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Hiking - what's a good age to start?


Gloria Atwater
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Okay, so in the past year and a half I've taken up hiking with a friend on local trails. It's usually once or twice a week and the mileage is about 5 to 7 miles per hike. We're not marathoners - we're both over 50 - so we strike a moderate pace. I take my grown dogs with me, but when I started doing this, they were - you know - grown!

So, I feel a little dumb asking this ... but what's a safe age to start hiking with pups?

My two youngsters will be 7 months old at the end of the month. I did take them out a couple weeks ago and we went for about 2 hours, kept the pups on leash, let them set the pace and stopped often for them to play in the stream. The trails are typical mountain trails, well-traveled dirt with some rocks and easy stream crossings and modest elevation gain. Whenever they do start hiking, they will be on leash until they learn the rules of the road. And also to assure there's no mad careening around in the rocks and mountainside to wreck themselves.

But I'm concerned about growth plates and young joints and all that, so I don't want to start too soon. What say you all?

~ Gloria

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I don't think distance matters. I think time you do it in does - and terrain. That kind of hiking you're mentioning, I would do without hesitation and with Kiran now, and he's only nearly 20 weeks old. I'd have no problem doing that for 5-7 miles, but I'd expect it to take 4 to 6 hours or more at his age, because of breaks to play and rest.


I will admit, however, I'd be more inclined to let him do it mostly off leash. He's kind of wild, but he's also much more likely to take a break when he needs it off leash. I'm not suggesting you go off leash, just that how he moves, how fast, and when he needs a break is all more within my comfort zone when not attached to me.


I don't worry about stairs. I don't worry about rough play with other dogs. I don't worry about long wanders on natural terrain, or natural jumping and playing. I DO worry about long walks or jogs off leash and/or on really ungiving surfaces like pavement, things on leash with a set/forced pace (ie: you will trot along at a good clip, at least), and I'm certainly not going to be throwing discs in the air, rebounds, or jump training. But like I said, long wanders on natural turf? Pfft.

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I'm of the opinion to treat a pup like you would a comparably aged child IRT hiking. I took Tess out for about a 2 mile hike in the sand dunes when she was about 3 m/o. Partly on leash ( other people and dogs were there in places) partly off leash. We took lots of breaks, went at her pace and I carried her part of the way.

 

Research seems to show that pup/young dogs who have good access to outdoor exercise have less joint issues (those born in spring/summer have less). And while avoiding stairs looks like it has a positive effect on joint health, that's just for the first three months. Also, just keeping them lean is one of the best things things to do.

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Thanks, guys!

It's the "run like crazy" thing I'd have to watch. My two will trigger off the adult dogs and the boy in particular will rocket off like a missile if he thinks something is going on. Hence the leash, at least until he has the hang of things and until I can be sure he'll come back. ;)

I'll have to plan some outings for them, then. No careening through the hills like Paul Revere, just some nice hikes - and off leash time around streams and be sure to take plenty of breaks. Thanks!

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BTW, here they are, Midge and Ben. Midge is from a friend, Ben is son of my Nick out of a local ranch bitch. These pics are just a couple weeks old, so they were @ 6 and a half months.

 

In the old days when we were riding, we just let dogs go up the trail whenever they were old enough to keep up, but nowadays I worry more and overthink things! :P

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