Pet Sled for the AT

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#1

The dream is to hike the entire trail with my two jack russell terriers, Airwick and Agape. One problem, Agape is short and weight challenged. Airwick and I can’t make it without her, so I’m seeking thoughts on buying/building some type of hiking sled to pull when they need a break. I picture a “hiking pulka” type thing. We invented a bicycle seat that worked great (www.agape.crazyguyonabike.com) I realize it wont be easy, and that hiking presents a lot of special challenges, but necessity is the mother of invention. With all the equipment for mountain biking, trekking, it can be done but where would you start?

We thank you

Airwick

#2

OK, so here’s a veterinarian’s (my) take on the situation:

You can’t change her height, but you can get her fitter and healthier.

If Agape isn’t old or ill, then how about getting her on a pet fitness plan now, and, given a few months and much dedication on your part, she’ll be in much better shape. Getting the weight off is no more complicated on the surface than the calories in vs. calories out equation. The trick is for you not to sabotage her diet by giving her junk food, or just flat out too much food. Measure how much she eats and cut it back.

See your regular vet if you don’t know how to do this. They can help you set a good target weight for her, too. Bear in mind that a hiking dog is an athlete, and therefore thinner than your average house pet once they’re well conditioned. Step up the exercise gradually, and she’ll be the fit little crazy Jack Russel she was always meant to be. Walk, walk, walk!

The bonus of this plan is that you’ll be helping out her long term health immeasurably. Multiple studies show that overweight pets live shorter lives and have more health problems along the way. Love is keeping them as healthy as you can, and affection is better than food. Yes - those EYES will beg, but be strong. Tough love is still love.

If your canine companions get tired on trail, then it’s simply time for you to take a break or stop for the day, not pull them down the trail (literally or figuratively) That’s the real deal about hiking with dogs. They come along because you made a decision that you wanted to do something and have them come along with you. They follow because they love you, but they didn’t ASK to go out there. In return for their dedication, you have to think of their needs first, and stop, regardless of the X miles you wanted to get in for the day.

A thru hike can be extremely hard on a dog, especially if they are getting a bit older. I’ve seen some really happy hiking dogs, and some dogs in rough shape. Section hiking is obviously gentler on them. Mine stayed home entirely on both my hikes, and you will hear some people with VERY strong opinions about dogs being on trail at all. You have to make decisions based on your own situation, and your dog’s abilities.

Good health to your little pals, and I wish you the best in making good choices for yourself and your small friends. Happy trails.

Chipper

#3

I would worry about making it yourself.

Magictouch

#4

Better Idea ! wait till winter,buy a Dog sled and let them pull you !:lol

old&in the way

#5

Mmmmm. Sausages on the hoof! Dogs on the AT: Self-propelled thru hiker chow.

Yummy

#6

This was/is a joke, right? Are you that much under the control of your dogs? Who is the master here???

Some dogs to well on trail, usually mid-sized and up types. Some dogs have no business being on trail at all (cough, yippee lap dogs and unbehaved, untrained dogs). You will annoy to no end every hiker you encounter with the latter.

Regain your freedom, and place in the food chain, and hike alone. Send your fat dog to someplace where he/she can get exercised back to health, and the other either take with you if he/she is capable of behaving around people it doesn’t know (not just you !!) or leave with friends. I doubt anybody could pull a sled with dog food and 1-2 dogs on it up and down hills and mountains, over uneven ground, day in and out, weather, etc etc…

-xtn :boy

airferret

#7

A couple of things… I am not anti-dog, HOWEVER, you need to be aware that the AT is open to foot traffic only. Bikes are not allowed, and I would question the legality of pulling a sled, wheeled of otherwise, on the AT. If you want to bring your dogs, you should be prepared to carry them, or select another trail (rail trails would be perfect) where a sled is more appropriate. But don’t take my word for it. Contact the National Park Service and ask them about your idea. http://www.nps.gov/appa/

Secondly, here is your quote. “I realize it wont be easy, and that hiking presents a lot of special challenges, but necessity is the mother of invention.” This is where you seem to get a bit off track. Your dream, while a nice one, is not a “necessity.” That’s one thing a thru-hike will teach you. The difference between needs & wants.

Good luck.

Jeffrey Hunter

#8

Everyone who had a dog in 2004 had to send them home by Harper’s Ferry. And these were healthy dogs! However, I’d love to see you pull that slugger up the Hunt Trail to Baxter Peak.

LD

#9

With all due respect, leave the dogs under home guardianship and HIKE WITHOUT THEM!!! I am a trail angel in NJ and see many/most thru dogs STRUGGLING both physically and I am certain “emotionally” as well (not to mention some hikers themselves) They have a blank and apprehensive demeanor. We are talking 2000 miles here!! The trip means NOTHING to them. They must be thinking “when is this bs going to end?” Oh, unless they understand English and you explained the logistics ahead of time. Of course you will line up vets along the way for checkups and the like?? Forget this “dream”. Few people if any will be impressed with your pet sled or whatever you invent - use it for shorter hikes. Go it alone, please. ONe thruhiker with a worn out dog asked me “Know of any vets nearby?. My dog is really sick.” I’ll spare you my response. Remember, the hike is not all peace and quiet on lovely gentle trails. There are towns with hostile dogs, hot noisy highways, extreme heat and humidity, days on end of rain, cold and snow, relentless winds above treeline, and places that dont allow dogs. Also, the black bears here in NJ( most dense on the East Coast) will smell your pups a mile away. They go into farms and pull out ponies and goats. Yummy. They even pulled a hiker out of a shelter near High Point. IF YOU THINK IM KIDDING I’LL PROVIDE NEWSPAPER LINKS. I respect your love and devotion to your dogs, however, this dream is misguided. Likely, few hikers will be comfortable around you. Should I meet you in NJ, and you have the dogs in tow, I will provide magic for them - not you. Line up guardianship for your beloved pets.

