backpacking with your dog

“Hi, I wondered if anyone takes their dog on backpacking trips with them? My kids don't want me to go alone so I thought I would start taking my 94 pound Rot/lab mix along.”

“Nearly every trip. She has her own pack she carries (grudgingly). They can be a great companion when hiking alone. Ya just have to be sure the dog is on a leash if they don’t listen to voice commands and don’t let them crap in the trail or camp.”

“and if you do take your dog, you might want to take a 10' thin wire lead coiled up in his pack pack and then you can keep him in camp when the coyotes begin yelping...plus if someone happens to walk by your camp, you don't want him charging out at them.”

“just make sure the area your in allows pets - most national parks don't.”

“"plus if someone happens to walk by your camp, you don't want him charging out at them.”

True dat Nickmost! A jumping dog is the worst!”

“backpackin this weekend...Me, I'm workin on my canoes and packing my gear bags for the float opener in 2 weeks.”

“I'm sick. Boohoo! I did take the dog fishin' though. Felt good to get out.”

“That is a good idea. I bet yours is a great hunter. I take mine, sometimes.”

“One of the reasons I hardly go to SMNP is becasuse they don't allow dogs. SNP and CGNP allow them, SNP is strick on the lease rule while CGNP doesn't enforce it unless your dog is unruly.

Here is a pic of traildog Angie.
”

“I have always had my dog with me. No complaining, No #&%!$ing, Dogs give that agape love most humans can't give. Yea go ahead tter's with a limited brain , jump on that one! All dogs are different just like Backpackers nd doge develope there own personality when hiking just like backpackers. I have never had a bad experience with My dog. I have hiked with some of the best of tter's, and all have never shown any negative feelings towards my dog.

If you dog will mind your commands then you will have a great experience.

My dog will stop on the trail when I want her to, If we hike with several backpackers, and I may be behind several , she will always take lead and always check in with me.

Better that my wife. Oppps. I mean she loves me alot, so she checks in to see if I'm okay.heheheh????

I have backpack with several tter's who have dogs and I have found all are excellent companions on the trail.

Hey Sticks will you back me up on this one???
last edited: 3/26/05 5:51:00 PM”

“stop being lazy and spell the dang thing out...sheesh...”

“So Betsy, what's this 94 lbs Rot-mix going to protect you from:

Criminals? Never met any in the backcountry. They do occasionally break into parked cars at trailhead parking lots, but a dog isn't gonna help you with that situation.

Wild Animals? Most of the big ones (such as bears, coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions) avoid human contact. Keep you're food out of reach and that will help even more. In fact, if you have mountain lions in your area, they might see your dog as an easy meal (domestic dogs don't stand much chance against a hungry mountain lion).

The biggest threats I've ever encountered are small animals. Biting insects and snakes are a real threat and you typically won't notice either until its too late, and a curious dog can be severely injuried by a snake bite. Rodents (squirrels, chipmunks) are also a problem; they can be very quiet and are very efficient at stealing food.

As for taking a dog for companionship, I'd rather not. I go into the backcountry to get away from the city and its encumberences, including pets. I don't go into the backcountry to experience dogs, and wouldn't assume anyone else in the backcountry wants my dog there either. If you're scared of the backcountry, maybe you shouldn't go at all.”

“Pretty good troll going here.”

“Where's Micah when you need him? I guess I'll take his place - LNT=LDH

Really though, I take Forest on nearly every hike that I go on, he loves it.”

“My dog is not a hassle to me and I enjoy her company and the fact that she enjoys camping too.

Some people with dogs do not understand that people who are not dog friendly do not even want your dog to sniff them. I have had hiker's dogs leave them to walk ahead with me and accompany me part of the way on the trail. I loved it, but I know some people would be really pissed off.

Then my old story about a dog that came into my camp from the camp next door and started growling at me. I went "next door" to tell the owner, and she was not too concerned and just said she never did that before, well I don't give a flying crap, keep our dog in your camp. If I'm taking a crap or eating, I don't want your dog in my camping spot. Some people don't know that other people that don't like pets will kick your dog or worse if it bothers them.

