a reward is more worthwhile than paying attention to anything else.
Last but not least, perfecting safety cues is critical for protecting the well-being of your pup. You may encounter dangerous plants, animal waste, or litter left behind by other hikers. All of these hazards could potentially make your dog sick if consumed.
The cue “leave it” is great for these situations, firmly communicating to your dog that they cannot eat or play with something.
The best way to master this cue is by giving your pet a reward that’s more enticing than whatever they were asked to leave alone.
Now, even if well-trained with this, dogs can still sometimes get into things that they aren’t supposed to. This is where another cue, “drop it,” will come in handy.
In these instances, do not try to forcibly grab whatever your dog has in its mouth unless it is an emergency. Instead, trade it for a reward of higher value.
Finally, in the event that your dog is ever able to escape from their collar or you drop their leash, you must be sure that they will come back when called. A good way to reinforce your pet’s return is by never punishing them after you call them.
You don’t want to teach your dog that coming back to you will have any negative consequences, or else they will be less likely to do so.
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