Thru-Hiking With Your Dog

imported
#1

Like most thing AT, opinions on hiking with your dog seem to run the full gamut. I recently read “A Walk Across America” in which the author and his Alaskan Malamut trek from Maine to the Gulf of Mexico. The dog is run over by a truck while they’re living on a hippi comune and dies, but on the trail he held his own, even catching small game from time to time.

A friend of mine set out from GA with his yellow lab, however by the time he got to Maryland he had to leave the dog with his family as it was having trouble keeping up.

I’ve heard some call thru-hiking with a dog animal abuse. As long as the dog is young and healthy enough, and of an appropriate breed, i don’t see what’s wrong with it. they’re more adapt at surviving in the wilderness than we are.

But than again, I’m knew to hiking and I’ve yet to set foot on the AT. So, maybe I’m misiing something…

JohnnyQuest

#2

I just don’t think it’s a good idea.

Yes, dogs are more capable of surviving in the wilderness, but this natural capability doesn’t include hiking 15-20 miles a day.

nobody

#3

I think it boils down more to the owner. The problem with dogs on the trail is that, as a owner, you will have to be far more responsible. You have the dog to care for and you have to make sure the dog doesn’t bother others (tramping around in water supplies, knocking over people’s tarps, attacking people, etc.)

Aswah

Aswah

#4

It depends on the breed and on the dog. Sled dogs are made to handle big miles everyday while pulling a sled but do not expect to pull fluffy off the couch and have him keep up with you. I suspect that the people who are calling this animal abuse just do not like dogs on the trail period. In many ways I can’t blame them. Lots of dogs are badly supervised and trained so they tend to be a real pain in the a$$ to other hikers. Even my dog who loves to hike is is very friendly will occasionally run into someone he just does not like. Because of this I keep him on a leash most of the time and it deminishes the hike for both of us.

Big B

#5

a) Dogs are not allowed on some sections of the trail. Like in the Smokies. You have to break the law to bring the pet.
b) Dogs pose the most dangers to hikers of any animal, fact on the AT. More than bears and snakes.
c) Dogs bark a lot at night in the shelters. I come to the trail to watch nature, I can listen to dogs in the city.
d) Every owner claims their dog isn’t a problem. Especially the number of dogs that will bark loud and act like it is going to attack you or jump on you.
f) Is it fair to make your dog haul around gear all day long? It’s not like the dog can complain about it.

Do your dog a favor. Don’t take him on a thru-hike.

007

#6

Hey JQ,

Here is a great post on this topic from the trailforums:
http://www.trailforums.com/index2.cfm?action=detail&PostNum=2012&Thread=1&roomID=22&entryID=15771

One post in particular is about half way down the page by DogTag–make sure to read that one!

It changed my mind about taking my own dog with me…

holly

#7

JohnnyQ,I read that book you referred to.Great book and story.When he was hiking with his dog,he wasn’t exposed to alot of hikers.Depending on when you start the AT will determine the number of hikers you and your dog will encounter.There are alot of pros and cons about taking your dog with you.I’m sure you’ll get more varied responses to your inquiry.
Personally,I take my Sheltie in the Sierras but,not on the AT.Paid off one time.He ran a black bear off that was approaching our campsite one evening.
Whenever you start your hike(and I know you will)have a great one.:cheers

Bill Harris

#8

Three observations:

First, with a dog, you no longer hike your own hike. You hike the dog’s hike

Second, someone once observed that you don’t see many dogs on the trail in Maine.

Third, many problems with dogs do seem to revert back to the owner.

Peaks

#9

depends on the dog. ive met some fantastic and happy dogs out there, three thru hiked near me in 99 and caused no problems that i saw. if your dog is a fit angel, then it belongs out there with you. but the odds of that are admitedly slim. plus it makes it harder to hitch, harder to get a ride, and you need to get it kenneled in the smokies and baxter. sort of anti climactic for you and your pooch when he cant do katahdin. you gotta have one of those dogs and be one of those people. its not a casual affair. take him on some test hikes in less frequented areas.

milo

#10

i mean harder to get a room. plus you should tent almost every night out of respect for those in the shelters, which kills a large amenity of the at.

milo

#11

Milo, the problem is, everyone dog owner on the trail who takes their dog thinks their dog is an fit “angel”. Every dog owner thinks their pet is perfect. They allow emotion and not logic to rationalise dogs on the trail. Have you ever heard a hiker claiming their dog was the problem? Nope. A few might apologize but bad behavior by their dog, but then they continue to allow the behavior to continue.

