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Beaker2
01-25-2007, 12:26
My husband and I are planning a thru-hike for 2008 and are also planning on bringing our Pit Bull with us. He will be 3 years old then and is 45-50lbs. He is very well trained (we're working on our search and rescue certification) and is excellent around people and other dogs. We have a pack for him and have started training for the hike, but I have a few questions:

1. The food we feed him (annamaet) is not readily available at walmart/petsmart. has anyone else dealt with this? not sure if we should see about having food shipped to certain palces or to change foods before the hike to a more readily available but still high quality food.
2. I know dogs aren't allowed in GSMNP and Baxter....GSM I have no problem kenneling, but has anyone tried/heard of anyone getting a special permit for Baxter? I saw in a aprior post that someone was trying to get to Katadin with their dog. Just wonder. I feel like if my dog has hiked the entire At with us, he kind of deserves to be able to finish it with us to...
3. Are there any hostels that accept dogs? My hubby and I hikes in the Presidentail mt range a few years ago and noticed that dogs weren't allowed in the hotels....

i think that's all for now....i'm sure there will be more questions as the time gets closer, luckily I'm a vet tech and my dog's Dr is a orthopedic specialist!
ps: my dogs pack is a ruffwear pallisades II....i love it!

-Kristin (and Castor the Pit Bull)

QHShowoman
01-25-2007, 12:40
I feel like if my dog has hiked the entire At with us, he kind of deserves to be able to finish it with us to...


I highly doubt that your dog will care whether he reaches Katahdin or not. For dogs, I am sure another day on the trail is no different than another walk to poop.

Heater
01-25-2007, 12:53
My husband and I are planning a thru-hike for 2008 and are also planning on bringing our Pit Bull with us. He will be 3 years old then and is 45-50lbs. He is very well trained (we're working on our search and rescue certification) and is excellent around people and other dogs. We have a pack for him and have started training for the hike, but I have a few questions:

1. The food we feed him (annamaet) is not readily available at walmart/petsmart. has anyone else dealt with this? not sure if we should see about having food shipped to certain palces or to change foods before the hike to a more readily available but still high quality food.
2. I know dogs aren't allowed in GSMNP and Baxter....GSM I have no problem kenneling, but has anyone tried/heard of anyone getting a special permit for Baxter? I saw in a aprior post that someone was trying to get to Katadin with their dog. Just wonder. I feel like if my dog has hiked the entire At with us, he kind of deserves to be able to finish it with us to...
3. Are there any hostels that accept dogs? My hubby and I hikes in the Presidentail mt range a few years ago and noticed that dogs weren't allowed in the hotels....

i think that's all for now....i'm sure there will be more questions as the time gets closer, luckily I'm a vet tech and my dog's Dr is a orthopedic specialist!
ps: my dogs pack is a ruffwear pallisades II....i love it!

-Kristin (and Castor the Pit Bull)

I think you should PM Minnesotasmith on this one. :p

Spirit Walker
01-25-2007, 15:19
Climbing Katahdin is (or at least used to be) hand over hand rock climbing. Your dog will be quite happy to remain behind.

You will probably do best to mail your dog food. The stores in the very small towns along the way probably won't have much high quality dog food. They often didn't have quality human food ;-) You might contact the ATC about a list of veterinarian offices along the way. You might be able to get some decent food through them.

Because dogs tend to bark a lot at hostels and can get into fights, you may have a problem there. In some cases the dog can stay outside, just not indoors. Some motels may allow dogs, but you'll pay extra.

John B
01-25-2007, 15:32
You'll enjoy seeing the looks of happy surprise and joy on the faces of other hikers when they spot a pitbull approaching. Everyone will instinctively know he's a harmless, rescue-certified pitbull or will instantly believe you when you shout "He's friendly and never bit anyone!" They won't mind a bit passing within literal inches of him. What a GREAT idea to take him with you.

D'Artagnan
01-25-2007, 15:51
You'll enjoy seeing the looks of happy surprise and joy on the faces of other hikers when they spot a pitbull approaching. Everyone will instinctively know he's a harmless, rescue-certified pitbull or will instantly believe you when you shout "He's friendly and never bit anyone!" They won't mind a bit passing within literal inches of him. What a GREAT idea to take him with you.

LMAO. Oh, and don't forget to leave the leash at home too. They're so unnecessary. :rolleyes:

Lone Wolf
01-25-2007, 15:57
My husband and I are planning a thru-hike for 2008 and are also planning on bringing our Pit Bull with us. He will be 3 years old then and is 45-50lbs. He is very well trained (we're working on our search and rescue certification) and is excellent around people and other dogs. We have a pack for him and have started training for the hike, but I have a few questions:

1. The food we feed him (annamaet) is not readily available at walmart/petsmart. has anyone else dealt with this? not sure if we should see about having food shipped to certain palces or to change foods before the hike to a more readily available but still high quality food.
2. I know dogs aren't allowed in GSMNP and Baxter....GSM I have no problem kenneling, but has anyone tried/heard of anyone getting a special permit for Baxter? I saw in a aprior post that someone was trying to get to Katadin with their dog. Just wonder. I feel like if my dog has hiked the entire At with us, he kind of deserves to be able to finish it with us to...
3. Are there any hostels that accept dogs? My hubby and I hikes in the Presidentail mt range a few years ago and noticed that dogs weren't allowed in the hotels....

i think that's all for now....i'm sure there will be more questions as the time gets closer, luckily I'm a vet tech and my dog's Dr is a orthopedic specialist!
ps: my dogs pack is a ruffwear pallisades II....i love it!

