If you want to start a heated conversation among dog owners, just ask about their encounters with other dogs on the trail. Hiking with dogs comes with a set of responsibilities that some simply do not understand or just choose to ignore.
I’ve been there. When I first became a new dog mama, I did not understand the rules. They’re not laid out in a pamphlet provided by the dog adoption agency. You learn as you go. I made poor choices and through my mistakes, learned how to share the trails with other users.
We seek the trails to find peace, quiet, and solitude, and to spend quality time in nature with friends and our pets. Allowing our dogs to run amok and disturb others leads to frustration, anger, and sometimes dangerous situations. Everyone has the right to enjoy the trails without disturbance.
The 10 Commandments of Hiking with Dogs lays out a set of guidelines to consider next time you hit the trail for an outdoor adventure. The goal is to create an understanding of trail etiquette among all of us who hike with our dogs.
The 10 Commandments of Hiking with Dogs
1. Thou shalt hike with your dog on leash if they are reactive or have poor recall
Be honest about your dog’s behaviors and accept them for who they are.
Hiking with your dog on leash isn’t a bad thing. Yes, of course, we all wish our dogs could prance along the trail off leash, sniffing and darting back and forth to their heart’s content, but it’s not for all dogs.
Signs your dog should remain on leash?
- Your dog is reactive to other dogs and people
- Jumps on people
- Barks at strangers
- Does not come when called
- Has a high prey drive
- Does not stay on the trail
None of these behaviors indicates that you have a “bad dog.” It simply means that you have work to do to earn that off-leash freedom. Love your dog regardless and consult a trainer to work on their behaviors.
And if someone ever tells you that your reactive dog does not belong on the trail, they are wrong. You and your dog have the right to use the trail as much any other dog and human combination.
2. Thou shalt manage your dog on the trail.
This means looking ahead and listening for approaching people, other dogs, and wildlife. It does not mean replying to our latest comments on Instagram or gabbing on the phone to our bestie.
Hike proactively and be prepared to recall your dog to a heel or step aside when others pass by, especially on narrow trails or when you encounter hikers going uphill.
We talked about recall in Commandment #1. Let’s take a closer look at what proper recall looks like.
“Laila, come!”
Laila whips her head from whatever she is doing and runs back to me.
What good recall does not look like:
“Laila, come!”
Laila ignores me while running toward another dog.
“Laila, come!”
Laila ignores me while barking at the other dog.
“Laila, come!”
“Laila, come!”
“Laila, come!”
“Laila, come!”
“Laila, come!”
Laila continues to ignore me while bothering the other dog and person, while I just stand there repeating the same thing over and over.
Should this occur, go back and read Commandment #1 and listen carefully: Your dog is not coming back to you and she is intruding on someone else’s space. In this situation, sprint immediately to your dog, remove her from the other dog, leash her, and apologize profusely. Please don’t repeat it with the next dog on the trail.
3. Thou Shalt Always be Training
No matter how old my dog is, we are always, always training. On daily walks, trail running, hiking, camping, in the car. Whatever we do together, we are training.
The trails offer a perfect opportunity to practice ongoing training with your dog. Take a 30’ leash, some high value dog treats mixed with their breakfast and practice.
What commands should your dog know for the trail, you ask?
Come
Sit
Stay
Leave It
Look
Place
4. Thou shalt never shout “my dog is friendly!” as they run, sprint, bound, or approach another user of the trail
That’s just super that your dog is friendly. Let’s throw you and your pup a party celebrating that very fact.
Guess what?
Mine is reactive.
I am allergic to dogs.
My child is afraid of dogs.
I am running with my dog and don’t want to be interrupted. We are working.
My dog and I are training right now and you are distracting us.
I just plain don’t like your dogs paws slapping me all over my body.
There are a myriad of reasons why you should never allow your dog to approach other users without their permission. Most of all, it is inconsiderate. The hiking trails are there for everybody and it’s not fair that your dog is ruining the experience for someone else.
