Skip the evening walk: Take your dog on this nature trail in Karjat

A pet parent and their pet soak in the lush green views in Karjat. PICS COURTESY/PACKLIFE_EXPERIENCES

'Cause there's a side to you that I never knew, never knew," Adele sang to her estranged lover in her smash hit, Set Fire to The Rain. But you might just be singing it to your dog soon. "Walking in the lush grasslands of Karjat unlocks a different personality in canines. The look on the pet parent's face when they see their otherwise nervous dog frolic in the meadows is something else," says canine trainer Priyanka Mehta. Doggos' Day Out is a nearly four kilometre-long hike for pets and their parents in Karjat, designed by Mehta and fellow canine trainer Jigeesha Pande, with the Vagabond Experiences community.

Participants walk through the scenic trail

ON July 5; 8.45 am
MEETING POINT McDonald's, Nadhal Chowk, Karjat.
LOG ON TO @packlife_experiences
ENTRY Rs 2500 onwards

More than a walk

>> A walk in the city is full of distractions for a dog. Narrow footpaths, obstructions, uneven surfaces, and loud traffic sounds can overstimulate your dog, says Mehta.
>> Giving your dogs a free rein in the hills allows them to breathe easy.
>> The experience also facilitates bonding between pets and their parents, who are often bound by deadlines on a usual working day.

One for all

Two canines find a new friend in each other at a previous trail

>> Your dog does not need to be an extrovert to join the trail, the trainer assures us.
>> Certified trainers will keep a close eye on all canine participants, looking for cues of discomfort. Such situations will be handled with care.
>> The hike is open to those who aren't parents to a dog yet, but would like to spend a day amongst their furry friends.

Sniffin' fun

Priyanka Mehta and Jigeesha Pande

>> A major part of the experience is promoting healthy stimulation of a dog's olfactory senses.
>> Sniffing is a vital function in dogs. It activates many parts of their brain, and boosts their mood, the trainer says.
>> It is also a canine's way of understanding their environment, and other dogs.
>> The hike will allow the four-legged friends to freely explore the smell of grass, soil, and rain without getting overstimulated.