-Kristin (and Castor the Pit Bull)

You should post these questions in the STRAIGHT FORWARD forum and ask for responses from only people that have hiked with dogs. Otherwise you'll get smartass answers all day and night.

rafe
01-25-2007, 16:00
My husband and I are planning a thru-hike for 2008 and are also planning on bringing our Pit Bull with us.

Please don't.

Phreak
01-25-2007, 16:10
You should post these questions in the STRAIGHT FORWARD forum and ask for responses from only people that have hiked with dogs. Otherwise you'll get smartass answers all day and night.

I agree with L Wolf. There are a handful of a**holes on here just looking for a reason to stir the pot.

The Solemates
01-25-2007, 16:17
You should post these questions in the STRAIGHT FORWARD forum and ask for responses from only people that have hiked with dogs. Otherwise you'll get smartass answers all day and night.

I would highly recommend taking Wolf's advice. Do a quick search and you will understand. To answer your questions though:

1. You will not be able to find your specific type of dog food at town re-supplies. You will be hard-pressed (or rather find it a bigger hassle, ie, have to hitch to another town, etc.) to find dog food at all. I would mail all his food.

2. You will have to contact Baxter State Park directly to answer this question, but I sincerely doubt they are one to budge on this issue. To address Spirit Walker's comment, which has great validity, it really depends on the dog though. My coonhound would have no problem with Katahdin; he is one of the most athletic dogs I have ever been around. He can jump our six-foot fence flat footed...he runs more like a deer than a dog. But my lab from several years back would in no way be able to tackle Katahdin.

3. There are hostels that accept dogs, but many do not. You can call beforehand to find out for sure. Even still, be prepared to have a back-up plan even if you think a hostel takes dogs. Be prepared to sleep in your tent on a cold rainy day with a wet starving dog.

All that said, my dog has never been on a hike more than 3-4 days. I think he could adapt okay, but I'm not sure how much he would enjoy it. He really likes our weekend jaunts, and we'll stick with that.

Mags
01-25-2007, 17:11
This question seems to come up often.
Maybe it is time for an article?

A article that fairly looks at the issues, logisitics and concerns of hiking with a dog may be warranted.

I'd do it; but other than an occasional day hike with friends' dogs, I do not know the issues involved.

I've seen too many of these discussions (be it on WB, PCT-L, Trailforums, etc.) break down into:

"Fluffy is family! He should be allowed in a shelter at all times even if he is soaking wet, was sprayed by a skunk and bites all hikers just on suspicion!"

OR

"Dogs are EVIL! The SPAWN of SATAN and do not belong in the woods, on the trail or even at a dog park!!!!"

An evenhanded article may ease up some of the acrimony on this rather er, "popular", issue. :)

rafe
01-25-2007, 17:21
My dog is great. Other peoples' dogs suck. :) Seriously.... little dogs hump your leg and yap. Big dogs smell bad, poop, fart, and frighten children. I've seen lots of dogs on the trail that were no problem at all... and others (both pets and feral) that were a damned nuisance. If an unleashed 50-lb. pit bull came at me at high speed on the trail, I'd react quite negatively.

Creek Dancer
01-25-2007, 17:23
If a pit bull came at me with any speed, I would have my pepper spray ready.

Johnny Swank
01-25-2007, 17:27
I'd be willing to cook up an article with someone who's got some experience with backpacking with a dog. I'm not a big fan of them on the trail myself, but I agree with MAGS that it would be nice to have something to discuss other than "You suck! - No, Your dog sucks!"

PM me if interested.

gypsy
01-25-2007, 17:44
[quote=Beaker2;309567]My husband and I are planning a thru-hike for 2008 and are also planning on bringing our Pit Bull with us.

Yikes! I'm scared!

TOW
01-25-2007, 18:01
[quote=Beaker2;309567]My husband and I are planning a thru-hike for 2008 and are also planning on bringing our Pit Bull with us.

Yikes! I'm scared!
yeah..............right.........................

Lilred
01-25-2007, 19:25
My husband and I are planning a thru-hike for 2008 and are also planning on bringing our Pit Bull with us. He will be 3 years old then and is 45-50lbs. He is very well trained (we're working on our search and rescue certification) and is excellent around people and other dogs. We have a pack for him and have started training for the hike, but I have a few questions:


If you are working on certification for search and rescue, maybe you could work something out at Katahdin towards certification? Wouldn't hurt to ask.

dixicritter
01-26-2007, 23:04
You should post these questions in the STRAIGHT FORWARD forum and ask for responses from only people that have hiked with dogs. Otherwise you'll get smartass answers all day and night.