5. Thou shalt always ask permission before approaching a dog
Meeting other dogs is fun, but be mindful of the other person’s space. They may just want to continue on their peaceful hike without interruption. Alternatively, they could be training their excruciatingly overstimulated dog (hey, Laila!) and your imposition means that I cannot work with my dog.
Even seemingly harmless interactions can mean a big deal for some dogs. Walking past while making kissy sounds, snapping at, speaking in annoying high-pitched tones, and sometimes even making eye contact with a dog can disrupt a dog and their human.
And hey, humans, especially of the parental variety, let’s follow the same rules of asking for ourselves and our kiddos. Just think about how you would feel if some stranger came up and hugged and kissed your kid without permission.
You’d probably want to bite, too.
6. Thou shalt listen to and accept when others tell us that their dogs are not friendly and we cannot pet them or allow our dogs to meet
I know, I know, you’re a dog behaviorist and you can tell by my dog’s body language how badly our dogs want to meet.
She doesn’t. I know her body language pretty well, and you know, that stiff stance and intense stare don’t actually mean “hey! Let’s be frens!”
Yes, yes, I know your dog is friendly. That’s swell. I’m very happy for you.
If someone tells you that you cannot pet their dog or that your dogs cannot meet, just say, “Ok! Have a great hike!” and continue on your way.
What not to say:
- Do not turn to your friend or child and say “Oh that dog is mean.”
- Do not tell me that I don’t know how to manage my dog.
- Do not tell me that I am rude for not allowing you to do something that would make both my dog and me very uncomfortable and put you and your dog in a potentially dangerous situation.
Further, if we encounter a human who has pulled off to the side of the trail and put their body in between their dog and mine, this is not an invitation to approach. On the contrary, it means “move along and leave us alone.”
Yes, this means you, too, friendly dogs.
7. Thou shalt pick up your dog’s waste
If a dog shits in the woods, but nobody is there to smell it, did the dog really shit?
Yes, she did and you have to pick it up.
Carrying poop in a bag is cool. It proves that you’re Dog Mom AF and that you care about the trails and the other wildlife who call those woods home.
Is it ok to leave the bag on the side of the trail since my dog inevitably poops just far enough away from the parking lot that I don’t feel like running back to toss it and stashing it in my pack is gross and I know I’ll forget about it until my next hiking trip?
Er. Um. Well. Not really.
The practice may be “accepted” by dog people, but to other users it’s unsightly and irresponsible. Besides, you’ll probably forget to pick it up on the way back, remember when you reach the parking lot, and have to run back anyway to get it.
What is a better solution?
Stash it in a Poo Vault! This handy little container clips to your pack and stores your dogs doo stink and squish free! And, since it’s attached to the outside of your pack, you’re far less likely to forget that it’s there when you see the next trash can.
For other tips on dealing with dookie on the trail, read How to Dispose of Dog Poop on the Trail.
8. Thou shalt obey Leave No Trace Principles – for you and your dog
The guidelines behind Leave No Trace for dogs go well beyond just picking up poop.
It means being considerate of other users. This includes not allowing your “friendly dog” to approach without permission (as discussed in Commandment #4). If you’re in a large group with multiple dogs, hike single file and/or spread out along the trail. Give way to other users, including, runners, equestrians, hikers, and bikers.
It means following the rules. First and foremost, make sure you’ve selected a dog-friendly trail. If the trail requires dogs to be on leash, then leash your dog. Sometimes, leash laws can be tricky to understand, so let me help you out.
When a sign at the beginning of the trail has a picture of a dog with a leash and the words “dogs on leash” written below it indicates:
- That your dog must be on leash for the entirety of the hike.
It does not mean:
- That you should only leash your dog when you see a park ranger.
- That you should only leash your dog when you encounter another user or dog.
- That you should become angry when a leashed dog following the rules reacts to your off leash dog who approached rudely.
- That you have the right the right to hike with your dog off leash just because you want to.
For a full guide on how to Leave No Trace with a dog, see here.
9. Thou shalt not ever use a retractable leash. Not on the trail. Not ever.
These leashes are useless and dangerous. Here’s why:
- They can cause serious injuries to both dogs and humans, including burns, cuts, and even amputations.
