Dog leashed at night?

[toemaetoe]

I've only ever taken my dog on day hikes, and I'd like to start doing some weekend hikes with her this year. I tarp/bivy, and I'm concerned about my dog wandering off in the night, as she's far too curious/independent for her own good. I know some people do tents with their dogs, but I'd prefer to avoid that for several reasons (including condensation and nails on the tent's floor. Do any of you have similar problems, and how do you deal with them? Do you keep your dog leashed at night? If so, what do you attach the leash to? A tree? This seems problematic. But I can't be the only hiker with an independent dog, right? Right? Help me out, guys.

[Studlintsean]

I use 30-40 ft of Paracord for my dog while sleeping if we are not sleeping in the tent.

[Gaiter]

yes always leash dogs at night, mine hikes behind me and isn't always on a leash, but at night I strap the leash to my pack, so if she does anything stupid she will make a lot of noise and most certainly wake me up...

[Heald]

Hobbling is a technique that has been used with horses for century's, and although I never "hobbled" my dog, or much less used a leash, there are people who do in fact use this technique on dogs.

[kayak karl]

if your taking the dog let it in the tent or on a short leach (6') in vestibule. my 75# lab sleeps in hammock or under it. leach is hooked to my wrist all night. hobbling is cruel. even on horses and junkyard dogs.

in some parks leaching is a law. no more then 6'

[Wise Old Owl]

This is a tough call - Rugby doesn't take to being tied down - he will chew threw the cord - chain etc and yank the corkscrew out in campgrounds. Unleashed he parks his but directly under the hammock and with each "hoot" his head hits head on my butt.

[Smooth & Wasabi]

Of my two dogs one needs to be leashed at night and he will chew through most materials. I found a six foot wire lead for small dogs at wal mart which he cannot chew. It is very light, holds my 50 pound dog well and was super cheap. I have tied him to a tree near my tarp so he can shelter if needed as well as to my pack successfully. I have also used it to make an impromtu run with some para-cord.

[Wise Old Owl]

Ok I think I know what you are talking about its a six steel cable with loops right?

[Papa D]

Occasionally, I meet a dog that is really benefiting from a backpacking trail - really enjoying him/herself as much as the dog owner - - more often than not, dogs on the trail are akin to extra pack weight - - brought out of fear for safety, being lonely, whatever. I am a dog lover and run with my dog all the time .. tonight as a matter of fact but I think that problems arise in about 90% of backpacking trips with dogs - - these include safety and health of the dog, safety and comfort (including noise pollution) for other hikers, threat and scaring-off of wildlife, and getting lost. I have recovered many a hiker's dog for them (because, as I said, I like dogs and don't blame them). I just wish people would think long and hard about why they must bring their dog.

Now, before he says something, my bet is that WOO's dog does fall in the 10% of well behaved, non-barking, polite, fun trail dogs.

[Wise Old Owl]

A huge source of pride as Rugby continues to surprise even me Papa D. Actually we should take a moment as both you and others in Georgia have had "owner problems" but by the time they arrive past Shenandoah I don't see it. Should be a seperate thread. PM.

[Papa D]

A huge source of pride as Rugby continues to surprise even me Papa D. Actually we should take a moment as both you and others in Georgia have had "owner problems" but by the time they arrive past Shenandoah I don't see it. Should be a seperate thread. PM.

Yes - - I have no intention of turning this into another "dogs on the trail" rant and debate - - and my dog, Tallulah feels the same way, I'm sure.

[shelterbuilder]

When I used to take my first Siberian Husky with me, he was ALWAYS either leashed to my wrist or tied (usually to a nearby tree). On wintertime trips, Bandit slept tethered to my wrist on the end of an extra-long leash - the leash would snake out of the sleeping bag by my cheek and down to his collar! He would sleep in the tent, on a square of heavy wollen fabric (doubled over into "his" sleeping pad). While he was a really friendly dog, and loved "people-attention", he also knew the command "GUARD", and would watch my pack (tied off to a nearby tree) when I would go down for water. He would also hike at the end of an extra-long leash, and learned to jump over blow-downs, then stop and wait for me to scramble over! (Those of you who have ever had any dealings with Huskies know that you CAN'T let a Husky off-lead and expect it to stay with you!)

Oh, yeah, he also had his own little raincoat...which was as much to keep my sleeping bag dry as it was to keep him dry - he LOVED to dry off by rolling on my sleeping bag!

Tether your buddy - for his own good. If he tends to chew the lead, then measure out from his collar to the normal chew-points, and get a steel cable that's a bit longer than this length - it's likely that he will continue to chew at that same spot...and will get NOWHERE with the cable. The rest of the tether can be nylon.

Enjoy the trip.

[The Solemates]

never leashed my dogs while hiking - never had any problems. but the places I hike I rarely see people and I would also never take my dogs on the "social" AT

[lemon b]

Depends on the dog.

[toemaetoe]

Thanks to everyone. Lots of good stuff here to think about.

[shelterbuilder]

Depends on the dog.

Depends on the human, too.

Whenever I took my dog on a hike, the dog was always a primary focus, and not an afterthought.

[C Seeker]

My dog -Heavy- come out and finished my AT hike with me,as he was rescued off the trail in the winter time during a different segmentof my hike.

I was lucky that I was hiking Virginia south because of the flex of people,being low at the start then growing to annoying amount at the end (being ranover every 30 mins by a NoBo.) The first week on the trail I had Heavy leashedto a post in the shelter as I didn't know if he would try to run while I wasasleep, or try to join someone else in their sleeping bag. I also enjoyed thatat the start I only had one if anyone in the shelter with me, as the wholeoutdoors ting for him was something new.

After a week I realized only thing he wanted to do was sleep once we got to theshelter and leashing him at night was not needed. He did get up a couple oftimes at night just to get in a better position and closer for my body heat,and almost every time I woke up. Only once did he leave the shelter, he went tothe bathroom then came right back...I never had to give him a command oranything. He was woke up one night by a flock of turkeys out front of theshelter, all he did was stand there and watch them...he didn't try to take offafter them or bark.

Heavy is a very calm and well behaved trained dog which is why I didn't haveany problems with him taking off; night or day.

I have set up a journal about Heavy's travel on the trail, feel free to flipthrough the post that is already up (tons more to come.) My goal is to provide informationabout those planning hiking with a dog. Trailjournals.com/aheavyhike

[Gray Blazer]

leach is hooked to my wrist all night.

in some parks leaching is a law.

Leaches suck!

[Wise Old Owl]

C Seeker thanks for the post.

[BerryJes]

I guess you need leash or collars for your pet. I purchase one on this site http://www.hotdogcollars.com/ ...