Torn about taking my dog.

[Speakeasy TN]

I'm really torn. Hollywood is great on the local trails but I don't know how he will handle the distance but then again it could be me that breaks down. He's good at staying close to me on a 25' retractable and stays on the trail. I had considered attaching the retractable directly to my pack. Is this the best way to go? Anybody got experience using a hammock instead of tent? Seems like extra lines to get tangled in. Convince me to take him and have fun!

[Slo-go'en]

Let me convince you not to bring a dog.

It's a hassle. It costs a lot. You won't be welcome in shelters. And it's hard on the dog - which should be reason enough. If you are at all serious about doing a thru hike, don't bring a dog.

[Emerson Bigills]

Since you asked. I love dogs. I saw a handful of very responsible dog owners on the trail that took care of their dogs and were respectful for other hikers when it came to their dogs. I also saw more dog owners that allowed their dogs to become a nuisance, threat and simply put "a pain in the As_" for other hikers. After being on the trail for three months and hiking all day, I don't want to deal with someone else's misbehaving pet at the shelter. It looked like a lot of additional work for those that were trying to do it the right way, when frankly it is challenging enough to take care of yourself. I can't tell you how many times I heard, "he usually is very calm" or "he may look mean, but he really won't hurt you".

I think dogs are probably ok on weekend hikes, if you are committed to doing the extra work they require, but I cannot imagine doing it for weeks and months. Don't make it any tougher on yourself.

[Grampie]

Are you just doing a section or are you going to thru-hike? 80% of those who start a thru, do not complete their hike. Add a dog into the mix and the compleation rate is something like only 5%. Taking a dog on a long distance adds more complications to the hike. If you are serious about doing a thru-hike, leave the dog at home.

[nsherry61]

. . . If you are serious about doing a thru-hike, leave the dog at home.
I love my dog also. And I almost always take her on backpacking trips because she loves running 20 miles a day and she hates staying home, and she is well enough behaved that most (but never all) people she meets get along with her or enjoy her immensely. There is also no doubt that probably at least one person a day, on busy trails, is freaked out and angry at seeing a dog on the trail regardless of how perfect my dog and I are behaving.

It sounds to me like you are not confident in your dog doing well, so the above pessimistic rants are probably appropriate. But, if after a few multi-day hikes your dog seems more ready than you to keep going, go for it. Heed/address their wise concerns, and then screw the naysayers!

[IslandPete]

Let me convince you not to bring a dog.

It's a hassle. It costs a lot. You won't be welcome in shelters. And it's hard on the dog - which should be reason enough. If you are at all serious about doing a thru hike, don't bring a dog.

Wrong on all counts. We're finishing our thru in the next couple of weeks, and as far as I can tell, Scout is loving every minute of it! First rule about taking your dog hiking? Don't come on WhiteBlaze and ask if you should...

[methodman]

Then control the animal and it never happened.

[peakbagger]

Have you ever seen a thru hikers dog leaving a blood trail along the trail in the whites?. I have several times. Despite 4 months of hiking, the rocks in the whites and on into Maine can wear out a dogs pads in days.Some dont but many do.

Have you ever met a thruhiker have to give up their hike as their dog just could not go on and they could not afford to send the dog home or didnt have place to send them to?. I have. Their dogs arent allowed on the only public transportation out of the whites so they end up hitching out of town hoping a dog lover might give them a ride.

Have you ever been asked to help carry a dog down off the AT as it cant walk ? I have. In my area NH F&G will not rescue dogs so if there is need to carry a dog down the hiker is on their own to find a crew and a potentially 40 mile trip to a vet.

Have you ever seen a thru hiker dog abandoned at a vets clinic that is only open two days a week as the owner was going on an could not afford to care for their dog? I have

Have you ever seen a thru hiker dog with a muzzle full of porcupine quills? I have several times. In some cases the hiker was a couple of days from the nearest vet so the dog was going along with a snout full of quills and most likely no ability to eat and drink.

The other aspect is that the dog is hopefully a long term companion animal. Thru hikes are hard on dogs and they most likely will end up cutting their already short hiking career shorter. I know of many dog owners who have worn out their dogs hiking. They are still lovable animals, they just got worn out from the miles. Bill Irwin and his famous guide dog Orient stopped by BSP the year after his thru hike to repeat a section of the AT he wanted to redo, two days into it his guide dog stopped and wouldnt go on, it had to be carried out. He wore the dog out on the thru hike the previous year and even when walking around the campground it was obvious that Orient was having a tough time.

