Im thinking...

“I was thinkin' since i like to hike alone so much that i should get a trail dog...any suggestions on good breeds for the trail?”

“Most any dog can make a good trail dog. Training is the most important thing but pesonality and stature are also important. Please, please consider rescues. My personal favorites are Aussies and Border collies. I love Shelties but they aren't the best trail dogs;-)

All 4 of my dogs are rescues. They are all great in their own ways but only one has the personality and training to make a good trail dog. I adopted Sam in Jan and he's great on dayhikes. We're going to try him an some easy overnighters when it cools down a little. Sam won't ever make a thru-hiker since he's a tripod.”

“If you like hiking alone why bring a dog?”

“Ask Sarabelle; she's great at giving advice.”

“M Silver hikes a lot with Sparky, sho is I think a Border Collie.

When you have a specific question like this, you will probably get a better response if you use a more specific subject line. Most TT'ers don't read all the threads.

For example, maybe the subject "What breeds make good trail dogs?" would elicit opinions from more people.

Just a thought. ;)”

“Fritz is right.”

“Towndawg”

“Any kind that doesn't $hit on the trail.”

“At first I thought you were telling spirit to get a dog that could rescue her! lol”

“Fritz has a good point except that any thread mentioning dogs is bound to digress into a shooting match before too long.

As pamster says, it is all about training. But some dogs (like terriers) have been bred to chase small animals so they probably aren't the best choice. On the other hand, Gizmo (Sarabelle's boyfriend) is a great trail dog. Mostly you want one that will stick close to you, come when you call, and not go running up to jump on people.”

“Labs can make good trail dogs - the only problem is they are heavy if you have to carry them. But they do like rocks.

I knew one guy on the AT whose labs had hiked the PCT and the AT - quite happily. Another hiker had two labs, one went home midway, but the other hiked the whole thing. The one dog just sat down in the middle of the trail one day and said "no more!"

On the PCT most of the people hiking with dogs ended up going home. It was too hard on the dogs.

Whether or not you get a trail dog depends partly on where you hike. In many places they aren't allowed (i.e. PA State Parks, National Park backcountry, etc.) If you are mostly hiking in state or national forests, then there's little problem if you train it right and/or better still, keep it on a leash.

We went out with a friend who had a little mixed breed dog. She got so excited at all the smells and sounds she ran off. It was hours before we found her again.”

“I have to agree that a lab is the best dog. They are always loyal.”

“Don't forget to consider that more often or not this will be a "house" dog or an "apartment" dog. For instance - a Border Collie is a great suggestion, but they are energetic - thus - sitting inside for 23 hours on most days might make the pup unhappy.

I assume you are looking for a loyal, energetic companion with a willingness to spend an enitre day walking with you - and if need be - an desire to protect you.

So Friendly, Fearless, Alert, Obedient, Loyal, Energetic, Lively, Gentle, Intelligent, Faithful are all good words to look for.

That said, here are my suggestions - in rank order:

Lab/Retriever
German Shepherd
Border Collie
Australian Shepherd
Collie
Alaskan Malamute
Siberian Husky
Weimaraner

This is my opinion though - a subject of great debate - in the end I would agree with pamster - that many dogs would make a good trail dog. I would also encourage you to get a rescue as well. Stay away from the puppy factories! Maybe keep an eye out for a cross breed of those metioned above.”

“Mutt from the pound is the best bet. GL”

“Interesting Coop. You described the qualities of a dog and a Boy Scout.”

“There you go spirit coyote - go find a boy scout!

HPM - Interesting that they have similar qualities. Other than "Obedient" I would say this is what you might look for in a hiking companion in general.”

“check your hiking climate as well, a winter dog like a border collie will wilt in warm weather while a lab would freeze in winter....

obediance is bad in a partner?
lets try it...

heel mike heel!

didnt work.... maybe evergreen will have better luck!”

“lab would freeze in winter....


we had a golden retreiver in Fairbanks, AK. It did great. Even stayed outside in an insulated doghouse most of our first winter.”

“Have a golden retriever that loves to hike. If you get a golden, be sure to keep it on leash. They're very obedient, but also very friendly and want to greet everyone on the trail. Some people don't like frienly dogs.”

“I wonder what kind of trail dog a geyhound would make?”

