Summer activities can be a challenge in any climate, but particularly in Central Florida where the heat and humidity come on early and often stay late. While yesterday’s adventure was just a casual hike for the humans, dogs will be dogs and they definitely got in a solid workout running ahead and checking out all the fun new smells. We thought we brought plenty of water and made frequent enough stops, but in the end we learned some lessons in what to do differently on our next excursion.
- Hydrate ahead as much as possible. This can be a challenge with dogs, but you can get creative. Ours love ice so if I fill a bowl they will munch down some water. They also like watermelon and a couple other safe fruits that have good water content.
- Pack as much water as you can carry and plan your route and stops accordingly. Each pup probably could’ve gone through 8 oz each mile.
- Between the extra excitement and all that fur, the dogs are also going to heat up faster than their human counterparts. This time of year it’s important to stick to trails that offer ample shade to both walk and rest in and preferably some natural water sources where they can get wet.
- Be aware of your wildlife population. In Central Florida we have a wide variety of animal species, including the Florida Black Bear. Late spring and early summer they are very active; as a matter of fact we have had two in our yard just this week! We did spot a family moseying across the trail about a half mile ahead of us yesterday. Thankfully the bears are generally looking to avoid encounters and we made plenty of noise. Making sure your canine companions are trained to come when called is important if you are hiking them off-leash.
Mainly it’s helpful to remember that while our fur babies can make great running and exploratory companions, they need similar acclimation to new activities and changes in weather, geography, and/or climate that humans do.
Girl with Dog 