Its not that all dogs cant hike the AT, it just that many cant. Lets do some math, A typical thru hiker starting at Springer has a 25% chance of finishing. Lets use the same percentage for a dog. That means that the odds of both finishing the trail together is 0.25*0.25 which is 0.0625 (6.25%). If you are out to have fun with your dog great but realize that your chances of finishing goes down, potentially by a factor of 4. I think many thru hikers with dogs finally figure out the math at some point down south and tip the odds back in their favor by sending the dog home.

Realistically your dog has to be super well socialized and trained to the point where you dont need a leash except for regulatory reasons. I have met many dogs trained at that level but far more that werent. The dog is your responsibility and as such you are responsible for it and every action it does. The attitude of the prior poster unfortunately is a typical dog owners response. The dog steals some food from another hiker and the hiker whose food was stolen responds to this, so what does the dog owner do? implies that he will threaten the person whose food was stolen. A well trained dog should not be stealing food, end of story. A well trained dog should return to the owner and heel whenever it encounters someone on the trail, end of story. A dog should be shadow to a thruhiker when entering a group campsite and for the duration of the stay, end of story. Training a dog to eat out of a designated bowl or directly from the owners hand is not just courtesy for other hikers its for the dogs safety. There have been several cases I am aware of over the years (not on the AT) that dogs have eaten poisoned bait while hiking with their owners. Its apparently legal to use this bait kill some sort of predator.

I am not a dog hater and have hiked with well trained dogs in the past many a time and enjoyed the company of many dogs at campsites. I have also been snarled at, nipped at, warned that I need to get off the trail 10 feet to avoid being bitten, knocked to the side on a narrow trail, had food stolen,had a hole eaten in my pack by a dog that smelled food, had mud tramped all over my sleeping pad and sleeping bag at a shelter and had a dog lying in and urinating in a rare water source in dry weather. In most cases the owners spend far more time apologizing for their dogs misgivings than just spending the time to train them so they dont need to apologize.

[KCNC]

I'm a dog lover.

My dogs are trained, well-behaved, and go all over town with me on a regular basis. On any given night you'll find at least one, if not two, in our bed.

I'd never consider taking my dogs out on a hike for more than a day, and then only in areas that people would expect to see a dog.

Too many opportunities for things to go wrong, not to mention the additional logistical complexity.

Also, everything that peakbagger says above. (His post appeared after I hit 'submit' on mine.)

[Puddlefish]

These are some rough numbers/anecdotes from my 600 miles (not even a third of the total distance) on the trail. Starting at Springer, in April. I saw a dozen or more dogs attempting a thru hike. I saw a bunch more dayhiking, but I'll ignore those for this thread.

Of the thru-hiking dogs, exactly two had energy in the late afternoon coming into the tentsite/shelter. They were some kind of cattle dog/blue heeler types. The remainder were dragging, and visibly distressed. They were tired, overheated and suffering. I witnessed one dog, that had been kenneled for the Smoky Mountain stretch, not want to return to it's owner. I saw multiple dogs, plop right down in streams (that hikers drink from) and refuse to move until they cooled off.

One guy recognized his dog was suffering and immediately had a family member come pick up the dog. One girl was a far faster hiker than me, but she was good enough to hike at the dog's pace. She ended up being unable to stick with her bubble of friends, and eventually even I left her behind.

Beyond the physical toll on the dogs, several dog owners told me that their dog was having behavioral issues, from being in a new place every night, and a bit confused about what it's territory was. Their dogs had become more aggressive, with barking and growling. This was fairly evident just from watching. Some dogs made friends with everyone, some dogs were barking aggressively at everything and everyone.

Then there were the annoying, inconsiderate dog owners, but those stories don't really belong in this thread, as you're just asking about the feasibility of bringing your dog along.

Short answer. Don't do it, unless you have a quick backup plan to get your dog off the trail quickly for it's own health.

After my hike, I got a shelter dog, that I chose specifically for his ability to be trail worthy. Turns out he has a bad shoulder and I can't even take him on long day hikes. I now have to plan my hikes around dog sitters. Oh well, he's still a good boy.

[evyck da fleet]

If you have to ask, you probably already know the answer.

If you're worried about breaking down how are you going to take care of your dog throughout the day? That's where the bad dog threads start. It's usually but not always a bad owner.

