Hiking holidays with your dog in Mid Wales
Collette May 
Everything you need to plan and prepare for a fun-filled hiking holiday with your dog.
If you want to enjoy fresh air, plenty of exercise and the chance to explore the picturesque countryside of Mid Wales with your pup, then a dog-friendly hiking holiday could be right up your street.
If you’re feeling adventurous, this is the perfect way for you and your four-legged best friend to tackle much bigger and better dog walks than you can at home. But hiking with a dog isn’t as simple as picking up the lead and heading out the door.
You might feel a little daunted at first, as there can be a lot to consider when planning a hiking trip with your dog. Even if they usually go everywhere with you, trekking on trails can present its own unique challenges, and you’ll need to be prepared to ensure your dog’s safety and well-being.
If you’re planning on setting out on a hiking holiday with your dog, in this blog, we cover everything you need to get started, from knowing if it’s going to be fun for your dog, what to pack, to how to train and prepare, and how to find hiking routes on our doorstep in beautiful Mid Wales.
Is your dog breed suitable for hiking?
The first question you need to ask yourself is if your dog is up to the task.
Not all breeds are suited to hiking. Some breeds will seemingly be able to go on forever, while for others, it may not be safe to walk such distances due to health considerations.
Brachycephalic dog breeds (breeds with flat faces and short noses) are not cut out for long walks so if you have a pug, frenchie or bulldog, it’s unlikely they’re going to enjoy or cope with the intensity of a hiking trail.
Hiking is far more suited to medium and larger dogs because they are generally fitter, stronger and have longer legs, which makes it easier for them to cope with different terrains.
Smaller breeds can be competent hikers, but their short legs might mean they have difficulty getting over obstacles, and they cover less ground, meaning they could slow your pace.
The best dog breeds for hiking tend to be working gundog breeds, as these have been selected for their abilities to be out and active all day. These include breeds such as labradors, golden retrievers, spaniels, vizslas and pointers.
How far can I hike with my dog in a day?
Generally, five miles (8km) is a safe distance for most dogs, while 10 miles (12km) is suitable for fitter, more energetic dogs.
That said, just because you have a labrador doesn’t mean they will automatically be ready to accompany you on a long hike. Your dog must also have the endurance and fitness to handle a long-distance hike.
From your daily walks, you should already have a good idea of your dog’s stamina and willingness to walk for longer periods. However, hiking will take this to the next level.
If they spend most of their day sleeping on the sofa and only have a few short daily walks, it’s not a good idea to throw your dog in the deep end and expect them to go from couch to 5k overnight.
In preparation, you should try your dog on longer daily walks to see how they cope. Then, once you’re confident they can handle these, test them on smaller hiking trails to help them build stamina and toughen their paw pads. You can gradually increase the distance with each walk and add hills into the mix if your hike will include inclines.
If you’re unsure if your dog has the right fitness level, you should consult your vet.
You will also need to take into account the difficulty of the hike. An easy, flat trail at a nature reserve is a far cry from hiking a mountain with steep climbs and rocky paths.
Regardless of breed or fitness level, if you have a puppy, it is also essential that you do not try to overexercise them. Puppies often have lots of energy, and many will seemingly be happy to spend all day trotting beside you.
But this is not good for their joints or growth plates and can cause serious health issues later in life. Puppies should only be exercised for up to five minutes per month, especially when they’re a larger breed like a labrador.
How to find dog-friendly hiking trails near Mid Wales Holidays?
There are tons of public footpaths and trails in Mid Wales, many of them suitable for hiking with your dog.
One of the easiest ways to find local trails is on the Ordnance Survey app, which is available for Android and Apple phones. For a small fee, you’ll get access to the premium topographical map with all footpaths, bridleways, permissive paths and a great collection of pre-set walking routes set out by experienced hikers.
Not all these trails are necessarily dog-friendly, though, and the OS maps won’t show obstacles like stiles, which some dogs find challenging to get over.
The AllTrails app or website allows you to filter or search by “dog-friendly”. It will also provide information about the trail’s elevation gain, experience level, length, and reviews from other walkers.
If you are staying with us at Mid Wales Holidays, you should also check out the Hafren Forest and Elan Valley Reservoir routes. Your host, Collette, has walked many of these and would be happy to advise on the practicalities of where to park and which routes to take.
For hikes on hotter days and during the summer months, you might also want to check for shade cover, e.g. forests, and access to water, e.g. lakes and streams, as your dog will thank you for the chance to cool off.
You’ll also want to consider what type of walk you want to go on. An out-and-back trail starts and ends at the same location. It follows single or multiple trails to point when you turn around to head back the way you came. Loop trails have the same starting and ending point, but you walk in a circle so that no part of the trail is repeated.
What to pack when hiking with dogs
You’re going to need a bit more than just a lead and a few poo bags (although these are essential!) on any dog-friendly hike, as just like humans, dogs will need sustenance and hydration on longer walks.
Don’t forget to pack water and a bowl for the dog and yourself. Relying on puddles, streams, and lakes is risky. You can never guarantee they’ll be clean or available, especially on hot days or summer months. Nowadays, you can buy water bottles with built-in bowls from most pet shops or outdoor clothing retailers, making it even easier to pack water for your dog.