Actually that's the reason this forum was started in the first place for people to be able to ask questions about hiking with dogs without getting flamed.

Check it out... http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=16259

Alligator
01-26-2007, 23:55
If you are using an unusual feed, you might try contacting the manufacturer and asking for a distributor list.

Beaker2
01-27-2007, 15:33
Thank you to all those who have answered my questions. I would be more than happy to work on an article on this topic with anyone who's willing. I do agree, however, that this forum is supposed to be a place for those who back-pack with their dogs to share advice and expereince without getting bashed. If someone doesn't like dogs on the trail or dogs in general, then they really have no business in this forum in the first place. Despite what the crankier among those who responded have to say, our dog WILL be coming with us on the trail and I will continue to make him as well prepared as he can be.

-Beaker
ps: There are few more PEOPLE on the trail who's mouths I'd be afraid of than dogs ...

Programbo
01-27-2007, 19:23
Thank you to all those who have answered my questions. I would be more than happy to work on an article on this topic with anyone who's willing. I do agree, however, that this forum is supposed to be a place for those who back-pack with their dogs to share advice and expereince without getting bashed. If someone doesn't like dogs on the trail or dogs in general, then they really have no business in this forum in the first place. Despite what the crankier among those who responded have to say, our dog WILL be coming with us on the trail and I will continue to make him as well prepared as he can be.

I think at the age of 23 you have a lot yet to learn in life and among those things are respect for others and courtesy...You have gotten a lot of good advice on your questions but you have also heard a lot of legitimate concerns from people you will encounter on your trip which also need to be addressed beyond a flip, "our dog WILL be coming"

Alligator
01-28-2007, 14:12
I think at the age of 23 you have a lot yet to learn in life and among those things are respect for others and courtesy...You have gotten a lot of good advice on your questions but you have also heard a lot of legitimate concerns from people you will encounter on your trip which also need to be addressed beyond a flip, "our dog WILL be coming"There was an and in that last sentence [emp. added]



...our dog WILL be coming with us on the trail and I will continue to make him as well prepared as he can be.
There was a thank you in the beginning too. My impression was that it was way more courteous then the sarcastic comments.

The poster had 3 specific questions.

Miss Janet runs a hostel in Erwin that I believe allows pets. She has a WB account.

RiverWarriorPJ
01-28-2007, 14:20
Not 2 fret......PitBull hiker/camper here also...."Never" had any kind of complaint, dirty look or other incident in his 3 young years of hiking.....

Tacoda
03-16-2007, 01:13
whiteblaze are just a buch of yogurt pooping fools when it comes to dogs. take your dog and enjoy your hike. Do the research required, but don't do it here unless you have a whole lot of patience.

galaleemc
03-16-2007, 07:59
Beaker2

Four out of six dogs that have made it this far were sent home from here this year.

Age, freaking out/dead dog tired of carrying pack, pulling owner too fast/no control (I asked him who the master was in this instance?), and I don't remember the other reason.

Two others expected have not even made it here yet. (boarder collie, anatolian)

We are 66 miles from Springer on trail.

Just reporting the facts mam.

NICKTHEGREEK
03-16-2007, 08:29
I highly doubt that your dog will care whether he reaches Katahdin or not. For dogs, I am sure another day on the trail is no different than another walk to poop.

Hook him up with a cute poodle in the parking lot while you head up. He'll appreciate it much more.

pitdog
03-16-2007, 08:57
I ve hiked w my pit many times and these wonderful dogs are a great judge of charactor.The facts are people are more likely to be bitten by a lab or a retreaver,the numbers are there,but when its a pit the news highly publicise the incident and never investagtes the previous harrasment done to the animals that would gladly die for its owners aproval.The people who publish these things are really theives themselves.If there were two trained pits on the plains that flew into the buildings things would be different today.These dogs are a symble of american pride and the commies in goverment try to destroy the image of The american pitbull,a wonderful and loving aminal.

NICKTHEGREEK
03-16-2007, 09:23
Luckily as a vet tech you should have easy access to a vet directory for every podunk through metropolis you pass by on the trail. You can contact offices near the trail well in advance to see if they carry the food or would be willing to accept a drop shipment and hold it for you as a "professional courtesy".
The list will be great to keep with you because as you know, vetinary care for dogs and cats isn't as readily available as medical care for humans so don't assume if Castor gets hurt help as close as the nearest town or village.

frieden
03-16-2007, 19:46
Nope, not here. Abuse isn't tolerated. Ask away.


You should post these questions in the STRAIGHT FORWARD forum and ask for responses from only people that have hiked with dogs. Otherwise you'll get smartass answers all day and night.

frieden
03-16-2007, 20:18
Thanks for posting the reasons. All of these show a lack of training (dog and handler). Like I've said before, if you love your dog - train, train, train!