[BuckeyeBill]

This is all great advise and true. A dog is only as good as their owner. Actually it is the owners who often need trained before getting a dog. I have had numerous dogs over the years and could do basic training at home. The dog and I would then go to a friend/professional trainer for the additional training I wanted the dog to have.
Additionally people in general need to know how to respond to dogs. First and foremost is never ever bring your hand down towards the face. It takes this as an act of aggression and response in kind. Instead move your hand towards the dog with the backside towards the dog and under its mouth. The dog can then sniff you first and you can slowly begin to turn your hand over and pet it first under its mouth and neck. Dogs are also very protective of their owners, so don't play act or threaten the owner in any way, shape or form. You can and probably will get bitten. Finally, dogs can sense "Dog People" and will be friendly from the start. But hey all can sense fear. If you are uncomfortable around the dog, let the owner know. A responsible owner will move out of you way.

I only take my dog on short one day hikes, maybe two day. He is more relax at home. I would never take him on AT thru hike even though he is thoroughly trained.

[perdidochas]

I'm really torn. Hollywood is great on the local trails but I don't know how he will handle the distance but then again it could be me that breaks down. He's good at staying close to me on a 25' retractable and stays on the trail. I had considered attaching the retractable directly to my pack. Is this the best way to go? Anybody got experience using a hammock instead of tent? Seems like extra lines to get tangled in. Convince me to take him and have fun!
I would advise not. First, you have to make a plan for GSMNP, as dogs aren't allowed in the back country. Second, I don't think it's his dream to hike the AT.

[Starchild]

You can do it, but it is in your hands how it goes down. In some sense you can just say F everyone I'm going to hike with my dog and if they don't like it that's their problem. This attitude is the problem and is turning many people off from allowing dogs on trail, and many opinions expressed here. Then you can do it respectfully to other hikers, with a dog trail ready, in total voice control and will not interfere with other hikers - these are the dogs that speak volumes to the cause of allowing dogs on trail. Hiking in Europe I have found almost all hiking dogs are in the second category, in the US mostly the first.

I also want to echo that no one loves your dog like you do, and most don't place any more love in your dog then the squirrel they just saw a mile back, some prefer the squirrel.

[perdidochas]

You can do it, but it is in your hands how it goes down. In some sense you can just say F everyone I'm going to hike with my dog and if they don't like it that's their problem. This attitude is the problem and is turning many people off from allowing dogs on trail, and many opinions expressed here. Then you can do it respectfully to other hikers, with a dog trail ready, in total voice control and will not interfere with other hikers - these are the dogs that speak volumes to the cause of allowing dogs on trail. Hiking in Europe I have found almost all hiking dogs are in the second category, in the US mostly the first.

I also want to echo that no one loves your dog like you do, and most don't place any more love in your dog then the squirrel they just saw a mile back, some prefer the squirrel.

You have great points. I do think the one about having a dog that is totally trail ready--total voice control, etc. I have had one dog in my life that was anywhere close to being able to do that. He was a Australian shepherd/cattle dog mix, and I could stop him from doing almost anything (eating or chasing geese) with just voice control. However, I was a single man then, and had the time and patience to train him. He was also incredibly smart. That said, even with him, I wouldn't let him greet strangers without a leash. He liked most people, but there were a few that just made him tense and angry for some reason.

[saltysack]

Be prepared......I’m a dog hiker but as others said it can and likely will cause you to get off trail at least temporarily.....my pup does fine in south east doing 20+ mpd but the last two years he has caused me issues on hikes of the collegiate loop and CT.....most all of my trips are fairly rushed ie avg over 20 mpd due to work and family constraints. On two occasions I had to carry him and recently caused me to bag my CT thru after his injury.......turns into his hike not yours......if you have plenty of time and $$ with options for him when he can’t hike go for it but if not don’t do it..pics to prove it!!![emoji51]. He’s lost his hiking privileges if it requires a flight!!!https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171010/cbd24937c8d813637649260abed6bc24.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171010/7c834d3b6edec2cc503c1920deb41a54.jpg


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[saltysack]

Top pic was the last year on the Collegiate east at the miserable road walk at chalk creek and second pic was this past sept near Bailey Co....


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[Bobby]

no matter the distance understand that by bringing your dog it's creating more work and more logistical issues than you would have if you didn't bring him. If it's a section hike - probably not that big of a deal. you can always shorten the hike or change your plans if an issue arises. On a thru it becomes more complicated. I hiked some big sections of my thru with people that had dogs. On trail not really an issue at all. Getting off trail was where the problems began - hitching, going into stores, hostels, hotels, restaurants, etc... In some cases it became pretty difficult. Without a dog there was nothing to think about or consider (dog related stuff). I personally wouldn't want the extra responsibility and logistical issues associated with having a dog along on my thru. I like to maintain maximum freedom and flexibility when hiking long distances. Whether or not the dog is physically or temperamentally up to the challenge is a whole different conversation - if you are already on the fence, my advice would be - leave the dog at home and don't make things any more challenging than they already are going to be

[swjohnsey]

Don't take the dog.

