question (not questoin) about dogs and p acks

“question #1:

trail dogs, what would be a good type of dog to get to hike with me around the country? i've never really hiked with a dog, besides my unkle's spaniel, and i'm thinking i'd enjoy a dog to keep me company, i'm just wonderin what kind would be best. my mom wants to get me a border collie, and i could go with that, i like huskies (even if it's not a type of dog).


question #2

I'm also looking at getting a new pack, right now i have an external frame, i can't even recall the brand, but it's a good size and works well. I'm looking into a new pack, either internal or external frame, i know there's been plenty of other threads on this topic, but i'm looking for something that can handle upwards of 60 lbs on my nissimaha, 18 days worth of food, and one that i will be able to take around the country, if price is not an issue what would be the best pack available?

and since we're on the topic, how about a pack for the dog, is it a good idea? or any suggestions on that.

thanks for the help, you are all awesome :)”

“I used to own a border collie...

loved chasing anything that moved
hated being indoors
very loyal but completely untrainable... :)
loves very cold weather and tends to over heat in 80+ temps
fur is oily course outer and down inner.(great for scratching :)


as a "trail dog" I would suspect that the breed would excell provided you can train it and keep it on a leash at all times. It will eat an incredable amount of food but they are very strong so carrying their own food in a pack wont be a problem.

you might want to consider a cross bred version to reduce size and weed out some of the chasing instincts. If ya dont mind extra size tho I suspect a cross with a rotweiller might produce good results.(????)
this breed will chase bears and such for "fun"! Mine would cause all kinds of trouble whenever he got loose. just so you know in order to keep him in the yard I HAD TO install a 500ft 1/2in steel cable with a floating ring and tied him to it with a logging chain! (he only broke this setup once or twice). fences? ROFL! completely useless!

God I Miss That Dog!”

“Rescue a mutt from the pound. He/She will be your best friend and will know he/she was saved. The genetic variation in mutts makes them healthier dogs. And get a bigger dog, so you can get the doggie backpack so the dog can carry its own food with you while hiking. My buddie's dog I went hiking with last weekend had one, great idea, and the dog didn't mind it a bit.”

“Dog: Go short haired and medium size. The dog will be wet and muddy sometimes and long haired dogs can hold a lot of mud and moisture.

I've got a short haired pound pup who is about 55 pounds. She's a dream to back pack with.

As for the backpack, with your requirements, I'd go for the Kelty Cloud 6500. The suggested price is 650 dollars... but its a hell of a backpack. Its solid, light weight and incredibly versatile. You can use it in all kinds of different configurations for different kinds of trips. (While you're at it, could you please get me one too?) Snowdude (I hope I remembered his name right) has a Kelty Cloud (I think its a 4500).”

“What Artex said... adopt a mutt. Mine is a shepherd/border collie mix, 55lbs. Very trainable. Very lovable. Very eager to please. She loves to be out hiking. I bought a pack from EMS. She carries her own food/water/treats/poop/bowls/etc.

Mutts are the way to go.”

“I think that a dog from the local pound would be a great choice.. all three of mine are from the shelter, and they are most loyal dogs.. you may want to stay away from the hearding group of dogs, they have a tendancy to chase and bark alot.. I have a shep/lab-Sheba, she is a great dog but can be very protective. Baxter- dane/boxer, the most perfect dog.. he has a very even temperment almost like a hound dog, but he's big. the third and final poch is Tanook.. hes a shiloh sheppard,,I have been trying to get him on the trail for some time and he just chases and barks, luckly these are just short day trips,, its just his nature..maybe when hes 10years old he may calm down..”

“Oh: A pack for my mutt has worked out well. She can't carry too much weight, but she carries her own food and water and a few things that I like to keep handy. It's easier to reach into her pack than to dig into mine. When her food runs low, I can have her carry some of the gear for me.

People like to make silly comments about making the dog do all the work, but the banter that follows can be fun if you are in the mood for it. The only real disadvantage is that every once in a while - fording some streams and reivers or dealing with some pretty challenging situations - I need to either lighten her load or remove the pack.”

“I like the idea of the adoption too. Check out the purebred rescue groups if you have certain breed/crosses you think would be best. I got my Irish Setter rescued from an abuse situation and he was packing (pulling) with me the first month, carrying his own stuff (lots of water). Now 21/2 months later he actually walks nicely on the lead. Temperament of the individual dog is very important. Make sure you meet the right one and bond before going out to the wilderness. Also, put together a first aid kit for doggie accidents.

Good luck!”

“tara, you make your dog carry poop?!?!?!?