I agree, it is way past time for an article. I'll work on it, and incorporate what has been posted here as well. Please, PM me with suggestions and personal experience about hiking with your dog - including prep/training.

There was an earlier post about the dog not knowing the difference between taking a walk to poop, and hiking a trail. Ed does, and if he forgets, I remind him with the command "trail". All-day hiking requires some degree of rhythm, so you can't have your dog wandering every 5 seconds. Ed knows how long it takes me to hike the length of his leash, so he can pee and get back into position, without breaking my stride. Ed always sets the pace.

Ed gets in a zone when he's hiking, because he loves it so much. All I did was attach a word to it (trail), when he does it. That way, he can be reminded of what he's supposed to be doing. If he doesn't get back into the zone, then it usually means he needs a break, so we take one. We take a LOT of breaks, but we hike so fast, it evens out. He rarely needs more than 10-15min at a time for a break.

Because hiking isn't the same as walking around to go pooh, you may want to find out if it is ok with your dog, before you try to do a long-distance hike. Even after a lot of training with local hikes, if your dog doesn't stay on the trail, and just wanders around sniffing stuff, he may not enjoy long-distance hiking.


Beaker2

Four out of six dogs that have made it this far were sent home from here this year.

Age, freaking out/dead dog tired of carrying pack, pulling owner too fast/no control (I asked him who the master was in this instance?), and I don't remember the other reason.

Two others expected have not even made it here yet. (boarder collie, anatolian)

We are 66 miles from Springer on trail.

Just reporting the facts mam.

Tha Wookie
03-16-2007, 22:13
All dogs are evil and should never be allowed in the woods.

Except my dog, a perfect little angel.

She fetches me water from the spring in the morning and checks all the side trails for good campsites.



ok just kidding.... pit bull huh?

lvleph
03-23-2007, 09:40
Too many people are concerned about pit bulls. Many articles that people have seen on the news about some pit bull attacking someone was not actually a pit bul. Many muts are too often mis-classified as a pit bull. I had a pit bull. He was one of the most affectionate dogs I have ever seen. However, he was too dumb to realize that he was 70lbs and that is too big to be a lap dog.

farmermv
03-23-2007, 12:23
If you bring it (and I hope you don't) please keep it on a leash all of the time.

frieden
03-23-2007, 13:16
If you bring it (and I hope you don't) please keep it on a leash all of the time.

If you spend any time on this dog forum at all, you'll know that we encourage proper canine trail etiquette, including leashes.

Please, read the rules of this forum. This is not a place to debate if dogs should be on the trail. This is the second day in a row that this reminder had to be posted. I am wondering if some of the Straight Forward rules need to apply here, and delete/edit infractions, so that space/time is not wasted on reminders.

Our goal is to give canine hiking teams a safe place to learn proper trail etiquette, safety/health tips, support from fellow canine hikers, training tips, etc. The fact that these people are even taking the time to post questions and responses here shows that they care about their fellow hikers, as well as their dogs, and want to be as considerate to others as possible. We want to encourage that, not scare them away, so that the trail experience is better for everyone. I'm sure you can understand this. Thank you.

Johnny Swank
03-23-2007, 14:20
If you bring it (and I hope you don't) please keep it on a leash all of the time.


If you spend any time on this dog forum at all, you'll know that we encourage proper canine trail etiquette, including leashes.

Please, read the rules of this forum. This is not a place to debate if dogs should be on the trail.


I don't see farmermv's post as as debating anything. Nowhere does he say one way or another if dogs should be on the trail.

frieden
03-23-2007, 14:40
I don't see farmermv's post as as debating anything. Nowhere does he say one way or another if dogs should be on the trail.

"...(and I hope you don't)..."

Johnny Swank
03-23-2007, 16:44
Opps, missed that. My bad.

Was up late last night packing for a weekend trip, I swear!

frieden
03-24-2007, 01:12
Opps, missed that. My bad.

Was up late last night packing for a weekend trip, I swear!

That's ok, I didn't sleep last night either. Have a fun trip!

Lumberjack
03-24-2007, 09:46
Please remember that your dog will also need a lot more calories while your thru hiking just as you do. His regular food is not going to be enuff.

You posted this on the right forum. It seem a few members here got off their leash.

frieden
03-24-2007, 12:04
Please remember that your dog will also need a lot more calories while your thru hiking just as you do. His regular food is not going to be enuff.

You posted this on the right forum. It seem a few members here got off their leash.