[Christoph]

Just getting back from my thru, I can say it was awesome to see dogs on the trail and 90% of them were pretty well behaved, overall. Another note, almost ALL of them weren't on leashes either and a few were even sleeping in shelters and allowed to free roam around where people are eating. One knocked over someones dinner they were preparing and ate half of it before he could be controlled, but "he never does that". As I'm a dog lover, not everyone is comfortable around dogs. I wouldn't take the dog on a true thru attempt. I would never put any of them through what I just endured. I saw a dog that was injured and carried out (ultimately ending the attempt), one got lost (was adopted along the way (yes, really)), NUMEROUS piles of dog crap right on the trail, and distruction of wildlife (plants, etc..) of the edge of the trail, and a lady that had bite marks on her (not sure what happened, but it happened).. Save the "hiking with my dog pics" for sections or weekend hikes and if you go for a thru hike, leave him home or with someone.

[D2maine]

Wrong on all counts. We're finishing our thru in the next couple of weeks, and as far as I can tell, Scout is loving every minute of it! First rule about taking your dog hiking? Don't come on WhiteBlaze and ask if you should...

full disclosure its fair to put it out there that you obviously have some advantages over a traditional thru if you are vehicle/camper supported...


I'm in the process of finishing up a thru hike with my wife and dog. We used an RV and second vehicle the whole way, mostly to avoid hitching/road walks/hotels with the dog. We drive one north, and hike back to the one we left. Anywhere from one day slack-packs to one week 100 miles. It's worked great for us! Provisioning, alternate gear storage, ability to dodge weather, and you get to see not only the trail with everybody else, but all the small towns along the way. Like two trips in one. If your wife would like the trip, but not the hike, this might be the ticket?

[Tipi Walter]

My old backpacking dog went on all my trips for 15 years with no complaints. He never used a leash except in camp to keep him from investigating new arrivals. He had a dog pack and could carry 17 days of his own food at one time. He always fashioned a nest in dead leaves on -10F nights and hated being inside the tent. He pulled some tough nutbuster hills and crossed some raging creeks.

Everywhere I went my dog went. We lived outside together. If you want to live outside and go backpacking, and own a dog---what are you gonna do? Abandoned him or give him up for adoption? Gotta take the cur.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Backpacking2010/With-Hootyhoo-in-a-Bob-Bald/i-6fVJS6d/0/e015fe57/L/TRIP%20106%20134-L.jpg

[Speakeasy TN]

Well, I appreciate the thoughtful responses.

It's hard to argue with the math behind having to beat the completion odds twice to make a thru happen. The doom and gloom porcupine, cut pad stories aren't really the decision makers because he/ we could get a copperhead tomorrow. I got tickled at the comment about the dog laying in the creek that hikers drink from. Here's the thing EVERYTHING that lives in the woods, chits in the woods. A dog laying in the water is the least of your problems!
I had several options including skipping GSMNP because it's my least favorite section and I could hit it when I get home and see the Fall colors, but I'm kind of leaning toward leaving the big dope with someone. Kind of a unique situation because he really is my closest family. Oh well, 6 months and lots of short trips between now and then. Thanks again for the thoughtful responses.

[saltysack]

Well, I appreciate the thoughtful responses.

It's hard to argue with the math behind having to beat the completion odds twice to make a thru happen. The doom and gloom porcupine, cut pad stories aren't really the decision makers because he/ we could get a copperhead tomorrow. I got tickled at the comment about the dog laying in the creek that hikers drink from. Here's the thing EVERYTHING that lives in the woods, chits in the woods. A dog laying in the water is the least of your problems!
I had several options including skipping GSMNP because it's my least favorite section and I could hit it when I get home and see the Fall colors, but I'm kind of leaning toward leaving the big dope with someone. Kind of a unique situation because he really is my closest family. Oh well, 6 months and lots of short trips between now and then. Thanks again for the thoughtful responses.

If you got a person willing to watch him why not try it with the pup on trail ....if he’s not enjoying you’ll probably realize it before your out of Va...I see your in TN...rent a car and drive him to who ever agreed to take him while you finish your hike......


