8 Best Hiking Snacks For Dogs: Nutritious & Full Of Energy

For many people, going on a hike with their beloved dog is an exciting adventure that they take part in as often as possible. When going on a hike, you usually bring yourself some trail mix or a snack, but you’re not the only one who loves a tasty snack. There’s also your beloved dog who needs some, too.

We know you love your dog; it’s impossible not to. So why not show your dog some love by giving them a treat the next time you’re out for a hike? In this article, we will show you the 8 best hiking snacks for dogs to give you some inspiration.

What Makes a Good Hiking Snack for Dogs?

To give you some ideas about what kind of snacks to bring, hereafter, we have a list of 8 dog treats that are healthy and nutritious, as well as tasty and rewarding.

But what makes a good hiking snack for dogs? Most important are the following characteristics:

• Snacks are nutritious and full of energy (= calories) for the hike
• Snacks are portable so that you can put them in your backpack
• You can pack them appropriately so that they don’t ruin your bag

But enough talking, let’s start with the list.

1. Dog Biscuits

This may seem like a simple idea, but any old dog cookie or dog biscuit will make a great snack when you’re on the trail.

Dog biscuits are better for shorter hikes rather than longer ones. They usually have higher amounts of sugar and are easily and quickly digested. This makes them one of the preferred dog snacks for hiking because they give your dog energy quickly.

2. Kibble

If you feed your dog dry food, you can just bring some of their kibbles on the hike as a snack. You could also mix 20% puppy food into the kibble to increase the calories so that your dog will have more energy on the hike.

Kibble is generally very nutritious depending on the brand you bought.

3. Dog Meal Bars

Dog meal bars are generally packed with all kinds of high-end ingredients. Usually, they have tons of meat-based protein and all proprietary types of vitamins and minerals. Finding a tasty dog meal bar is relatively easy, and there are plenty of brands to choose from in pet food stores or online shops.

You may not want to feed your dog the whole meal bar on the hike unless your dog’s usual mealtime is during the time of your hiking tour. If your dog is not scheduled for a meal on the hike, you can just break off pieces of the bar and feed several chunks to them.

4. Pill Pocket

You could feed your dog some pill pockets that usually have extra vitamins and minerals. Pill pockets are made with such ingredients as duck and peas and are low in calories but high in nutrition.

5. String Cheese

You can use string cheese as a snack when you’re on a trail with your pup. You can easily pull out parts of the string cheese if you don’t want to feed your dog too much or just provide the whole string. Just make sure you don’t feed the dog too much cheese at once, as it can be bad for the dog’s digestion – just like with people.

6. Jerky Treats

A jerky snack is a dehydrated meat treat. Those are perfect hiking snacks for dogs. There are all kinds of different jerky treats you can get online and in stores. You will want to look for jerky treats that are free of preservatives and artificial additives. Jerky treats are high in protein, chewy, and contain enough energy to energize your dog during any hike.

7. Bully Sticks

Food like bully sticks is an excellent snack to bring for a dog. You can give him the whole bully stick at once, or you can give them pieces of it as you go. You can get Bully Sticks at pet supply stores or online.

8. Carrots

Carrots are a great snack to take on hikes for dogs. You can feed dogs carrots safely and they are nutritious. You can easily bring 1-2 carrots on a hike as they pack right into your bag without the potential of creating a mess.

Getting Ready for a Hike

When you get your dog ready for a hike, you can pack up your snacks and everything you need, but make sure you bring enough water to digest the snacks you give them.

They will need a good water supply, so they don’t become dehydrated. Always make sure not to let your dog drink out of puddles to prevent him from getting sick. Items such as a walking stick, a leash, and a stick to throw for playing catch are also good ideas.