[NAGDU] Hiking with your guide dog

[Caitlyn Furness]

Hi,

I have hiked with every one of my dogs.

If your dog is trained or has been encouraged to stop for every change in terrain, then I’d start there by letting him know that it’s alright to just slow down for changes, unless you really him to actually do a full stop for stuff like rocks, tree roots, etc.

If you’re doing some serious back packing, then you can have the dog carry his own food and water in a dog pack.  The dog shouldn’t carry more then 20 percent of his weight, though, and you’ll have to get used to the room the pack takes up on the dog and also find a pack which fits well under the guide harness.

At times, some trails are very narrow and rough.  I let the dog go out to the end of the long lead and guide out in front of me in these cases, returing to traditional guide position when space permits.

Don’t forget about ticks and use a good topical repellent or one of the many products now available to keep them off the dog and remember to check the dog after the hike for ticks and other stuff, like grass awns or foxglove thorns in the fur or paw pads.

I’m sure others will also have suggestions, but these should get you started..

Caitlyn and Maggie

> On Feb 16, 2016, at 11:21 AM, Deanna Lewis via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi all,
> Hope you all are doing well. How many of you have gone hiking with your guide dogs? Can you offer any tips on how best to do this? I'm planning a trip this spring, and want to go hiking.
> I took Pascal to a few state parks/nature preserves, but we always walked on a trail or walkway. Mambo has been to Muir Woods, but again that was on a smooth trail. I kind of wonder how the dog adjusts to a rougher terrain, like rocks, hills, and tree roots sticking out? I am not sure what the paths are like where we are going, so I want to be as prepared as possible. I would prefer to work my dog while hiking, and not use sighted guide. Any tips are much appreciated.
> Thanks!
> Deanna and Mambo
> 
> 
> -- 
> This email was Virus checked by UTM 9. http://www.sophos.com
> 
> Sent from the Clovernook email system
> _______________________________________________
> NAGDU mailing list
> NAGDU at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NAGDU:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/caitlyn.furness%40gmail.com