Two people I know recently were struck by tickborne illnesses. I don’t know all the details but one seems to be Lyme disease and the other Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Both can be treated with anti-biotics if caught early, but they can both be devastating, even deadly, if left untreated. Tick prevention takes a bit of preparation but can be a relatively simple process and it's well worth your time.
Two step tick prevention plan
My tick prevention plan comes down to two products: permethrin and picaridin.
Permethrin/Pyrethrin is a very old and very safe preventative originally made from chrysanthemums and now mass produced synthetically. It is even allowed to be used inside food production buildings. Permethrin can, like most things, cause acute reactions in certain dogs and people. In most cases, it is overuse (improper dilution, or too much product) that causes the issue. If you spray it on your clothing and that clothing touches your skin before drying, it can be absorbed into your skin and cause headaches, nausea, and chills (ask me how I know). You will notice the same symptoms if overused on your dog. In most cases, thoroughly rinsing with water will resolve the issue. That said, I am not a doctor or a vet. This is not medical advice.
I use a permethrin based monthly topical on my dogs because it is effective and very safe. I just mark the date it is applied on my calendar in my phone so that I can check when it needs to be reapplied.
I purchase this concentrate and then dilute it to be sprayed on my clothes. It is much cheaper this way compared to pre-mixed options. The particular concentrate I buy is 13.3% and needs to be diluted at a ratio of 1oz of concentrate to 16 ounces of water. I have a dedicated spray bottle with measurements right on it to make this quick and simple. Once I mix up a batch in the spray bottle, I thoroughly wet all of my clothes that I will be wearing while out training dogs. This includes tops, bottoms, hats, and socks, as well as boots and gloves. I leave them hanging outside until they dry completely. At that point treated clothes will maintain the protective effect for up to six washings. To be safe, I generally reapply to my clothes monthly (typically 4 washings before reapplication).
When out in the field I typically tuck my pants into my socks and then wear rubber boots. I have a nice pair of leather lined Aigle brand boots that are great when I am doing a lot of walking, but lately I've been enjoying the Lite Boots which are basically rubber boots made out of the same material as Crocs. They are super light and very comfortable. Wearing rubber boots helps cut down on bugs of all types but particularly helps with chiggers. MY shirt is always tucked into my pants as well.
Then I use picaridin on my skin. The lotion form seems to work way better than the spray. Picaridin lasts longer than DEET and is less readily absorbed into the skin.
Any time my dog is in the field I do a tailgate check before putting them back in the kennel. This gives me time to check for injuries, to rinse seeds and other debris from their eyes, and to remove any debris from their coat in addition to checking for ticks. You can also spray permethrin or picaridin on your dog's bedding in their kennel to help with the errant tick that makes it home.
Natural options
If you want to go the more "natural" route, I have also had good luck with Cedarcide and Wondercide which are both products that use plant oils to repel bugs. They are safe for people (including young children) and dogs. The only problem with them is that they are much more oily on your skin and clothes, the smell is very strong, and they need to be reapplied much more frequently.
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