Dogs rock! we have met many trail dogs of many breeds while hiking & every single one of them were holding up great. It seems to be in their blood to explore and travel. I get alot out of my relationship with my dog & the way we interact on the trail. Check Pedxing's thread "back to the whites". He puts it well. I stay very "tuned in" to him out in the wilderness. I watch him & utilize his hearing & smelling skills. If a bear comes my way, I'm gonna know about it before I see him. My dog, Buckshot is the PERFECT dog....for us. He is full blood dalmation. Very high strung & energetic, very loyal & affectionate. Extremely athletic, fears nothing(except me, I'm his alpha male). I feed him meat from my mouth, lol. Anywayz, out on the trail, he is at his happiest. If I start messin around with my backpack, he gets all excited thinkin we may be going on a hike. He can handle any terrain, carrying his own pack(we call it the buckpack), and usually leads the way. But he won't go too far out of our sight. Sometimes he'll follow a scent of the trail a bit & a short "chirp" whistle from me brings him runnin back to the pack. The only bad thing about this breed is that they are intolerant of extreme cold temps. Pedxing's right, the short hair will pick up less mud(Bucky stays bright white, no matter how dirty he is), but the short hair doesn't keep him warm. So if you plan on going to cold places, you might want a medium haired dog. We don't hike in the cold, so for us it's not an issue. The pound puppy sounds like a great way to go. I know several people who have awesome dogs from the pound. just look for the characteristics you want. Cross breeds are very intelligent, and a deserted dog is very appreciative of new found attention. Try to get one as young as you can find, as they are easier to train. Get a good training book & you'll be amazed how eager dogs are to please you. Good luck & let us know how it goes!

PS..there are many good brands of dog packs out there. Some are a little pricey but hey this is hiking...whatchu gonna do?Just shop around a bit, you'll find a good one. Bucky can carry a TON!”

“Stratdwed -

Absolutely... I dont want to leave it on the trail for someone to step on. So, I pick it up in a sandwich baggie and put it in her pack (zip-loc baggies). She carried the food in... she can carry the poop out!”

“MAybe you could sweep and mop the trail for us too. I think that's a bit too much. I mean i can see not leaving it ON the trail, but i just flick it off into the woods wif a stick. SOme of this leave no trace stuff can go a bit overboard, IMO. If you think a forrest can't absorb a little doggie doo(or people doo for that matter) you don't understand nature. There is nothing more natural than crap. It'll be dirt within 2 days. Feeds the flowers & dung beetles. COME ON IT'S CRAP!”

“I can respect what Tarabull does. I get annoyed at people who leave their dogs' poop on the side of the trail. Sometimes I just flick it off the trail like Stratdewd does (especially on trails littered with Moose poop), but more often I bury it a few feet off the trail - since I carry a shovel for my own.

I'd worry about hygeine on a long trip.”

“When we "go" in the woods, we dig a hole and bury it right? People don't crap on the trail and then just flick it off. So, if Sadie craps on the trail, I'm not just going to flick it off w/ a stick. She follows the same rules I do.

So, the way I see if I have two options... 1) dig a hole to bury her poop just like I do for myself or 2) pick it up and carry it out. Either option is just fine, but option two is quicker when I'm hiking.

Wow, can't believe I'm being questioned for doing too much!”

“How many days per year will be be hiking with your dog versus how many days at home? Your dog becomes a member of the family and part of the household between trips. Do not only consider his packing abilities but also how will the size, temperament, and needed activity level fit in with your lifestyle between trips? If the dog will not fit into your home situation do not get him just for backpacking.”

“My dog is a shepard/lab/doberman or rotweiler mix. Almost 80 lbs. He loves the trail. Still trying to get him used to the pack.”

“Johnsonville Brats are the best trail dogs.

Don't forget the sourkraut!”

“Like I said Tara: I respect what your doing. (OK, I admit it... if you were on a 10 day hike I might not wanna hang out with you and your dog during the latter half of it)”

“Well, not to worry Ped. Sadie probably wouldn't come w/ me on a 10 day trip!! :) 10 days worth of food would be more than I'd want her to carry.”

“Ok, my dog and I just went on a dayhike. Did I scoop it or droop it???

(btw, it looked like carrots)”

“Eeeeeeeeew! Thanks Biz, just read that right before I was about to eat.”

“I'm sorry but I'll never bury a turd for any reason. I don't see the use. The disturbance of the dirt from digging does more dammage then a dookie laying there on top of it. It's a noble effort for which I respect your intentions, but if 10,000 dogs(or people) pooped in the woods, the woods would be healthier, not worse off. What's wrong with feeding the plants & bugs? Bears don't bury their poop. You put it in a ziplock & throw it in the trash headed for a landfill, encased in plastic for a few hundred years. Even when you just bury your poop, aerobic bacteria can't break it down fast, like it would just laying on the ground. I go WAY off trail to "go", and would never leave paper layin around, but the notion that fecies of any living thing could be harmful is contrary to the actual fact. Just thinkkin outloud, not crusading or anything.


UNABASHED POOPERS UNITE! ! !”

“LOL!”

“I would look into the dog pound or shop some rescue/adopation places first. I got a 'blue heeler'. Small stout energetic body and light enough to carry should anything happen to her. She has a hardy coat almost year around for protection but I'm thinking of getting her a belly brush guard before a pack. She is a great dog, leary of strangers at first but a licking bandit once she gets to know ya.”

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