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Autumn’s beauty goes without saying—orange and red leaves atop the rich textures of tree bark. Wind doesn’t just whistle but rattles with leaves skipping across one another. The temperature of midday shifts into something temperate and cool. 🍂
It’s the perfect time to dive into the woods… and an even better time to bring your dog!
If you’re new to taking your dog on the trail, there are a few items you’ll need to bring to ensure their safety. And maybe a few more for their simple comfort.
✨ Dog Parent Tip: Explore dog-friendly trails near you without your canine companion so you can get used to the routes, terrain, and the weight of your gear.
Once you’ve got the lay of the land, your dog can accompany you. As you’ve taken the time to know your path, you’ll be better equipped to navigate the trail should either of you face any obstacles. For example, sudden rain… or a cut between your dog’s toes. (Nooo!)
Safety-Focused Packing Routines
This list goes over things you will need. You should carry these items*, even if you don’t use them on one hike… you may need them the next.
If you have a bag of needed gear packed up and ready to go at all times, this makes spontaneous hikes (and the chore of packing) much easier!
✨ Dog Parent Tip: All items have weight, and depending on the duration of your trail activity, you’ll want to think about how much you and your dog will have to carry. Is it feasible for you to carry everything for an extra mile or two?
However, due to many trails being untreated for bugs—such as generally undeveloped land, think trails into Yosemite, for example—you may want to get into the habit of routinely taking inventory.
Before and after a major hike, or at least once a month, pull everything out and check expiration dates on medicine, sanitary treatments, and food; conditions, such as wear-and-tear, deterioration, or low stock; and fit (you or your dog may grow out of old gear!).
*You don’t have to get the items listed in this article exactly. They could be any brand. These are just options!
Essential Autumn Dog Gear
These are the pure hiking basics for dogs—what you’ll need every time, regardless of location, climate, or trail difficulty.
Wearable essentials:
- Harness & collar
- Leash
- Compatible Wireless Light
- ID Tag, Microchip, GPS tracking
- Paw Balm
- Flea, Tick, Heartworm Preventatives & Vaccinations
- Canine First Aid Kit
Dog Harness & Collar
These are basic dog necessities you likely already have. But did you know there’s gear specific to hiking? Depending on the terrain, having a harness that evenly distributes its weight and load-bearing pressures serves your dog two-fold; it’s more comfortable and intuitive when handling.
Hiking dog harnesses often have handles that aid you in supporting your dog across waters, over downed trees, and other obstacles. Additionally, they often have MOLLE or other attachment systems, wherein you can attach items like compatible dog first aid kits.
Should your dog take off from you, whoever finds them will have the means to identify and aid them.
Learn more about picking out harnesses through these articles:
Put Your Dog’s ID Tag and GPS tracking on Their Collar
Likewise, you may want to bring both a harness and a collar. Having a GPS tracker holder on your dog’s collar (Amazon has slip-on Airtag holders like these) and a collar light (like this rechargeable, waterproof one) will make finding them in the dark as simple as locating their spotlight.
You’ll want these to be reflective, have some form of ID for your dog, and your contact information.
If your dog becomes lost and is found by someone else, easy-to-access contact details can help reunite you both sooner rather than later… but covering all possible outcomes includes microchipping your dog. If they need veterinary care before returning to you—or if they lose their collar in the woods—a vet’s office should be able to scan your dog and retrieve your information.
Paw Balm
Depending on how early your snow starts—or how late, if it’s “autumn” and still a sweltering 100°F (*cough* Texas *cough*)—your dog may need a protective layer between their paws and the ground.
Pavement or concrete at the start of your trail can sear the skin of paw pads. Paw Balm acts as a shield from that heat. It serves the dual purpose of salt defense, saving your dog from salt exposure as ice begins to form. Musher’s Secret Dog Paw Wax is one well-loved example, good for all seasons and animal-safe… because your dog will likely try to lick it, let’s be honest.
When it’s that cold, you might not be too keen on hiking, and trails are often cold when the weather drops below a certain temperature. Be sure to double-check for any announcements before loading up your car!
Leashes
Set goals for your upcoming hike and prepare for them.
Do you want to keep your dog closer to you on a busier trail? You may want a shorter leash.
If you intend to camp, a six-foot leash or longer can act as a tie-out, letting them explore your campsite under your supervision.
You and your dog may be athletes wanting to scorch through a trail… a bungee-style hands-free leash makes for quality of life (and stops you from tripping one another up).
✨ Dog Parent Tip: Retractable leashes are generally not the best idea due to the bulk of their retracting mechanisms and their propensity to break or whip if dropped. Ouch.
Flea, Tick, & Heartworm Preventatives
Trails often have a lot of bugs. It’s just natural.
Keeping your dog on the beaten path can reduce some of that exposure, but that doesn’t stop transient creatures from hitching a ride. Having your dog up-to-date on their preventatives and vaccinations is a requirement. This is for their safety and future health.
Veterinarians prescribe geologically-adherent preventatives and treatments, as different areas of the US possess different prominent parasitic threats. Time of year may also matter regarding treatments, as insects like fleas have “low” threat levels and “high” threat levels. That said, remember that many hiking trails are surrounded by wild, untreated land… and insects will do what insects do best. (That is: find you.)
