It won’t even feel like exercise when you and your pooch enjoy the great outdoors with other responsible dog guardians and their canine companions for a 1-2 hour hike every weekend, spring through fall!
 
Who: You and your pooch partner! Please note human participants must be a minimum of 18 years of age and pooches a minimum of 4 months of age to participate. Maximum of 2 dogs/person.
 
Where & When: Early morning (6:30 am start typically) weekend hikes will be held either Saturday or Sunday mornings at local Provincial Parks, an occasional urban hike, plus 2 special hikes at Davison Orchard as follows:

Apple Blossom Hike at Davison Orchard on Sunday, May 1! Join us for the privilege to hike through the orchard in the beautiful spring blossoms with our dogs! After the hike you can choose to enjoy a delicious Davison Orchard treat!
  
Pumpkin Patch Hike at Davison Orchard on Sunday, Oct 2! We are very happy to be allowed the privilege to hike through the orchard to experience the great pumpkin patch with our dogs! After the hike you can choose to enjoy a delicious Davison Orchard treat!

Hiking Safety, Etiquette & Rules

All human and canine participants must be in good health to participate. If you are unsure, please consult your physician and/or veterinarian prior to registering. Be sure to hydrate yourself and your dog before the hike and bring water with you.
 
As we want to be able to host trail hikes for years to come, it is imperative that humans and canines are on their best behaviour & abide by the following during hikes:

• All dogs MUST be kept on leash on your left side (unless cani-crossing).
• No retractable leashes, prong/choke/electric collars permitted.
• No dogs in heat permitted or puppies under 4 months of age.
• Cani-cross is permitted if proper equipment is utilized and authorized by Pooch Partners prior to the event. Please note that if you wish to cani-cross, you will have to demonstrate your’s & your dog’s ability to do so safely. Check out Pooch Partners’ Intro to Canicross program for training and if you need equipment, Pooch Partners’ is a retailer of CanaDog’s cani-cross equipment.
• No tying a leash around your waist or attaching to clothing – if you wish to hike hands free you must have proper cani-cross equipment as noted above.
• Do not assume that everyone wants their dog to meet yours – ask before permitting your dog to approach another pooch and respect the owner if they decline the invitation. Remember you are fully responsible for your own and your dog’s behaviour.
• If you have the permission of another participant to introduce your dog to theirs, remember a nose-to-butt greeting is friendly and appropriate. Nose-to-nose greetings may lead to aggression and should be avoided when meeting a new dog.
• Come prepared to clean up after your dog and dispose of it in a proper garbage receptacle!
• Do not bring dog toys to the hike, and only bring treats if required for training purposes (i.e. clicker training loose leash walk).
• Announce when you are approaching another participant to pass and always pass on the right to avoid dog-to-dog encounters. Allow a comfortable amount of space when passing other hikers, ensure there is no oncoming traffic, and avoid bumping into or getting leashes tangled with other participants.
• If you encounter road ways during your trail hike, always hike facing traffic with your pooch on your left side (if canicrossing your pooch should be directly in front of you) and respect the rules of the road! Check both directions before crossing any road way.
• Stay off your cell phone! You are 100% responsible for your dog’s behaviour/actions and must supervise your dog at all times.
• Watch your own dog and others for negative body language like growling, showing teeth, lunging, raised fur, or tail between the legs. If your see any of these behaviours, remove you and your dog from the area.
• Respect other users of the park.