Betsy, if you are taking your dog for protection and your dog is not aggressive in protecting you, bring bear spray or it's sometimes called pepper spray just for comfort and to make the kids feel better.”

“Well, topdawg, I'm not worried about the protection, but my kids are. I figure she protects me more at home than she would ever have to in the woods! She is my best buddy only demand she makes is for a share of whatever I might be eating. Kids think their parents are always in need of protection. Just like I felt about them when they were little! Happy Easter!”

“snp...cgnp????
“stop being lazy and spell the dang thing out...sheesh...”
stikmon

SNP=SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK
CGNP=CUMBERLAND GAP NATIONAL PARK

ARE YOU HAPPY NOW? PROBABLY NOT BECAUSE I WAS TFING LAZY TO TURN OFF THE CAPS LOCK KEEP
SHEESH”

“Best advice I can give is to obedience train the dog. You need very good voice control to keep your dog in line.

And turn your head, so to speak, to those who don't like dogs on the trial regardless of on the net or on the trail. They will let you know their position and are generally #&%!$s about it.”

“Mmmmmm...I guess you can't write "...leash it..." together as one word in a sentence. lol”

“first come first serve. dogs included”

“And don't let your dogs run up to retired school teachers in Arizona.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0324trailshooter24-ON.html

Do a search using the keyword "dog" and find many many threads, some helpful, others less so.
last edited: 3/28/05 7:45:49 AM”

“I don't think many people would be real happy to run upon a 94 lb rot/lad mix in the woods.

Biggest question I would have is can you control your dog even while it is on a leash. I seriously doubt you could hold the dog back if he decided to charge or take off.
I have seen women get pulled all over the place by a large dog.

IMO leave the dog at home”

“I won't be hiking with Top Dawg, and Ewker's last comments make him a candidate too.

The list of hiking companions is shortening. thank god that dogs don't have that low an opinion of humans.

Betsy...If you choose to hike with your dog, then do it with conscience and if you go on a TT trip, do it with people that have no problem with you or your dog. There are trips that I would like to go on, but don't because of conflicts.

I trek alone or with groups that know me and Khatru. If there are places that don't allow dogs on the trail, then I do not go on those trips. I'm not going to leave my best buddy home, while I go out and play. Not unless it involves something that is unhealthy or dangerous for him, like canoeing in February. the water would have killed him.

Anyway, if your dog is in anyway aggressive, then you should really leave him/her home. If you do not have total control of him/her, leave it home. Khatru, when he is on his leash, is totally under control. He'll sit even when horses pass by within feet of us. When off leash, when I make him, he'll walk steadfastly behind me, and when he's outfront, if I envoke the voice, he'll submissively come, even when he's eating a dead thing, which he knows is wrong, but can't help himself.

What I don't like is the constant stopping to sniff things. only on leash can I keep him moving, but, I like to let him run and have fun too.

Its a give and take thing and trying to find the right balance is hard...take notes and do your thing and have fun in the doing. you better have a big tent for a dog that big or let him sleep outside, and if you do, you really should have him tethered in camp...wild things in the night have a way of sending a dog into a tizzy and you wouldn't want him/her running off to answer the "call of the wild".”

“Stikmon, there is a difference.
You can control your dog. We have no clue as to whether or not she can control her dog. Plus Khatru doesn't weigh 94 lbs. I would imagine if he did he could pull you around also.”

“Hiking with well-trained dogs is often a better experience than hiking with people. I have logged thousands of miles with my dogs over the course of their lives through the wildest country in the lower 48. They don't even own a collar, much less a leash. It's all about love and adventure and lotsa time spent with your dogs so they know what you expect while roaming wild places. And it doesn't hurt to have smart dogs.”

