Travelling with Dog: Tommaso and Dakota’s 6-Legged Adventures. Tommaso has always been a traveller. He loves to explore new places and meet new people. But when he adopted his dog, Dakota, he realised he wanted to share his travels with her.
Dakota is a small, brown dog with big, floppy ears. She’s always happy and loves to go on adventures. Tommaso and Dakota have been travelling together for two years and have had fantastic experiences.
They’ve hiked through the mountains, camped in the woods, and swam in the ocean. They’ve met people from all over the world, and they’ve learned so much about different cultures.
Tommaso says that travelling with Dakota has made him a better person. He’s more patient, more understanding, and more appreciative of the little things in life. He’s also learned a lot about himself and is grateful for the opportunity to share his life with such a special companion.
Travel companions. Tommaso decided to share his travels with a special companion, his dog Dakota. He is backpacking with everything you need and off to discover unknown places, a journey on ‘6 legs‘.
189 km on foot on the Route of Francesco. Tommaso, Dakota, his backpack and their yellow tent. Seven days, from La Verna to Assisi”. This article tells the story of Tommaso, who decided to share his travels with a special companion, his dog Dakota. Backpacking with everything you need and off to discover unknown places, a journey on ‘6 legs‘ as he calls it, which he tells about on his Instagram channel.
- Travel companions, here is the story:
- Tommaso’s advice for those who want to embark on a similar trip with his companion
- Travel companions. Allow a better recovery for your four-legged friend
- What to put in your backpack
- The right shoe
- Travel companions, don’t forget the vaccination booklet
- Travel companions. Leash and muzzle with you at all times
Travel companions, here is the story:
I start by saying that this is the second walk we have done ‘on six legs‘; in October 2021, Dakota and I walked the Route of the Gods between Bologna and Florence. The Route of the Gods is about 130 km and runs through the Apennines, with continuous ups and downs.
When I decided to set off on foot along the Way of the Gods with Dakota, I was sure it would be a walk for him! Dakota is a young, fit Australian Shepherd used to long walks together. He also lives with me in the open country, with plenty of space to run and play.
He frequently walks 10 km or more in the hills around Arezzo and often follows me on my daily runs. I have never doubted his walking skills. More often, I take trekking routes and long hikes with Dakota. Setting off with him by my side was, for me, natural and easy. But I realise it is not always an immediate and easy choice.
And so, after their first adventure together, we embarked on another one: the ‘Route of Francesco’: 189 km in 7 days from La Verna to Assisi with some difficulties.
He is a 5-year-old Australian Shepherd, a robust and working breed unafraid to walk. Unfortunately, despite my training, I arrived at the end of the day more tired than him!
Tommaso’s advice for those who want to embark on a similar trip with his companion
In my rucksack, I had food for him for the whole week, as I didn’t know if I could buy it along the way, and over 3 litres of water to share. Luckily, the path passes through wild places with no shortage of springs and streams; otherwise, it would have been tough. Our worst enemy was the heat, which was abnormal for this period. I would have hoped for cooler temperatures for Dakota, but the walk was not a race, and we took our time to cool off whenever we wanted.
If you, too, are thinking of walking with your dog, make sure he can do so. Take him walking with you, try to walk long distances and observe him. Also, carefully watch his recovery the day after the walk. If you see signs of tiredness, limping, or weakness, you must be patient and continue training together to see if the dog is fit for this kind of physical exertion.
Consult your veterinary surgeon and, in addition, a dog trainer to understand whether your companion is really up to such an adventure. Not all dogs are made for such a commitment, and as they get older, they may become more tired.
Travel companions. Allow a better recovery for your four-legged friend
If you set off with your dog, consider extending the walking time to allow your four-legged friend a better recovery and, in extreme cases, be prepared to stay an extra day to give him a day’s rest.
For him, as for you, it must be a pleasure, a moment of joy and recreation; do not force him to make efforts that he cannot sustain to keep to your schedule. Your dog will slow down his pace when you are tired and having difficulty. The least you can do for him is to do the same.
Whether it is a multi-day walk or a one-day trek, be prepared for the possibility of giving up! Your dog may be completely unable to continue or so lame from fatigue that it is impossible to reach the goal. So leave your selfishness aside, stop and find the quickest way home.
What to put in your backpack
When making a journey, the rucksack is our only baggage. Therefore, we have to be extremely good at carrying everything we need and simultaneously limiting ourselves to the essentials so that we have no unnecessary weight on our shoulders.
Even in summer, it may be advisable to bring a windproof and rainproof jacket for use on the higher passes, while in winter, it is easy to find snow. So before setting off, it is a good idea to check the weather forecast so you know what to expect.
