Tips for surviving and enjoying geocaching with a dog

Summer fun begins now. And I can’t imagine a summer without our activities together with my dog. What about you? Plan where you and your doggie could spend time before the temperatures are scorching and not a single branch moves on trees and we all will be hiding in shadows. You will enjoy this sunny season much more then. Besides going swimming you can also try geocaching. Your dog has enough exercise and it’s also fun. Personally approved!

I already described what geocaching is in one of my previous articles. This time, I provide several tips how to enjoy treasure hunting (geocaching is sometimes called that) and how to get back home safe :). As well as other sports with a dog, geocaching has its advantages and disadvantages as well. In the first place, it is important how much energy your dog has in summer and what is its overall condition. If scorching weather is really too much for it or you didn’t do much exercise in winter and spring, start slowly, e.g. with trips in your close vicinity. Save a trip to Sněžka for the end of summer when your dog’s condition will get better.

A great thing about geocaching with your dog is the fact that dogs are experts in finding hidden objects. Their smell is excellent. Of course, when they are not trained you cannot expect them to find treasures for you but your dog will enjoy this adventurous activity for sure as it won’t resemble your usual walks but you’ll step aside routes, circle around trees, climb downhill and search at river banks. The biggest advantage as well as a reward for several found treasures is a tired and happy dog in the evening.

Another benefit of geocaching with your dog is socializing. You should introduce your dog to as many stimuli as possible from the time it is a small puppy. Yes, not only to other dogs and people in your surroundings but to show it as many different noises and environments as possible. And geocaching can be great means to an end. And a source of ideas for trips.

What to beware of? Firstly, always think about your own and your dog’s safety. If you would like to go to a place which could not be safe for your pet, rather leave it at home this time. Although dog paws are very resilient and can stand almost any terrain, you won’t do anything wrong if you’ll take dog shoes with you. Because it is very common that during treasure hunting, you’ll change the surface on which you hunt several times within a single day. With shoes on your buddy’s paws, you can be sure that they won’t be too strained.

Also, don’t forget to bring enough food and especially drinking water! Geocaching, even though it might not seem so from the first impression, can be quite demanding. And your dog can get tired more quickly due to the excitement. Also remember to rest regularly, especially if you are on a direct sunlight for a longer period of time. Find your dog a resting spot in the shadow every now and then. Never overestimate the physical limits of your dog. If it seems tired, you should rather stop hunting. Not only that excessive burden could hurt it but it could also make it see the whole activity negatively next time. So, the dog first, then comes the hunting :).

And a piece of interesting information in the end. As well as you can get yourself a T-shirt with a geocode, you can also get your dog a special traceable tag. Other geocachers can bump into it using GPS coordinates and you can meet other dog keepers or at least people with the same adventurous and excited nature as you and your dog have.

Happy hunting :)!