Summary: Dogs on the trail

“I've never taken my dog BP'ing on wilderness trails, but he (and I) are both getting older and I'm thinking about taking him with me on future trips.

I've "kinda-sorta" paid attention to these threads, but not really, since they didn't apply to me.

What's the final analysis... do 80% think it's OK & the other 20% will shoot my dog, or, is it the opposite?

And Micah, I know that LNT=LDH so you don't need to post, thank you.”

“i say check the regs for where youre going, and if no mention is made, then bring the pooch. if dogs have no place in the wilderness, then neither do we.”

“I think the vast majority will be OK with your dog if 1) the rules allow dogs, 2) your dog is wll behaved, 3) your dog is under control, 4) you clean up after your dog (bury, pack out - or at the very least - move poop to where no one else is going to have to deal with it, see it or smell it).

Almost no one minds a well behaved dog under the control of well mannered owner, almost no one wants an ill mannered out of control dog.”

“i dont mind dogs on the trail but its the stupid owners who make the dog look bad...its called a leash people....you might not think your dog will bite or bark at others but let me assure you that most of them havent gotten the chance to yet..(happened this weekend)”

“with what, I'm not sure, but I'll agree anyway...and Khatru don't bark, he whines like a sissy boy.”

“I don't care what the percentage is. My dog will hike with me everywhere it's legal to do so.”

“My dog is too stupid to hike. She'd wind up running off and chasing a deer or something. She's a brown lab puppy.. and very dopey.”

“Leash?”

“i wouldn't bring her even on a leash”

“until she matures some at least. she's still a pup.”

“The only thing worse than having a dog sniffing around when I am trying to cook dinner is the dog's pathetic owner yelling at the beast every ten minutes for doing exactly that.

I hate finding a dog on my sleeping bag, because I did not zip my tent.

A perfectly mannered dog at home will go wacko on the trail. It is not if it is when. Usually the entire trip.”

“Should beOK if your bpacking area's regs allow it. Also get Fido some doggy saddlebags so he/she can carry supper and a water dish (maybe a pad to sleep on, too). And bury the poop - it attracts bears, coyotes, etc.”

“SUMMARY. I don't want to hear 58,000 individual war-stories, that's why I asked for a SUMMARY.

What I'm asking for is the OVERALL response to Dogs On Trail, not every individuals' personal experience on this,, that or the other trip.

There have been a TON of threads on this subject, can't anyone SUMMARIZE?”

“You just asked a bunch of individuals, dummy.”

“In summary, stay home with your stupid dog.”

“I don't mind dogs at all out in the backcountry - if they are well behaved. You have to decide if your dog fits this category. Dogs are individuals just like people so it's pointless to generalize/summarize.

I think pedxing put it very well. One thing I might add is if your dog likes to bark at snoring individuals in a shelter . . . sleep elsewhere with your dog . . . please! It's annoying enough to listen to the snoring, but to hear a dog bark every time someone begins to snore . . . all night long . . . eeeeek!”

“as a matter of courtesy, if youre taking a dog on a hike with others, you should let them know and ask them if they mind. and keep him on a short leash when ppl are cooking.”

“I love to run into dogs on the trail. Sometimes they will leave their owner & hike along with me for a while.

I don't believe hikers should take their dogs on trails where there are bears or cougars.

I have a 3-1/2 pd Chihuahua that I take on trails that are low elevation. The only problem I ever have is that other hikers always stop me to ask about her, and I never get anywhere.”

“In summary, (I've read many of the threads), some, a small minority, are totally bigoted against dogs for whatever reason, and that will never change. Seems also that some, a small minority, support dogs on the trail no matter what, but I'm guessing that is to get Micah's goat.

But, it seems to me, the vast mojority seem to be okay with dogs on the trail so long as they have been taught a few manners. I think Pedxing put it very well. A few requirements for acceptance seem to be: no barking, clean up after Fido, keep out of other folks bags tents and food, and don't chase the wildlife.

Incidently, it seems that having a dog around deters the rodents from getting into the food bags to some degree or another. It has also been said that dogs seem to cut down on the animal sightings while hiking. This has not been th case in my experience, as Suzy will spot animals that I would have walked by.”

“"There have been a TON of threads on this subject, can't anyone SUMMARIZE?"
wanderer
09:09:30 PM
10/06/03

Then why don't you summarize it yourself, nitwit???”

“Try searching for 'dog'.”

“The problem with the, "if the dog is properly trained" reasoning is that they never are. Often the dog owners don't recognize when their dog is causing problems, they think it is funny and appreciate the attention.”

“The biggest problem I've had with dogs on the trail is that they find some poopey and like to roll around in it and smear it into their fur. Why do they do that?”

“Just bring the dog and if you have a problem with another backpacker, shoot them.”

“"There have been a TON of threads on this subject, can't anyone SUMMARIZE?"
wanderer
09:09:30 PM
10/06/03"

Obviously you are too f**king lazy or too stupid to summarize yourself.