ONETWOTHREE

#10

Are you really going to carrie Water and food for your Dogs too? Reality Check!! Nice Idea, but You will have to stuff the dogs down into your pack if you are to have 1/4 of a chance, I am not being mean here, but there is no chance of a sucessful Thru-Hike with to little House dogs.

:bawling

Rin-Tin-Tin

#11

I ran into a girl hiking north bound with a jack russell. That dog hiked all day 15+ miles and still wanted to play fetch in camp at night. Small dogs with lots of energy can make the trip but remember you have to carry all their food and water. In addition going to town becomes a problem since many place don’t allow dogs.

Darth Packman

#12

No offense but the dogs mentioned in your bike journal were loud dogs who constantly barked at other dogs by your own admission. Barking dogs are horrible and very inconsiderate to other hikers. Bad for thru-hikers. You’re have to pull that slugger on the entire AT. There is a huge, huge difference between thru-hiking and riding a bicycle.

Stick to biking with the dogs or thru-hiking without them.

Cateye

#13

If you love your dogs you won’t thru hike with them. I never saw a happy thru hiking dog beyond the first week or so. Also, the level of services available on your bike trip was much higher than on the Trail. Those doggies didn’t have to pedal an inch, either.

Sorry

#14

Dogs will lick their buttends then go and drink directly from a water source for humans. They also pee where they want, like on the legs of shelters or on tents. The barking will keep up a lot of people. Every owner will claim their dogs are perfect but nearly every single thru-hiker hates dogs even if they say nothing. And the dogs didn’t ask to go along for the hike. They will be forced to be all the time on their raw paws in cold snow. Dogs also can’t complain and will follow thier masters until they die. Or if you read Hydro Heidi’s journal, the dog her sister had just QUITE right on the trail. Layed down and wouldn’t get up. You’ll make a lot of enemies on the trail, espcially with emotional loud dogs like Jack Russels.

Be a good pet owner, keep em home. Not only for their sake but the for sake of 100’s of hikers who will be thankful.

Anonymous Hiker

#15

i would doubt you are right about the every thruhiker hates dogs. i will add dogs that thruhike assured that is what you meant. every dog i met on my 04 trip was “well” behaved. that is relitive to breed/owner/me. some breeds are off the wall. a beagle i met was great…his owner was the jerk who wanted to bum his way up the trail, who always seemed to upset the dog when the dog was fine. ashtray’s dog was big, and a puppy. both are kinda scarry to some folks. i liked the dog and ashtray was the man when the dog was around…but at last he was overwhelmed by the puppy in that big dog.

sasha of the camera crew was a dog i started the trail with. she growled under breath at me (dogs seem to understand) hehehe. when i got to hot springs, she licked me as a fellow. now when i am elevated to dog statis…you know life is good. she is still my fav on trail.

miss janet’s dog fabian and mala’s tucker are 2 of the best kept and strongest hikers i know, and know the trail as well as anyone. Dog Wonder would be another fine example of an animal known by a many a hiker. someone said dog wonder has more miles on trail than any dog alive.as well as most hikers…i am unsure, but definately a fine animal to have around.

the dog breed, the owner, and me…it all depends on me and how i receive an animal. i like dogs. i enjoy having them around, and even when, and yes they are barky, loud, and piss where they feel they need to mark, it still has alot to do with the individual who receives them. i do it well because i understand that dogs like any other hiker have personalities that follow closely with their breed and rearing.

again, i have had more trouble with the owners than the dogs. and some dogs drank straight from the spring that i was filtering in.

now on the other side, which still falls within the owner catagory…one set of dogs was in a motel room, and when the owner came out, the dogs thinking they were on trail, went too. they ran right in the street and i had to catch both…the owner didn’t think too squarely of what the foodlion across the street from motel hell was like at rush hour. i honestly thought we lost one of them in traffic. it crossed 4 lanes at rush hour nearly getting hit 3 times. my worst day on the AT actually.

the dog knew no better, evidently the owner, didn’t either. i did, corraled both dogs, and they hiked more. i still enjoyed my hike, the owners and the dogs. oh, when i first met the 2 dogs, they came up behind me as fast as they could…which shocked me…i thought at first they were wild. they hiked back to the owner to tell them they had company, then hiked back to me to tell me they were not alone. some dogs hike back and forth, search the whole way. they hike far many more miles than the owners.

i actually plan, if i get out enough again, to bring a lap dog, just for the dog. a dog was not meant to be cagged it’s entire life. but, note, but i hammock away from others, and my dog knows i am the big dog…the alpha in his family.

burn