Chances are your four-legged best friend loves adventuring as much as you do. So why leave them at home? However, life on the road, trails, and in campsites can be tough for doggos if their needs aren’t met. So here are some tips to keep those tails wagging.
🐾 Hydration 🐾
The importance of keeping your dog hydrated is paramount. A good rule of thumb is: if you are thirsty, they are thirsty. Any time you need a drink make sure your pooch has access to clean water too.
Filtration: Bacteria and parasites are common in creeks, lakes, rivers and ponds. Canines are susceptible to cryptosporidium, giardia, and leptospirosis to name a few. They cause intestinal upset, abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting.
So to keep your pup healthy and happy give them frequent access to clean drinking water. If away from civilization or campgrounds with potable water, filtering water with this compact and portable system makes it safe to consume for you and your pet.
- Filter: Sawyer Micro
- Dirty Water Bag: Cnoc Vecto
- Clean Water Receptacle: Smart Water Bottle (Bottle threads match the filter’s threads.)
- Carabiner: A carabiner to hang the system up to gravity filter.
You can see a full demonstration of how to use the water filtration system in this video:
🐾 Adventure Friendly Food and Water Bowls 🐾
Whether you are a Van Life-er, day hiker, backpacker, or RV camper this folding dish set is the perfect space saving, ultralight dog bowl set. They pack flat to stow away anywhere. They weigh next to nothing. They clip to the outside of a backpack with ease and mine are going strong after 6 years of hard use.
🐾 Paw Protection 🐾
Adventuring can be tough on paws. Just like humans need appropriate footwear for long hikes, puppy paws need protection too. Musher’s Secret is a paw wax designed for just that. Offering protection from extreme heat and snow, this wax goes on easy and does the trick. It also has the added benefit of moisturizing paw pads. Using Musher’s Secret on every hike has drastically increased my dog’s stamina and reduced her recovery time.
🐾 Soggy Doggy Mess Control 🐾
Dogs are going to get wet and muddy, it’s just facts. So have yourself a packable quick dry towel to wipe em down and dry em off.
This ultralight Nanodry towel by Matador packs down small enough for any daypack and dries ultra fast. It also doubles as a nice dog blanket when temps drop.
Backpackers can save weight by ditching the case and rolling it up with a rubber band instead.
🐾Containment🐾
Keeping your buddy leashed is vital for their safety and sometimes yours. Loose pets have been known to draw predators back to camp and their owners.
But when space and regulations allow, giving the pup a little more range can keep dogs from going stir crazy. More freedom also helps them regulate their body temperature by moving into or out of the sun as needed.
Yet anyone who has tried a long lead or rope knows how disastrous they can be. Tangles abound and my little is especially adept and knocking over her own water bowl. That’s why we have switched to this system that has come to be known as her “doggy slack line.”
The kit includes everything you need to keep them in camp, with greater range, and without getting tangled up on chairs or tables. It’s very quick to set up and a fantastic compact solution for campsite containment.
🐾Tick Control🐾
Ticks suck and even if your sidekick is on monthly flee and tick medicine they can still pick up blood sucking hitchhikers that might transfer to you and your bedding. So extra protection is good for everyone. Dog safe and highly effective Mad About Organics Insect Repellent Spray is formulated for dogs. It can be used in tandem with their Flee and Tick Repellent Shampoo to effectively hide your dog’s scent from pests.
My dog and I have noticed a huge difference since adding both products to her routine in addition to her monthly flee, tick, and heartworm meds. We have yet to have a single tick latch on. If one ever does, we have this tick tool for fast and clean removal.
🐾Waste Control🐾
Don’t be that guy who bags dog waste only to leave it on the side of the trail. The rest of us will loathe you. I get that no one wants to smell hot dog turds while hiking. But there is a simple solution that reduces the odors you’ll experience and it’s backpack compatible.
A wide-mouth Nalgene Bottle has an opening large enough to receive bagged poop and closes up tight enough to contain the smell. It fits easily into a backpack side pocket. Then it dumps it’s contents back out quickly at the next available trash can. They come in dark colors if the visual bothers you. There are also larger sizes to house several days worth for extended backpacking trips. Just be sure to never EVER use the dedicated Poo Tube for drinking!
🐾Emergency Preparedness🐾
No one wants to think about their buddy getting hurt far from help but accidents happen and it’s best to be prepared. A first aid kit for your dog should be considered a must. I found out my dog was allergic to bees and having Benadryl on hand saved her life. Consult your vet of course but giving my dog a milligram of Benadryl per pound of her weight prevented anaphylaxis. I also now carry dog safe peanut butter repackaged into these tiny jars as well to help her take the Benadryl if we ever need it again.
Additionally an injured dog will bite (even their owner.) So, for both our safety, I always carry a lightweight mesh muzzle just in case. We have spent time at home training her to accept me putting it on so it’s not a fight when needed.
Lastly a way to pack your dog out in case of serious injury is a whole lot safer than leaving them behind to get help. My little fits inside my backpack but for bigger dogs there is Fido Pro.
So with forethought, preparation, and a few hacks there is no reason not to take your adventure dog along where permitted. Hope you see you both out there! Happy trails 👣 🐾
See my pup in action
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Backcountry Dirtbag 
Oh my gosh I love your dog! I have a dog that looks just like it and I kind of wonder if they’re siblings. https://www.instagram.com/kratos_hotdog/ Anyway, great post!
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