Exercise can do a lot of things for your dog. A simple walk in the park or a stroll in the neighborhood is usually enough to get their muscles moving. It could also help burn their extra energy, which usually causes some dog breeds to get too excited and become erratic. Going out of your house with your dog also lets him get a sense of your surroundings, and even a chance to meet new friends.

Going for a hike is also a great idea to bond with your critter friend. Dogs normally love nature, and letting them roam around in a hike will provide him with new experiences that he doesn’t usually have at home.

But before you step out and go for a hike, there are a couple of things you should keep in mind.

Pre-Hike Training

Dogs, like humans, can get stressed out when forced to do strenuous activities that they’re not usually accustomed to. If you are planning to hike a nature trail, especially if it’s up a mountain or a hill, give your dog a chance to adjust by taking him for a series of quick runs first. It’s ideal to do this a week or a few days before your hike, gradually increasing the exercise intensity as your hike nears.

Research a Dog-Friendly Trail

It’s important to find a dog-friendly trail before going out for a hike. There are many tools that you can use to help you plan your walking trail for your dog. A number of hiking trails actually prohibit dogs, so make sure you verify this info before heading out. Due to security reasons for both humans and dogs, many national parks, as well as a few state parks, don’t allow dogs in some trails.

Additionally, if your dog still doesn’t have a tracker tag, you might want to hold off bringing him outdoors. Make sure your dog is wearing a tracking tag or at least a tag that indicates your address and contact number should he get lost.

Pack Treats, Food, and Water

Just like humans, dogs need to eat and drink on a hike. Water is important for dogs when doing any exhaustive activities, while treats will keep him from getting starve. If you’re going for a whole day hike, make sure to pack his favorite food as well, packing it per meal for ease. If you bought a new eating tray specific for hiking, let your dog use it at home first so he can get accustomed to using it.

Make Sure Your Pup Leaves No Trace (Bring Plenty of Poop Bags)

While humans are encouraged to clean after themselves, dogs can’t do it all on their own. Bringing your dog in a trail, or in any public place for that matter, means you’ll have to clean after them (when they decide to drop a bomb if you know what I mean). Bring plenty of poop bags, or you can just bury their waste away from the trail. Dog owners who will take their dogs to hike along should bury their critter’s waste 6-8 inches deep and 200 meters away from the trail, camp, or any water source.

Bring a Dog Specific First Aid

Since your dog will be hiking bare-foot, walk into debris left behind by other hikers, and will usually wander out of the trail, they are more prone to injury than you. Should your dog encounter an unfortunate accident, make sure that you have a dog-specific first aid kit on your backpack. This will make it a lot easier for you to quickly remedy your dog’s injuries before heading out to the vet if needed.

With proper research, careful planning, plus a bit of confidence on your dog, you and your best buddy can enjoy a hiking adventure together. Be mindful of these tips before bringing your dog on a hike.