The things for humans to consider when hiking with a Great Dane
Taking your Great Dane hiking seems like it would be as simple as going for a walk. But a hike is a different beast than just a walk around the block. As humans we take different equipment, better shoes, extra fluids/snacks, sunscreen, bug spray, bear spray….the list can go on. Add a human sized dog and now you have additional things to consider.
Some things to keep in mind before hitting the trail with your Great Dane.
- Terrain
- Elevation
- Temperature
- Hydration
- Local plants and animals
- Trail difficulty
Let’s look at them one at a time.
Terrain
What is the area you are hiking in, mountains, deserts, grasslands, canyons or riverine? Each has its own advantages and hazards.
Obstacles
Each Dane is different but we have only had one who was a good climber. Varel could climb ladders, rocks, climbing walls at playgrounds and if she couldn’t climb it she jumped it. She could do a running jump up to a platform at least 6 feet high. K’Ehleyr on the other hand, had trouble jumping over a 2 foot high fence. Well she could physically jump it with plenty of clearance, she just had a mental problem believing she could jump it.
Keep in mind your Dane’s ability to clear objects such as rocks or downed trees. Even log crossings over creeks or ditches can be a challenge if they have never experienced it before.
Something we didn’t think about before heading to Little Wild Horse Slot Canyon in Utah, was how narrow the slot would get. We hit a point that K’Ehleyr just couldn’t fit through. Varel the fearless of course figured it out by scrambling up the side of the wall a bit but K’Ehleyr the fearful was done so we turned around.
Water crossings were a bit challenging for Martok in the Red Canyon of Waterton Lakes National Park. Mostly because he hadn’t encountered that environment before. Now he loves the water.
Something as simple as a cattle-guard at a trail entrance can be difficult for a Great Dane to navigate. Martok’s solution is to jump the entire distance. Varel would carefully balance on the cross bars and for K’Ehleyr we had to find a path around.
Trail material
What is the surface the trail is made of? Sand like the trail to Lower Calf Creek Falls or pumice which is everywhere at Devils Postpile, can get hot and abrasive even on tough paws. Dog booties are a good investment to have on hand for protection.
Is the surface going to be slippery? Not just wet slippery but trails with lots of gravel or shale can lead to falls. There is a narrow section of shale on the Aspen Trail in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest where Martok scared me a bit.
Elevation
Dogs can just as easily get altitude sickness as humans. The symptoms of altitude sickness affect ~20% of individuals above 8000 feet. Pets who show any of the following symptoms should be offered water, decrease their activity and get them below 8000 feet.
Signs of elevation sickness:
- shortness of breath
- vomiting
- loss of appetite
- increased heart rate
- pale gums
- excessive panting or drooling
- bleeding from the nose
- collapse
If symptoms don’t improve at lower elevations then seek out veterinary care.
Temperature
Is it going to be really hot or cold? Dark fur can lead to rapid over heating. Martok is mantle colored so he gets hot quickly if there isn’t much shade. Great Danes also have short fur, so they don’t have much insulation from cold. K’Ehleyr loved snow and didn’t seem to get cold, Varel didn’t like it, Selar absolutely hated it. Martok has not encountered it much yet but he has gotten cold enough to start shivering and wanting to be back in the truck.
The signs of heat stroke (hyperthermia), many are similar to altitude sickness:
- excessive panting
- drooling
- reddened gums (different from altitude sickness)
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- uncoordinated movements
- loss of consciousness
- collapse
The signs of hypothermia (too cold):
- shivering
- lethargy
- stiff muscles
- pale or gray gums
- stumbling, lack of coordination
- fixed and dilated pupils
- low heart and breathing rates
- collapse
- coma
In either case seek veterinary care if the symptoms don’t stop by either cooling or warming your dog.
Hydration
If you don’t want to carry extra water then I suggest getting a water pack for your dog to carry. The one we have holds 2 liters. It’s not really enough for a long, hot hike with Martok. If there are going to be accessible creeks we let him get his fill with those. Otherwise we have to carry extra ourselves to share. When we stop to drink he gets a drink.
Signs of dehydration:
- panting
- loss of skin elasticity
- loss of appetite
- vomiting
- lethargy
- sunken, dry eyes
- dry nose
- dry, sticky gums
- thick saliva
An easy check is to gently pull some of the skin near the shoulder blades. It should fall back into place instantly. Another easy check is to press on the gums, it should turn white and then return to pink immediately when your finger is removed.
Is the water in the area you are in safe to drink?
Drinking from creeks and rivers can lead to Guardia. Most dogs won’t suffer any symptoms but if diarrhea becomes a problem getting a test at your local veterinarian is a good idea.
Cyanobacteria
Cyanobacteria, sometimes called blue-green algae, is a bacteria found in freshwater lakes, streams, ponds and brackish water systems. The blooms usually occur in nutrient rich water during the hottest weather. It gives the water a blue-green or pea soup appearance and will usually concentrate near the shore. Not all blooms are toxic but it is best to assume they are since exposure, even just on their fur, can be lethal.
If your Great Dane does get exposed you may want to contact the Pet Poison hotline.
Difficulty
Is there going to be lots of elevation gain or loss making the trail steep? Just because dogs are active and love running around does’t automatically mean they will be in shape for a difficult hike. Work up to longer more challenging hikes. Just like humans, they need to be in the right physical shape.
Recommendations from Preventivevet are:
Other posts with useful tips to get in shape for hiking:
Great Dane Care (a great site for all things Great Dane)
You Did What with Your Weiner (little dog stuff but strong on hiking information)
Go Dog Nashville (good general dog hiking information)
Local life
Plants
Hazards from plant life are going to typically be surface oils or toxins and physical spines or thorns. If your Great Dane likes to eat plants you might also want to be aware of any toxic ones around.
If there are going to be plants that are poisonous make sure you know what they are. Even if your dog isn’t affected by something like poison oak or ivy, if you are and your dog gets it on their fur, then you are going to get it on you. The degreasing properties of Dawn dish soap will remove the oils and is biodegradable. It’s good to have some on hand, the faster you remove any oil the less the reaction to it.
Cactus can be a really fun encounter (sarcasm). Varel took off over a hill once and came back with a haunch covered in cactus spines. It took almost one hour to remove all of them with tweezers. For larger spines, like cholla, having a pair of needle-nosed pliers on hand is a must.
Animals
What animals are you likely to encounter? In some areas it is a good idea to have bear bells on your dog. Other mammals to watch out for that we have come across are moose, badgers and javelinas.
I goes without saying (but I’m saying it anyway) that smaller animals that bite or sting such as snakes and scorpions should be avoided. There are rattlesnake vaccines which help lessen the reaction if bitten but need to administered at least 30 days prior to exposure and need booster shots every 6 months to be effective.
Don’t forget the really small stuff. A bee sting can be serious if your Dane is allergic to them. Selar was very allergic to bugs and her whole faced swelled up from a sting. Benadryl is a good item to have on hand for both human and canine use.
I mentioned just a few of the things we have encountered but many threats are going to be location specific. Know what is in your area and plan accordingly.
Now get out and hike!
Do you and your Great dane have a favorite hike? Please share it in the comments.
Areas mentioned in this post
