Two things have boomed in recent years - the number of people going hillwalking, and the number of dog owners. Perhaps you're new to dogs on hills, and unsure how to keep your pet safe and happy in the great outdoors? Mountain Leader and keen dog owner Sharon Kennedy offers her hard-won advice.

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I have been a dog owner nearly all my adult life. My first job was shovelling in a boarding kennels and the decision to get a dog before furniture for my first home was an easy call. I was introduced to the world of Mountain Rescue as a search dog body. It seems I am a dog fan. But if I had to chose between mountains and dogs, it would be a never-ending battle… I want both.

And so do the British public. I may lead a fairly sheltered life (not from the weather) but I have seen two big booms in recent years – hillwalking, and dogs. According to the Sports England Active Lives Report an additional 20,000 people took part in regular hill and mountain walking last year, taking the total to 3.58 million of us. Combined with a post pandemic increase in dog ownership from 9 million to 12 million dogs, meaning that around one quarter of adults in the UK own one, it's only logical that more people will want to go hillwalking with their four legged friend.

This has led to deluge of social media questions and comments about taking dogs into the hills, and inevitably that has also led to judgement and discord. But it doesn't have to be this way, so here are some top tips for getting things right.

Over my years of dog ownership I have learned a lot, and even changed my mind on several topics. You might not agree with all my views, and perhaps that's because every dog, like every mountain, is different.

Preparing your dog for hill walking

If we decided to take on a Munro without any prior walking experience, things would probably be difficult, uncomfortable, and not as much fun as we would have envisaged. We need to build up to these days out, and dogs are no different. If your normal dog walk is half an hour in the morning and same in the evening, an 8-hour hike is going to be painful. Dogs get sore feet, muscle fatigue and joint pain just like we do, except most aren't very good at letting us know until it's too late.

Just like hours in the gym don't really prepare you for relentless undulations and weather, being able to chase a frisbee in the park for an hour won't get your dog ready for big days. Build up slowly, dogs don't know that they are in for a long day and so have no idea how to pace themselves.

This is especially important if you have a puppy, whose joints aren't yet fully formed, or a large breed who are more prone to injury. Speak to your vet for advice about appropriate activities for your specific pet.

Just as important as preparing your dog, is your own preparation – have you thought everything though? Here are some things you should think about before you go:

Rights of way and access rules

In England and Wales we have the rights of way network and access land under the CROW act. On public rights of way (footpaths, bridleways, byways) dogs must be under close control.

On access land they must be on a lead less than 2m long, during bird nesting season (March- July) and at all times around livestock (more on livestock later). There may be other restrictions on dogs and occasional complete closures; these should be signposted at access points.

In Scotland the Scottish countryside access code requires that your dog is under proper control.

Packing - what to bring?

You are going to need to carry a few extra bits if your dog is going to join you. 

Items to think about include:

Coat

Do you wear a coat when you go out in the hills? Sometimes, depending on the conditions. Some days in winter I can be found in six layers. It's worth noting that the risk of hypothermia is the same in dogs as it is in humans, but in dogs the signs and symptoms can be harder to spot and come on quicker.

I always carry a coat for my dogs on winter hill days, I keep an eye on them, check regularly on their behaviour and how they appear and if in doubt the coat goes on. Warning signs can include physical slowing down, reduced interest in surroundings and slower response to commands; however all this can be easy to miss. There are a lot of fashion outfits out there but also some really good brands making mountain condition specific kit that really works. Try before you buy and try before you go, a windy mountain side is not the place to introduce your dog to wearing a coat for the first time.

Food and water

In terms of food, I usually just carry some of my dog's own normal food (complete dry food) on the hill and a few extra biscuits. Some of these are used as training aids, some to give me peace to eat my own sandwich. On long distance events and for wild camping adventures I have previously carried high energy bars specifically for dogs, which offer big calories for not a lot of weight - they stink, but naturally dogs love them. Water wise, we're genetally pretty lucky in the rainy UK. Unless it is really hot or it's been dry for a long time I don't carry extra water, but I do plan my route to give my dogs opportunities to drink on the way.

