Dogtrekking

PL

Dog-trekking is nothing else but trekking with a dog. The distinguishing feature, differentiating it from general trekking is a dog linked with its owner with a specially designed line with an in-built shock absorber which absorbs energy if a dog, all of a sudden, decides to pull.  Since a dog may accelerate suddenly or we may have to stop abruptly, a shock-absorber prevents the loin section of our spine, or the whole dog’s skeletal system from an overload.  Such overload may lead to serious traumas, eliminating a dog from a long- lasting physical exercise and thus ending any adventure before it even began. That is why the equipment plays such a key role in dog-trekking.  Apart from a line, another indispensable equipment element is a dog’s harness for trekking. A harness must be adjusted to a dog’s size.  A harness which is too large falls from his back and causes pressure on its joints. Too small a harness will choke a dog during pulling, causing not only a dog’s discomfort but also impacting its breathing during exercise. Before ordering a harness measure your dog precisely. How to measure your dog is usually explained on manufacturers or distributors’ websites.  A belt worn by an owner may be simply a climbing belt but it is always better to buy the belt specially designed to dog-trekking. It is lighter and provides better comfort on long, often multi-day treks.
After having set our mind on dog-trekking, that is spending free time with out dog, it is time to decide whether we want to do it for recreational purposes or treat it as sport.

In Poland, during a dog-trekking race, one of the extreme sports, participants cover the distance of 50 kilometers in just seven to fifteen hours. Although in Poland races take place on rather flat terrain not all competitors reach the finish line. Please note, that a race may start at midnight, and en route participants have to find a dozen or so locations, yet at the same time trying to beat sleepiness and tiredness, and as it may be the case, forces of nature. However the most important is always a dog’s well being. You should watch him all the time.  If you see that your dog is tired or his condition has worsened, you should hide your ambition and withdraw from the race.

In the Western Europe and in the Czech Republic, this extreme, endurance competition generally covers the distance of over 100 kilometers to be covered within a prescribed time limit.  These races are often organised on mountain terrain which makes trekking even more difficult. Every competitor is left on his own resources.  Many dangers await him. Those posed by difficult terrain, wild animals or result from his own weaknesses. Therefore, before the start every competitor must sign a disclaimer.

Dog-trekking is an outdoor sport,  where an interrelation between a dog and its owner,  in often extreme conditions, brings them closer to each other.
There is another type of dog-trekking. The dog-trekking which is not a sport but a way of spending your free time with your dog.  The equipment used is the same as in orienteering competition (belt, line with shock-absorber, harness). In this type of dog-trekking there is not time for competition but you still may be encountered by extreme situations and pushed to the limits of your abilities.  The majority of you will probably choose to trek in easy terrain. A long trip to the woods of two interconnected partners, sharing a meal, sharing a trek, enjoying the wild nature builds a strong bond not only while being in the woods but also afterwards.  After you two return from your trekking the bond is still there. Caring for the smaller one, remembering about its meal, a bowl, and a water bottle creates bonds.  The love and care you gave him will be requited in the least expected moment.
Apart from Saturday or Saturday-and-Sunday treks you may plan trips in more difficult terrain – in the mountains.
A lonely dog-trek without returning to the ‘civilisation” for many days. Carrying a rucksack weighting over 30 kilograms. The rucksack which  for those few days will hold everything one needs to arrange a house, a bedroom, a kitchen, a pantry, a dressing room, and each and every well considered, yet indispensable item, and most of all – water.  This is the place where we reach our limits. This is the time when we realise that we are left to out own resources.

One should remember that sometimes calling for help will be just not possible so for the sake of our partner, who is totally dependent on us, ambition should be kept under control.  Hard, physical work performed by a dog pulling a man who is carrying a  heavy rucksack, weighting a dozen or so kilograms, through difficult terrain should be monitored all the time. If you see that your dog is tired, you should give him a sufficient rest.  In order to protect a dog’s paws in difficult, rocky terrain it should wear special boots.  Multi-hour march through scree slopes or sharp rock edges may cause injuries to a dog’s paw pads which are very difficult to heal and extremely troublesome. In low temperature and strong wind short-haired dogs should wear light overalls. This does not mean that the dog must wear it all the time. However, your should be able to protect your dog from loosing body temperature during rests.
So now you can see that even individual, non-competitive dog-trekking can be a source of many thrills.

You should always remember about your dog. While in dog-trekking races the well being of dogs is monitored and supervised over by referees, and any dog showing symptoms of fatigue is withdrawn from the races, during an individual trek the full burden of responsibility for your dog’s health, and your knowing his reactions, lies with you.