Grab your hiking boots, scooby snacks, and collapsible water bottle. We’re going on an adventure!

Our pals at Paws Play Doggy Daycare (Tacoma, WA) had graciously invited us to explore a hidden Packwood trail with their pack in April, 2023. We love adventures like this! We had about 13 dogs the first day! 0.o This pack size required four seasoned pack leaders (3 from daycare and myself) to ensure we had enough people to manage the dogs in wilderness.

Each dog included in this adventure had a few things in common.

Your dog needs to achieve these skills:

Emergency Recall (if there’s a bear, you may be thinking, “will I lose my dog?” I sure hope not.)
Checking in while walking (does your dog look at your at all? Or is their nose the leader?)
Being calm on leash with a different handlers than parents.
Not stirring up trouble, if your dog barks or pulls a lot on leash that will disrupt the rest of the pack.
The dogs knew each other for longer than 6-12 months.
basic obedience level complete!

Just like a couch potato doesn’t become an marathon winner overnight, pushing your dog’s physical ability in one go (10+ miles) can quickly put a damper on their adventure (and safety.)

Before going the distance, realize that elevation can affect your dog as well. We recommend using Point Defiance Park, Fort Steilacoom Park, or Swan Creek Park to practice walking through different terrain, distances and practicing with your long line. If you have a Frenchie, or bulldog, it is possible to hike with them without overheating, very slowly.

Know the signs for overheating and packed your dog’s hiking essentials. More water or cooling options than food since a new environment can be overstimulating and leave your dog rejecting your treats.

We also discussed what to do in bear sightings, wildlife and how to train your dog and their prey drive. Now the prey drive can be tough if you don’t have

For more dog friendly trails, check out Washington Trails Association (WTA) Hike Finder, which allows you to customize the map based on what sights you want to see (mountains, waterfalls.) *This is not sponsored.

If you are apart of Paws Play Doggy Daycare (Tacoma, WA) and want to go on these Pack Hikes, then your next step are my in-person Hiking assessment ($50). We will explore a beginner level park. These assessments are available 1-2 a month during the summer during our “Park Days.” This is a seasonal event.

Check out our Instagram for #AdventureDog and tag us @allearspetcare

Until our next adventure,

Bri Maurer

Hiking with Your Dog