Some in the E. TN SAR group use high quality cat food. It is higher in nutrition, so you don't have to feed as much as dog food, and that keeps the weight down between resupply. So far, it has worked for us, but we haven't done our thru yet.

yappy
03-24-2007, 12:45
I hiked with my dog and have seen alot of dogs on the trail. Most of them don't do very well... becuz thier owners, quite frankly, are too bent on the miles and not paying much attention to the dog. I have sen some sickening things out there. I have one piece of advice for you.. well maybe 2 !..You have to let the dog LEAD the hike.. when he is tired you are done for the day. You will spend more time in hotels.. so budget. The dog will require ALOT of rest... more then you. I live in Alaska and working sled dogs require about 15 hrs of sleep a day.. when we hiked with Lulu we spent alot more time in town and in hotels.. so she could rest while we did chores. She won't sleep well in the hostels.
I carried her food.. and always will. The way I see it I am hiking cuz I WANT to she is hiking cuz I am. That is a big difference. To be honest she was rarely on a leash. She wanted to run and explore. sometimes. not walk 2 freaking miles an hr. Come on people ! you have to be able to let her off sometimes...if ya can't don't bring her for heaven sakes !

.

if your dog doescarry a pack i hope you do your dog the courtesy of not carrying your junk..that makes me sick out there. i have alot to say about this but just one other thing....you will be tenting alot cuz your dog won't be welcomed at the shelter... The AT is a VERY busy place...respect the other hikers or you won't make any friends.. and in fact will probably have a confrontation or 2.... by the way, the trail we hiked with Lulu was a sobo PCT hike... very VERY quiet out there...the AT is not.. at least at the beginning.

All in all, I hope you don't bring your dog. Most of them have a very tuff time with the trail, miles heat, confusion etc....think of the dog before you make a final decision.

frieden
03-25-2007, 01:18
I hiked with my dog and have seen alot of dogs on the trail. Most of them don't do very well... becuz thier owners, quite frankly, are too bent on the miles and not paying much attention to the dog. I have sen some sickening things out there.

I agree. Hiking with a dog is like hiking with your kids, or any other partner who cannot hike on their own. If you want to take your dog, make sure they enjoy hiking! Ed and I have been on many 20 mile hikes, and he still goes nuts when I pick up my pack. He loves to hike, but if I can see him struggling, we stop. He normally only needs about 15 min.


I carried her food.. and always will. The way I see it I am hiking cuz I WANT to she is hiking cuz I am. That is a big difference. To be honest she was rarely on a leash. She wanted to run and explore. sometimes. not walk 2 freaking miles an hr. Come on people ! you have to be able to let her off sometimes...if ya can't don't bring her for heaven sakes !

Ed will carry his pack, but I'll carry all the food and water. He'll carry his pooh bags, long line, clippers, etc. It won't be over 5 lbs. We always hike on a leash, but we've worked out a steady pace that suits both of us. I bring the long line for play during breaks/camp. Not only is Ed's recall not the greatest, but I don't want him to get hurt. He has a high prey drive, and even though he would never hurt another animal, I don't think the other animal would instinctively know that! This is part training issue, part breed type, and part Ed as an individual.


you will be tenting alot cuz your dog won't be welcomed at the shelter... The AT is a VERY busy place...respect the other hikers or you won't make any friends.. and in fact will probably have a confrontation or 2.... by the way, the trail we hiked with Lulu was a sobo PCT hike... very VERY quiet out there...the AT is not.. at least at the beginning.

We plan on camping or hotel only. Shelters aren't safe, and hostels are dog-friendly rarely.

yappy
03-25-2007, 18:14
I hope for both your sake and eds' that all your answers will end up being right choices. Hiking 20 miles days and hiking the AT in a straight stretch are very VERY different things. Have plan b ready when you need it ... cuz you will need it. The trail is pretty much NOT what you think it is... ya know ? Until you and your dog do it you don't have any idea what it truely will be like... it will be MORE then you thought and maybe less. All I am saying is....take all the advice you can get...be open minded about it....and pay clear, strong attention to Ed... He should be the leader whether he knows it or not. Very few dogs have a " great " time out there... that is just the truth. Don't let you ego get in the way of making good decisions. i hope you are capable of getting off or making other arrangements if you have to. best of luck to you and Ed.

frieden
03-25-2007, 20:16
I hope for both your sake and eds' that all your answers will end up being right choices. Hiking 20 miles days and hiking the AT in a straight stretch are very VERY different things. Have plan b ready when you need it ... cuz you will need it. The trail is pretty much NOT what you think it is... ya know ? Until you and your dog do it you don't have any idea what it truely will be like... it will be MORE then you thought and maybe less. All I am saying is....take all the advice you can get...be open minded about it....and pay clear, strong attention to Ed... He should be the leader whether he knows it or not. Very few dogs have a " great " time out there... that is just the truth. Don't let you ego get in the way of making good decisions. i hope you are capable of getting off or making other arrangements if you have to. best of luck to you and Ed.

Thanks. If you read my other posts in this forum, you'll see that Ed comes first, and if he wants to stop, we'll stop. We've planned out the wazoo, and have no expectations. If we don't finish the AT, we'll do something else. He loves going to the movies! :) I've section hiked the AT for many years, but know it is nothing like hiking day after day for 2000+ miles.