Remember, that very few hikers will actually complain about a pet to their owner but when the owner is away, the complaints are massive.

Dogs don’t belong on the trail for thru-hikes and they are illegal to be on the AT in the Smokies and some other areas. Maybe on a weekend if they are leached, which few dogs are on the trail. If I saw a dog on the Smokies and saw a ranger, I report it right away. I probably be even inclined to cell phone the ranger to report the violation.

007

#12

Get one of those robot dogs I saw from Toys R US. Their sweet, smart, almost maintence free, no food just strap on your pack and go. And when you get to the shelter put him down and let him do the neat programmed tricks for the other hikers. No fuss, no barking, no attacking and one great advantage, he is like a motion alarm. A mouse scuddles by he will come alive. HEHEHEHe.:smiley:

Spacewalker

#13

dogs are like people.

bono

#14

Not this subject again. Is everyone gonna get all bitchy again? Hope not. Let’s talk about cats on the trail instead. I like cats. I read about the guy who thru hiked with his cat, now that’s cool.

Ross

Ross

#15

Keep the pets at home. I don’t need them to ruin my hike.

Hoss

#16

A couple things:

  1. I don’t care who likes dogs and who don’t on the trail, the don’t likes will not win this issue. Because dog is man’s best friend, always has been, always will be----so if you don’t like them on the AT, too bad, you will lose this one----my likes and dislikes have nothing to do with it.
  2. Wolves run 20 to 50 miles or more a night hunting. A dog is nothing more than a domesticated Wolf or descended from one. The difference is that wolves due to having to live in and endure the wild have evolved so that they are all strong and healthly and can tolerate this pace. Domesticated dogs on the other hand are weak from having lived with man, most don’t have any sort of meaningful function except just being a pet, many of the larger breeds have bad problems (hip displesia)—they can’t hike—it is painful for them. Little dogs would have to two to three times the number of steps to cover the distance a big dog would doing a certain number of steps.

So if you have a big dog, in good health (no hip problems), young enough----then I see nothing wrong with the experience for you and them. And to heck with what other say about it. There are many things some AT hikers don’t like on the AT such as cell phones, radios, etc, etc.

So want to hike with your dog----have at it. But use some common sense and try to maintain good control of it.

A good 10 to 20% of the hikers I see on the trail have dogs with them. So have at it.

See you out there.:cheers

Maintain

#17

Dogs have saved the life of many of their owners.

A dog just may go get help if you fall and get hurt.

They may attract attention to you, if you fall off a rock and get hurt real bad and can’t make it back to the trail.

They will run off bears and protect you perhaps from some humans, who might do you harm. They might just call your attention to a snake before you step on it.

In Grissley Bear country (and even in Black Bear country), they could definitely save your life.

They are a lot better company on the trail than someone constantly running their mouth and bitching and complaining about everything under the sun.

See you out there. I will have no dog.:cheers

Maintain

#18

I hate this arguement against taking a dog hiking :

“Yes, dogs are more capable of surviving in the wilderness, but this natural capability doesn’t include hiking 15-20 miles a day.”

It’s just plain wrong. Some dogs can handle this. Not all dogs, but some. Of course they need the physical training.

Iditarod takes world class athletes and they race 1150 miles and complete it in 10 to 17 days. Not too many thruhikers can do that (uh… actually, none…)

Tell me a dog can’t hike 2100 miles…

Gravity Man

Gravity Man

#19

they once were great animals. They were wolves: powerful, swift, and in packs. They survived well in nature because they were a part of it. But some of them don’t do well on the trail. Some have the times of their lives. But no man has ever pissed on my pack like the lab did in PA. The owner, who had convinced me previously that his dog was top trained, scrubbed my pack for hours. I love dogs. But I also like seeing wildlife, and for others around me to see wildlife, so I usually leave mine at home. Do what you want, but be considerate.

Tha Wookie

#20

Yeah I got snapped at by a dog that “never ever bite anyone”. Also had my tarp knocked over twice by a dog. Oh yeah, and loved going to the spring to find a dog rolling around in it. So once again, it is not the dog’s fault. The dog is being a dog. It is the owners fault… period. I don’t care if you bring a dog, walrus or elephant… just be mindful and respectful of others…

Peace,

ASWAH

Aswah