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[nsherry61]

I still can't get over what an overwhelming number of doggy naysayers are active on this site. Good golly, it's worse that fear of bears and rattle snakes.

It all depends on the dog and the owner and the owner's goals and hiking style!! There are many dogs (yes a tiny minority, but still many) that are fully capable of doing a thru-hike and loving nearly every bit of it. Almost without exception in the previous posts against taking a dog, anecdotes and examples are used that pertain specifically to dogs that were not well trained or not well acclimated to backpacking or not of a breed type appropriate for extended long-distance hiking. I think it's safe to say that my dog, a great backpacking dog, would die trying to run the Iditarod, but hundreds of dogs do just fine running 1100 miles pulling a sled. Would all you naysayers tell sled dogs owners that running their dogs in an 1100 race should not be done?

So, be smart about whether or not you take your do on a thru hike. Make sure you dog can handle that type of activity and that you are ready and willing to do what it takes to support your dog along the way and not spoil the trail for other users. Then, if you decide it's right for you and your dog, GO DO IT!

[tawa]

Ask the dog if he really wants to do a thru hike----unless he answers yes then leave him/her at home!!

[Slo-go'en]

Ask the dog if he really wants to do a thru hike----unless he answers yes then leave him/her at home!!

No doubt he'll say yes. But ask him again after a few weeks in the cold rain and snow. He might be missing his warm couch and regular meals.

[Tipi Walter]

Ask the dog if he really wants to do a thru hike----unless he answers yes then leave him/her at home!!

So you go ahead on your thruhike and leave your dog at home. He's probably dead in about a week from lack of food and water. Or is someone else gonna take on your responsibility?

[turtle fast]

I personally woulden't bring a dog. Myself, I ran into 4 bears, 3 rattle snakes (and those I SAW right ON the trail), a rabid raccoon, a pack of hunting dogs, and other dogs that were not too friendly. Just a smattering as to why I woulden't want my dog around. Not to mention the serious possibility of the dog contracting Lymes Disease (I knew an AT hiker who's trail dog who got it).

[DRRouner]

When I did a thru with my dog she had the following problems. 1. She had an allergic reaction when she sniffed a flower and her face blew up like a blow fish. Gave her a allergy pill. 2. A owl swooped down and grabbed her by her tail. She did lose some hair. The event didn't leave her traumatized but she was most likely humiliated. 3. Went after a porcupine and received some quills in her face. The porcupine was fine and didn't even leave the area. It took me a couple of minutes to pull the quills. Never went after a porcupine again. 3. She had bouts of flatulence. Its possible it could have upset some hikers but I doubt it ruin their hike. On the flip side, they could blame her on when they themselves passed gas.

She weighed around 140 lbs (Alaska Malamute) when we started and about 135 lbs when finished. Although, it was over a week after we got back that I weighed her so she probably lost more than five pounds. I put some balm on her paws a couple of time in Pennsylvania as a preventative measure but didn't have any issues with her paws. We did have a problem with the Whites; I couldn't keep up with her. Undoubtedly, the Whites and Maine were her favorite part of the trail. She always ready to go in the mornings and breaks. I'm sure the colder temps was a major factor. My parents met us at Abol Bridge to pick her pick her up so I could continue on to Baxter. I had attached her wire leash to a picnic table. She tried to follow me pulling the table with her until the wire leach snapped. Yeah, She really hated hiking with me. I never saw blood coated rocks with chunks of flesh on the trail. Nor dead and dying dogs abandoned by the side of the trail. Out of the 4000 + miles of hiking with her on the AT, including a thru hike, I never had any major problems with her except for the heat. But we just started at sunrise and ended earlier.
While safely at home and out for a walk, a driver who was distracted by his phone, ran us over. Because of her injuries, I had to put her down.
I attempted another thru hike but this time alone, I got off the trail after 1300 miles because it became monotonous. But the real reason was I missed hiking with a dog. This February I will be doing another thru hike and will be taking my new dog, Abbie, with me.

