What do you do? If you're a thoughtful and responsible dog owner, you stop and offer your dog a long drink of water from the supply you've packed. While he's resting in the shade, you give him a quick body exam, to see if he's feeling any pain or tenderness in his joints, and you pay particularly close attention to the pads of his feet to see if they're cut or abraded.

After your rest stop, you and Spot might be sufficiently refreshed to continue toward your destination. But if he's truly dog-tired—or if he's showing any signs of injury—you'll both be better off if you turn around and call it a day.

Just as you would turn back if another person in your hiking party weren't feeling well, so should you curtail your travels if your dog is hurt or fatigued.

Companionship, Conditioning, and Courtesy
Most dogs would follow their masters through fire, flood, and over fields of broken glass to be by their sides. So don't expect Fido to tell you when he's not feeling well. It's up to you to keep a close eye on your pet and to get your pooch in shape for hiking.

• Dogs need physical conditioning. If Max spends most of his time flopped on the couch, chewing the TV remote, you can't expect him to act like an Olympian out on the trail. Regular walks around the neighborhood can help get him in shape for longer walks in the woods.
  
• Check with your veterinarian for advice on hiking with your pet. Find out if your dog has any particular physical limitations that would make hiking inappropriate.
  
• Start slowly with short hikes. Gauge your dog's interest and level of fitness. Once you're satisfied that your four-legged pal is up to it, you can set out for longer jaunts, but be sure to continually monitor your dog's condition on the trail.
  
• Consider outfitting him with a dog pack, if your vet agrees. These are saddlebag-type affairs into which you can stuff your dog's food, snacks, and water. Many dogs can carry between a quarter and a third of their body weight. But an overloaded dog tires very quickly and can become easily injured, so again check with your vet.
  
• Rest frequently and provide your pet with water at every rest stop. Keep Rover well fueled with food as well.
  
• Keep an eye out for cuts and abrasions. Dogs' pads can take a beating on our region's rock-strewn trails, so. Trouble can be avoided by fitting your dog with leather or Cordura booties.
  
• Carrying appropriate medications in your first-aid kit if your dog is allergic to insect bites. Again, seek your vet's advice.
  
• Carry pliers, which aid enormously in removing porcupine quills. Your dog's run-in with a porky can be life-threatening when the vet's is many trail miles away.
  
• Keep your dog on a leash or under your voice control. He may be your best friend, but not everyone on the trail will be eager to meet your mutt. Use of leashes is required on some trails, especially those in public parks.
  
• Pick up after your dog, even in the woods. Bury dog waste in shallow "cat-holes" well off the trail and at least 200 feet away from water.
  
• Check maps and guidebooks before setting out to help ensure that you pick a route appropriate for you and your canine pal. On some trails, the terrain is just too rough and steep to be safe for dogs. Remember, too, that dogs are not welcome in some shelters or campgrounds, or in the huts.

A dog's joy can lift your spirits, his sense of wonder about the outdoors can be contagious, and his superior senses of smell and hearing can clue you in to things you might have missed if you were out on your own. Invest some time in the preparation, and you'll find that a well-conditioned, well-trained and well-equipped dog can be the best trail buddy you'll ever have.

—Rob Burbank is the Public Affairs Director for the AMC.