- The thin cord is not conducive to controlling a dog at full extension. You don’t want to have to fish your dog back to you when you face a stressful situation.
- They don’t teach a dog to walk nicely and instead reinforce pulling.
- The cord isn’t all that strong and can break if your dog sees something fun like a wild animal on the trail.
- They don’t help dogs communicate well. An approaching dog may see your dog pulling toward him, but not the leash attached. This looks like aggressive behavior to the other dog.
10. Thou shalt advocate for your dog
As a soft-spoken introvert, I know how hard this can be for some people. It took me a long time, and several embarrassing and uncool moments for me to finally learn to advocate for my dogs.
Advocating for your dog means understanding their fears and protecting them from other dogs, people, and dangers.
What exactly does advocating for your dog look like?
- If your dog is reactive with other people, dogs, and especially kids, make that extremely clear before it’s too late. It sucks having to tell people that “my dog is not friendly” even if they really, truly are, but it gets the point across in an efficient manner.
- It means body blocking your dog when another approaches to prevent interaction.
- It means leashing your dog when they need to be leashed.
- Learn your dog’s body language by watching how they stand when another dog approaches, how stiff they get when a human hand comes near their face. Watch for every flick of the ear or tail and learn what these movements mean so you can intervene appropriately.
What “Commandments” would you add to this list?
What stories do you have, good or bad, about encounters with other dogs on the trail?
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PIN FOR LATER!
Love this! And AMEN to the retractable leash thing. I feel like it is common trail etiquette to move to the side with your dog restrained when anyone approaches. And I really appreciate it when anyone asks first if they can pet my dog.
Retractable leashes are the worst. They must have some seriously good marketing because they are everywhere and nobody realizes how terrible they are!
I completely agree.
Finding yourself, and your companion suddenly startled by an unknown off leash dog that just jumped from the bushes after it wondered half a mile in front or behind their unatentive guardian (no matter how good natured they might be) is the worst.
It’s super disrespectful too! I get that a lot of dog owners don’t realize that it is, I used to be one of them! Unfortunately, it can take a few mishaps to finally learn the best way to keep peace on the trails.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for writing this. I hope it is widely read. I have a Westie, of course he is a terrier, they can be difficult no matter their size. He likes some dogs, doesn’t like others. I never know what category a dog will be in as he whines and gets all excited when he wants to play AND when he wants to fight. Exact same cues. He bit other dogs when he was turning adult male terrier. After about the 4th time, the firm rule was never, ever go nose to nose with other dogs we do not know. I took him to a vet, to a behaviorist, and they both told him: His behavior is normal, it is ok, he only needs you. He goes hiking, stand-up paddling, we play, he gets lots of loving attention, and every so often we find a dog he gets along with to play with. So, so, so many times I have been told I did not socialize him correctly (not true and of course, these people were not vets, not trainers, not behaviorists and had met only one Westie in their lives), to just let the dogs work out it (no, I don’t want blood all over my dog or another), that their dog is nice, don’t worry, or my favorite, your little dog is so cute, it is hard to believe he would do something like that. My response is always, umm, have you ever met an attractive human who wasn’t all that nice? When we hike, he is made to stay behind me and not get in front of me so I can grab him by the harness if we encounter another dog on the trail. On high risk hikes of running into others he is made to stay on his leash or wildlife that might eat him (not kidding). He doesn’t like it. Too bad, it is what it is. This is a perfect article. I really appreciate all that you had to say.
Hi Corrine, I’m go glad that you enjoyed this article and thanks so much for your comments…you actually gave me a new blog post idea after reading this piece, so thank you! (and stay tuned for when it get published!). It really always amazes me how much others think they know how to advise on MY dog. The question I will always have, is what would parents do if people came up to their children the way we approach dogs we don’t know? It wouldn’t go over so well, I can guarantee that.
My dogs are friendly. I still do not want them interacting with random dogs EVER. They don’t need to “socialize” and they don’t need new “dog friends.” I do not wait to see if they are “friendly.” I will do whatever it takes to keep Random Dog away (including pepper spray and use of a stick or baton), and if you don’t like it, keep Random Dog on a leash.