Butterflymoon
01-19-2008, 09:05
If you looking for hostel and hotel info you might try the thru-hikers handbook. The section with town info usually list places that accept dogs, and list extra cost.
I'm planning on hiking this year with my k9 as well. If you'd like to swap ideas please PM me.

Namaste
Butterflymoon

mrburns
01-20-2008, 19:56
I'm taking my dog too in 2008 (yikes! what year is it?), she's a 43 lb border collie mix. It's getting close to time, but I'm still researching like you are... here's my thoughts on your questions...

1. Food: I use Innova, also not a grocery store food. I'm going to have it mailed to myself along the trail, my parents have agreed to do post office runs for me back home, so that helps. And as long as I need to mail my dog's food, I'm going to go ahead and mail my own food as well.
** I saw another guy's post who tried this, and got sick of the post office hassle, so started feeding his dog whatever he could find along the way... I can't do this with mine, she gets diarrhea from anything unfamiliar.

2. No clue about permits, sorry.

3. In hostels/hotels in towns along the way, a previous post mentioned the Thru-Hiker Companion and I've been relying on this as suggested, some shuttle services allow dogs too. As for shelters along the way, I'm planning to steer clear and will use a tent.

CrumbSnatcher
01-20-2008, 21:36
your dogs not allowed in g.s.m.n.p. or baxter state park. also in the s.n.p.they will want you to keep the leash on(so many road crossings) and lastly your dogs not allowed in the bear mt. zoo(no worries though)the a.t. thru the zoo is about a thousand feet long. if you both take turns thru the zoo,you wont miss any miles...after about 4-5 days on our first thru,i ditched the pack and carried her food,pad,blanket,booties,etc. my choice.DOGS are not true pack animals at least think about taking the pack off on tuff sections- example(like coming down dragons tooth)and maybe the last mile or so each day to let them stretch out. buy the food you like in the bigger towns along the way, and box up for smaller towns up in front of you. good luck on your trek

CrumbSnatcher
01-20-2008, 21:52
i agree with yappy, makes me sick when people make the dog carry some of their gear, once this girl was bragging that she had the dog carry her extra water. i carried all of bears gear even the water. wouldnt have it any other way. if theres two of you like a (married couple) and your still thinking of a dog pack, SHAME ON YOU .............

rainmaker
01-20-2008, 22:25
I think you should PM Minnesotasmith on this one. :p

You are an evil person sir,truly evil. Hope we get a chance to meet sometime. :D

CrumbSnatcher
01-20-2008, 22:40
no such thing as a bad dog. just bad owners

minnesotasmith
01-21-2008, 00:31
I agree with L Wolf. There are a handful of a**holes on here just looking for a reason to stir the pot.

The ones that take the position that their actions do not affect other people in a shared environment, that other people who are logically irritated by being so affected (such as being inconvenienced or threatened by someone bringing their house pet into human-intended hiker facilities) have no right to feel that way -- yeah, they'd qualify.

general
01-21-2008, 08:19
when hiking with your dog, it would be wise to stay away from shelters, at least for camping. i once had someone bless me out letting my dog into a shelter (i had just stopped for a minute, not staying), and then said person proceeded to hop up there and track mud from his boots all over everyone's stuff. i hike with a 1/2 pit 1/2 red bone hound. you'll love some of the colorful discussions that will take place.

desdemona
01-24-2008, 00:42
There was an earlier post about the dog not knowing the difference between taking a walk to poop, and hiking a trail. Ed does, and if he forgets, I remind him with the command "trail". All-day hiking requires some degree of rhythm, so you can't have your dog wandering every 5 seconds. Ed knows how long it takes me to hike the length of his leash, so he can pee and get back into position, without breaking my stride. Ed always sets the pace.


I agree with this-- don't know anything else about the advisability of taking a dog on a long hike like this. It sounds like quite a major deal. Breed aside. I don't think that's an issue. I can totally tell the difference between a trained/well-behaved pit and one who is going around the neighborhood biting the other dogs and people.

But that aside... Torie is totally different on a walk or a hike. For one thing , she only does her business when she needs to. On a regular walk she is peeing on everything. This would seem to be less so for me as we don't go on such major trips, still she just is so much more focused.
We have done agility, and I'd say she is more focused than she is in agility. But she has done herding, it is more like that. (She's a herding breed.)



--des

The Mayor
01-25-2008, 11:34
I really hope the OP keeps the pit bull on the leash.
For the safety of the pit bull.
Me and my dog were recently attacked a by a pit-mix(not on the trail btw). My dog was leashed, the pit-mix was not. My dog was slightly injured and I got a puncture wound or two for my trouble. I'd hate to have to hurt a dog just because that dog has the misfortune of being owned by an irresponsible hiker.

I've been sectioning since the mid 90's. Most dogs on the trail are great. I can think of 2 aggressive ones I've met and one complete idiot dog/owner pair. Actually, the idiot dog was funny....now. Jumping in the shelter, and on the table, the whole time his owner cooed "Ohhhh, Mr. Boooooots!"