[nsherry61]

I personally woulden't bring a dog. Myself, I ran into 4 bears, 3 rattle snakes (and those I SAW right ON the trail), a rabid raccoon, a pack of hunting dogs, and other dogs that were not too friendly. Just a smattering as to why I woulden't want my dog around. Not to mention the serious possibility of the dog contracting Lymes Disease (I knew an AT hiker who's trail dog who got it).
I personally would bring my dog. She's never seen a bear that I know of other than through the car window once. She's been around several rattle snakes and completely ignores them. Raccoons are nasty little critters when they want to be, I'd make sure I called her off any raccoons if she wasn't smart enough to figure it out on her own. I can't imagine she hasn't has some fun chasing raccoon on occasion. She has had her rabies shot. My dog enjoys other dogs, but then, you never know what those other dogs might do, I choose to accept the risk of an encounter. And, as for Lyme Disease, living in Massachusetts, she's far more likely to contract it in our back yard and woods around our house than along the AT, and she has yet in three years of running in the woods every day. And, she's had her Lyme vaccine.

Bottom line. I'd take her on a thru-hike in and minute and it if didn't work out, I'd send her home. But, I would never eliminate the chance for her to try and do it. As for rough terrain, she's been on top of about 1/2 of New Hampshire's 4000 foots, many in winter. It just depends on the dog and the owner.

[Jim Adams]

You have days that you want to hike and days that you want to take a zero.....your dog has no way of saying no when he / she needs a zero. they might like to run on hiking trails and have fun, but they also may not want to do it everyday for 6 months. When Bill Irwin hiked in 1990 with his seeing eye dog Orient, his dog received the best care of any that Ive seen on the trail. It was checked by a vet every week. the vet said that at the end of Bill's thru hike that Orient had 7 ears of wear to his pads from the hike. Leave your dog home!

[nsherry61]

...your dog has no way of saying no when he / she needs a zero.
Have you ever owned a dog? Mine sure doesn't have any problems communicating those sorts of things.


. . . at the end of Bill's thru hike that Orient had 7 ears of wear to his pads from the hike. Leave your dog home!
A dog's foot pads are not car tires, they heal. I don't know who claims a dogs foot pads somehow have a limited life based on the use they've had. That's just silly. Sounds like someone taking something a vet said and reinterpreting it to make a catchy statement or to exaggerate some point. :-?

[cliffordbarnabus]

[QUOTE=nsherry61;2174745]I still can't get over what an overwhelming number of doggy naysayers are active on this site. Good golly, it's worse that fear of bears and rattle snakes.

it's not "fear", it's the reality of a dog's nose in your crotch, eating your m&m's, taking up space in a shelter, etc.

and the owner always saying..."what?...what?"

[Bronk]

My dog is completely wiped out after a week long trip doing only 70 miles. And I feel guilty for putting him through that. He loves it when we are out there but he is worn out by the end of each day. Yes, he is eager to get going again every morning, but when we get home he mostly sleeps for the next few days. I can't imagine subjecting him to back to back hikes for weeks or months at a time.

[nsherry61]

. . . it's not "fear", it's the reality of a dog's nose in your crotch, eating your m&m's, taking up space in a shelter, etc.

and the owner always saying..."what?...what?"

That sounds like an owner problem than a dog problem.

And, as for eating m&m's and taking up shelter space, I've had way more problems with human hikers causing those problems than I have had with dog hikers. If that is your metric for not being allowed on the trail, we should kick all the human hikers off the trail first and foremost.

[Jim Adams]

I've owned 7 dogs in my life. I was also smart enough not to hike with them. Orient was retired after his thru hike because of the vets findings.

[Sandy of PA]

I've owned 7 dogs in my life. I was also smart enough not to hike with them. Orient was retired after his thru hike because of the vets findings.
You DID thru hike with a cat!

[DRRouner]

Alright, I'm calling you out your B.S.

While on the trail, Orient was checked regularly by veterinarians who would hear about the Orient Express from the news media and would trek out to meet the two and examine Orient. Between “house calls” and trips to vets’ offices along the way, Irwin estimates Orient was checked at least 25 times. He was examined once at the end of the trip to head off a demonstration by an animal rights group who had heard that Orient was being abused. A veterinarian who had worked with Seeing Eye traveled over 300 miles to examine Orient, then held a press conference to proclaim him the healthiest dog he had ever seen. The demonstration never occurred.

This was taken from TheorientExpress.com

[CrumbSnatcher]

you live so close to the trail. why not hike from Springer Mt. to Fontana Dam. as a trial period. then decided after that?
Do you have someone to watch the dog short term/ long term? have them pick up the dog at Fontana and either leave them at home for good or bring the dog back to you after the smokies and hike VIRGINIA with the dog and decide after that. the northern part of the trail can be taxing for the dog, even the heat thru the middle states too, but with family just a drive a few hours away, you could change your mind later. Living in Chattanooga, i would hike the dog the 3 weeks to Fontana then decide. IMO

[rocketsocks]

If a hiker walks 5,000,000 million steps...how many would a dog walk? Lots of year and tear on a pup...just my opinion.