“i don't think i've had too much of a problem with hiking with my lab. every other person on here will tell you they hate dogs while hiking. truth be told, i've run into few people on the trail who get upset. many people welcome a chance to catch their breath and ask to pet him.
take your dog with hiking with you and have a good time. your kids will sleep easier, and you'll have a better time seeing your dog enjoy herself.
one thing, when i go hiking with other people it never seems to be much of a problem. i usually end up alone out towards the front of the group and i rarely use the leash while hiking. i do keep it handy in case someone comes walking from the other way. not that it's needed but i know i'd feel better if i walked up on a strange dog and it was leashed. he walks right behind me so it only takes a sec to slap the leash on.
sometimes in camp, it can be a little more of a job to keep him in line. i try to set up in a spot where i can tie him up so he doesn't get in everyone's way while setting up their stuff and esp. when cooking. i've somehow got him trained to think when there's food, it's his. after all that it's usually not a problem to keep him sitting still while sitting around the fire.
betsy you won't have any of that group stuff to worry about though, if hiking solo. the only thing i would recommend is to tie her up at night or bring her in the tent if the dog doesn't get too nasty during the day. who knows what those puppies will chase down in the middle of the night.”

“I love taking my dog (golden) on dayhikes and solos, but so far I've avoided the group hikes. Just had him out for six miles on Friday...we saw herd of dear, several squirrels, badger, flock of geese, flock of Turkey...he never even thought about chasing anything. I really think he's ready for group hikes, but I will make sure everyone in the group is OK with it first.”

“Thanks all for the advice and opinions. I intend to keep meg on her leash most of the time until I am sure of how she will behave. I don't intend to take her on any group hikes, so that won't be a problem. The only time I ever had trouble controling her was when the neighbors bleeping cat jumped over the fence into the back yard! She's just a big whuzz.”

“My first hike with dogs was just last weekend on the North Fork Trail in WV. I thought it was great. Sticks and Fridge have two pretty cool trail dogs. If I get another dog, I will definitly bring it along. I bet they're great company on "solo" hikes too.”

“If your dog is apt to chase a cat and not heed your commands to immediately stop, then I would keep it on leash until you can call your dog off a cat in the heat of a chase. For the safety of wildlife and your own dog I think it's critical that you can control your dog under any situation, and better yet your dog understands what it can or can't chase. My dogs won't chase deer, elk, bear, coyotes, wolves, snakes, etc. because they know I don't want them to. But I do let them be dogs and chase squirrels, unless it looks like they might get one (which is extremely rare), then I call them off.”

“Getting a backpack for the dog is a big plus because it can really calm a hyper dog down some. When I first put Honey's pack on her she wouldn't even move. She won't run with it on at all.”

“I encourage you to take your kids advice. At least once, you may or may not enjoy the dog while backpacking. Don't fret the little stuff. As you have read, people have different ideas about what you should do with your dog and how you should have your dog behave. Some people don't like dogs, and some dogs don't like people. I would enjoy meeting your dog, in daylight of course. Depending on where you are planning on taking, the trip, the dog would come in real handy. That size dog would be a great catch dog, for bear or hogs or even mountian cats that would be so neat to see this dog hunt. Do you take this dog running? I carry all of the gear and food for the dog that lives with me.
last edited: 3/28/05 7:15:19 PM”

“Betsey, did you think of what you will do with the dog's waste? Some people bring one of those garden diggers and use it for covering up their poop too. A dog that big make create a lot of poop to bag and carry out, like in zip lock bags.

Make sure you check him for ticks if they are in the area you are hiking/camping in. You can use a preventative medicine, but so many people are against those medications saying they are harsh, that I would only mention it, but not recommend them. Dog's can get lyme's disease like people, but they are usually completely treatable where people seem to never recover.”

“now that your gettin all these new muscles on the "back to the gym" thread, your overly sensitive...you on steroids or something...gotcha!!! hahaha.

Thanks for the compliments too.

Have fun betsy...”

“Dogs can be vacinated for lyme disease.”

“if you french kiss your dog, you'll be vaccinated too.

LOL...”

“Ha ha Nigal! Layla did the same thing when I put her pack on! It seriously does calm her down though.

