Dos and Don’ts When Hiking With Dogs Around San Diego
There are few things more off-putting than stumbling across dog poop — either bagged up, or laying out in the open — when you’re trying to enjoy the outdoors. Not only is there the potential for taking a wayward step (and spending the next 20 minutes scraping your shoes off), but it’s also plain old rude of some pet owners who don’t want to clean up after their dogs.
Of course, dogs poop. They poop outside. They poop when it’s inconvenient, and sometimes, they poop on the trail. If you’re caught without a bag to pick it up, what are you going to do? Well, that’s become something of a contentious debate in certain outdoor communities.
You can come up with your own rules for handling your dog’s poop if you’re hiking or walking, but a good rule of thumb seems to be that if your dog does relieve themselves on a pathway, bag it up and take it with you. Otherwise, you can get it off the trail to the best of your ability, and bury it.
Hiking Etiquette With Your Dog
There are people who have been taking their dogs out on hikes for years. But there are also people who are new dog owners who may not be clear on the rules or etiquette surrounding hiking with their dog. It’s best to use common sense, follow the signs, and do your best not to break the rules.
That means that if you’re in a park or other public area that does not allow dogs, move on. Luckily, National Parks do allow dogs on the trails unless posted otherwise. The same is true for California State Parks. You need to pay attention and take note of where it is okay to take your dog, and where they’re off-limits.
But if you want to break the etiquette down into broad strokes, here are some baseline rules to follow:
Bring food and water for your dog, and keep them on a leash
Bring poop bags or a small shovel to deal with waste
Respect local wildlife, and don’t let your dog run wild
Stay in dog-friendly areas.
Put another way, these are known as the “B.A.R.K.” rules, as laid out by the National Parks Service.
Bag your pet’s waste
Always leash your pet
Respect wildlife
Know where you can go
Additionally, do your best to keep your dog safe by making sure the weather isn’t too brutal — either too cold or too hot. You’ll want a good amount of water for yourself and your dog, too. You’ll also want to make sure they’re protected from fleas and ticks, and have their vaccinations up to date. Who knows what you’ll run into out there?
If you want more information about finding dog-friendly trails, the American Hiking Society can be a good resource. It even lays out a couple of San Diego-specific hikes.
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