What to put in your backpack:
- One goretex, rainproof and windproof shell
- One fleece
- One thermal vest
- 3 T-shirts
- One long trouser
- One rainproof overpants
- Socks and underwear
- Slippers
- Mirrorless Sony a7rIII with Sony 24-105 lens or another camera
- Head torch for the night (just in case)
- Two Books (‘The Last Homeland‘ by Righetto) and (‘Soul of the Border‘ by Righetto)
- Guide to the Route of the Gods (Terre di mezzo Publisher)
- Muzzle for the dog
- Your dog’s vaccination booklet
- Two Water bottles for a total of 3 litres of water
- Two foldable bowls for dog’s water and kibble
- Dog First Aid Kit
- Dog treats for all five days
- Extra dog treats
- Bars and chocolate
- Phone charger
- Sanitising gel (small travel pack 80ml)
- Walking sticks
- 32-litre Ortovox backpack
The right shoe
It may sound trite, but choosing the right shoe for walking is difficult! The reason is simple: the great variety of terrain in which you walk. First, you go through big cities, asphalt and pavements, and then to well-trodden country roads and bumpy paths through the woods.
If the weather is stable and dry, a softer shoe is better, but be careful on the trails, especially on downhill stretches.
Which shoe to use? As always, there is no single answer. The trekking boot, tall and stiff, could be uncomfortable on long urban stretches and beaten roads. On these roads, one could very well walk with a sneaker, which would be of little use; I would even say dangerous, especially on wooded paths, especially if tackled on rainy and muddy days. The advice is to wear the most suitable shoes for the day’s stage.
But it is not always possible to wear two shoes, so as not to have too much load in the rucksack—better a trekking boot, which is very useful.
Travel companions, don’t forget the vaccination booklet
One thing that perhaps not everyone knows is that in Italy, there is an obligation to keep one’s dog’s vaccination booklet, or a copy of it, with us at all times, even for a simple walk outside the home. The authorities can request it anytime; it contains essential information about our dog and the vaccination coverage.
If you must travel to Italy, make sure you also bring this document, check that it is current and that your dog has vaccination coverage, particularly against rabies. You risk heavy financial penalties (up to EUR 9,000) and, in the most severe cases, even your dog’s seizure.
Before a trip, find out about vaccination requirements for dogs in the region or country of destination to vaccinate and update your vaccination booklet in advance.
Travel companions. Leash and muzzle with you at all times
Must keep all dogs on a leash in urban areas; up to this point, it is simple. Parks and nature areas have regulations on dog access and leash use, usually posted on their sites and easily found.
For example, we must always keep all dogs on a leash within the Casentino Forest National Park. However, the dog may be left free in areas that do not fall into these categories (urban and nature parks), but always ensure that it does not harm other animals and humans.
A muzzle is also something you should always have in your backpack. Not because there are any particular obligations, but because you may be required to put it on your dog, for example, to board a means of public transport or to enter some shelter. Considering its cost and bulk, having it with you is always worth it.
Tommaso is neither a vet nor a dog trainer. However, he considers himself a lucky Pet Mate! The things written above are simple tips from walking side by side with a dog, which may seem trivial to the more experienced.
Be very careful, however: a dog’s character facets vary even within the same breed. Therefore, dealing with a reckless, short-tempered or aggressive dog is not simple; you should not take anything for granted and, above all, not play down any character problems.
Not all dogs have the same degree of socialisation; if your dog is aggressive with other dogs or strangers you meet on the way, extremely tense situations can arise that would ruin the whole day or, worse, someone could get hurt.
If you have doubts about your dog, if you fear that he might lash out at someone, or if you think he might not enjoy meeting other dogs, take him to a dog trainer, a true expert who can help you make the most of your 6-legged adventures!
Here are some of the things that Tommaso and Dakota have learned on their travels:
- First, the world is a big and beautiful place.
- There are good people everywhere.
- Second, it’s essential to be open to new experiences.
- Third, it’s crucial to appreciate the little things.
- Finally, it’s necessary to have a good companion by your side.
Tommaso and Dakota prove you can travel the world with your dog. You can have an amazing adventure together with a little planning and preparation.thumb_upthumb_downuploadmore_vert
Thank you for reading the article to the end. Your reading contribution was significant to us.
Affiliate Disclosure: The Frenchie Breed website may receive a small commission from the proceeds of any product(s) sold through affiliate and direct partner links at no cost to you.
Follow Frenchie Breed on Google News
Post a Comment