The Fur and Feather Blog

How to Hike With Your Dog, Responsibly

September 10, 2025 No Comments

Northern Nevada is full of gorgeous hiking opportunities — from the foothills around Reno to the lakes and peaks of the Sierra. Exploring these trails with your dog is one of life’s great joys, but sharing outdoor spaces also comes with responsibility.

When we bring our dogs along, we’re representing all dog owners, and the way we behave affects whether dogs will continue to be welcomed on local trails. Preparation and good training keep your dog safe, while also honoring the experience of other trail users.

Here’s how to make sure you and your dog are the kind of trail companions other hikers are happy to meet.

Know (and Follow) the Rules

Every trail system has its own rules for dogs — and it’s up to us to follow them.

  • Leash rules: Some trails require leashes at all times, while others allow off-leash dogs. Even if off-leash is allowed, you should only unclip your dog if they have excellent recall and you can call them away from people, dogs, wildlife, and distractions every single time.

  • Seasonal restrictions: Some areas close to dogs during certain times of year to protect wildlife or sensitive habitats.

  • Trail-specific guidelines: Check websites or signage before heading out so there are no surprises.

Following the rules isn’t just about avoiding a fine — it’s about respecting the land, wildlife, and other trail users.

Pick Up the Poop (Yes, Even the Bag!)

It might seem like a small thing, but dog waste can spread disease, pollute water sources, and ruin everyone’s outdoor experience. Do YOU enjoy seeing or stepping in dog poop while you’re taking in a gorgeous day in the mountains? We didn’t think so.

Best practices:

  • Always bring more than enough bags. Get yourself a poop bag dispenser so you can easily carry a whole roll, and stick a spare roll in your backpack while you’re at it!

  • Plan to carry the poop with you — a carabiner or specially designed poop bag carrier can make this easier. Dispose of your dog’s poop in the trash at the trailhead, or take it home if there is no trash can where you’ve parked.

  • Don’t leave the bag “for later.” Plans change and you might not end up going back the way you came. It’s surprisingly easy to forget to pick your bag up on the way past. And it’s an eye sore for everyone who passes before you’ve returned.

Please be responsible and respectful and adhere to the hiker’s philosophy of “leave no trace.” That includes your dog’s poop!

Be Considerate of Other Hikers and Dogs

Not everyone loves dogs, and even dog lovers don’t always want to be approached by one while hiking. As a general rule, your dog should not approach any other trail user without their permission. Instead:

  • Step off the trail and ask your dog to sit or stay while others pass. Be realistic about your dog’s skills and create enough space so they can remember their manners. Need help teaching manners? Our Basic Manners class is the place to start!

  • Always ask before allowing your dog to greet another dog. If you see a dog on-leash and yours is off-leash, leash up immediately. It is rude in both canine and human culture to allow a loose dog to approach a leashed one.

  • If your dog tends to bark or lunge, consider hiking during off-peak hours or choosing quieter trails to give everyone a calmer experience. If you do encounter others, pull off the trail and make enough space for the other party to pass without a reaction. Need skills for helping your dog keep their cool while others pass? Our Reactive Rehab class or private training can help.

Most hikers are looking to have a positive, peaceful experience in nature. Please respect everyone’s right to being undisturbed by your dog. Practicing good trail etiquette helps to keep trails open to dogs, so PLEASE do your part!

Great Hiking Dogs are Trained, Not Born

Just like it’s your responsibility to teach your puppy how to behave appropriately in your house, it’s ALSO your responsibility to teach them how to behave appropriately on hikes! If you want to ENJOY your hikes with your dog and be able to give them off-leash freedom, take the task of training them for this environment seriously.

Some skills you’ll definitely want your hiking companion to have are a rock solid recall; loose leash walking; and neutrality to other hikers, dogs, horses, and bikes.

Need help with your training. Contact us. We’ll be happy to guide you to the group class or private training that would be appropriate for your needs.

 

Too Hot to Handle? Surviving Summer in Reno with Your Dog

August 8, 2025 No Comments

Reno Summers: Hot, Dry, and Smoky

Summer in Reno can be intense, featuring constant dry air, wildfire smoke that can linger for days or even weeks, and sometimes reaching triple-digit temperatures. For dog owners, this brings unique challenges when you have a dog who thrives on daily exercise and outdoor activities. So… ALL dogs, but especially puppies and adolescents that NEED something to do.

Know the Risks of Summer Exercise

It’s important to be aware of these potential risks when you exercise your dog in the summer:

  • Heatstroke. Dogs are more prone to overheating than humans, especially during strenuous activity. Signs of heatstroke include excessive panting, drooling, weakness, vomiting, and collapse.
  • Dehydration. Hot, dry air increases the risk of your dog becoming dehydrated, especially if water isn’t readily available during or after exercise.
  • Respiratory irritation from wildfire smoke. Dogs can suffer from coughing, throat irritation, and breathing difficulties when exposed to smoky or polluted air.
  • Aggravated health conditions. Dogs with respiratory issues, heart problems, or short noses (like pugs and bulldogs) are especially vulnerable to both heat and poor air quality.
  • Burned paw pads. Pavement and asphalt temperatures can rise rapidly, even when air temperatures feel tolerable. Paws can be painfully burned in seconds.