“http://community.webshots.com/photo/44721209/44722328wbKgQE


copy paste that into yer browser window, it's my dalmation. there are a bunch of pics there from our recent 4 day WY hike. at one point he herded around 100-150 cows out of our way and down the valley behind us. he looked like a pro, even with his "buckpack" on. incredibly loyal, brave, very athletic & energetic, they dont slobber or have that "dog smell" like some dogs. the cons are; they can't take extreme cold, and they shed tiny white hairs on everything dark, and tiny black hairs on everything light.

training is important with any dog.”

“i have a black lab and he's awesome on solo hikes. only problem is if with a group he likes to go make sure the person in front is ok then run back to the last person to check them out. lot of times there isn't enough room on the trail for him to be running up on the side of people. he usually stays home on group hikes of 3 or more.
like i said, though, not one single problem on solo hikes.”

“look at them pics biotch! i'll hike till ya puke! lol!
buckshot does that too, but i he's pretty responsive to my commands. if he stray off followin a scent, i can just let out a quick chirp & he'll come runnin.”

“Spirit cyote- email me if you want to talk seriously about dogs and hiking. There are so many nay-sayers about dogs here.

Rescue dogs ROCK! So does sarabelle!”

“My Wife and I have a Wiemaraners and a Mutt. One of the Wiemers is too hyper to hike. She like to runoff so she doesn't get backpack with us, but the other wiemer is awesome. She never runs off or anything, the mutt wants to run but she minds only me so I have to keep her under a watchful eye.. But both behave great on a leash. After having dogs that we didn't originally start backpacking with and haveing learned the hard way. What I would suggest is get a pound puppy and start teaching it the way you want it to behave on the trail. Mutts seem to be more intelligent than the pure breeds I have had dealings with. Not saying that purebreeds are not smart mind you. I'm just saying the dogs I have had dealings with mutts have won out. Then another thing is there are too many pounds full of unwanted dogs that need good homes..”

“I tend to agree with you about mutts. Purebreds are just that, bred for a specific job. The best hiking bud I ever had was a lab/chow? mix. He was the best pupper we've ever had! Lost him last year on aug. 31. He was 16.

So, 1HilBilyMarine, where in the South do you hail from. Tight Wad Bob is a southern (ex) Marine. Semperfi.”

“I was born and raised in Sylva, North Carolina and am stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Been in the Marines for just over 20 years. On my way back there from a 6 month Middle Eastern/European tour. Pulling out of port and headin back. After so much time in the military I thought that I had been to some God aweful places before but after this deployment I don't think there is any worse places left. Big hot kitty litter boxes. I think I remember you saying onetime that you were at Duke?”

“1hilBilyMarine- yep, I'm at Dook. Tight Wad Bob was in the corps during peace time (thank goodsness for me!). Kudos to you for serving during not so peace time! I love your analogy, "Big hot kitty litter boxes". How eloquently put! Take care and come home safe!”

“in my opinion: get it while a puppy. take it on the trail with you and only you. if it runs at first keep it on a leash and don't let it away from your direct side(use one of those metal collars that kind of dig in when pulled, they don't like that). when the dog realizes it's gotta be by your side start letting it off the leash, oh yea, teach it a command while on the leash, stay by me or something, whatever you want. once off the leash keep saying the command when it gets too far(give it a little slap with the leash when out of line, just a little one, nothing hard, it'll know it's a bad thing). eventually the dog will learn it's boundaries. it's either easy or hard. i've had one dog who never quite came around, and one who is only on a leash cause he tries to make sure everyone's "ok". the first one was not started when a puppy though.
*reasoning for starting when a puppy: this is technical now , so pay attention: if it does try to run from you, you can still catch it with those short legs and teach it it's lesson.

now the disclaimer: i don't know if this will work for everyone or anyone, it is merely a suggestion and can be taken however user wishes. i think any technique will work if you are persistent about it.”

“Yeah well It takes a while for a dog to get its owner properly train so make sure you let it start as soon as possible”

“I agree with Josh's point about getting a dog when it is young enough that you can out run it.

Good info on dogs on the trail is available. One useful thing I saw recently was at: http://www.faqs.org/faqs/dogs-faq/activities/backpacking/" target="_blank"> dog faqs ”

“dog fags?”

“i got a great dane, fe.
hates cold and rain, could carry most of the wifes gear (35# or so), spends alot of time hiding behind me.

i got a lab/hound mix.
can smell beef jerky thru concrete, swims in frozen water, would leave me for anyone w/a stik of gum.

may i sugest bonding/training, w/positive reinforcment.

or a cat.”