You want to hike with your dog but have a ton of questions? Between the gear and the restrictions on dogs in certain areas, it can seem complicated.
No need to panic though — to help you get started with confidence, Alice, an experienced hiker, and Helly, her loyal Belgian Malinois, are here to guide you. A native of the Northern Alps, and after a first long experience of canicross hiking with a golden retriever for 16 years, she now roams the summits across all the Alpine ranges with her wonderful Helly.
From family walks to committed alpine hiking using appropriate gear, she shares her essential tips for starting this activity with your four-legged companion!
How to hike well with your dog
Where to hike with your dog?
It's simple — in the Alps, there are two rules to remember:- the core zones of the 11 national parks — such as the Vanoise or Mercantour — are strictly off-limits to dogs. The buffer zone, i.e. the area surrounding the core of the parks, is however permitted!
- nature reserves have their own specific regulations. They either formally prohibit the presence of our pets, or permit them on a lead.
How to handle flocks and livestock guardian dogs?
During the summer grazing season — from June to September — you may come face to face with flocks and livestock guardian dogs. They are impressive in size and often have a bad reputation. However, bear in mind that the number of incidents remains marginal if you adopt the right behaviour: move away from the protected flock, stay calm and avoid making large gestures. It's easier if your dog, like Helly, is sociable with other dogs or even nervous around them. You walk straight through without stopping, speaking to them in a soft, reassuring voice to show goodwill — and it usually goes pretty well! Sometimes they follow you a bit, barking and growling, but we've never been attacked, even though we encounter them very frequently. However, if your dog is reactive, we strongly advise checking with local tourist offices, who are sometimes informed about the presence of flocks, as the encounter could be more difficult to manage.What gear do you need for hiking with your dog?
To go hiking with your dog, you can mainly use these two harnesses, as Helly does:- a lightweight canicross-style harness, ideal for short and easy outings
- a Y-harness with a dorsal handle for long and potentially technical hikes, useful for helping with extension over a rocky step, for example!
How to manage your dog's effort
Elevation gain
With a puppy, take it slowly: gradually increase the elevation gain to avoid future health issues, as they are still growing! And concretely, what does that mean? If you're both just starting out — human and dog alike — the ideal is to aim for hikes with 200–300 metres of positive elevation gain and observe your dog's attitude and level of fatigue during the outing. Then gradually increase the elevation gain and distance over the months.Water management
Bear in mind that a dog drinks more in summer than in winter. You need to plan a substantial water supply: at least 1L for shorter outings, and up to 2–3L for longer hikes. Some people let their dogs drink from streams and lakes encountered along the way. But sometimes there are no water sources to be found, or they've dried up, so it's always best to plan ahead on this front.Altitude
Be mindful of altitude if you ever want to take your dog above 3,000 metres. Just like humans, a lack of oxygen can cause them difficulty if they don't have sufficient endurance — and also because they can suffer from altitude sickness just like us. The difference is that they struggle to communicate it. You must therefore stay alert to the slightest unusual change in your dog's behaviour. But that doesn't mean it should be avoided: we have completed around twenty hikes above 3,000 metres with Helly. The panoramas are breathtaking, and sharing those summits with her makes them all the more beautiful! Our 2023 goal is in fact to take her beyond 4,000m in cani-mountaineering.How to stay safe?
On the lead or off?
Where there is specific regulation such as a mandatory lead, you must comply. The fine can be hefty! It's often posted at the start of the route on signs displaying a prefectural or municipal order number. Otherwise, there's no obligation — it's up to you to work on recall so you can walk peacefully off-lead without disturbing the wildlife and flora! You'll often encounter ibex, marmots, chamois and other species that need peace and quiet. While many dogs have a predatory or playful instinct to chase them, it is entirely possible to train them to stop that impulse in its tracks. And frankly, you'll probably be delighted yourself to watch this spectacle of nature. Ibex are often very curious around calm dogs and will happily come to observe you up close!
What to do if you encounter a wolf or a bear?
No need to panic — sightings are extremely rare, and encountering such a specimen in the mountains is considered a privilege. Coming face to face with these species would be truly exceptional. If it does happen, stay calm, avoid running, and keep an eye on both the animal and your dog. In 30 years in the mountains, I've only ever seen a grey wolf once, on a glacier in the Northern Alps: Helly and I were alone, 200 metres away from it, and it went perfectly well! It had spotted us long before we saw it and we posed no threat. We stayed still. It went about its wolf business for 10 minutes before letting us watch it make its way back up the entire glacier.Summer, autumn, winter, spring: pitfalls to avoid every season!
In summer, the heat can sometimes be overwhelming. It's important to think carefully about your dog's hydration — they can indeed be prone to heatstroke. Setting off very early in the morning will help you avoid the highest temperatures, as you'll likely be on your way back down by the time the sun is at its peak. The effort involved is therefore much more moderate. In autumn, it's the main hunting season. We need to be vigilant about our dogs' safety, as too many accidents still target them. A high-visibility harness and a bell are very practical to keep them easily spotted! In winter, if you're a beginner, snowshoes are the better option! Managing your dog will be much easier. Ski touring is great fun but requires learning — watch out for the very sharp edges that can seriously injure your dog: teach your animal to stay behind and never overtake you. In spring, the fine days return and the snow melts. Beware of the April/May period with its many snowfields which, as with humans, can prove highly dangerous if crossed without due care. You need to learn to cross them calmly with your dog, who generally has no awareness of the potential for slipping.Now, the summits are just waiting for you and your faithful companion! And to follow the adventures of Alice and Helly, head this way.
