What to Pack for a Day Hike with Your Dog | Tails Trails Treks
The kit that comes with us on every walk from a quick hour on the beach to a full day on the mountain.
I learned this lesson the hard way. Twenty minutes into a mountain trail with Willow and Bella, the heavens opened, I had no water bowl, one dog was limping from a thorn, and my phone was at 4%. It was a long, wet, very educational walk home.
Since that day, the same kit comes with us on every single walk. Doesn’t matter if it’s a thirty-minute loop around the local woods or a full day in the Blackstairs this list doesn’t change. Because the one time you leave something behind is the one time you need it.
This isn’t a gear review. There are no affiliate links. This is just the stuff that’s earned its place in our bag through real walks in real Irish weather with two retrievers who have a talent for finding trouble.
The Short Answer
Water, a bowl, a lead, poo bags, a basic first aid kit, your phone (charged), and a plan for the weather. That’s the non-negotiable minimum. Everything below builds on it.
The Non-Negotiables
These come on every walk. Every. Single. One. Even if you’re only going out for half an hour. It takes thirty seconds to throw them in a bag and it can save you a very bad day.
🎒 The Essentials Always in the Bag
Water + Collapsible Bowl
More than you think you need. Dogs overheat faster than we do, especially retrievers. A litre per dog for anything over an hour. A collapsible silicone bowl weighs nothing and packs flat.
Lead (and a spare)
Even if your dog is off-lead the whole walk, you need a lead. Livestock, road crossings, other dogs, unexpected situations. The spare is because leads break and it’ll happen at the worst possible moment. A cheap rope lead weighs almost nothing as a backup.
Poo Bags
Bring more than you need. Always. There’s no excuse for leaving a mess on someone else’s trail. Biodegradable bags are worth the small extra cost.
Phone (Charged)
Your map, your camera, your emergency lifeline. Charge it before you leave. If you’re going somewhere remote, bring a small power bank. No signal on Irish mountains is common download your route offline before you go.
Dog Treats
For recall. For reward. For bribing a stubborn retriever out of a river when it’s time to go home. High-value treats work best outdoors when there are a thousand distractions.
From the Trail Willow’s Water Rule
Willow will drink from any stream, puddle, or muddy ditch she can find. Bella won’t touch anything that isn’t in her bowl. Know your dog. If your dog is a Bella, you need to carry enough water for the whole walk. If your dog is a Willow, you still carry water because that mystery puddle might not be safe.
For Your Dog
Your dog can’t pack their own bag. Everything beyond the basics depends on where you’re going, how long you’ll be out, and what kind of dog you’ve got.
🐾 Dog Kit
Towel
A medium microfibre towel. Your car will thank you. Essential after any walk that involves water, mud, or in Ireland basically any walk at all.
Dog Coat or Fleece
Not every dog needs one, but smaller breeds, older dogs, and short-coated dogs can get cold fast on exposed hills. Even in summer, Irish mountaintops have a way of reminding you it’s still Ireland.
Tick Remover
A small tick-removal tool. Weighs nothing, fits on your keyring, and is genuinely one of the most important things in this entire list. Ticks are everywhere in Irish woodlands and grasslands from spring to autumn. Check your dog after every walk.
Harness (If Your Dog Pulls)
On steep or uneven ground, a harness gives you more control and is safer for your dog’s neck than a collar and lead. Particularly useful on cliff paths and near livestock.
Long Line (5m or 10m)
For places where your dog can’t be fully off-lead but a standard lead is too short. Beaches with nesting birds, open farmland, or anywhere your recall isn’t 100% reliable yet. Gives freedom without the risk.
For You
You’re no use to your dog if you’re cold, dehydrated, or lost. Look after yourself so you can look after them.
🥾 Your Kit
Waterproof Jacket
In Ireland, this is not optional. Even if the sky is blue when you leave the house. A packable waterproof takes up almost no space and saves you every time.
Snacks + Water for Yourself
Easy to forget when you’re focused on the dog. A cereal bar and a bottle of water is enough for most walks. For longer days, pack a proper lunch and a flask.
Layers
Dress for the summit, not the car park. Temperature drops about 1°C for every 150m of elevation. A fleece or insulating layer that you can take on and off is worth its weight.
