People-friendly Hiking Snacks for Dogs
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Hiking Food for Dogs and People
I love hiking and believe that the only thing that makes it better is when you bring your dog! This activity lets you both enjoy the benefits of being outdoors and getting exercise. If you are anything like me, my main struggle is fitting everything my dogs and I will need into my backpack (without making it too heavy). Between the dog, water, food, and treats, my bag is bursting and it’s hard to quickly find what I need on the trail. By packing people-friendly hiking snacks for dogs, I’m able to cut down on space and quickly get to what I need.
Don’t forget to pack your dog-friendly first aid kit!
Why Choose Hiking Food That You and Your Dog Can Eat?
While hiking, packing your day bag efficiently is crucial to making your adventure enjoyable. The heavier the bag, the harder it will be to carry it throughout your day, and it can quickly lead to back and neck pain. The best way to cut down on excess bag weight is select items that cover several of your needs, like packing hiking snacks that both you and your dog can eat.
The fewer items you have in your bag, the easier it will be to find and access what you need. This will also help prevent you from having to empty your entire bag (been there, done that) to find the bag of dog treats.
Packing human food to use as dog treats on hiking trips is great because dogs tend to see them as high-value rewards. Since these foods are not something they will get often, it will give them some extra motivation to listen to you. This can give you a much-needed edge while you are in a new and exciting place surrounded by plenty of fun distractions.
What to Look for When Choosing Hiking Snacks for Your Dog
When selecting your dog-friendly hiking snacks, there are a few things you want to keep in mind. Some foods are toxic to dogs so you will have to carefully check the ingredients of everything you buy.
Though this list doesn’t cover everything, here are three basic things to look for to help you select hiking snacks that your pup can safely enjoy:
- Always choose food that is low in salt and has low amounts of REAL sugar.
- Avoid sugar-free foods with artificial sweeteners because they could have xylitol which is highly toxic and fatal to dogs.
- Double-check that none of the ingredients in the food are toxic to dogs.
Even if the food item is dog-safe, giving your pup too much ‘people’ food (especially food with salt and/or sugar) is not good for our dog’s digestive system. Basically, if your dog eats too much ‘new’ food, it could cause diarrhea or other serious issues like pancreatitis. This means vet visits and a very unhappy and uncomfortable pup. Please be careful to check labels and limit the amount of ‘people’ food given to your dog during your adventure.
Hiking Snacks for Dogs and People
Trying to find the perfect ‘people’ food that can be used as hiking snacks for your dogs can be overwhelming. With so many restrictions and concerns it can be hard to know where to even start looking. We put together this list of dog-friendly hiking snacks to help you choose the best hiking foods for both you and your pet.
- Cereal (plain and unsweetened)
- Seaweed crisps (plain, unsalted, unseasoned)
- Jerky (fish, meats) (unseasoned, unsalted)
- Nuts (make sure you choose nuts that are non-toxic)
- Popcorn (unsalted)
- Chips (unsalted sweet potato, potato, etc. Double check the ingredients)
- Dehydrated fruit (plain)
- Vegetables (celery, carrots, snap peas, etc.)
- Fresh Fruit (bananas, apples, most berries)
- Peanut butter
Tip: Because the foods that you give to your pets won’t have nearly as much salt and sugar as we humans prefer (though it will be healthier), you can be creative in adding flavor in other ways. Bring along a saltshaker to add seasonings to your portion or use some dog-safe seasonings!
Time to Hit the Trails!
Hiking with my dogs is one of my favorite activities to do but because of several previous injuries, it is crucial that I pack as lightweight as possible. Limiting the amount of food in my pack is just one of the ways I found to be able to cut down on the weight I have to carry. Choosing hiking snacks that both myself and my dogs can eat makes breaks on the trails easier and keeps my bag uncluttered and better organized. Check out our section of pet-friendly destinations for help choosing a great park to hike in!
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