Hiking with Dogs in New Hampshire

Being an avid hiker myself and a dog lover, I enjoy getting my dog out in the mountains often. There are some things to consider if you are new to this activity. This blog post will offer some tips and tricks for a safe and fun hike with your dog. And of course if you are interested, sign up to receive my curated list of dog friendly hikes in NH.

I’ll start off with just some general tips

Before deciding on any hike, be sure to assess both your own and your dog’s abilities. While your dog may be capable of long, difficult hikes, are you? If it’s been awhile or if you have never hiked, I suggest starting with something simple and short. Athletic dogs are very capable of doing most hikes in NH, but before venturing out on a 10 mile hike. Be aware of the elevation gain on your hike as well. 3 flat miles is NOT the same as 3 miles with 1,000 feet of elevation. I suggest starting slow and adding mileage over time.
Always bring water for both you and your dog. While there may be water sources on the trail, you can’t always rely on it being available or clean.
Always bring snacks for both you and your dog. Hiking requires energy!
For dogs under the age of 1, go easy on them by keeping the distance shorter and the elevation low. Young dogs are still growing and you want to avoid damaging their joints.
While many hikes allow dogs to be off leash, be sure your dog has good recall. There are many distractions on hikes including other hikers. Be respectful of other hikers by keeping your dog under control and moving off trail when passing others. Not everyone loves dogs (who are those people LOL) like you do and in some cases they are afraid. Also, please make sure FIDO doesn’t try and snatch a fellow hiker’s lunch on the summit. Other hiker’s often have their own dogs who may not be so friendly, so be sure you have your dog on leash if necessary during those interactions. When being in the woods, you may encounter a number of wild animals, including porcupine, birds, moose, deer. Do you know what your dog will do if they encounter one? It’s no fun having your dog disappear into the woods after a moose. Please also consider whether you trust your dog around steep cliffs. If your dog doesn't have 100% recall, a leash is the way to go.
Are you prepared for an injury? many small dogs can be carried in a pack if necessary if they become injured. For larger dogs, you may want to consider a product like Mountain Dogwear’s Pack a Paw which gives you the peace of mind if you have to carry your dog out. While search and rescue units have come to the rescue in the past for some dog injuries, you can’t rely on that. You need to be able to self rescue your dog if necessary. You should also carry some first aid items like a gauze bandage role, scissors, and tweezers. I also carry dog boots for my dogs. One of my dog's has very sensitive feet and has torn a paw pad more than once on a hike. The dog boots made it so he could walk out on his own.
Always check the weather before heading out. While it may be nice in the valley, a change in elevation can make a huge difference in temperature and wind. There are several resources available to check the weather on higher summits. I rely on Higher summits forecast.
Many trails cross water. In many cases there are bridges to cross but often river crossings require either rock hopping or walking in the water. Be sure your dog is comfortable with getting in the water if necessary. Be aware that some water crossings can be a slow trickle during certain times of the year and a raging torrent after a rainstorm. Be prepared to turn back if necessary. Fast flowing rivers are one of the most dangerous situations on the trail for both you and your dog. Don’t attempt to cross if it doesn’t look safe.

Summer tips

Keep an eye on the weather for the following: high heat, stifling humidity, high winds or thunderstorm threats. If any of these are in the forecast, stay low and short. Dogs can easily overheat in the summer. When the temperature is high, check in with your dog regularly to make sure they’ve had enough water or may need a break. It’s not always obvious when your dog is getting overheated.

Be aware that some terrain in the white mountains can really do a number on dog paws. They didn’t name NH the granite state for no reason. Some hikes in the white mountains (for example the presidential range), are miles of boulder fields with very rough rocks. These can do a number on a dog’s paws. If your dog has sensitive feet like mine, you may find yourself in the middle of nowhere with a dog who is refusing to walk any further. I’ve had this experience with my own dog and have seen it happen to other dogs more than once. The dog will seem perfectly fine one minute then limping and refusing to walk a few minutes later. Dog boots come in handy for this situation, but be sure to check your dog’s paws often. You likely won’t realize it’s happening until it’s too late.

Protect your dog against fleas and ticks. While I’ve found that hiking trails have fewer ticks than my own neighborhood, they are always a parasite to be aware of and protect yourself from. Always check your dog after the hike to remove any they may have picked up.

Winter tips

Did I mention the weather? Weather in the winter is critical to be aware of. Not only do you need to consider driving conditions to the trail, you should know what the temperatures will be on a summit. Summit temperatures can vary greatly from the start of your hike and can swing greatly throughout a day. Wind speeds can also impact the temperature levels. 20°F degrees may be perfectly tolerable until you add 30mph winds into the mix.

While my dog can be comfortable in 15 degree weather because he has a thick coat, that’s not always true of other breeds. Short haired dogs and smaller dogs may not be able to tolerate the cold well and may need a coat or boots or maybe its just too cold that day. It’s also important to note that a dog may be fine with cold temperatures while they are moving, but if they stand still you may see them holding paws up because it’s too cold. You need to assess your specific dog’s cold tolerance and be willing to turn back if necessary.

Trails in the winter are usually full snow/ice covered. Trail conditions vary throughout the season and from one winter to another. You can always take a look at trail conditions here: NH trail conditions. Many popular trails in NH will be packed down and icy. A short flat icy area may be fairly easy to cross, but a steep icy area may be dangerous to both you and your dog. While humans can wear spikes, dogs don’t have that luxury. Be sure to pick trails where your dog has the ability of going off trail to avoid ice. For less popular trails, be aware that the snow may not be packed down and too deep for a dog. While it’s possible for us humans to throw on some snowshoes, your dog doesn’t have that ability. Deep snow can be difficult and tiring.

Other considerations

You may want to consider getting your dog his own backpack, so he can carry his own water and snacks. Make sure to test this out at home beforehand. Some dogs refuse to move when wearing a pack or boots for that matter.

If your dog’s feet get dry or are sensitive to the cold, try a product like musher’s secret.

I put a bear bell on my dog to hopefully keep the wildlife away and it helps me know where my dog is at all times when off leash.

Be sure to clean up after your dog and carry it out!

Feel free to comment below if you have questions or comments about this post.

Other resources

Here are some facebook dog/hiking groups:

Happy Trail dogs
Hiking the white mtn 48 4k and 52 wav with a canine companion
Hiking with dogs in New England
Hiking with dogs
Dogs on trails

Of course, If you'd like to have a photo shoot on a summit someday, I would love to accommodate that request.

5 Comments

Oct 7, 2023, 9:42:02 AM

Darlene - Great tips! And water AND snacks are so important! We definitely have some amazing places to hike here in New England!

Oct 6, 2023, 11:22:48 AM

Angela Schneider - These are great tips for people who want to start hiking with their dog. As avid hikers in the Pacific Northwest, Bella and I both know how important it is to be prepared. For us, we can't leave home without bear spray and an air horn for safety's sake.

Oct 6, 2023, 10:17:29 AM

Elaine - Lovely and well thought out blog, Sandra. Your addition of the FB groups and hiking guide is pure genius.

Oct 6, 2023, 6:07:49 AM

Sharon - Very informative!

Oct 6, 2023, 5:11:15 AM

Kim Hollis - This is such great advice!

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