Dirtbag Dogs: Top Tricks & Tips For Traveling With Your dog
Top Tricks & Tips Traveling with a dog
Part 1 in the Dirtbag Dog Series
Scroll to the bottom to see our top 10 recommended dog gear items!
#1 Off Leash Training
This is a tricky one, and is sometimes easier said than done. Having your dog off leash is a huge privilege and comes with a lot of effort. Especially in areas like the tetons with so much wildlife outside the door it is imperative that Barkley comes immediately when called and is not reactive towards wildlife, this can mean life or death when you round a corner on a hike and find a moose in the middle of the trail. For Barkley, we sent him to a 4 week intensive training camp in Salt Lake City called Innovative K9, and they literally saved his life. Barkley’s Dream Dog Course taught him perfect off leash training using an e-collar and de-stimulated him to other animals, loud noises such as gunshots, and more. They even train your dog with their own children and in their home so they are fully adjusted when they come back. This course helped me learn so much for advocating for my dog and making sure others respect his space since he did have human and dog reactivity when I got him from the shelter. I highly recommend innovative, it is a pricey program but they have some shorter term programs that are lower in cost and they really are the best in the country for this type of dog training.
#2 High Protein Food
One thing we have noticed is that keeping high protein snacks for Barkley on hand can really increase his stamina for long hikes and bike rides. Barkley tends to be more irritable when he is tired so having a little peanut butter packet or meat sticks in my backpack can help avoid this.
#3 Safe Space (or crate training)
Having a designated space for your dog is so key to them being able to relax between adventures and helps avoid them getting over-stimulated on longer trips. For Barkley, we created the bed of the truck (covered with a cap) as his space. We always keep this accessible and open when we are hanging at camp so he can escape and have his alone time. We keep his bed, bones, toys, and always have a full water bowl. This is helpful when we are camping in big groups with lots of people or dogs so Barkley can choose when he wants to be social and when he wants to chill alone. One thing to be aware of is we deal with some protective behavior with his “space” so we just make sure our group of friends know to leave him be when he is in his bed. This way Barkley doesn’t feel threatened because he knows no one will mess with him in his space.
#4 Research the trail
Using Alltrails is so helpful for preparing to hike with your dog. I usually spend 20 mins pre-hike reading about the trail including the comments on Alltrails. Knowing all the freshwater sources, how heavily trafficked, and any leash rules ahead of time will save you the headache when you get out there.
#5 Make a backup plan
Even with lots of planning, and the right gear, things don’t always go as planned. My partner and I usually discuss a backup plan in case it is hotter than expected or Barkley gets more tired than we anticipated. This might look like one person continuing on with the group and one taking him back to the car, or changing our route for something that is easier on his paws. We’ve learned that Barkley can do about 10 miles mountain biking (full sprint for him) in mild summer weather, and he can do about 20 miles for day hikes where we are going at a slower pace. These numbers change based on heat and other factors. One of the biggest issues we face is his paws getting raw patches from running on paved roads, you can sometimes avoid this by setting shuttle at a different area to keep him on dirt the whole time. Although he tends to stay close to camp, we like to let him roam and we use a Fi Dog tracking collar for when shit hits the fan and we can’t find him.
Top Dog Gear We Use
Ruffwear dog bed (love this for camping and the back of the truck!)
Givr Dog Collar (so easy to wash and you can slip FiDog tracker onto it)
High protein dog treats - ask your local dog store for recommendations
I don’t have this but I WANT ONE - Dog Water Bottle connector
