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Friday, June 3, 2016

Top 3 Reasons to Hike with your Dog

Tomorrow, June 4, is the American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day®, a day to celebrate America’s amazing Trail System. Started by trail advocates and outdoor industry leaders, National Trails Day features a wealth of outdoor activities for people to participate in including hiking, biking, paddling, horseback riding, trail running and bird watching.

oz hike tallulah gorge national trails day

There are many scheduled events for National Trails Day and you can find the nearest one to you at the American Hiking Society’s event finder page. But you do not have to participate in a scheduled event to appreciate and enjoy our Trail System – you can take an adventure of your own at your nearest park or Trail.

Florida State Parks is celebrating National Trails Day on their 1,660 miles of trails. There are Nature Hikes, Guided Walks, Trail Walks, Beach Walks and so much more scheduled for tomorrow – all Florida State Parks National Trail Day events can be found here. And if you remember, Georgia State Parks just kicked-off their new Tails on Trails hiking club, so you can always head over to one of their seven participating parks to enjoy a day in the outdoors with your dog.

Whenever we head out on an outdoor adventure, we always bring Oz. He absolutely loves a good hike and we love spending the day with him. If you are planning on celebrating National Trails Day, we encourage you to find a dog-friendly trail so you can walk, hike or bike with your best buddy.

Oz's top 3 reasons to hike with your dog

Top 3 Reasons to Hike with your Dog

1. Life Lessons. Dogs love to roam in new places and the new sights, smells and sounds are great way to provide mental stimulation to your dog. You may find your hike takes twice as long with your dog as he/she stops to enjoy all that is around him/her. It seems dogs know life is about the journey, not the destination.

2. Build Your Bond. Working together to conquer a trail, no matter how easy or difficult, allows you and your dog to depend on each other and build trust. Among the solitude of a trail, you can even enhance your nonverbal communication with each other which you can bring back and utilize at home.

3. FUN! Your dog loves to be with you and you love having him/her around so it is only natural the two of you will have so much fun adventuring and exploring together.

Do you hike with your dog? What is your top reason for doing so?






19 comments:

  1. I agree with you, to hike together is pawsome... and I hope we can go on a long hike this summer and we will sleep in a tent :o)

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  2. Kaci and Kali don't have to leave home to go bird watching.

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  3. We have Hiked our Legs... does that count?
    We think our mom is WAY too Old to go HIKING.. so sometimes we just take her fur walkies. BEING MINDFUL to keep her on the Walkin String, OF COURSE.

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  4. Hikes could we lots of fun but we are not big walkers
    Snorts,
    Lily & Edward

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  5. We don't have many good hiking trails, but we can't WAIT to get some hikes in a the BAR!!

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  6. Ring Ding it is I Sir William ~ Oz, Lee says do you remember A Walk In The Woods movie with Robert Redford and Nick Nolte which took place on the Appalachian Trail ~ well that would be us for sure. Bawheheeeee. You always look great my friend.
    Sweet William The Scot

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  7. Mom never walks or hikes without at least one dog with her. We make the best companions! Happy hiking! I will be in my car or kennel most of the weekend because of nose work trials, but we do plenty of "foot work" on a regular basis and I figure it's okay to skip tomorrow and Sunday.

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  8. Oz what a great post. Mom doesn't hike with me but she does take Kasi the border collie for walks when her mom works 12 hour days. Kais is 11 and mom is older than dirt but for two old gals they cover some territory
    Hugs madi your bfff

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  9. We love to walk. We'd love to hike there!

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  10. Oz you do always look like you have so much fun on your hiking adventures.

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  11. We go on a walk/hike every day! It's good for all of us - biped and quadruped alike!
    Cammie!

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  12. This is a great post with perfect reminders of why we should take our pups along with us on hikes! I really miss those days of when we used to be able to take our pups on long walks -- What treasured times they were!

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  13. Hiking sounds like a great way to have fun adventures together! Seems like a wonderful way to explore and discover cool new spots with your humans.

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  14. We don't hike but we do enjoy walking on our park's trails. The vet said no walks for Bentley until next week. He has a tummy ache.

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  15. 3 great reasons, I hiked with my friends dog here in Maryland and it was the best time. So much beauty.

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  16. I don't hike much, cause doggies really aren't allowed on our trails around here...I KNOW! Sucks. butts, I do gets two walkies a day, so there's that...not as FABulous as hikes, butts better than nothin' I guess...maybe I can come with you!
    Kisses,
    Ruby ♥

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  17. Good reasons cuz the truth is that everything is better with a dog!

    Your Pals,

    Murphy & Stanley

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  18. When we only had one or two dogs we used to hike with them all the time. Once we got up to four dogs it was just too difficult to do so, and we got out of the habit! I'll still occasionally go and bring two of them, but I always feel bad leaving one behind. I really miss it, but too many people around here hike with their dogs off leash, and since two of our dogs are reactive it's really not ideal.
    Jan, Wag n Woof Pets

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  19. Hiking is our absolute favorite activity to do with our dogs! I don't even want to hike if one of my dogs isn't with me. I can't believe I ever enjoyed hiking without them!
    Love & biscuits,
    Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them

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Thank you for stopping by and leaving a pawprint. I enjoy reading each and every one!
Cairn cuddles,
Oz the Terrier