So you want to start hiking with your dog. Hiking with your dog can be a fascinating way to explore the region around Reno and Lake Tahoe from a canine perspective. Some things to consider:
Dog's Health
Hiking can be a wonderful preventative for any number of physical
and behavioral disorders. One in every three dogs is overweight
and running up trails and leaping through arroyos is great exercise
to help keep pounds off. Hiking can also relieve boredom in a
dog's routine and calm dogs prone to destructive habits. And hiking
with your dog strengthens the overall owner/dog bond.
Breed of Dog
All dogs enjoy the new scents and sights of a trail. But some
dogs are better suited to hiking than others. If you don't as
yet have a hiking companion, select a breed that matches your
interests. Do you look forward to an entire afternoon's hiking?
You'll need a dog bred to keep up with such a pace, such as a
retriever or a spaniel. Is a half-hour enough walking for you?
It may not be for an energetic dog like a border collie. If you
already have a hiking friend, tailor your plans to his abilities.
Conditioning
Just like humans, dogs need to be acclimated to the task at hand.
An inactive dog cannot be expected to bounce from the easy chair
in the den to complete a 3-hour hike. You must also be physically
able to restrain your dog if confronted with distractions on the
trail (like a scampering squirrel or a pack of joggers). Have
your dog checked by a veterinarian before significantly increasing
her activity level.
Weather
Heat and sun do dogs no favors. While the weather in Reno and
Lake Tahoe is rarely very humid, the summer temperatures can reach
over 100 degrees in the valleys. With no sweat glands and only
panting available to disperse body heat, dogs are much more susceptible
to heat stroke than we are. Unusually rapid panting and/or a bright
red tongue are signs of heat exhaustion in your pet. Always carry
enough water for your hike. Even days that don't seem too warm
can cause discomfort in dark-coated dogs if the sun is shining
brightly. In the wintertime, temperatures at these higher elevations
can drop well below zero in only a few minutes. In cold weather,
short-coated breeds may require additional attention.
Ticks
Lyme disease rarely occurs in the Northern Nevada area. The first
reported case in Washoe County occurred in 2001. Lyme disease
attacks a dog's joints and makes walking painful. The good news
is that a tick needs to be embedded in the skin to transmit Lyme
disease. It takes 4-6 hours for a tick to become embedded and
another 24-48 hours to transmit the Lyme disease bacteria. When
hiking, walk in the middle of trails away from tall grass and
bushes. If your walk includes fields or meadows, consider long
sleeves and long pants tucked into high socks. Wear a hat - ticks
like hair. By checking your dog, and yourself, thoroughly after
each walk, you can help avoid Lyme disease. Ticks tend to congregate
on your dog's ears, between the toes, and around the neck and
head.
Altitude
Altitude is a big factor when you hike in the Reno and Lake Tahoe
areas. The Reno area is not quite 5,000 feet in altitude, and
as you climb into the foothills, you will quickly hike above one
mile in elevation. If you are hiking at Lake Tahoe, the altitude
starts at over 6,000 feet, and many of the trails included here
top out at 7,000 or 8,000 feet, or even higher. If you are not
acclimated to the altitude, take it easy, and allow plenty of
time for rest, so your body can get used to the thinner air up
here.
Bears
Yes, there are bears in Northern Nevada. We don't see them often,
but they are there, and you need to be aware of them. Once in
a while in drought years we see a stray bear in Reno, but most
of the time they stay in the high country around Lake Tahoe. Tahoe
has experienced problems with bears getting into garbage, etc.
Bears are rarely seen on hiking trails, but there are some things
you can do to make sure you and your dog don't have a run in with
a bear.
First, it's a good idea to contact the local Forest Service or
Game and Fish Department to find out about recent bear activity
in the area where you'd like to hike. If you're taking food along,
don't pack in smelly, greasy foods like bacon and fish. Bears
are most active in the cooler parts of the day, so avoid hiking
at dawn and dusk, and you'll have less chance of running into
a hungry bear. Tying a bell on your dog's collar can scare away
a bear, and let you know where he is right away. According to
the Tahoe Outdoor Guide, by Micah Feingold, "Should you encounter
a bear first try to slowly back out of the situation. Keep calm,
avoid direct eye contact, back up slowly and speak in a soft monotone
voice. Never turn your back to the bear and never kneel down,
make yourself appear as tall as possible. Most encounters end
with the bear leaving the area. Stay close together if in a group."
Rattlesnakes
Rattlesnakes are a hazard on any Northern Nevada trail, especially
in the spring and summer months. They often hide under large rocks
and crevices, and their sandy coloring helps them blend in with
their surroundings very well. A rattlesnake bite to a human is
painful and dangerous, and even more dangerous for your dog. In
the heat of a summer day, snakes will probably be lounging in
the shade, but even in winter they will come out on sunny days
to warm themselves. If you run into a rattler on the trail, first,
leave it alone. Snakes don't have to be coiled to strike, and
they don't always rattle before they strike. Snakes can't see
well, so they will simply react to anything unknown by defending
themselves. Don't go reaching under rocks, crevices, or loose
pieces of wood without looking for snakes first. Don't let your
dog nose around in those areas, either. Walk "heavy."
Do not shuffle your steps when you walk in rattlesnake country.
Snakes feel the vibrations if you put down your feet heavily,
and will leave the area.
If your dog is bitten, go to your veterinarian immediately, and
make sure they have antivenin on hand. This is the only thing
that can save your pet in the event of a rattlesnake bite. Early
morning and early evening hours are the most likely times to encounter
snakes, they are more active during those times of the day. During
the hottest parts of the day, snakes perfer to slumber. If you
follow these precautions, your hike with your dog should be snake
free. You can also sign up for a snake-avoidance course for your
dog, sponsored by the Nevada Wildlife Federation and Renoís
German Shorthaired Pointer Club. For more information, call Lorna
Weaver at (775) 677-0927 or Quail Unlimited's Rudy Hindelang at
(775) 267-5269. The course costs $50.
Other Trail Hazards
Dogs won't get poison ivy but they can transfer it to you. Some
trails are littered with small pieces of broken glass that can
slice a dog's paws. Nasty thorns and thistles can also blanket
trails that we in shoes may never notice. Tumbleweeds are also
very thorny and prickly in their natural state, and even more
so when they are dried and blowing. They can stick in a dogís
coat, and cut fingers as we try to extract them.
Water
Surface water, including fast-flowing streams, is likely to be
infested with a microscopic protozoa called Giardia, waiting to
wreck havoc on a dog's (and human's) intestinal system. (We call
it "beaver fever" in Northern Nevada.) The most common
symptom is crippling diarrhea. Algae, pollutants and contaminants
can all be in streams, ponds and puddles. If possible, carry fresh
water for your dog on the trail - your dog can even learn to drink
happily from a squirt bottle.
With summer temperatures commonly reaching over 100 degrees on
the valley floors, and 80 to 90 degrees in the upper elevations,
water on the trail is a must in Northern Nevada, even for very
short hikes. The humidity level is low, but the altitudes are
4,500 feet and up in Reno and Sparks and 7,000 feet or more at
Lake Tahoe, so you and your pet may tire more easily, and need
more water.