Critterman
01-25-2008, 13:30
no such thing as a bad dog. just bad owners

I have met a few bad dogs.

Mags
01-25-2008, 14:42
A woman I dated has a sweet pit-bull/chow mix.

The dog is short, has a stocky, muscular build, is barrel chested with wide shoulders.

Someone said to her "Hey..your dog is supposed to look like the owner..not the guy you are dating". :D

I have nothing to add to the discussion..just thought it was a funny story.

booney_1
01-30-2008, 18:48
Someone in a group I often hike with often brings a lab. We have hiked the AT in NC and VA. In many areas in NC you are not really in "wilderness". In many places people live in every little hollow next to the trail. In western NC and Eastern Tennesse they usually have a pack of dogs that runs loose. Seeing loose dogs in the woods is not unusual, and it is not unusual to come to a road crossing next to somebodies house with 4 or 5 dogs running lose. It may be irritating to keep your dog on leash, but unless she/he is strongly trained to heel you may have problems when you encounter a group of loose dogs.
In Virgina, the Grayson highlands area is known for lost dogs. It is fairly wide open, but often the terrain makes it hard to see far. There are wild ponies for dogs to chase, and people on horse back to distract them.

Avoiding shelters is a good idea, but often the only nearby water is there.
PLEASE DON"T CAMP HERE IF YOUR DOG BARKS AT WOOD NOISES AT NIGHT!!!
I know a well trained dog won't bark in the woods...but the other kind will wake people up at 2am...3am...4am...

Most people will enjoy a well trained friendly dog. I would definitely watch our for your dogs health. If you are walking 14 miles, he/she is probably walking 20!! Some people bring booties. I don't think the dog needs them all the time, but I would bring them to use for times her/his feet get sore or cut. Some areas are very rocky. If you haven't backpacked with him/her before you might try a couple of test runs. The appetite of the dog that hikes with us changes dramatically on the trail. She actually loses her appetite and does not eat her normal food.

Please understand that much of the hostility comes from hikers/runners who encounter poorly trained dogs almost every day. Many of us have been nipped at or bitten by dogs that "never bites". (a dobberman got me!)
Without starting an argument about the temperment of pit-bulls, the undeniable fact is that they (chows and rottweillers too) are so powerful and strong, that when they attack it is quite serious.

Have a good hike!!!


Have

CrumbSnatcher
01-30-2008, 18:56
I have met a few bad dogs.
i guess your johnny come late,probably missed the dog being mistreated well before you came along. and if you met some bad dogs on the trail,the dog owners ARE dumbasses too. you cant fix stupid! NOW GO AWAY- I SAID GOOD DAY...

Rockhound
01-30-2008, 21:22
standing bear farm (just past I-40) after you get out of the smokies is very dog friendly

SunnyWalker
01-30-2008, 23:41
Beaker2: Hey, sounds like fun! Good luck to you three. I'd love to meet you on the trail and hear about your hike. Don't let the negative words here discourage you. Sounds like your dog is pretty smart. Take care. ps. have you seen the dog whisperer?
-SunnyWalker

SunnyWalker
01-30-2008, 23:45
Beaker2: Sorry, thought of something else. Last July I was hiking through Woody Gap and stayed at a brand new hostel. (Sorry, cant remember the name). But they were dog friendly. And it was all brand new. I would not get bothered by the comments. By and large the hostels will take you and you can work it all out. I don't think that is going to be a problem. You can work out the food issue. And just have fun, grow close together and keep a log of all your experiences. God bless. -SunnyWalker

kanga
02-21-2008, 14:14
in the last 15 years, i have rarely, if ever, hiked without one OR MORE of my dogs. they're all trail dogs and they're all trained in trail etiquette as it applies to dogs. they hike WITH ME at all times, sometimes off the leash, though i always leash them up when around others for everyone's piece of mind. Some people are scared of dogs so be considerate, it will go a long way towards your dog's welcome to the trail. The only time i've ever had a problem was when some freak walked up to our tents in the middle of the night and my blue heeler went apesh_ _.
The guy was a nut nut and I seriously considered turning her loose on him since he was threatening and wouldn't leave. (people down the way ended up having some bad trouble with him. accordingly, i trust my dogs a lot more with me on the trail than i trust most people.)
take your dog, mail the food general delivery, watch his feet (check several times a day), and don't hike with close-minded a#@holes that don't like dogs. It's really not that hard, pm me if you want some tips.

sheepdog
02-21-2008, 20:04
Is there any way you could stencil "search and rescue" on the dogs pack? It might make people feel less threatened.

ASUGrad
02-27-2008, 10:31
I would be very worried about how a pit bull would react to a bear.

Freedom
03-02-2008, 21:59
I'm thru-hiking with my buddy as well... I'm a little worried b/c he's less than a year old. I'm planning to have his food shipped ahead, always have emergency food packed in my pack, and bring lots of nutritional supplements. Anyone have any suggestions for highly nutritious supplemental food?