This means a definite no to taking a dog on the trail. If you do not have what it takes to summarize net opinions you will not be able to control or clean up after a dog on the trail.

Maybe it is you who should not be outdoors, go take your valium and repost the question when you calm down.”

“"The problem with the, "if the dog is properly trained" reasoning is that they never are. Often the dog owners don't recognize when their dog is causing problems, they think it is funny and appreciate the attention."

Not true you dirty anti-dogite. I'm very attentive to my dog's behavior at all times. I know not everyone likes dogs so I keep my dog from everyone. If they like dogs they will ask to pet her. Honey will be leashed at nearly all times as well as have her training coller on at all times. Her place is by my side and not by other's side.

And she don't crap on the trail.”

“I would urge dog-owners to take a moment of self-reflection. When you read posts that include such sentences as, "my dog is almost always on a leash", or "my dog almost never barks or bothers people", or "my dog almost never runs off wildlife", you should be honest with yourself.
Many people want to go out on the trail to see wildlife. If they wanted to see dogs, they would go to a kennel.”

“i find backpacking to be quite a peaceful experience after my dog chases all the other backpackers off of the trail. the ones who don't get out of our woods are definitely getting their gear peed on.”

“btw, what's this "leash" everyone's been talking about?”

“I've tried a leash and collar, but my dog has a hard time breathing with the handle clenched between her teeth.”

“26.4% think it is ok to bring dog

13.8% have not thought about dog yet

39.5% will tolerate dog but don't like dog

10.3% don't know dog
20% will shoot dog”

“Many people want to go out on the trail to see wildlife. If they wanted to see dogs, they would go to a kennel.


There is a problem with all encompassing statements such as this example.

Many people want to go out on the trail to see wildlife. If they wanted to see people, they would go to a town.

What about people who smoke on the trail, If I wanted that, I'd visit the kids. What ever happened to a little tolerance. Everyone wants everything their way, and when it comes to dogs on the trail, that don't affect you. Well, even I gotta say that there have been dogs on the trail that have affected me and my dog, the idiot owner should have put their dog on a leash and trained it.

I have a buddy who hates dogs on the trail, because others don't like them on the trail. Then there are those who will say if this happens or that happens....

Am I opening up an unending debate here?”

“Some like dogs on the trail, some don't.”

“One point being made is that many people wouldn't mind hiking with a dog that is trained. However, there are many owners who over-estimate their command of their dog. Many owners ignore leash laws. Many owners don't realize when their dog is being a pain in the ass.
Some people are just asking for dog owners to make an honest assessment of these points. Go ahead and take your dog hiking.”

“And bury the poop - it attracts bears, coyotes, etc."
~top dawg
Say what?
Where ever did you get that notion?

Scorchfire -
Your lab is in the prime of her learnfulness. Begin training now.”

“i mostly dayhike solo and my dog always comes with me one look at my pack and she knows we are headed for a new adventure--”

“What's fun about the dogs debate is that people have intense opinions, but TT splits along very different lines than it does about politics - so you had Dunadan and Bacpac making very similar points. Then you have Nigal and Gojo and the exact opposite side of the issue from Bacpac.”

“Dogs do not belong on the trail. They are dangerous to others and wild life. They poop where we walk and dirty our drinking water. Dogs shouls be banned from any wilderness areas and parks...keep your dirty filthy mutts at home in the back yard! ;P”

“I say we should ban all animals from wilderness areas and parks...keep our water safe. ;-)”

“Humans are animals. We have lost the ability to adapt to filthy water.
last edited: 5/13/05 7:48:44 PM”

“Oh, I don't know, bacpac...water filters seem like a pretty good adaptation to me.”

“Oh jees...Spirit must be a cat person. Dogs used to be wild also, but can learn to poop off the trail, even though bears poop on the trail all the time. A properly trained dog makes an excellent hiking partner. My dog died some years ago, but if he was around, he'd be the coolest trail mutt.”

“doubleup
last edited: 5/13/05 8:03:46 PM”

“what breeds make good trail dogs and which ones aren't so great on the trail?”

“None of them are great on the trail.

Get it?”

“I would say most of your hunting breeds would make good trail dogs, cause they are very disciplined. I don't know if little high strung yippy dogs would make good companions. I could be bias because I never had a dog under 60 pounds.”

““None of them are great on the trail.

Get it?”
bacpac
8:07:05 PM
5/13/05
ignore this user

I totally agree with bacpac ;)
Dogs are an annoyence of the worst kind! People who bring dogs on the trail should be shot on the spot LOL”

“OK, I am guilty of being flippant.

I have seen good trail dogs. Very few. They were older dogs who had been on the trails for years being a nusance.

Like humans, dogs are more laid back as they get older.

Arf :-]”

“ok..i was trying to troll up some trouble...I actually like dogs :)”

“I like people.”