As for vaccinations, you don’t know who (or what) you’ll run into. Or what your dog might sneak a snack on. It’s better to cover all bases.
Dog First Aid Kits
Speaking of covering all bases… bring a canine first-aid kit. A human first-aid kit doesn’t have dog dosages nor necessarily carry dog-specific aids.
There are options like this large kit, which includes a grooming hammock that I would use to carry my smaller dog in case of an emergency. (If may want to invest in a dog-carrying pack specific to their size, should walking prove difficult for them.) There are smaller, compressed kits available that remove the pill feeding and grooming kits.
You may think nothing can go wrong. It’s likely nothing will for most of your hikes. And yet… disasters happen. Bring a first aid kit for both you and your dog.
Weather-Specific Autumn Dog Equipment
Summer wear differs from autumn wear, but there are some cross-overs to consider.
You’d benefit from any combination of these items:
- Dog Clothing/Rain Ponchos
- Dog Snow/Ice Shoes
- Doggy Sunscreen
- Dog Blanket
- Waterproof Dog Bed
Dog Clothing (like Sweaters and Rain Ponchos)
Your dog’s body heat can quickly drop when wet, like ours does!
While you should check the weather before disembarking on your nature-encased journey, you never know what changes may occur. Rain in the city might mean puddles, but a trail could experience a flash flood during a seemingly innocent drizzle.
A rain poncho can protect your dog from rain and a waterfall’s spray. 🌧️
Dog clothing such as sweaters and body suits helps regulate your dog’s temperature.
These basics are good to have for everyday walks as well, but are especially good to have just in case of any accidents (like taking a bit too long on the trail or getting stuck and having to wait for the morning).
These articles of clothing add extra weight to your pack, but you’ll be grateful you brought them when they’re finally needed.
Dog Shoes
Adjacently related, your dog’s paw pads are furless and could also use extra attention in snowy conditions. Paw Balm works wonders in temperate weather, but if you’re walking in particularly muddy or wet areas… you may consider dog shoes.
These shows help keep their feet protected from woodland debris, including rocks and sticks, as well as the harm of lower temperatures and road salt.
Dog Sunscreen ☀️
Dogs may have fur, but they aren’t immune to sunburn.
Prolonged exposure to the sun resulting in a sunburn leads to soreness and discomfort. It can even make their skin painful and cracked. The worse the burn, the worse the reaction—they can develop fevers and become sick.
Dogs with dark fur can burn too! It might not be as obvious as pale dogs, whose skin turns bright pink when burned, but it can happen to them just the same. Bring extra in case your dog goes for a swim or if your hike is a particularly long one.
Sleeping Gear
Some dog parents let their dogs sleep in their sleeping bags with them… others don’t, citing dirt, bugs, or perhaps the sheer size of their canine.
Whatever the case, it doesn’t hurt to pack a blanket specifically for your dog. If you’re feeling extra generous, bring a foldable waterproof bed, too.
In wet areas, keeping your pets up and out of the mud stops them from getting too cold and avoids skin irritation. A blanket offers extra protection from the weather, as well. These items are quality-of-life and may not be needed, especially if you don’t plan to camp.
Required Extras for Hiking with Your Dog
Other than items that go on your dog or your person, you’ll have to account for what goes in them… or out, in the case of waste. (No need to be shy about it. It’s really more important than you think.)
These must-have items are:
- Waste Bags
- Collapsible Bowls
- Dog Food & Water
- Treat Bag
Waste Bags
Some suggest burying your dog’s waste instead of packing it, but the “pack in, pack out” principle suggests taking it with you. It sounds gross, I know (who wants to carry waste for that long?), but there are attachments to harnesses so your dog can carry it for you.
The importance of taking it away deals with your dog’s diet—your dog doesn’t eat from that forest. Your dog may take medication toxic to the woodland creatures of the area. Worse yet, your pet may possess parasites you’re unaware of, and leaving that waste behind can infect other creatures.
And don’t get me started on the nutrient spikes… Dog waste kills grass. It’ll kill foliage in the woods, too.
It’s better to simply pack it up and put it in the carried waste bin to dispose of later.
Dog Food & Water
Obviously, your dog will need to eat. They’ll also need to drink. We both know this. The exact amount, though, needs a little calculating.
The American Hiking Society suggests 8 ounces of water per hour. A collapsible water bowl is great for delivering their needed intake, but a water bottle with a built-in bowl like this one can be a little more convenient… and save you some water.
As for food, Zuke’s recommends an extra 0.8 calories per pound per mile traveled. Let’s make the math easy: say you have a ten-pound dog and are going on a five-mile hike. The math would be 0.8 * 10 * 5, so they’d only need an extra 40 calories on top of their regular meal.
You may even feed your dog their dinner through a training session. They work and enjoy their food.
(Plus, feeding them small amounts in smaller spurts mitigates some upset tummies… No one wants to run on a full stomach.)
✨ Dog Parent Tip: Like you, your dog must condition themselves for longer, harder hikes. Ask your vet what they recommend before going on a grander adventure.
Treat Bags
It doesn’t hurt to bring some extra treats for your dog, especially if they need extra calories. Every day is a training opportunity, and a hike is the perfect time to practice leashed recall.
Be sure to account for the extra calories in treats—these mini-meals can really add up.
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