[rocketsocks]

If a hiker walks 5,000,000 million steps...how many would a dog walk? Lots of wear and tear on a pup...just my opinion.

[CrumbSnatcher]

maybe think about taking the dog on the 2nd thruhike, so you know what the dogs up against :)
i agree it can be very tough on most breeds! most dogs would not do well... some do.

[nsherry61]

I've owned 7 dogs in my life. I was also smart enough not to hike with them. . .
Wow. If any of your dogs were anything like mine, or many other hiking dogs I've met and known, I sure feel sorry for them!

I have little doubt that my dog is not average and that most average dogs might make poor hiking companions. But, for the many dogs that love hiking, are bred for endurance outdoor living and have owners that love hiking with them, I don't think your advice or point of view is particularly apt.

[cliffordbarnabus]

That sounds like an owner problem than a dog problem.

And, as for eating m&m's and taking up shelter space, I've had way more problems with human hikers causing those problems than I have had with dog hikers. If that is your metric for not being allowed on the trail, we should kick all the human hikers off the trail first and foremost.
shelters and m&m's are for humans.

[nsherry61]

shelters and m&m's are for humans.
You're just a speciesist. In 50 years, to protect their reputation, your great grandchildren will be denying their relationship to you like Ben Affleck did his great grandfather over racism. :eek: :-? :rolleyes:

That being said, just like I hate obnoxious, self righteous drivers on the road, I hate obnoxious, self righteous dog owners that don't take into account the comfort and serenity of the people around them. If one is thru-hiking with a dog, one should be prepared to camp away from others, even in (maybe especially in) the worst weather, and if their dog can't keep from eating other people's food, they probably shouldn't be allowed to be around other people when food is present.

But again, that's an owner issue, not an inherent dog problem any more than all people that smoke should be banned from the trail because some people that smoke do so without consideration of others.

[adamkrz]

Some good advice here but only you can know what your dog could do, I mountain bike with friends and one guy brings his dog that can outrun us all on the hottest 30 mile days.

I did a month long hike with my dog when he was younger and I know it would be to much for him now but never had a problem with his paws with all the miles of hiking his pads are like a rhino's butt.

Also never had a problem with other hikers we met with - always tented unless a shelter was empty - never leashed but would ask approaching hikers if it was O.K., My dog doesn't go after wildlife and pays no mind to people unless they had a biscuit to share.

Dogs are really easy to train - within a couple of months he was all trained with voice commands and just gets smarter with age.

[Bobby]

You're just a speciesist. In 50 years, to protect their reputation, your great grandchildren will be denying their relationship to you like Ben Affleck did his great grandfather over racism. :eek: :-? :rolleyes:

That being said, just like I hate obnoxious, self righteous drivers on the road, I hate obnoxious, self righteous dog owners that don't take into account the comfort and serenity of the people around them. If one is thru-hiking with a dog, one should be prepared to camp away from others, even in (maybe especially in) the worst weather, and if their dog can't keep from eating other people's food, they probably shouldn't be allowed to be around other people when food is present.

But again, that's an owner issue, not an inherent dog problem any more than all people that smoke should be banned from the trail because some people that smoke do so without consideration of others.

dogs are property they have no rights. Dogs are not allowed anywhere. PEOPLE are allowed to bring their dogs with them when they go out in the world. I agree with your comparison to smoking. The difference is that there are fairly strong social norms in place with regard to smoking in public spaces and I've found that most smokers are aware that most people don't like smoking and they do their best to respect that view. However, most dog owners seem to think their love of their dog, and the fact that they see it as a "family member" some how makes it special -something that needs to be tolerated by others - similar to that of a rambunctious poorly behaved child. Ya know -the dog has a name, it has personality, it lives in the home, and share lots of family experiences -so therefore it's like my child. Dogs are not people.



It's that

[Alligator]

I will remind everyone that this is the Dogs on the AT subforum and rules for this subforum state that it is not the place to argue whether dogs belong on the trail or by extension whether dogs can be brought on a thruhike. Because some dogs HAVE actually thruhiked without having been overly traumatized. Some breeds and individual dogs have what it takes to make it. If your answer is always no to dogs on the trail or dogs thruhiking then this subforum isn't for you. Don't temper your no with advice you don't really mean, just put the subforum on ignore. You are not really helping anyone if your suggestions are just a charade.

