How often do you see dogs on the trail?

[dmax]

I have a weiner dog that just loves to hike. together we have logged hundreds of miles on the AT. Unfortunately, she's older now and can't put in the miles. It drives her crazy when i grab my Leki poles, and she can't go. I,ve always used my tent unless the shelter was empty. She has never had a problem with ticks or fleas. I think maybe the mice should be banned from the shelter. I also would look at the breed of the dog to determine if it has what it needs to go on a long\thru hike. Long hair dogs have a tough time in summer. Short hair dogs have a tough time in winter, although a sweater could help.

[atomic_poppy]

Originally Posted by dmax

... I think maybe the mice should be banned from the shelter.

I also would look at the breed of the dog to determine if it has what it needs to go on a long\thru hike. Long hair dogs have a tough time in summer. Short hair dogs have a tough time in winter, although a sweater could help.

I agree about the mice!

And you're right - weather DOES play a big part in a dog's comfort on the trail. Owners need to be carefully attuned to the needs of their pet. Like 7 said, it's like taking a child out. You have to be responsible and consider what they need first, rather than what you want. Grown ups can decide their actions (when to hike, when to eat, etc), children and pets cannot, so that makes the grown-ups responsible infinitely moreso when hiking with companions that can't speak for themselves.

[angewrite]

This is assuming that the dog owners know how to properly care for their pet on the trail.

I love animals in general and I am definitly a "dog person" While some dogs are very well behaved on the trail (Moon Goat and Otto from 2007 come to mind) most are not. As much as I hate to agree with Lone Wolf, I'm with him on this one. If you're hiking with a dog, keep him away from shelters. I don't want to deal with the fur, smell or ticks. I don't want to be growled at even if he is just being protective and I certainly do not want to be licked or trampled in the middle of the night. If you choose to bring man's best friend along on your hike, then be prepared to spend most of your time alone with him.

[7Sisters]

Originally Posted by angewrite

[I] I don't want to deal with the fur, smell or ticks.

The fact that one of the reasons you don't want a dog around the shelter is because of the smell....... that cracks me up.

Last I remember you thru hiked last year. On my dogs worst days, he never smelled as bad as a thru hiker's socks and boots airing out and didn't smell as bad as a thru hiker that hadn't showered in 5 or 6 days. PLEASE, your killing me on this one.

It's bad enough that you publicly admitted to agreeing with Lone Wolff (and I won't hold that against you as a character flaw ), but the keep the smell thing out of the shelter is a little ummmmm silly .

I get the hair and the ticks and will say again. It's the owners responsibility to keep the dog on trail - which keeps the majority of ticks off and to clean up after them.

It sounds like you haven't been around too many dogs that had owners that truly looked after them. That's pretty sad for the dogs sake.

Peace be with you.

[Lone Wolff]

dogs do not belong in shelters. period. they were built for people. the trail was built for people.

[The Mechanical Man]

Originally Posted by Lone Wolff

dogs do not belong in shelters. period. they were built for people. the trail was built for people.

I thought you HATE shelters, and will never use them?
Why do YOU care if a dog uses them or not?

[angewrite]

Originally Posted by 7Sisters

The fact that one of the reasons you don't want a dog around the shelter is because of the smell....... that cracks me up.

Last I remember you thru hiked last year. On my dogs worst days, he never smelled as bad as a thru hiker's socks and boots airing out and didn't smell as bad as a thru hiker that hadn't showered in 5 or 6 days. PLEASE, your killing me on this one.

What I mostly mean by this one is the smell of a wet dog when it rains. It's common courtesy folks to keep a wet dog out of the shelter. If you don't want him in your tent, we don't want him in our shelter.

Yes I know I smell and so does every other hiker on the trail, but that's a different type of smell we learn to live with and almost learn to like (I said almost.) Even dry dogs smell and that's something I should have to deal with. Especially dog breath first thing in the morning, ick!

[angewrite]

Originally Posted by angewrite

Even dry dogs smell and that's something I should have to deal with.

I mean SHOULD NOT

[Tangent]

Originally Posted by Lone Wolff

dogs do not belong in shelters. period. they were built for people. the trail was built for people.

The shelters were built in the woods, which are designed for animals. Therefor, the shelters are part of the woods. And if A+B=B+C then A=C. Shelters were built for animals.

[The Mechanical Man]

Originally Posted by angewrite

I mean SHOULD NOT

My dogs NEVER complained about having to share space in a shelter with a stinky hiker, and my dogs have hiked more AT than most people.

My last dog also spent over 1,000 hours in 10 years, volunteering, maintaining, cooridor monitoring, shuttle assistant............
Have you ever lend a hand helping maintain a shelter?

It's OK if YOU have dog breath, we don't mind.