At this point, you are probably wondering if it’s a good idea to actually hike with your Cockapoo. Well, the truth to be told is that Cockapoos are amazing dog breeds that does a wonderful job at being outdoors.
However, before you actually take your dog for hiking, we highly recommend that you wait until he/she is at least 12 months old. The reason for this is because their joints as well as their bones may not be fully developed.
In this article, I’m going to explain everything you need to know about taking your Cockapoo hiking and some tips on how you can have a successfully trip.
Are Cockapoos a Good Breed to Take Hiking?
The fact that both cocker spaniel and poodles were good hunting dogs, it tend to play a role when it comes to cockapoo enjoy being outdoors. On hikes you can definitely take your Cockapoo as they would make a great company. However, we only recommend taking your dog on long hikes after they are one year old as this can lower the risk of them having joint point in the future.
How Far Can a Cockapoo Hike?
Though Cockapoos are not born to be hikers, they can still go at a longer distance than you think. The distance that your Cockapoo will be able to hike will vary base on their size, age, and athleticism. But, no matter what you should be able to take your furry friend on a hike if you want to even if it’s just a short walk.
If your Cockapoo has some form of health problem then taking them for long walks wouldn’t be a good thing to do. Anything you should refrain from is taking your puppies to hike as this is not the way to go.
With that said, if you have a healthy adult Cockapoo, then there’s a high chance that he will be able to hike for about 5 miles. Smaller Cockapoo may have it a bit harder but on average Cockapoos should be able to hike even farther than the 5 mile distance once you have the proper essentials to keep them comfortable while they are on the journey.
It’s also best to keep in mind that your dog tolerance for long distance hikes will depend on the weather throughout the day. The thing is that extreme heat will result in your dog tiring out quickly, while extreme cold will make them not want to go outside.
Essentials You Should Take When Going on a Hike
Water
This is by far the most important supply you’ll need when planning on taking a Hike due to the fact that your dog will be drained at some point and need water to drink.
For this we think it is best to take a bottle of water as well as a collapsible bowl that can be easily fold up neatly inside your bag.
Make sure that it is a bowl that your dog is familiar with before you even take it on your trip as some dogs doesn’t like drinking from bowl they don’t recognize.
On your hiking trip you can check around to see if there is any lake nearby which your dog can drink from (make sure the water is safe to drink from).
Food
We highly recommend that you take some treat on your hiking journey for your furry friend so that he/she can feel more energized especially if you are going to be out everyday.
There’s a high chance that you’ll be taking your own food for when you’re feeling a bit peckish so you definitely expect your dog to want to have something as well.
Coat
Another thing that can be useful is a coat, though you might not think you’ll be needing one, at times the weather might change and it’s always best to be safe than sorry, so it’s necessary to bring a coat for your dog. You should remember that dog’s aren’t able to tell us if they are cold and the further you go into the mountains, the higher the chances are for the weather to change, so having a coat is essential.
Harness
There’s no doubt that I’m a huge fan of harnessesand the reason being is that if at some point your dog accidentally slips, you can expect the harness and his body to take the weight and not his neck.
Another we love is the fact that some harness actually have a handle on the back. The thing is that most Cockapoos are between 8kg and 12kg in size. What this means is that if they are having difficulties with crossing a certain part, you can simply pick them up by using the handle and provide them with a helping hand.
Lead
You should definitely take a lead and make sure to use one that’son the longer side due to the fact that you’ll be walking your dog up the mountains. Longer lead also make it possible for your dog to explore his surrounding more as this is not possible with a shorter lead.
If you don’t think you need a lead then that’s quite fine, just that we think it is the safe thing to do.