When you go hiking with your dog for multiple days it is very important to keep up your dog’s good nutrition and also pack lightly. This can be done by calculating the amount of calories your dog will need for the day depending on his/her size and the type of hike as well as by finding the most weight and calorie efficient dog food and treats.
In this guide you will find out what type of food you should feed your dog while hiking, the difference between dehydrated and freeze dried dog food, the amount of food you should be feeding your dog and some recommendations for the best ultra light high energy dog food and treats for hiking.
Table of Contents
What type of food should I feed my dog?
Kibble, Dehydrated or Freeze Dried?
Kibble
| Pros | Cons |
| Your dog is used to eating it and therefore won’t get an upset stomach | Kibble is quite heavy |
| Cheaper than dehydrated and freeze dried options | Kibble is bulky because it’s nutritional value isn’t very concentrated so your dogs needs to eat more |
Verdict: It’s Okay
Kibble is the normal dry food you feed your dog at home however it is very bulky and heavy for hiking, especially if you are going on a multi-day hike. Often cheaper kibble brands are full of fillers and do not have fantastic nutritional value. If you are going to bring kibble look for a premium brand that is high in protein to give your dog a lot of energy for the trip.
Dehydrated
| Pros | Cons |
| Lighter than kibble | Manufacturing process loses some nutritional value of the food but not as much as highly processed kibble |
| Cheaper than freeze dried food | Slightly heavier than freeze dried food |
Verdict: Yes (Budget Option)
Freeze Dried
| Pros | Cons |
| Very good quality | Freeze dried food is the most expensive option |
| Lightest weight option |
Verdict: Yes
Dehydrated vs Freeze Dry Dog Food
Dehydrated and freeze dried dog food are similar in the fact that they are both light weight, have a high in nutritional content and have long stable shelf lives. Both have a high nutritional content because of their manufacturing processes and are ultra lightweight because majority of the food’s water content is removed during the dehydrating or freezing process. The only difference between the two is how the water content is removed.
Dehydrated dog food and treats are processed under low heat to evaporate the majority of the moisture content of the raw food. Some dehydrated foods are air dried to remove moisture instead of using heat. Dehydration sometimes has an effect on the taste of food and affects it nutritional value.
On the other hand, freeze dried food is flash frozen and is kept under freezing conditions in a strong vacuum until all of the moisture is removed. This works through a process called sublimation where the frozen water transitions directly from solid to gas, skipping the liquid stage. Freeze drying has no effect on the taste of the food or it’s nutritional value. It can be expensive at times.
Both dehydrated and freeze dried foods are really healthy because they are mainly composed of fresh foods. There’s a much of a muchness between dehydrated and freeze dried foods and both of them are great for hiking trips because they do not require refrigeration until they are rehydrated. As expressed in the tables above, freeze dried food is slightly lighter than dehydrated but is more expensive. I suggest bringing both types on your next hiking trip with your dog!
How much food does your dog need?
It is difficult to give a guide on how much food your dog needs when hiking as there are so many factors to consider. I am not a food nutritionist or veterinarian so I can’t give you a specific guide for the amount of food your dog needs however I can give you a general guide.
The amount of food you give your dog not only depends on the breed of dog you own and it’s size but also the length of the hike, the type of hike (is it an on-leash or off-leash hike?), the climate and the terrain (rocky, steep, flat etc.).
A few sources I have researched have suggested to increase your dog’s calorie intake by 50% to 100% on a hike, going towards the higher percentage for off-leash hikes and long hikes in difficult terrain. Go on shorter hikes and observe your dog and use your judgement for how much you should be feeding your dog.
It is a really good idea to ask you vet about hiking with your dog and the amount of food that you should be feeding him/her because every single dog has their own nutritional needs. Once you find out the number of calories your dog should be eating daily while hiking you can mix and match food and treats I recommend down below as long as it adds up to the total daily intake.
Dog Hiking Food Recommendations
Dogs have evolved to use proteins and fats as their main energy source but they can also use carbohydrates to meet their energy needs.
