Guide
Taking freeze-dried fish on a hike with your dog
Updated
Fish treats for hiking work best when they are small, sealed and easy to reach. Of our fish, the Fish Trio page calls anchovies smaller and drier and the easiest to pocket. Pack a resealed bag, bring fresh water for the dog, and have a way to wash your hands afterward.
Which freeze-dried fish packs smallest for a hike?
Start with the page that compares our fish side by side. The Fish Trio page says sardines are the largest, anchovies are smaller and drier and the easiest to pocket, and the heads are the crunchiest. Those are the page's words about the three bags, and they point to anchovies for anything you carry in a jacket or a hip belt.
The anchovy listing describes a one-size 2 ounce bag, and it says size, shape and color vary from fish to fish. The listing also describes a strong natural fish smell. Expect it when you open the bag.
Sardines are sold whole, and the page says to break one in half for a small dog. They suit a pack with a little more room, and the sardine listing says to break them into smaller pieces for rewards. The anchovy listing gives the same direction for its fish.
Either way, these are treats and toppers, not a complete diet. The trail does not change that.
How do you keep fish treats dry in a pack?
Keep the bag sealed. The sardine and anchovy listings both say to reseal the bag and keep it cool and dry, and both say no refrigerator is needed. The minnow listing adds "out of direct sunlight," and we credit that line to the minnow listing alone.
On a hike, that means closing the bag every time you open it, then putting it back in the same pocket. The listings do not ask for anything fancier than closing it.
We do not state what happens to the fish in heat or rain, because no listing does. If a bag has been through a wet or hot day and you are unsure about it, ask us through the anchovy page rather than guess.
For the bag at home, the storage guide covers the details. For carrying a pouch while training, see the anchovy training guide.
How much fish should you pack for one hike?
Pack what the day's treat share allows, and no more. The hike does not grow the share. The treat calculator on our sardine page starts from 10 percent of the day's calories, which is the sardine listing's FAQ figure for dogs, and its note credits VCA's treat guidance. That share covers every treat your dog eats that day, not only the fish.
If you think a long hike should change your dog's daily food or treat amounts, that is a question for your veterinarian. We do not adjust the share for activity, and the minnow listing's only word on it is to adjust to size, activity and calories.
A practical way to pack: work out the share at home, weigh it out, and take exactly that amount in a sealed bag. The trail is a poor place to do arithmetic with a hungry dog watching.
What else goes in the pack with fish treats?
A short list, drawn from the listings:
- The sealed bag of fish
- Fresh water for the dog
- A way to wash your hands afterward
Fresh water is on every listing. We will not say fish makes a dog thirsty, because no listing says so. Offer water as the listings ask, with the treats.
Hands matter because these fish are freeze-dried raw. The sardine heads listing says, "This is raw fish, so wash your hands after handling it." On a trail that may mean water from a bottle or a wipe, and the choice is yours.
Supervise on the trail as you would at home, since the listing says to supervise while feeding.
One trailhead habit: check the bag is sealed before you shoulder the pack. For the full list of topics, see the guides hub.
Questions
Do fish treats need an ice pack on a hike?
The sardine and anchovy listings both say no refrigerator is needed, so the listings do not call for an ice pack. They ask for a resealed bag kept cool and dry. For anything beyond that, such as a very hot day, ask your veterinarian.
Can sardine heads come on the trail?
They can travel like any other bag. The heads listing says adult dogs of all sizes, cats too, and to wash your hands after handling raw fish. The Fish Trio page calls the heads the crunchiest. We do not state a bag size for them, so check the bag you have.
Should I break the fish before I leave home?
The listings say to break the fish into pieces for rewards. Doing it at home lets you size each piece to your dog and weigh out the day's share. It is a choice, not a requirement, and you can break a piece on the trail instead.
How do I keep my hands clean on the trail?
The heads listing says to wash your hands after handling the raw fish. Pack whatever lets you do that. We name no product and make no claim about any cleaning method, so use what you normally would for raw food.
Should a hike day get extra treats?
We do not adjust the treat share for activity. The calculator's default is 10 percent of the day's calories, set for dogs, and any change for a hard day belongs to your veterinarian. The minnow listing says only to adjust to size, activity and calories.