Bring plenty of treats to reward good behaviour and keep your dog’s energy levels up if you are out all day. Just as you will use more energy throughout the day, so will your dog. If it is a particularly tough hike, you may need to feed them as much as double what you would on a typical day. Check with your vet to ensure they will be getting enough calories to sustain the level of exercise.
Canine first aid supplies are a must as well. Cuts and injuries can happen, and it is always best to be prepared.
Before heading out, check the weather and temperature range so your pup can be as prepared as you are. Pack extra water if it is hot, layers if it is chilly, and a dog towel, drying robe or coat if wet.
You might want to consider some different dog-walking gear, too. Your dog might be happy to walk to the park on a flat collar and lead, but a well-fitted harness with a sturdy, longer lead is advisable for long-distance hikes.
Can you hike with dogs in all weather conditions?
We all love to hike when the sun is shining, but when hiking with a dog, you need to be extra aware of the weather conditions – especially the heat.
If temperatures are above 20°C, it could be dangerous to exercise your dog rigorously, and when it’s above 27°C, you should keep them cool, hydrated and relaxed in the shade at all times, no matter how fit they are.
Other weather conditions for hiking can also be dangerous for dogs. High winds can spook or knock dogs off their feet, which can be dangerous around cliffs or steep edges.
If there’s a fog forecast, you might want to forego that mountain climb and avoid areas where the trails and pathways are not clearly marked or signposted.
It’s also worth noting that snow and ice can be sore on dog’s paws, so if you’re hiking in winter, consider investing in cold-weather paw boots.
If you’re unfamiliar with the area, it also pays to learn about the typical weather pattern during the time of year you’ll be visiting. The conditions you start hiking in aren’t always the ones you end up in.
How to keep your dog safe on a hike
Please don’t give your dog a big meal on the morning of your hike to ensure they have enough time to digest their food. Instead, take part of their food with you and feed them at intervals, like elevense or lunch. This will help them exert an even amount of energy throughout your hike and lessen the chance of them getting depleted on the way home.
Once on the trail, keep an eye on your dog’s behaviour. Are their ears perked, snouts sniffing the air as they trot down the trail? Or are they lagging at a sluggish pace, seeking a spot to rest?
If they are panting heavily or slowing down, consider heading back or at least giving them a long rest. Dogs will always want to please their owners and won’t stop unless you do, so it’s up to us to ensure they are not overexerting and decide when to take a break.
You should also get into the habit of checking your dog over in the evening after or before your walk together. Areas of concern are eyes, ears, paws, tail and armpits. If your dog is uncomfortable with letting you examine them, make sure you reward them for good behaviour. You will want to look for grass seeds, ticks, and cuts or scrapes which might get infected.
It is also worth ensuring your dog is up-to-date on their vaccines and flea and tick preventives, particularly when planning to explore somewhere you have never visited.
Do you need to train your dog to go hiking?
Good recall, basic obedience, and manners like “leave it” will help keep your canine companion (and the local wildlife) safe. They’ll also go a long way toward keeping other users on the trail happy.
Properly socialised dogs are more likely to be calm and comfortable in strange places when encountering new dogs, people, and situations.
We have already mentioned that gundogs make good hiking companions. But what makes them suitable for long walks also means they are hard-wired to hunt and chase wildlife.
Gundog training is not just for dogs who will work on a shoot. It can be a great way to bond with and gain some control over your pet labrador, spaniel or vizsla.
In gundog training, you’ll learn how to teach your dog a reliable recall - vital if you plan to let them off the lead on the hike. You’ll learn heelwork - great if there are areas where they cannot be off lead, e.g. in livestock fields. You’ll also learn steadiness and self-control - which will help around people, other dogs and wildlife. And more importantly, you’ll know the telltale signs to look out for when they switch from walking mode into hunting mode and you’ll be able to manage them in these situations so they don’t make a bline for the horizon.
If you have a gundog breed and are interested in doing some basic training while staying with us at Mid Wales Holidays, your host, Collette May, is an established and experienced rewards-based gundog trainer who offers 121 training sessions for guests. You can check out her gundog training business, Completely Gundogs, here.
Planning an overnight hiking trip at Mid Wales Holidays
Finally, if you’re planning a dog-friendly hiking holiday, you will want to think about where to rest and relax after a long day.
Mid Wales Holidays is proud to offer dog-friendly self-catering accommodation for breeds of all shapes and sizes, and we allow you to bring multiple dogs per booking, too.
Want to snuggle up after a long day’s hiking? That’s absolutely encouraged here. You are welcome to allow your dogs to sleep on the beds with you (if you provide bed linen), and we also allow clean dogs on the sofas provided that the furniture is well-covered with a suitable throw or blanket.
Crates, dog towels, blankets and bowls can be provided on request. We also have an area for hosing down muddy dogs, plenty of freezer space for raw dog food, dog sitting services, and dog training sessions are available to book. There are lots of local dog-friendly pubs that serve great food.
On top of that, we’re not just a dog-friendly destination, we’re a destination designed for dogs. So, if they still have energy left after your hike, you can take them out to explore our 15 acres of private fields, ponds and woodland.
For more information on booking Y Beudy, our 2-bed cottage which sleeps up to 5, please click here.