Some tips for feeding your dog on a hike:
- Calculate 25% of your dog’s normal kibble and substitute it with 25% puppy kibble. Puppy kibble is packed with extra calories and protein and will dramatically boost your dog’s nutritional intake.
- Look for denser food value. This means more calories per gram. This means your dog’s food will be high energy and more compact in your backpack.
Dehydrated Dog Food
The Honest Kitchen Human Grade Dehydrated Grain Free Dog Food is a very popular dehydrated dog food online. It has accumulated over 1750+ rating on amazon and maintained a 4 star rating. It comes in many flavours including chicken, beef, turkey and fish. It’s really good for a hiking trip because it is lightweight as all of the water content has been evaporated out. Once you get to your camping spot at the end of the day, all you need to do is add the recommended amount of water and stir. There are 446 calories per cup of food which makes it a high energy compared to the average cup of dry kibble containing 300 calories. You can also get a version that contains organic grains here.
Freeze Dried Dog Food
Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Mini Nibs Grain Free is a 100% meat freeze dried meal for dogs. It comes in chicken, beef, duck, rabbit, salmon and turkey flavours. An added bonus is that there is no need to add water meaning it’s great for hiking trips. The manufactures use a 48 hour freeze drying process that gets rid of all the moisture. On the packet it says that there are 128 calories per ounce (28 grams). The average weight of a cup of freeze dry food is estimated around 85g so I would say there’s about 388 calories per cup. (this is just a guess, not actual provided information from the company)
I also found this really cool product called Instinct Freeze Dried Raw Boost Mixers Grain Free Recipe All Natural Dog Food Toppers. It’s not a full meal freeze dried food but rather a freeze dried topper for kibble to replace fresh meat. This would be good if you were hiking and bringing your normal kibble and since you don’t have access to refrigeration you could replace the raw meat aspect of your dog’s meal with this lightweight alternative. It comes in lamb, beef and chicken flavours.
Dog Hiking Treat Recommendations
Pack plenty of treats that are specifically made to boost energy for your dog hike. Treats can be used as rewards or distractions on the trail. It is recommended that treats only take up to 10% of your dog’s daily calorie intake.
Some ideas for dog treats:
- Peanut butter. Good treat because it has protein, fat and fibre which makes a lasting form of energy.
- Jerky treats. These chicken jerky treats are very popular amongst dogs.
- Dog energy bar/balls. See recipe below.
Homemade Dog Treats
Banana & Peanut Butter Energy Balls
Ingredients:
- 3 rice cakes
- ¼ banana
- 2 tablespoons Peanut butter
- ½ teaspoon honey
Makes about 10 balls
Method:
- Preheat oven to 160 degrees celsius
- Prepare baking tray with baking paper
- Mash banana in a medium bowl
- Crumble rice cakes into small pieces over mashed banana
- Add peanut butter and honey
- Mix together until it starts to clump together
- Squish mixture into balls that are about 1.5cm in diameter and place on a baking tray
- Bake for ten minutes, let them cool in the oven until hard (like a cookie)
Fun tip: Buy some dog treat cookie cutters and silicone moulds here to make your dog treats into fun shapes like bones or paws. This is a great activity for kids!
DIY Dehydrated Dog Treats
If you are worried about the content and quality of store bought dehydrated dog treats you can make your own with a dehydrator. Simply slice up chicken, beef, sweet potato (anything that a dog can eat) really thinly and put it in your dehydrator, baking it until it’s dried to your liking.
Your Dog Can Carry It’s Own Food
If you are really concerned about the extra weight your dog’s food is going to add to your pack, make him/her carry it for themselves. Ruffwear specialises in dog adventure gear and I highly recommend their hiking Approach Pack. It is a lightweight, streamlined design with two large pockets for all of your dog food and other necessities as well as good load dispersion. You can slowly introduce it to your dog with treat based reward training, starting with no weight at home and building up the weight as you go on hikes.
While you are hiking you should give your dog water at regular intervals to keep him/her hydrated and energised. This should be at every rest break. I suggest investing in a collapsible dog bowl because they are lightweight, small, easy to clean and fast to dry.
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