Hey all,

Keeonah is just over 5 months old now, and I am eager to get her outside!

I walk her once a day now, usually 1-2 miles through the town and nearby campus (depending on the route I take). She is very well behaved on leash at this point. With the better weather steady approaching in the Northwest, I want to get a few questions answered as I plan my hiking trips for the spring/summer.

I am basically just new to hiking with a dog. I have done plenty of research about the tools necessary to hiking (first aid, fresh water, food, bowls etc.) but am more interested in learning about the physical development of the Sibe, and the restraints it will have as she continues to grow and develop.

Like I said she is just north of 5 months old now. I am taking her in for her rabies shot friday, but based on her last visit, I'd say she is between 33 and 35 lbs. I'd like to know if this is appropriate age to begin using a doggy backpack (studied on those as well, about starting it empty and incrementally working the weight up), and about how far I could expect her to safely hike given properly timed breaks.

Saying I am excited to get out into nature with my girl is a HUGE understatement, I just want to be fully prepared!

Thank you all in advance!

At 5 months old, you can let her start carry an empty backpack now. But before you even go out and get all that hiking gear, why not just take her on an easy hike with the leash/collar you have right now, and see how both of you do? Find an easy trail, not too far away from home so you're not super committed, and just go. If something doesn't work out, you can always turn back. How far you can hike really depends on a lot of variables (weather, trail condition, elevation, your fitness level, etc) so it's really hard to say. But just take it easy first and slowly work your way to longer and more strenuousness hikes, that's the way to go. More likely than not Keeonah will out last you by a long shot on the trail, they were bred to pull sled over long distances after all. The longest day hike I've taken Polar on was for over 11 hours, 30 miles, on mountainous terrain. By the end of the day, I was about to fall over from exhaustion, but Polar was just starting to get a little tired.

polar took the words out of my mouth....I have hiked with maggie since she was 5 months old!!

Agreed with Polar on this one as well, other than if it's hot. If it's hot you will outlast the pup in my experience. Our guy gets really hot really fast.

Also, be ready for Keeonah to be a totally different dog on leash while hiking. Appa is GREAT around town, neighborhood, etc. etc. but once we start hiking he goes bonkers with excitement. It takes almost a solid 30 minutes before I feel like he has a brain again.