Hiking gear for senior dogs

A 12-year-old Cocker Spaniel who still wants to get out on trails — that's a good dog. The essentials for hiking with any dog are a well-fitting harness, a collapsible water bowl, and depending on the terrain, possibly boots — paw protection on rocky or hot ground matters more than most people realise, and senior dogs can be more susceptible to cuts and abrasions as their pads thin a little with age. To point you in the right direction: what sort of terrain are you hiking on, how long are your typical outings, and has your spaniel had any joint issues or is she generally moving well for her age?

That's exactly the right concern. With mild arthritis and a dog her age, you want a harness that distributes any lead pressure across the chest and shoulders — nothing that clips at the collar or puts any pull near the spine. A back-clip harness with a broad, padded chest panel is what you're after. It also means if she stumbles or needs a little steadying on an uneven bit of path, you can give her gentle support without yanking her neck. Can I ask — does she currently wear a harness, or are you starting from scratch?

Good call, and switching now will make a real difference for her comfort on the trail. For a 13kg Cocker with arthritis, I'd go with the Ruffwear Front Range Harness. It has a padded chest and belly panel that spreads pressure evenly, two leash attachment points — one on the back for normal walking, one on the chest if she pulls — and it's genuinely lightweight, which matters when you don't want any extra bulk on an older dog. The fit is adjustable at four points so you can get it snug without restricting her movement or her breathing. It runs a little over £40 on Amazon UK, it's well-made, and it's one of the few harnesses that actually holds up on rough terrain rather than twisting out of place mid-walk. For a senior dog doing two to three hour moorland outings, it's the right tool.

For light moorland and woodland, probably not essential — those surfaces are generally kinder than rocky scree or hot tarmac. That said, keep an eye on her pads after walks. If you notice any redness, cracking, or she starts lifting a paw, it's worth considering a paw wax like Musher's Secret as a first step — it's much easier for older dogs to tolerate than boots and gives decent protection on softer uneven ground. Boots become more relevant if you move onto harder, stonier terrain or summer paths that get sun-baked. For now, the harness is the priority — that's the change that'll most directly support her joints on every single outing.

You'll find it easily on Amazon UK — search Ruffwear Front Range and check the size guide carefully, measuring her chest girth rather than going by breed alone. For a 13kg Cocker she'll likely be a Small or Medium depending on her build. Enjoy the moorland with her — dogs like that, still keen at 12, just need the right kit to keep going comfortably.