Hiking with dogs: the short version from a treat maker's garage

We make single-ingredient freeze-dried dog treats out of a garage in Malvern, Pennsylvania, and hiking with dogs is basically our test kitchen. Every new batch of freeze-dried treats gets a trial run in a jacket pocket on a real trail before it goes in the shop, usually with our tester dog Ella riding shotgun in the red car on the way there.

Why a treat maker ended up thinking about gear

We started as a kitchen operation making beef liver, chicken hearts, sardines, and cheddar bites, the kind of treats that hold their shape in a hot car instead of turning into paste. Once you spend enough weekends at trailheads and car shows handing out samples, you start noticing what other dog owners are struggling with. It is rarely the treats. It is the bag that will not zip one handed, the collar that stays wet for two days, the water bottle nobody remembered to bring. So we started paying attention to the gear side too, not because we make any of it, but because it is the other half of getting a dog and a person out the door.

What actually matters on a short hike

Most hikes with a dog are shorter and simpler than the gear aisle makes them look. You need a way to carry water for both of you, a place for waste bags in and out, a collar or leash that will not stay damp and start to smell, and something to carry treats and a phone without both hands full. That is close to the whole list. Everything past that is a preference, not a requirement. A stroller caddy matters if you use a stroller. A packable bed matters if the hike ends with a car nap. Match the gear to the actual trip instead of buying for a version of the hike you are not taking.

Building a kit without the guesswork

We are not gear reviewers, so we are not going to tell you a backpack is the best one on the market. What we can tell you is what a kit tends to include once people settle into a routine: a bag with a spot for waste bags and a water bottle holder, a bowl that folds flat, and a collar that can get wet and dry out without turning into a project. Rubyloo, a dog travel gear maker in Santa Barbara, California, builds a line that covers most of that, from backpacks to collars to a water bottle with a detachable bowl. The maker says its collars are washable and stink resistant, which is the kind of claim worth testing yourself before a long trip. You can see the full range in our Rubyloo collection.

On the trail hub

We put the gear and the hub in one spot so you are not hunting for either one: the dog hiking gear collection and the trail and travel hub. Partner gear like bags, collars, and bottles ships from its own makers through Shopify Collective, while our treats ship from our kitchen here in Malvern.

None of this is complicated, which is sort of the point. A dog, a bag with the right pockets, water for both of you, and treats that do not turn to mush in the car are most of what a hike actually needs. The rest is just deciding which trailhead to point the red car toward this weekend.

Questions

Do I need a special backpack to hike with a dog?

No. A backpack helps if you are carrying water, bowls, and waste bags for a longer outing, but a lot of short hikes work fine with whatever bag you already own. Look at what you are actually carrying before you buy something new.

What should I keep in the car for hikes with my dog?

Water for both of you, waste bags, a towel for muddy paws, and a stash of treats that will not melt in a hot car are the basics most people end up keeping in the car anyway.

Do you sell the hiking gear yourselves?

No. We make the freeze-dried treats. The bags, collars, bottles, and other gear on our site come from partner makers like Rubyloo and ship directly from them.