Everything you need to know before camping or hiking with your dog — rules, gear, and real safety habits.
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Most dogs, regardless of size, make excellent hiking companions — if they're physically fit for the level of hiking you plan to do, have a great recall, are socialized among people and other dogs, and the weather isn't too hot. Hassle Free Hiking covers what to actually check before you start up the trail.
Choose a hike within your dog's abilities, and know the terrain before you go — a good rule is to hike a trail yourself first, so you know exactly what you and your dog will be handling. Conditioning matters as much for your dog as it does for you: don't start a dog who's never hiked on a 12-mile trail. Start short, and build up.
Camping with dogs enhances the adventure — their joy is a constant reminder to drink in the moment. But camping on public lands with a dog involves real rules that vary by destination. As a rule of thumb, dogs are allowed anywhere cars can go, so developed campgrounds generally allow them, and state and local parks regularly have trails open to canines.
Camping With A Canine walks through what actually changes by destination — from developed campgrounds to backcountry Forest Service land — so you know the real rules before you go, not after.
