Good news for you and your dog: Spring is here!

Spring is finally here after a long, strange winter of record drought followed by record rain and snow. Springtime also means we can get outside more with our dogs without having to think about muddy trails, icy sidewalks and generally miserable conditions. We live in a wonderful area for doing just that, with virtually endless possibilities, from dog parks to lakes and rivers to backcountry trails.

However, if it’s been a while since you and your pup have been off the couch and you’re considering something more strenuous than a stroll around the block, it’s a good idea to visit your vet first to rule out conditions that could limit your dog’s tolerance for exercise.

Keep in mind that asking dogs to do a 10-mile hike when they’ve never walked more than 30 minutes would be as foolish as you trying to run a marathon without any training. Whether a puppy or a senior, these kinds of lengthy or demanding excursions can be hard on dogs when they’re unaccustomed to them. That’s especially true if they’re overweight, have health issues, or are short-nosed breeds like pugs and bulldogs that can experience breathing difficulties with vigorous exercise.

If you’re going offleash, always take a leash with you, and check first to make sure off-leash dogs are allowed. Remember that not everyone you meet along your route loves dogs, so have your leash ready whenever you see someone coming.

Even the best-behaved pup can accidentally knock down a small child or elderly walker, obstruct a mountain biker or race off after a wild animal — like the time Joey flushed out a huge bear not 10 feet ahead of me on the trail. The advice to avoid letting your dog drink from streams, lakes or canals is a good one, but we all know it’s almost impossible to stop them from lapping up water wherever they are. Just be aware that you may have to pay a visit to your vet a few days later (think: giardia).

Speaking of water, springtime lake and river temperatures may be much colder than you’re expecting because of snowmelt. At the same time, many rivers and streams can run dangerously high and fast this time of year, so be cautious around them until later in the summer.

As much as spring and summer bring a multitude of delights, they also come with some less-enjoyable elements for our canine companions. At the head of the pack is our old friend, the foxtail. This grassy weed explodes in the late spring, showing up everywhere: on our hiking trails, in our back yards, even along city sidewalks. Anyone who’s ever dealt with this ubiquitous grass knows the problem: every one of its plumes is a seed head lined with barbs called awns that catch on everything they touch, whether it’s your socks or your dog’s nose. Those razor-sharp barbs travel in one direction only: straight ahead, and attach themselves to a dog’s fur, where they burrow into its flesh. And they’re not the least bit picky about what part of your dog’s anatomy they invade: between the toes, inside the nose or eyes or ears, even into their genitals.

But no matter what, don’t let the fear of foxtails — or bears or intestinal parasites or raging rivers, for that matter — keep you from heading outside with your canine companion this spring. You’ll find limitless delights right around the corner and just a few miles from home — so get out there and savor the best of what our magnificent region has to offer, before the inevitable scalding days of summer take over.

Joan Merriam lives in Nevada County with her golden retriever Joey, her Maine coon cat Indy and the abiding spirit of her beloved golden retriever Casey in whose memory this column is named. You can reach Joan at joan@ joanmerriam.com. And if you’re looking for a golden, be sure to check out Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue.