Dogs have been companions to humans since the Neanderthals tossed them a Mastodon bone and made room for them by the fire. Taking dogs for hikes in the woods is probably one of the more popular pastimes in the Peak to Peak region. While it is fun for dogs and humans to be outdoors together, there are regulations regarding these activities in the national forests and precautions to take to keep them safe.
The most important regulation is to control the dog either with a leash or by voice control. Leashes can be short or long but need to be held so that the dog can be controlled when around other people or dogs. Leashes can also prevent a dog from running off after wildlife. The Leave No Trace movement (lnt.org) lists seven principles that everyone can follow for making a minimal impact while outdoors and principle six is to respect wildlife by controlling your pets. Dogs on leashes are like rock climbers tethered to a rope. They are capable of these athletic coordinated movements with their owner in all kinds of terrain. Dogs on leashes also can’t run off and get lost.
Leave No Trace defines voice control as the dog always being in sight of the owner and coming immediately on the first return command in every situation. Reghan Cloudman from the Forest Service stressed that it is important that a dog can be recalled from other dogs, people, or wildlife. Wildlife/dog interactions can be dangerous for wildlife, the dog, and their owners. Dogs can be trained to respond to whistles, clickers or treats. The benefit of achieving voice control with a dog is the joy of watching them run free through the forest and across the tundra.
Cloudman also stressed that people need to pick up after their dogs and pack it out to keep the land clean. Don’t just bag it and leave it on the side of the trail.
The biggest precaution when outdoors with a dog is to keep them hydrated. Dogs don’t sweat so they can overheat quickly. They need plenty of water to keep their body temperatures from rising, making them sick. One easy way to water a dog if the owners use hydration packs is to squirt the water directly into their mouths. It’s quick and efficient and the owner doesn’t have to stop, take off their pack, get the collapsible bowl out, pour the water, let the dog drink, and then pour what’s left over their backs. When they get good at it, they will come up alongside for a quick squirt like a jet fighter refueling in mid-air.
Another precaution is to make sure dogs are in good shape before taking them on a strenuous hike. Domestic dogs spend a lot of time hanging out on beds and couches and need to work up to daylong hikes with big altitude gains. A common problem is soreness in the legs and limping. The Nederland Feed and Pet store has joint supplements to strengthen joints and veterinary clinics can prescribe medications if the limping gets really bad.
If a lucky dog has an owner that likes to take them up to the tundra and do summit hikes with them, eye protection is recommended to give the dogs the same UV protection as sunglasses for humans. Dogs exposed to unfiltered UV rays for too long can go blind when they get older. Since dog faces are different, there are different types of eye protection.
Mountain lion encounters are possible anywhere on the Front Range at any time so taking along a bear spray repellent with the potency of five million Scovilles is another lightweight and sensible precaution.
Hiking with dogs can be a happy time for everyone if the owners follow the regulations and take the necessary precautions to keep everyone safe, including the wildlife.