Panniers

When you have more kit, thoughts often turn to who carries what. Dog panniers are trendy on Instagram but are they right for your pet? I have used these for overnight trips, slowly building up weight - but never very much. I never let my dog carry his own food, it's too cruel, so instead he carries his blanket, travel bowl and my spare clothes (top tip: make sure they are double dry bagged!) and on the way back he also gets the dubious pleasure of packing out the rubbish. Again, not all dogs are suitable for weight bearing so check with your vet if you are unsure.

Leads - on or off?

It is common for dog owners to want to let their dog run free in the hills. But you should understand your legal rights and obligations, and also consider just how risky this is. Many pets have been lost in the mountains after accidentally or deliberately being off lead, and some are never found.

This is one of the areas where my view has changed. I have been fortunate in the past to own some very well-behaved dogs, however I am now of the view that some dogs are really difficult to train and to them the distractions in the fells may pose too big a risk. It's also worth considering that if someone sees your dog off lead, they might assume it is fine to let their dog off too.

Livestock

Livestock lost to dogs is an issue across the uplands, either through direct attack or more commonly from harm caused by stress or from running into unsuitable terrain. A farmer has the right to shoot a dog actively worrying sheep. I now own a retractable lead.

Wildlife

There are some fantastic birds and mammals that live in the UK uplands, many of which are rare and protected. The fact that they are rare reduces the chances that your dog has seen or smelled them before, so we are dealing with a new and exciting encounter, and it pays to expect the unexpected. If your dog is off lead, you might not even see the animal that left the scent which caused your dog to run and never be seen again. If you are not 100% certain of your dog's response, then personally I wouldn't risk it. However, it's not my place to tell you what to do with your dog. If you have spent loads of time in the hills with your dog, encountered many distractions and feel confident that the mutt has perfect recall then it is effectively under close control, so enjoy.

Poo

Another controversial subject. Most of us, even dog owners, hate seeing dog poo at the side of a path; worse still are the full poo bags left for someone else to clear up. This mysterious poo fairy does not exist; please never leave bagged poo! The stick-and-flick method may seem fine in untrodden areas far from other people. But my view is that in busy, well used places everything should be taken home with us – I have a nifty neoprene tube case from dickie bags which can hold two loads until I can get to a bin; that's much nicer than having it swing about in your hand all day.

Hazards of the biting kind

Ticks are common almost everywhere, adders are rarer, however both pose a risk to our dogs.

Ticks

Check your dog for ticks after walks, and learn how to identify and remove these wee beasties. Tick and flea treatments will prevent ticks from feeding on your pet but these pose a hazard to the water environment so make sure you treat in advance if you, like me, have a water magnet for a pet!

Adders

Britain's only venomous snake is super cool, but shy. While adders will do everything they can to avoid you and your dog, if threatened they may bite. Often these bites are to the face or paws and can have serious consequences for your pet. If your dog is bitten, stay calm, remember adders are protected so let them go on their way, try to keep your dog calm and seek the assistance of a vet – preferably immediately by phone – avoiding your pet walking further if possible.

Injured dogs

An adder bite or any other serious injury may mean carrying your dog a considerable distance. You should have a plan for this. From experience I know that carrying a small terrier in a rucksack is a lot easier than lugging a large collie across the Wasdale screes on a survival bag. Your plan may include calling Mountain Rescue if your dog is too large to rescue yourself, or if doing so puts you at risk. Think about adding a few extra bits to your first aid kit for your dog - vet wrap and something to clean out a cut are handy.

More advanced adventures - Scrambling, winter, multi-day backpacks…

When is it right to consider more ambitious plans? The answer I'm afraid is, it depends. The first question you should ask is, can I look after myself in these situations? If that's a yes, then can you also take care of your dog? Then finally, do you know how your dog will respond in a potentially serious or unfamiliar situation? If you're not sure, then perhaps you can prepare them more before you go. Practice scrambling on short rocky steps; thoroughly rehearse commands for wait and then for continue; try short snowy walks; camp in the garden with your dog.

Ask for advice, learn from your mistakes, and be prepared to change your plans. But most of all have fun with your dog, keep them safe, and make happy memories.

This article is a little tribute to my hill going companions past (Gizmo, Poppy, Bob and Bert) and present (Bo and Meg) and an opportunity to share some photos of the happy moments we had and lessons we learned.