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The 26th annual Fall Color Hike took place at the Bohn Lake Ice Age Trail area on Oct. 15. Chapter Coordinator, Randy Lennartz, invited Erin Flynn from Barktastic Behavior, to give a “Trail Etiquette” lesson before hikers hit the trail. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon, and there was an amazing turn out of hikers accompanied by their pets. The dogs were able to meet each other and get out some energy before the training started. Once Erin began, all of the dogs were very well behaved and she had their complete attention.
Erin had K-9 officer Grizz and his handler, Officer Hendrix, assist with modeling the behavior. Grizz made an excellent partner for Erin to demonstrate behavior management with. His mild manner and easy going temperament helped him through the training.
Erin went through what you should teach your pet before you hit the trail. She highlighted situations that you won’t be able to help once you start your hike, such as who you are sharing the trail with. There could be joggers, hikers, other dogs, and even horses on the trail. Bringing a dog with a good training foundation can make your adventure safer and more enjoyable for you and your companion. Items that will be very helpful for you to bring for your dog are, harness, leash, poop bags, water dish, high value treats, and first aid kit. Depending on the weather you may also want to bring a jacket for your pet.
Before you hit the trail with your dog, Erin says you need to ask yourself a question, “is my dog ready for hiking?” Does your dog have the stamina and training they need before they share the trail with other dogs and people? Make sure your dog is able to physically handle the hike, and that it won’t be too strenuous for them. Good skills suggested to build your dog up before a hike include, recall, touch, sit, stay, loose leash walking, and leave it.
Once you are already for the hike with your dog, make sure you yield to other hikers on the trail. Have your pet face away from the trail and keep your attention on you while others pass you. This is where high value treats will come in handy, having possession of something they really want will keep their attention on you and off of others.
If your dog and another dog show interest in saying hello, check on their body language first. Is your dog standing loosely and wagging their tail? Does your dog have their mouth open and lolling? If your pet’s tail is tucked and they are standing with more tense body language, it might be best to skip the meeting with the other dog. Your dog’s body language can tell you so much about how they are feeling, make sure you pay attention to cues they are giving.
If you see horses or runners on the trail, step off the trail and allow some distance between you. Let them know you are with your dog and allow them to pass by. This is another great time to give your dog a treat as they pass, to reward them for watching calmly. If your dog is getting extra excited, add even more distance and scatter treats to distract and redirect their attention. After the training hikers and their dogs went off and enjoyed the beautiful scenery of the color hike and enjoyed the afternoon with their companions.
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