You’re out in the middle of nowhere on a beautiful trail into hills of paradise and you decide it’s time. You lean down, your dog smiles up at you. You take off the leash. Your pooch leaps up in delight and runs circles around you, smelling every bush and loving its little life. I love that feeling. My dog and I experience this all the time.

So, is it okay to hike with my dog off-leash? It’s a very common internet question. Sometimes, although we don’t want it to be, the answer is no. Let’s talk about when it’s fine to explore without a leash, and when it’s best to keep it on. You have to think about your dog’s training, personality, and the risks and rules of the trail.

Your Dog’s Behavior

The longer you’re around dogs, the more you realize that each animal is unique. The first thing you should consider when thinking about taking the leash off on a hike is how well your pup is capable of listening to you. Don’t consider the breed, consider your actual dog, its personality and training.

What kind of personality does it have? Is it friendly? Independent? If the dog will make you chase it to get the leash back on or bother other people and animals on the trail, its best if you keep your little friend tethered to your person. That way, you can best control your dog in any situation you may encounter.

The wilderness is an unpredictable place. Let me tell you a story.

One time my dog Arthur and I were hiking up Maple Canyon in Utah. Not even a mile from the campground, a large cat came out of the bushes about thirty feet or so in front of us, some kind of lynx or bobcat that was the same size as Arthur. At first I thought it was a cougar. Before I could call Arthur back, he shot after the cat like it was his new best friend and the two of them tore into the bushes. I was freaked out, but I firmly and calmly called to my dog to come back. He did, happy and unhurt.

I was glad in that moment that I trained my dog to come back when called, or that situation could have escalated into something that I really don’t want to think about.

Keep your dog trained for off-leash activities and you should be fine, but don’t forget that there are always risks.

Risks of the Trail

We’ve started to cover wildlife by talking about my lynx story. Out on the trail, you and your pup can find all kinds of animals. Many of these can view your dog as a threat. Rabies is another thing to think about. If you feel the wildlife risk is too much, what should you use?

The leash! You have a leash. There’s nothing wrong with keeping it on.

Another risk to consider is the terrain of the trail. You and your dog have different capabilities when it comes to climbing up and down rocks or walking next to cliffs. You’ll have to be the judge.

Another story.

One time Arthur ran past me really fast next to a very steep hill, one of those that’s practically a cliff. He didn’t mean to, but he ran into the back of my leg while I was standing on loose dirt and gravel and knocked me off the side. Luckily, I was able to stop myself a short ways down and climb back up, but not without a scare.

These days, I make sure he’s always in front of me on steep hills. If the trail is too risky we go back to the leash life. That way, he still enjoys the hike and I don’t get knocked into a bottom slide toward oblivion.

Rules of the Trail and Good Manners

Contrary to what you may want, you and your dog aren’t alone on the trail. There are hikes close to me that I love where the way is often too crowded. I have to think about other users of the trail when I think about taking Arthur off his leash.

You see, not everyone likes dogs. They might be afraid or they might have allergies. If the trail is too crowded, you should leash your dog. It’s good manners. Going back to behavior, no one wants the liability of their dog knocking over some poor person they decided to jump on or scaring a cyclist into a tree. Those are just some examples of what could go wrong.

The internet is a great tool to find out the rules of almost any trail. I’ve found close to my house that if a trail is through a National Forest or Bureau of Land Management or something similar, leashes are required in campgrounds or parking lots but dogs can be released once out of those areas. You should check each trail online before you go and follow any posted signs along the way just to be safe. Safe is cool.

Summed Up

Off-leash hiking can be a wonderful experience for you and your dog. However, you should consider the precautions I’ve listed in this article before taking the big step of letting your dog roam free.

1. Is the dog’s behavior suited for the activity?
2. Is the trail good for free roaming dogs? (Minimal wildlife encounters, good terrain, etc.)
3. Are you following the official rules of the trail and considering other people?

If you can answer yes to those three questions, you’re in for some good fun with your best friend. Just make sure you stay alert and responsible. Happy hiking!

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