Dogs can be both help and hindrance in the wild. If you do take them, sets of booties as used by sled dogs can avoid nasty pad wounds. A Leatherman may be used if a porcupine mixes it up with Spot's nose. A species specific first aid kit is a good idea. I knew an extraordinary Alaskan Husky in Kodiak who owned a bushpilot's family. Blackie would recognise my footsteps somehow and meet me at the edge of his turf. One day a pack of stray city dogs came tearing towards us. Blackie backed against me and made a ALPHA display no Jack London scene could duplicate. Within minutes they were gone and my friend's toddler was pulling on poor Blackie's tail. That is the dog our ancient ancestors domesticated from his near relative, the wolf. All that city breeding wound up being shot or killed by a grouchy brownie in the area.