Ask us our favorite time of year to walk a dog, and we’ll say fall without hesitating. Cool air, no humidity, crunchy leaves, empty trails — the Hudson Valley in October is about as good as it gets on four legs or two.

But fall hiking with a dog has its own rulebook. The bugs you stopped worrying about in August are still out there, the trails have their own etiquette, and the days are getting shorter. Here’s what we tell our clients every autumn.

Don’t Let Your Guard Down on Ticks

Here’s the misconception we hear most: ticks are a summer problem. In New York, that simply isn’t true.

The blacklegged tick — the one that carries Lyme disease — has two active seasons. The tiny nymphs are the summer threat, but the adult ticks peak in October and November, according to the New York State Department of Health. Adults stay active whenever temperatures climb above about 40°F, which means they can be questing on a mild day in December or even during a January thaw.

And the risk is climbing. Preliminary state figures put New York at roughly 25,000 Lyme disease cases in 2025, up about 16% from the year before. Dogs are very much in the path of this — Lyme and anaplasmosis both hit dogs hard, and the signs (shifting leg lameness, lethargy, fever, loss of appetite) are easy to miss or blame on something else.

What actually works:

• Keep tick preventative going year-round. The biggest mistake we see is stopping it in September. Talk to your vet about the right product for your dog.
• Ask your vet about the Lyme vaccine. It’s not right for every dog, but it’s worth a conversation, especially for dogs who hike regularly.
• Check your dog after every hike. Ears, armpits, between the toes, around the collar, the groin — ticks love warm, hidden spots. Run your hands against the grain of the coat; you’ll feel what your eyes miss.
• Remove ticks promptly with fine-tipped tweezers, grasping close to the skin. Save the tick in a baggie with the date, in case symptoms show up later and your vet wants to know what bit them.

One more thing: leaf litter is prime tick habitat, and leaf litter is exactly where dogs love to bury their noses. That doesn’t mean skipping the woods — it means checking afterward, every time.

Trail Etiquette: Be the Hiker Everyone Likes

Good trail manners keep trails open to dogs. Every “dogs must be leashed” sign that goes up is usually there because somebody didn’t follow the rules. Here’s the standard we hold ourselves to on every walk:

• Leash up — it’s the law in most places. Westchester County parks and most local trails require dogs on a leash, typically six feet or shorter. That includes trailheads and parking lots, where most incidents happen. Off-leash areas exist (the county’s dog parks), but hiking trails aren’t among them.
• Yield the trail. Step aside for hikers, runners, cyclists, and horses. Reel your dog in close and keep them on the far side when others pass.
• Ask before greetings. Not every dog — or person — wants to say hello. “Is your dog friendly?” is a fine question, but “mind if they meet?” with your dog under control is better.
• Pick it up and pack it out. Bagging waste and leaving the bag trailside is not picking it up — it’s littering with extra steps. Carry it to a trash can.
• Wildlife is everywhere. Deer, turkeys, the occasional fox. A dog that bolts after a deer in October dusk is a lost-dog poster waiting to happen. Keep the leash on and your eyes up.

Voice control is wonderful, but it isn’t a leash. Even the best-trained dog can surprise you when a squirrel makes a bad decision.

Our Favorite Local Fall Walks

We’re spoiled for choice around here. A few we return to every autumn:

• Depew Park — right across the street from us, and the easiest answer when you want a proper walk without driving anywhere. The lakeside paths and wooded loops are lovely in fall color.
• Blue Mountain Reservation (Peekskill/Cortlandt) — real woods, real trails, real quiet. Leashed dogs are welcome, and the ridge views with foliage are worth the climb.
• Teatown Lake Reservation (Ossining) — about 15 miles of trails around three lakes, open dawn to dusk year-round. The lake loops are gentle enough for older dogs and pretty enough for everyone else.

Wherever you go, check the park’s current pet rules before heading out — they can change. And with sunset creeping earlier, toss a small light and a towel for muddy paws in the car. Your future self will thank you.

Rather Hand the Leash to Us?

Fall is one of our favorite seasons for dog walking — cool enough for the big active dogs to really stretch their legs, comfortable enough for the seniors to enjoy a long sniff around the block. If the midday walk is the part of your day that never quite fits, that’s exactly what we’re here for.

Call or text 914-257-3917 or email customerservice@justhappydogs.com. We walk dogs across Peekskill, Cortlandt Manor, Yorktown Heights, Ossining, Tarrytown, White Plains, and the surrounding counties — and if getting your dog to us (or us to your dog) is the hard part, our pet taxi covers pickups within five miles for $45.

See you out there. We’ll be the ones with the poop bags and the happy dogs.