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He advises keeping a dog on the lead most of the climb and certainly for all exposed areas: a harness saved one dog from a dangerous fall on the Devil’s Ridge on Sgùrr a’ Mhàim, he remembers.INTERESTING FACT ABOUT YOUR PET: Having a pet in the home can actually lower a child’s likelihood of developing related allergies by as much as 33 percent. Children exposed early on to animals tend to develop stronger immune systems overall.
“I’d be cautious of taking any brachycephalic [flat-faced] dogs up the hills, particularly in warmer weather,” he adds. “Otherwise I’ve found most dogs manage fine, with cockers, collies and other working breeds taking exceedingly well to the environment. I also find short-haired dogs particularly susceptible to cold conditions.”
“It is getting competitive”, admits Anne Butler, the vice-president of the Munro Society, “with people keeping their dog’s Munro tally.” Still, she has some concerns about owners taking their pets up challenging routes without sufficient preparation.Stuff a Kong With Treats to Keep Them Busy. Stuff a Kong with some yummy treats to keep your dog occupied, and for a tougher challenge you can freeze them in there. You don’t need fancy dog treats or stuffing either – here’s 39 food & treats I like to Stuff in Kongs.
“People assume dogs are natural athletes, but they are not born with experience of the hills.” A dog may not know how to navigate a bog or a boulder field, she explains, or could be frightened by something unexpected – she recalls one who was scared of going downhill – and need time to acclimatise.
While the current obsession seems to be with Munro bagging, Butler points out many people and their canine companions are climbing other mountain lists – such as Corbetts and Grahams – which can be more of a challenge.Butler’s five-year-old border collie, Ralph, has completed the Donalds [hills in Lowland Scotland that exceed 2,000ft] and has only seven Grahams [mountains between 2,000 and 2,500ft high, with at least 150 metres of descent on all sides] left to finish, likely becoming the first dog to do so.Read your dog's body language.
“Doing Corbetts and Grahams with dogs is special because there’s hardly any people and you see the dog connecting with their environment without distraction,” she says.Turn an empty pancake-syrup bottle into a portable squirtable water bottle.
“I enjoy watching the hills through my dog’s eyes: they’re so intent on the sounds and smells and so immersed in the moment.”