It takes training and proper nutrition to raise an outdoorsy dog. Follow these tips from Purina to prepare your dog for a life of camping and hiking adventures with you.
Like you, dogs need proper nutrition to perform at their best. Purina Pro Plan Dog Sport is formulated to nourish dogs and help support their strength and stamina.
Beyond fueling, it’s up to you to ease your pup into activities, know their limits, and help them adjust to life in the great outdoors. Below, we walk through some advice and reminders for taking your pup adventuring, as well as more details on Purina’s dog food offerings.
If you’re curious to see how your dog performs with Purina Pro Plan Dog Sport, PetSmart.com offers 35% off your first AutoShip order (and 5% off future AutoShip orders) with your PetSmart Treats Membership.
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Hit the Trails
Want to take your dog with you on your adventures? First things first: Learn and follow local leashing rules.
In forests or campsites, leashing your dog keeps them from chasing wildlife, disrupting other people, or walking through patches of poisonous plants. You can build up your dog’s discipline for the trail and around the campsite by taking day trips, picnics, and shorter walks.
If you’re camping overnight, you may want to provide your dog with their own shade tent to cool off in, which can also provide a place of their own to help them feel secure.
For some dogs, a backpack harness offers more control than a collar. Plus, you can stash some things in it, like poop bags.
Dogs can exhaust themselves trying to keep up or please you. You should have an idea of what they can handle from routine walks or runs. Still, keep an eye on Fido while hiking so they don’t get over-tired.
If you bring a puppy along on a hike, be ready to carry them. Once your dog is roughly 12-15 months old, they’ve left the puppy stage behind and may have more muscle and endurance. If your dog is 7 years old or older, it may be time to curtail their activity accordingly.
Dog Gear
Dogs aren’t as gear-intensive as humans, but a few accessories can go a long way toward keeping them happy and clean.
Always carry extra water. You can’t predict how thirsty your dog will be, and if they get overheated, you can use some of the water to cool their pads and skin. A collapsible water bottle packs down in your gear as you consolidate and go through your day’s water supply.
If you’re spending long days outside, consider bringing along extra food, treats, and collapsible bowls.
A brush and a fine-tooth comb can help you dislodge hitchhikers like burrs as well as pull back hair to check for fleas or ticks.
Bringing along pet wipes, or a towel (or two) will let you wipe off mud, rain, and dust from your dog’s fur. Some dogs may enjoy the familiar smell of home on the towel if they get uneasy outdoors. In that case, a towel inside the tent or dog crate will help. Not to mention a towel or dog bed provides some cushion for your pup after a long day on the trail.
Lastly, we have to say it somewhere: Clean up after your pup! Domesticated dogs are not wild and, like you, they carry a host of bacteria that can contaminate water supplies and other animals. Be sure to carry waste disposal bags with you, and please don’t forget to pack them out as you go.
Purina Pro Plan Dog Sport Formulas
Purina Pro Plan Dog Sport foods are formulated to provide your dog with advanced nutrition for strength and stamina.
These formulas start with real meat as the first ingredient. The brand says Pro Plan sources high-quality protein like chicken, turkey, salmon, and beef. Carbohydrates in Pro Plan foods come from corn, rice, barley, and other grains, according to the brand.
Additionally, Purina says Pro Plan Dog Sport uses nutrient-rich fats from beef and bacon as well as oils from fish and vegetable sources.
Purina designs its Pro Plan Dog Sport foods with 23 essential vitamins and minerals as well as antioxidants. According to the brand, these ingredients can help promote a healthy immune system. These foods are also labeled as 100% complete and balanced, which the brand says means they provide the right amounts (in the right proportions) of every single nutrient your dog’s body needs.
Additionally, Purina made many of its Pro Plan Dog Sport foods to include live probiotics, intended to support digestive and immune health.
The Purina Pro Plan Dog Sport is available in three life-stage formulas and includes dry and wet foods.
Pro Plan Sport Puppy dry foods are formulated to promote concentration, problem-solving, and even trainability.
The Pro Plan Sport Adult dry foods are made to help nourish muscles, including the crucial time after exercise, and offer protein and fat to fuel your dog’s metabolic needs.
Lastly, Pro Plan Sport Senior recipe aims to support joint health and mobility as well as promote your dog’s cognitive health.
Dry & Wet Foods
Purina Pro Plan Dog Sport dry foods include a balance of proteins and fats to keep muscles fueled while working hard.
These foods also contain amino acids to help nourish muscles as well as glucosamine and EPA, an omega-3 fatty acid, for joint health and mobility. Additionally, omega-6 fatty acids and vitamin A in the food are meant to nourish your dog’s skin and coat.
The 30/20 All Life Stage foods are formulated to increase endurance and optimize a dog’s oxygen metabolism (VO2 max) for increased endurance, according to the brand.
Wet foods can add excitement to your dog’s diet and contribute to their hydration.
Paw Patrol
If your dog can keep up on the trails, you’ll feel more comfortable about bringing them along on multiday camping trips and other adventures. A big step along the way is feeding your dog a nutritious diet and packing a few accessories that can keep your best friend comfortable and clean.
PetSmart.com offers 35% off your first AutoShip order (and 5% off future AutoShip orders) with a PetSmart Treats Membership.
A note on AutoShip: Savings cap at a maximum of $20 on initial orders and 5% on all recurring orders. The discount is for members of PetSmart’s Treats program. If you aren’t already a member, you can sign up and still claim the offer. Recurring AutoShip orders will be charged the online price of the date the order ships.
Shop Purina Pro at PetSmart
This article is sponsored by PetSmart. Find out more about Purina Pro Plan Dog Sport foods online.
