Colorado is a beautiful state with hundreds of miles of hiking trails. Combine this with a dog that would love nothing more than to spend the day wandering the backcountry with you, and you have the makings of a perfect day.

Before stepping out on the trail for a hike, be prepared for your dog’s needs. You should always carry a first-aid kit for your own safety, so just add a few extras for your four-legged friend.

A canine first-aid kit should include: gauze pads, rolled gauze, bandage tape, anti-bacterial ointment, tweezers, buffered aspirin for pain (5-15 mg per pound), Pepto-Bismol for stomach upsets (0.1-1 mg per pound), Benadryl for insect stings (1-2 mg per pound), a clean wash cloth and a small bottle of hydrogen peroxide. My dog first-aid kit came in handy just last week when my dog somehow got a cactus needle in her eye.

Bring enough water to keep both you and your dog hydrated throughout your hike plus 25 percent more for emergency use. Don’t depend on natural water sources to get you through. Collapsible dog bowls are readily available and easy to carry.

Specially designed dog packs allow your dog to comfortably carry everything he needs, and most dogs easily adapt to the feel of the pack.

Make local wildlife aware of your dog’s presence by arming him with a “bear bell.” Drought years can extend the time that bears and other predators are at lower elevations. A bear bell will allow wildlife to escape farther from the trail. Bear bells are sold locally, or you can assemble one using “jingle bells” from a craft store.

Your hike will be so much more enjoyable when shared with a well-mannered hiking partner. Constantly reprimanding an untrained dog can be tiring and eventually leads to leaving the dog home when hiking.

A dog with three simple skills (come, check in and stay) will have the “trail manners” to go anywhere with you.

The most important of the three is the “come” command. It’s important to never reprimand your dog for a slow return. Keeping a pocketful of treats ensures that you have a way to reward success. Stay tuned for the next two columns to learn the finer points of teaching this complex command.

“Stay” is a control command that reinforces good behavior while hiking. Practice putting your dog at stay while you walk down the trail. Increase the length of the stay or the distance you walk away to improve your dog’s reliability.

“Check in” is similar to come but is less formal. The check-in command requires that your hiking partner return to your vicinity but can then immediately leave again. Begin training by calling “check in” with an excited voice. When your dog returns, keep walking but reward him and then quickly send him on again with a cheery “OK!” The check-in command teaches your dog to remain close by while you are hiking.

Practice a combination of the above commands as a courtesy to passing hikers, bikers and horseback riders. When you see someone approaching, call your dog to the side of the trail, put him in a sit and stay. Eventually, your dog will anticipate these commands when he sees approaching traffic. Be ready for the compliments you will get from hikers that appreciate your dog’s good behavior.

Julie Winkelman is a certified pet dog trainer and a certified dog trainer. Reach her at www.retinc@frontier.net.