Gear and practices that keep your dog safe outdoors and at home, from bear-country food storage to visibility on dark walks and first-aid kits built for trail use.
Tick and Flea Prevention for Trail Dogs: A Trail-Tested Guide July 2026 | By GearHound Summer is peak tick season, and if you are hiking with your dog, that means peak risk. Ticks do not care how tough your dog is or how many miles you have logged together. They care about warm bodies moving … Read more
July 2026, By GearHound The Numbers Best overall: ARCA PET kit — 40 dollars, 100 pieces, 30.9 ounces (vehicle/base camp, not backpacking) Best budget: ARCA PET Ready-Go Pouch — 22 dollars, 35 pieces, 9.14 ounces, fits a hip belt pocket Day-hike coverage: the 9-ounce pouch covers 80 percent of what you actually need Hybrid pick: … Read more
Summer Dog Safety on the Trail: Heat, Hydration, and When to Turn Around July 2026 — By GearHound July is the toughest month to hike with your dog. The sun is relentless, trail surfaces radiate heat like a stovetop, and dogs — who cannot sweat the way humans do — are far more vulnerable to … Read more
Dog Camping Tents: Best Tents for Camping with Your Dog July 2026 — By GearHound If you have ever tried to squeeze a wiggling 70-pound Labrador into a two-person backpacking tent, you already know that not every shelter is built for dog camping. The right tent makes the difference between a restful night under the … Read more
Best Dog Cooling Vests 2026: 5 Vests That Beat the Summer Heat Last updated: July 2026 | By GearHound If you have ever watched your dog pant heavily on a warm hike and thought they will be fine, think again. Dogs do not sweat like we do. They rely almost entirely on panting to regulate … Read more
Car Emergency Kit for Dog Owners: 15 Things You Shouldn’t Drive Without Last updated: June 2026 | By GearHound You Prep for Yourself — But What About Your Dog? You’ve got the jumper cables, the spare tire, the first aid kit, and the granola bars. Your car emergency kit is dialed in for humans. But … Read more
Tick and Flea Prevention for Dogs on the Trail: A Trail-Tested Guide Last updated: June 2026 | By GearHound If you hike with your dog, ticks and fleas are not a maybe — they are a when. I have pulled ticks off my dogs on trails from the Appalachian foothills to the high desert, and … Read more
<!– king safety, dog paw first aid, cracked paw pads, dog boot fitting, paw inspection –> Your Dog’s Paws Are the Only Gear That Can’t Be Replaced Last updated: June 2026 | By GearHound You can replace a torn jacket, … Read more
Dog Trail Etiquette: Hiking Manners That Keep Trails Open for Everyone Last updated: June 2026 | By GearHound Every Closed Trail Started With a Bad Dog Owner Let’s get one thing straight right away: trails don’t ban dogs because of dogs. They ban dogs because of us — the owners. Every time someone lets their … Read more
Why Your Dog Needs Different Gear for Camping Than for the Dog Park Last updated: June 2026 | By GearHound You have got your tent, your sleeping bag, and your camp stove dialed. But your dog? They cannot just “make do” with what you bring. Dogs have different thermoregulation, different hydration needs, and different vulnerabilities … Read more