We all love our adorable pups. They greet us when we get home, they cuddle with us while we’re watching Netflix, and they love acting as unofficial home security guards half the time. But when it comes to taking them out on hikes, there are mixed opinions about this. Some people highly recommend it, while others wouldn’t even consider it. If you’re wondering if you can take your dog on a hike, here are three factors to consider.
The Dog Type
The first thing you need to ask yourself is what type of dog you have. Different dogs are built for different things, and that should factor into your decision. For instance, a Chihuahua is less likely to be able to handle a hike than a Golden Retriever.
The Hike
What kind of hike are you going on? Will you be scaling difficult peaks and crawling over tough rocks? If it’s too difficult, don’t make things harder on your dog if you think it’ll be too dangerous for them.
The Nurture Factor
Another important thing to consider is how this dog was raised. If you’ve been walking them since they were a puppy, then they’re already used to it. But if you’ve never taken them anywhere crazy and you’re only now deciding to try it out, you might want to take it easy and keep them on a close leash.