Focus on keeping this thread specific to the OP and his dog. One of the underlying goals of this subforum is to help dog owners improve both their and their dogs on trail behavior. It is expected that this will be done in a respectful manner.

I am not only talking about this thread specifically some of the issues pertain to other threads in this subforum as well.

[IslandPete]

full disclosure its fair to put it out there that you obviously have some advantages over a traditional thru if you are vehicle/camper supported...
The two-vehicle plan was because of the dog. Every through hiker uses support vehicles. They may be paid shuttles/taxis, or they may be people that picked them up hitch hiking. I thought both those sounded like they'd be more difficult with a dog.
As was mentioned above,if you have a dog, and want to through hike, what are you gonna do? Everyone's dog is different. We had very little doubt when we started that Scout would be fine, and he has been. We saw dogs on the trail we may not have felt the same way about. A lot of people have told us that they looked forward to seeing Scout on the trail, because he looked so happy and cheered them up. We stayed at shelters rarely, partly because we were concerned about how people would feel about the dog. The first time we did, because it was late and raining, the other person there said he welcomed the dog there because he'd keep the mice away! People also noticed, and commented, that Scout would not get in a shelter unless asked. Nothing we taught him, but I suppose he looked at it like getting on the bed with us!
Scout hasn't been perfect, but he's been great to have along. Like my wife, he's made the hike so far a little more difficult, but a lot more fun!
And as has also been mentioned, I've personally witnessed, as have most others we've talked with, much more objectionable behavior from human hikers on the trail than all the dogs put together. Just sayin..

[Gambit McCrae]

IF you are asking for opinions on whether people would personally bring their dog on a thru hike, my vote would be no. I say no because they dog didn't ask to do a thru hike, you want to do a thru hike and have the burden of a dog. Not only is it a substantial amount of wear and tear ont he animal that will absolutely shorten its life, but it is taking away from your hike as well, as causing a substantial amount of cost and logistics that are not rewarded with having a better time. I personally will probably not get another dog after mine kicks the bucket because I am for 1 not companionate enough to have a dog, and 2 because I like to travel too much and the dog is a burden.

[Francis Sawyer]

I asked my dog if he'd like to go on a hike . He cocked his head to one side , farted and then walked away.

[rocketsocks]

I asked my dog if he'd like to go on a hike . He cocked his head to one side , farted and then walked away.i asked my dog what that meant, he said that means later, not right now.

[Don H]

I asked my dog if he'd like to go on a hike . He cocked his head to one side , farted and then walked away.
That sounds like a "NO" to me.

[IslandPete]

That sounds like a "NO" to me.
Sounds more like "Im'a go think about it" to me

[Greenlight]

Kyle Rohrig hiked the AT three years ago with a dog, and he hammock camped. If you're on social media, you can friend him and ask him pointed questions about his experiences. He is pretty responsive.

https://www.facebook.com/kyle.rohrig.7


I'm really torn. Hollywood is great on the local trails but I don't know how he will handle the distance but then again it could be me that breaks down. He's good at staying close to me on a 25' retractable and stays on the trail. I had considered attaching the retractable directly to my pack. Is this the best way to go? Anybody got experience using a hammock instead of tent? Seems like extra lines to get tangled in. Convince me to take him and have fun!

[murdocsboss]

I hammock camp with dogs. At our packs largest we were two Fila Brasileiro, one dogo Argentina and a border terrier. As a pack we've hiked the Northville placid trail in new york through many times. I plan on hitting the AT with one of my dogs, nobody 2018. If we didn't regularly hike over ten miles a day and have more than 100 nights under the hammock I don't think I would have even considered it. Be sure you want to live this way for 5-6 months. You'll Want to go into stores or the post office. Considerations will Always have to be made for the dog. Have you practiced leaving them outside a store alone? Have they slept outside in all forms of weather? Does your dog walk along the trail without approaching everyone they see? These are just some of the things you should consider.

[Traveler]

I'm really torn. Hollywood is great on the local trails but I don't know how he will handle the distance but then again it could be me that breaks down. He's good at staying close to me on a 25' retractable and stays on the trail. I had considered attaching the retractable directly to my pack. Is this the best way to go? Anybody got experience using a hammock instead of tent? Seems like extra lines to get tangled in. Convince me to take him and have fun!

As you can see, there are a variety of opinions about this. With these types of quandaries I usually refer to the "If there is a doubt, there is no doubt" decision. If there is a doubt that causes you to ask for help "convincing" you to take the dog along, there is probably little doubt as to the answer.