For excellent company on The Great Trail, look no further than humankind’s best friend. There are many benefits to bringing a dog along, not the least being that they’ll probably enjoy the change of scenery as much as you do. “Compared to the sidewalk, it’s a more fun way to give them the exercise they need,” says Chelsea Demings, a Halifax resident who recommends the parts of the Trail that wind through her city, showcasing its harbour and lakes. Here are some tips for planning an outing near you.

1. Be realistic 

Make sure that the hike isn’t too demanding for your pet in terms of length, terrain, and temperature. A dog’s limits will depend in part on its age, breed and size. Joy Gluck likes to walk on the Trail portion that follows the shores of Georgian Bay and the banks of the Wye River near Midland, Ontario. It offers spots where her husky-cross can wade into shallow water to cool off during the sweltering summer months. Come wintertime, he has no trouble with low temperatures or deep snow on the unshovelled path. “However, smaller dogs probably wouldn’t do as well,” Gluck says.

Joe Goodwill, who runs the Vancouver-based blog Average Joe Cyclist, finds the Traboulay PoCo Trail in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, to be dog-friendly, not to mention beautiful. However, his two pooches, Ripley and Billy, both have short legs and can only keep up with his bicycle for so long. Once they tire, they ride in pet baskets and watch the countryside go by. Goodwill stresses the importance of making sure your dog is firmly tethered in the basket with a harness and a safety leash.

Keep reading this article at The Great Trail.

Photo courtesy of Franco Vannini.