Indoor Activities to Beat the Heat

Keep in mind, staying inside when necessary doesn’t mean going stir-crazy. This is a great time to focus on indoor enrichment.

Training games, trick training, and nose work are all excellent ways to burn energy and build your relationship without leaving the house. Summer is a great time to enroll in one of our advanced specialty classes like Super Tricks or Intro to Nose Work — they’ll give you ample homework to keep your dog busy inside your home! 

Enrichment activities like food puzzles, frozen Kongs, and “find it” games can also keep your dog mentally stimulated and satisfied without requiring so much time and energy from you. The popular Facebook group Canine Enrichment can keep you inspired with ideas.

The Best Times and Ways to Go Outdoors

In Reno we are lucky to have the option to go to higher elevation for relief from the worst of the heat. Places like Mt. Rose or Galena Creek can be noticeably cooler, especially in the mornings. Make sure to bring ample water for both you and your dog, and offer it to your dog often!

If your dog enjoys water, summer is a great time for kiddie pools, sprinkler games, or swimming. Keep swimming and other water games brief with rest mixed in to make sure you don’t put your dog at risk of water intoxication. 

Rest is Productive, Too

Don’t underestimate the value of rest. It’s okay for both you and your dog to slow down a bit during extreme weather. You’re not falling behind—you’re adapting to the season.

Many dogs are more content than you might think to relax alongside you while you watch TV or read a book. Don’t feel guilty if this makes you both happy!

Prioritize Safety and Connection with You

Your dog will benefit from a thoughtful, balanced approach to summer. But if you find yourself struggling to meet their needs, reach out. Enrolling in a class might be just the ticket to give you something productive to do together.

How to Introduce Your Dog to New Dogs

July 10, 2025 No Comments

Many dog owners make the mistake of assuming their dog will get along with another dog. Whether you’re introducing a new family member or a temporary guest, or YOUR dog will be the guest in another dog’s home, it’s wise to be patient and set things up for success.

When dogs get off on the wrong paw, it can be challenging to help their relationship recover.

Introduce the Dogs on Neutral Ground

Arrange an on-leash meeting on neutral ground. That means not in your house or yard, and with plenty of space around. A park is a great choice.

You’ll need a handler for each dog to facilitate the introduction. Keep the leashes loose and let the dogs approach each other calmly. If one or both dogs is unable to approach calmly, skip the face-to-face greeting and so straight to parallel walking.

After a two-second greet-and-sniff, call the dogs away from each other in a cheerful voice. Praise and treat the dogs for coming away when called.

Now take a short “parallel walk” with both dogs. If the dogs are a little stiff with each other or one is more excited than the other to greet again, begin the walk at a generous distance from each other – on opposite sides of a street, for example.

As the dogs relax, gradually move closer until they can walk side by side. Keep moving and encourage the dogs to engage with the environment more than each other until they relax in each other’s presence.

For more clarity on how your parallel walk should go, check out this tutorial on YouTube.

Moving the Introduction into Your Yard

If possible, allow playtime in your yard next. For safety, have the dogs drag their leashes until you are sure they are getting along well.

Watch carefully to make sure one dog isn’t forcing themselves on the other. Being overly friendly and unable to take no for an answer may seem harmless, but the calmer dog may feel forced to escalate and this can lead to a fight or lingering bad feelings.

Should a fight break out, use noise (your voice, clanging or banging pans) to stop it. If that doesn’t work, use the leashes to separate the dogs. NEVER reach in between two fighting dogs – they won’t mean to bite you, but they likely will.

Taking the Dogs Inside

The first time the dogs are inside the house together, keep them on leash and keep the introduction brief, around 5 minutes. 

After this brief meeting, confine the new-comer or guest to a comfortable space like a spare room, crate, or a dog-proofed, enclosed area where he can start to get used to this new situation away from the attention of other pets.

Over the next day or two, repeat the brief introductions. Keep them to 5-10 minutes and keep the dogs on leash. If a squabble breaks out, leashes make it easy to pull the dogs apart.

Make the time the dogs spend together as pleasant for them as possible. Reward friendly and playful behavior with treats, praise, and toys – as long as there’s no resource guarding present. Continue to take walks together, or trips to fun places, like the park.

Don’t be tempted to jump ahead if the early introductions go well. Gradually work your way to longer and longer periods of dog-dog time. Keep their interactions structured and closely supervised.

Every now and then, confine other pets and allow the newcomer or guest to explore the house by himself.

Final Tips on Dog Introductions

A thoughtful approach to dog introductions will help prevent your dogs from making a bad first impression. Starting the new relationship with positive, safe experiences and relaxed, structured interaction will pave the way for a stable friendship to form.

Keep in mind, NEVER punish or chide your dogs for acting grouchy or fearful with each other; that can make things worse. Just calmly separate them and try again later.

If you’ve been working on introducing the dogs for two weeks or more and things are still not warming up, contact us for help. We’d love to work through this problem with you in private training.

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About Beth Williams, PT, APT

Beth Williams, P.T., A.P.T. has been a licensed physical therapist since graduating with from California State University Northridge in 1985. Inspired by her heart-dog Nitro’s