Proper Footwear
Trainers are fine for flat towpaths. For anything else — hillsides, bog, forest trails, wet rock you need hiking boots or at minimum trail shoes with grip. Wet Irish ground and smooth soles are a combination that only ends one way.
Small Backpack
Something to carry everything in. Doesn’t need to be expensive or fancy. A 20-litre daypack is enough for any day walk. Hands-free is important when you’ve got a lead in one hand and a dog treat in the other.
Tip
Keep a “dog walk bag” packed and ready by your front door. Restock it when you get home, not when you’re about to leave. That way you’re never scrambling for kit at the last minute and you never forget the essentials.
The Safety Kit
You hope you’ll never need any of this. But if you do, you’ll be very glad it’s in your bag. A basic first aid setup for both you and your dog weighs almost nothing and fits in a small zip bag.
🩹 First Aid & Safety
Basic First Aid Kit
Antiseptic wipes, gauze pads, medical tape, tweezers, a small pair of scissors. Works for both you and your dog. Buy a small pre-made kit and add a few dog-specific items.
Vet’s Phone Number
Saved in your phone. Not something you want to be Googling in a panic. If you’re walking in a county that isn’t your own, look up the nearest emergency vet before you set off.
Dog Bootie or Sock (Just One)
A single dog bootie or even a clean sock and some medical tape can protect a cut paw enough to get your dog back to the car. Paw injuries are the most common problem on rocky trails.
Whistle
Loud enough to be heard at distance. Useful for recalling your dog in wind, and essential if you need to signal for help on a mountain. A small plastic whistle on a lanyard costs almost nothing.
ID on Your Dog
Collar tag with your phone number. Even if your dog is microchipped, a tag is faster. If your dog bolts after a rabbit in an unfamiliar area, a tag is what gets them back to you.
From the Trail The Thorn Lesson
Bella once picked up a blackthorn thorn deep in her pad on a forest trail in Carlow. She went from running ahead to refusing to put her paw down in about three seconds. We had tweezers and antiseptic wipes in the bag, cleaned it up on the spot, and she walked out comfortably. Without that kit, we’d have been carrying a 30kg retriever back to the car. Lesson learned. Kit stays packed.
What You Don’t Need
Just as important as knowing what to bring is knowing what to leave behind. Your bag should be light enough that you actually want to carry it. If it’s too heavy, you’ll stop bringing it and that defeats the purpose.
You don’t need: a massive rucksack, a GPS device (your phone handles this), a full change of clothes (a waterproof is enough for day walks), ten different leads, or a brand-new outfit from an outdoor shop. The best hiking kit is the kit you already own that you’ve tested in the rain.
Keep it simple. Keep it light. Keep it packed and ready to go.
The goal isn’t to prepare for every possible situation. It’s to cover the common ones and have enough to deal with the unexpected. Water, warmth, first aid, and a way to call for help everything else is a bonus.
The Complete Checklist
Here’s everything in one place. Screenshot it, print it, stick it on the fridge — whatever works. Run through it before you head out until it becomes second nature.
ESSENTIALS
☐ Water + collapsible bowl
☐ Lead (and a spare)
☐ Poo bags
☐ Phone (charged)
☐ Dog treats
DOG KIT
☐ Towel
☐ Dog coat/fleece (if needed)
☐ Tick remover
☐ Harness (if your dog pulls)
☐ Long line
YOUR KIT
☐ Waterproof jacket
☐ Snacks + water
☐ Layers
☐ Proper footwear
☐ Small backpack
SAFETY
☐ First aid kit
☐ Vet’s phone number saved
☐ Dog bootie/sock
☐ Whistle
☐ ID tag on your dog
That’s it. Twenty items. Most of them you already own. Pack them once, keep the bag ready, and you’ll never get caught out again.
Willow and Bella have tested every item on this list across forests, mountains, beaches, bogs, and at least one very regrettable shortcut through a field of nettles. If it’s here, it’s earned its place.
Now go find a trail.
Ready to Put This Kit to Use?
Explore our dog-friendly location guides across Ireland and find your next walk bag packed, dogs ready, no guesswork.