Training Adventure Dogs

My little sister and I have gone on some epic adventures with our dogs. Four years ago, we took a big road trip from California to Arizona and Texas and back. While we were in Arizona we decided to stop at the Grand Canyon and spend the day with our dogs there.

Typically, National Parks are not very dog friendly, in fact most of them do not even allow service dogs because of the extreme terrains and the wildlife in the parks. The Grand Canyon does not allow dogs on most trails, but they are allowed on the Rim Canyon trail with is 13.5 miles in length which gave us plenty of ground to explore for a day with the dogs. We spent the day at the Grand Canyon and walked about 5 miles of the trail before turning around for a total of 10 miles that day.

The most memorable part of this day, apart from the breathtaking view was the fact that bus loads of people arrived every 30 minutes and we had countless photos and videos taken of us with our 4 dogs throughout the day. haha. It was so amusing that so many strangers were in awe of a group of dogs.

If you are considering bringing your dog to the Grand Canyon, here are some considerations:

1. The weather. We went in the spring, so the weather was perfect for the dogs, however – the parking lot is completely asphalt and the majority of the Rim Canyon Trail is in the exposed sun. If you go in the hotter months, I would highly recommend having booties on your dog’s feet and ensuring you have plenty of water for them.
2. The crowds. Since this is such a popular destination, there are lots of people all over the rim of the canyon. Our dogs have been in countless city settings so they were accustomed to maneuvering through crowds of people. If your dog is not, I would take the crowds into consideration. The trail is not always very wide meaning you do have to stay in close proximity to passerby’s and potential other dogs.
3. Your leash. All dogs must be on-leash at all times at the Grand Canyon. The Rim trail is literally right along the cliff the majority of the trail… I would highly recommend bringing a standard 4-6 foot leash – NOT a flexible / extendable leash or long line to ensure you can keep your close and safe.
4. If you and your dog need a break from the crowds, we found the amphitheater to be mostly empty when there is not a showing so we hung out there for a reprieve!