SKILLS, TIPS & TRICKS TO GET YOU HIKING LIKE A PRO
[HOW TO]
DO get a well-fitting harness.
Make sure they can’t wriggle out of it, and also consider fitting a GPS tracker in case they get lost.
DO risk assess your route for your pooch. Can they manage any river crossings or scrambles, and are you able to lift them if they can’t? Might they need to be on a lead near sudden drops?
DO pop a bit of suncream on their nose or other places where fur is thin, on hot days. Use SPF30 pet/child-safe lotions like Aniwell Filta-Clear Sun Block.
DO bring plenty of snacks and water for your bestie. Don’t forget a collapsible bowl.
DO build their fitness – just like you would for yourself. If they haven’t done much hillwalking before, start on smaller hills or shorter routes.
DO keep an eye on their breathing on hot days. Heavy panting can be a sign of overheating, which can lead to heatstroke. If their panting seems excessive, find a shady spot or a stream where you can have a break and provide them with water. Give them time to recover before you continue, or consider cutting the day short.
DO check paws regularly, including between their pads, for soreness or cuts from any rough ground you’ve walked across.
DO check them for ticks at the end of the day. The little blighters are easily picked up in bracken and long grass. Carry a pair of tweezers or a tick remover.
DON’T let them run wild. Carry a lead and/ or ensure that your callback is faultless. Always keep your dog on a lead near livestock.
DON’T leave the poos. As well as being nasty to step in, dog faeces can spread diseases and, in heavily walked areas, affect the local ecology.
KNOWLEDGE
■ HOW TO SPOT A: PINE MARTEN MARTES MARTES SIZE: 45cm, not including the 25cm tail, weighing 1-2kg. Males are about a third larger than females. ABOUT: The elusive pine marten makes its home in native woodland or conifer forests, where they find a varied diet of small rodents, birds eggs, insects and fruit. In season they can eat so many bilberries their scats turn blue. They’re part of the same family as weasels and stoats (Mustelidae) but are much larger than either, with a characteristic creamy coloured bib.
■ PUB QUIZ A: The world’s first mountaineering club was formed in 1857 – what is it called? B: What is a Marilyn? C: What is the second highest hill in Snowdonia?
A: The Alpine Club B: A hill in Great Britain or Ireland with a prominence (not height) of 150m or more C: Garnedd Ugain (1065m)
YOUR EXPERTS
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