I have a large dog - 80lbs - and I take her backpacking all the time, and I am a small woman. She is very hyper and loves all people, so I really only take her on trips with small groups. I think she really lives to be unleashed on a trail - she is definately in her element, but I do keep a leash handy when crossing a road or when hikers are coming from the opposite direction. I actually do feel safer with her too...just in case...

BTW Ewker, you may want to reconsider the Farewell to Yam trip - my baby girl is coming. :)”

“ok, I will skip it then.”

“poopy dog...big ewker man is a scardy chicken...LOL”

“Sass, the vaccine for lyme disease has side effects as well as other vaccines, so you really want to know your dog needs it before you give it to him.

I don't know if you own a dog, but right now there are big discussions taking place on whether dogs need vaccinations every year or it's just a ploy by vets to bring up their yearly income.”

“If you use Frontline there will be no fleas or ticks to worry about. I have been using this product since it came out over 20 years ago. When it first was introduced it came in a spray bottle and you treated the entire animal.

I am not talking about the knock-offs in the pet aisle at your friendly pet store. You have to get Frontline from your vet, that is the only place you can get it.

I have yet to come back from a trip with my trail dog having any of these vermin on them.

Get it and forget it.”

“Yeah, believe it or not there's the same discussion about vaccinating children.
Lyme disease is frequent in MI and I did get the shots for my dogs when I took them out hiking often. Close to home it's not so much an issue but up north it is. They had no side effects. I figure each person has to weigh out the chances of side effects verses the chances of Lyme disease and which would be worse.
There are two Lyme vaccinations for humans in the works but neither are safe yet.”

“I use Frontline on Honey but she still gets ticks on her and they do bore in. They die after a time though. I take a fine toothed comb with me and comb her out a few times a day. Especially just before bed. They might die on her but they can still get on me. She gets them the most right around her ears, her cute pink belly and between her toes.

Surprisingly, as much as Honey loves getting out, she whines when we go hiking. I think it might be just being away from home and not getting as much attention as she’s used to. If it’s just her and I she will sit in camp and keep glancing down the trail as if she’s saying, “When’s everyone else getting’ her? I wanna meet new people and get petted and loved. Whaaaa!”.”

“Betsyny The key is a leash. Dog make great backcountry companions. I have a 170lb Saint Bernard that backpack with all the time and I love having him come along, but he is a well behaved dog and that just makes it easier. Just make sure you keep your dog on a leash that way hes not a nusience to fellow packers.”

“A lot of dog lovers don't realize that some people are afraid of dogs (for whatever reason) or are very allergic. Not everyone will want your dog, no matter how well behaved or cute or whatever, to come up to them. For that reason, it is best to keep them on leash.

Dogs and precariously perched camp stoves do not mix. LOL!”

“I like most dogs but there are a few breeds I don't like..rots and pitbulls.

I was doing a dayhike on the Volunteer Trail (they do post about dogs being on a leash)when I ran across a couple with 2 dogs running all over the place. Both dogs came running at me barking and growling. The owners yelled for them to come back. The dogs didn't pay any attention to them. I finally got past the dogs and the owners. The owners never even apologized for what happened. On my way home I swung by the ranger station and told them what happened. Off they went to find them. I hope they got a really big fine.”

“Why is it always the dogs fault, or the dogs owners. Why? Do we as backpackers or hikers have priority of everything while we are out tromping on land we don't own? Do we never think that we are invading others space when we pass thur? Was there even a possiblity that we should apologize for disturbing others?”

“waterdog. huh? I would hope that all of us are "tromping" in appropriate places, utilizing permits or paying fees where applicable and following rules and laws. I don't get your meaning. Who's space is getting invaded?”

“Volunteer trail and the rest of the trails at Long Hunter State Park have a leash policy. They were in violation and not in control of their animals. Would I rat out someone who didn't have well behaved dogs on leashes? probably not.”

“Dogs are the children of dog owners. Dog owners get very angry when their loved ones are criticized. Their loved ones do not ever do those bad things like biting.
last edited: 3/29/05 7:11:55 PM”