In a situation in which my dogs meet another and the meeting can’t be avoided, they are allowed a brief “hullo” and then we move on. I expect the other dog owner to do the same.
Other suggested rules might be to ALWAYS know where your off leash dog is. When my dogs are off lead they are in my sight ALWAYS. I can never be accused of not knowing what my dogs are doing at all times.
Also, the picture above? With the herd of people and crowd of dogs? Please don’t do this. It is a hassle and a half to run into a group of people with that situation going on. I hate it and everyone else hates it. No one wants to run into your entire friend group and their dogs.
Please do not allow your dog to roam unchecked around the trailhead while you organize your backpack or tie your shoes. It is SO annoying to have to cope with dogs running everywhere while I’m trying to either load up in my truck or unload and get going. ON LEASH AT TRAILHEADS and busy areas, NO EXCEPTIONS.
Lastly: Paid dog walkers – stop taking client dogs to the woods to let them run around. Stop it. You don’t have control over them, you don’t know them well enough, and everyone else shouldn’t have to accommodate your lousy business model.
I could rant about this stuff ALL DAY LONG. ugh!
We feel you! And just a note on that group photo, we agree that hiking with a group is a no no. We dispersed throughout the hike in smaller groups and made all hikers aware that we were in a large group. We also chose early morning on a weekday to minimize impact on others.
Dear Jen
am planning to hike through Spain with my kids (9 and 14) and my dogs (Siberian Husky and a Cane Corso). I know it’s crazy and I have no idea how to do it yet but I know I HAVE to do it. Any tips and tricks on what to look at? We plan to leave on March 1 -31 this year.
Look forward hearing from you, kind regards,
Evelyne & Co
Hi Evelyne! That sounds like an AMAZING experience for you, the kiddos, and the pups. We haven’t done a ton of hiking yet since we’ve been here. I personally, would avoid the Camino de Santiago, mainly because we prefer to choose less touristy areas. That’s just our preference. If it’s something that you’ve always wanted to do, then go for it! Cicerone publishes a ton of books on hiking in Spain and they’re great. I’ve found it quite difficult to find information online about hiking in Spain, especially with dogs. If you’re coming in March, staying east and south is best, as the weather will be perfect. The north tends to get quite a lot of rain and won’t be as warm. Granada and the Andalucia region have amazing hiking options and there are very few people. Also look at hiking near Huesca, in Val d’Aran (may be too snowy and cold still), and hiking near Jaca (again, not sure about the weather). If you guys pass through Granada, please be sure to reach out!
Hello! Thank you for your article. Promoting good behaviour on trails is a necessary positive thing to do ! It is really important to understand and respect the users. I live in the Quebec province of Canada and hiking with dogs is a «new thing» here. It is quite controversial. A good trail ethic is necessary to avoid conflicts and create a good image for dogs on trails. Unfortunatly, as you have stated it is not every one that knows the implication of their behavior on the trails. I, for instance, wasn’t aware of how many people were affraid of dog’s even puppy before I had one. And, I wasn’t aware of the frustration of other dog’s owner before I read your post. It is enlightning. If I may, I have some suggestions but keep in mind that I am not a dog expert, but it might help to reduce some stress I hope. There is some dogs apparels (vest, scarf, harness) on which it is written «in trainning» , or«reactive», I am guessing you can put whatever you want on it. It can help avoiding interaction with others. Also, I agree that every experience is a trainning but you might want to choose your trainning accordingly… There is a lot of stimuli on trails which is perfect to train your dog to be focus no matter what. But if your dog is reactive to other user voice, mouth noises or other dogs at a point it becomes overwhelming for your dog and yourself or your goal is to train him without these distractions, maybe there is more proper places to go… or to begging with? And please everyone communicate and be civile no need to attack other dogs or dogs owners it wont make you (or them) anygood. 😉 Wish you the best on the trails.
There is so much to learn about having a dog and unfortunately some dog owners just never take the time to understand the rules to make it work for everyone. I did mention those patches and harnesses! I’ve seen them before and I think they’re great!
Hi,
I am a dog-less long distance hiker and I really appreciated this article. One other rule I would add (especially for day hikers with dogs-but really for all dogs on the trail) is “Thou shalt not allow your dog drink or swim immediately near the trail nor upstream from the crossing. “ Dogs need water too, but owners need to recognize that for long distance hikers these stream crossings are our only hydration sources. They are so important that our maps and digital apps make a big deal to point them out! We can’t stop by a local convenience store on the way to the trail or back home to catch up on our fluid supply. If these water sources are muddied up by a dog swimming in the stream and drinking from it, we have to expend a lot more time and effort to find a place farther upstream to try to collect water that won’t clog our filters. It is extremely helpful if dogs are leashed and taken down stream to swim and rehydrate. Leave the water close to the trail and up stream for hikers. On one trail We hiked, a woman day hiker allowed her over friendly pair of dogs off leash. When my husband and I approached the stream crossing (the first i. 8 miles) we were dismayed to find the water completely muddied as her dogs approached us shaking the mud and water from their coats all over us. Now we not only needed clean water to drink we also needed baths and our clothes washed. She apologized profusely as she tried to keep her dogs under leash-less control. But the damage was done, or so I thought. One of her dogs broke free from her grip and continued to follow us as we made our way upstream, continually jumping into the water at every access point and then rejoining us to lick and spray us continually. It was truly the worst case scenario for a hiker!
Thank you so much for this perspective! I hadn’t really considered how a dog muddling water can impact a hiker trying to filter drinking water, even though I’ve done it myself! It’s certainly annoying when a strange dog shakes all over you! I don’t appreciate it when my own dog sprays me with water either!
Great article! My dog is super friendly…with people….not with other dogs. There is nothing worse for us than a dog running toward us with someone yelling from behind “he is friendly!” Thanks for the reminders to everyone to keep their dog close and under control.
It’s terrifying to have a dog running straight toward you with no owner in sight!
Oh, my goodness. It’s like you’re in my head. Now, can you please stand at every trailhead and distribute this to hikers? Ha!
Haha I’ve thought about doing exactly that!
That poo vault is amazing, I’ve never heard of that. And it’s nice you say reactive dogs can also be on the trail. I don’t have one currently but everyone needs exercise. I do wish people would be less afraid of using muzzles, then everyone can enjoy the trail without stress.
A word in favor of retractable leashes, I don’t think they’re the problem per se. I think the problem is when people think a dog on a leash doesn’t have to be trained, the problematic nature of which is amplified by distance. People stop paying attention to their dogs when they’re on regular leashes too, which kind of drives me nuts. Those seem to be the ones jumping on me or my dog as we pass each other while the owner tells me it’s friendly. So I’d make a case that any leash is only a device to back up training, which just goes extra for a retractible leash. Since training is not an overnight thing, and sometimes you need a device for actual control, the regular leash is only half of the equipment. If a dog is a lunger then the collar and regular leash won’t do squat, you need an Easy Walk, Halti, etc to prevent an incident on a shared trail (or sidewalk).
On the other hand if a dog has good wait/recall/heel, and people pay attention to what’s coming down the path, and shorten the lead in advance, then I think a retractible leash is quite fabulous. I like that they allow for differing natural paces between dog and person. Especially on narrow scrambly ups and downs, but also on a sidewalk when I want to walk and Billie wants a sniff. It does only work when the leash is almost incidental, and it’s not crowded. But we’re frequently in such conditions.
(Rando training note: I only use the retractible on the back ring of a harness and never on a collar because of the training to pull thing. But I’ve also tied a knot a couple feet up so it doesn’t retract fully and there’s zero tension if he’s right next to me. A genius idea that I can’t claim, but it’s bonus reinforcement for strolling next to me which I think is sort of neat.)
You’re right, I keep meaning to amend my scathing remarks about the Flexi. It’s rare that they’re used properly, so I just turn people off of them, but you’re right, when used for, say, recall training or for a sniffari with a dog that has recall, they can be great!