Funny thought: Americans worry alot. I've seen kids in foreign countries who wipe their a$$ with their hand, pick up stale food off the ground, eat it, and be fine while Americans freak if the OJ their kid is drinking is one day past the expiration date. Along those same lines, wild dogs and less fortunate dogs have survived under far poorer circumstances for years, and I'm worried about food supplements for 5 months.

Freedom
03-02-2008, 22:02
I would be very worried about how a pit bull would react to a bear.

I'm sure no different than any other dog would react to a bear... it is any dog's instinct to protect. Bear spray, noise maker, or other deterant is a must when you bring a dog - not just for the bears.

yappy
03-03-2008, 23:08
it is not so much that hostels don't take dogs although many of them don't it is that the dog doesn't get adequate rest in one. lulu just couldn't relax with all the activity going on and they need to SLEEP, hard. i have seen dogs run away from a pack, believe me. i have seen owners, embarrassed drag their dogs off..sometimes yelling or hitting them. it makes me sick. The trail is just a dirt path and that wild beating heart YOU are responsible for has to come first every single time.

minnesotasmith
03-04-2008, 01:28
Beaker2: I was hiking...and stayed at a brand new hostel. (Sorry, cant remember the name). But they were dog friendly. SunnyWalker

They were new. That's why they were dog-friendly. Hostels that have been in operation for a while, mostly aren't so welcoming. This is BC they've been in business long enough to have had repeated, predictably lousy experiences when they let dogs inside. Also, the established hostels aren't generally so desperate for business that they accept all comers. They've come to realize that for every dog-accompanied hiker they take, they drive away 2+ other customers. It's like all the businesses that have figured out that rolling out the red carpet to the 23% (whatever it is) of smokers isn't worth driving away the 77% that don't.

Most LD hikers don't bring dogs along, and it's only logical that most trail businesses would focus on them.

babbage
04-16-2008, 22:59
But why a pit bull? I thought they were like rims- they only look good in the hood. Get a dog that is accepted by humans, or hike on a trail that was developed by dogs. What if your dog attacks someones friendly dog and it not only causes injury, but it also ruins someones thru?
IMO bad choice.

babbage
04-16-2008, 23:02
Funny thought: Americans worry alot. I've seen kids in foreign countries who wipe their a$$ with their hand, pick up stale food off the ground, eat it, and be fine while Americans freak if the OJ their kid is drinking is one day past the expiration date. Along those same lines, wild dogs and less fortunate dogs have survived under far poorer circumstances for years, and I'm worried about food supplements for 5 months.

I am worried that you might shake someones hand.

Tennessee Viking
04-17-2008, 01:09
My husband and I are planning a thru-hike for 2008 and are also planning on bringing our Pit Bull with us. He will be 3 years old then and is 45-50lbs. He is very well trained (we're working on our search and rescue certification) and is excellent around people and other dogs. We have a pack for him and have started training for the hike, but I have a few questions:

1. The food we feed him (annamaet) is not readily available at walmart/petsmart. has anyone else dealt with this? not sure if we should see about having food shipped to certain palces or to change foods before the hike to a more readily available but still high quality food.
2. I know dogs aren't allowed in GSMNP and Baxter....GSM I have no problem kenneling, but has anyone tried/heard of anyone getting a special permit for Baxter? I saw in a aprior post that someone was trying to get to Katadin with their dog. Just wonder. I feel like if my dog has hiked the entire At with us, he kind of deserves to be able to finish it with us to...
3. Are there any hostels that accept dogs? My hubby and I hikes in the Presidentail mt range a few years ago and noticed that dogs weren't allowed in the hotels....

i think that's all for now....i'm sure there will be more questions as the time gets closer, luckily I'm a vet tech and my dog's Dr is a orthopedic specialist!
ps: my dogs pack is a ruffwear pallisades II....i love it!

-Kristin (and Castor the Pit Bull)If Baxter is strict with their policies, just camp or make arrangement outside the park, and just finish your hike yourselves.

Kincora at Dennis Cove is very dog friendly. I am not sure about Mtn Harbour, Braemar, Johnnys or Standing Bear. Damascus is half and half I believe. Some places like dogs, some of them like them only outside. http://www.damascus.org/petfriendly.html

babbage
04-17-2008, 08:04
Crumbsnatcher - we get it - TAKE THE F-ing PACK OFF!!!! You don't have to put in every f-ing post -- we hear you. By the way - that is YOUR opinion - so get over it. If you want to change the world write a book about about. Here is you first paragragh (free) Take the dogs pack off in the last mile. Take the dogs pack in the last mile. I took my dogs pack off. I took my dogs pack off. Dogs are not pack animals. Dogs are not pack animals. Take your dogs pack off. Take your dogs pack off.
Chapter 2 Please re-read Chapter 1.
I have an idea- shut up- do some research, form a thesis, post and article, and support your stupid claim. Then it won't be so f-ing boring.
I am so mad that I going to go out and load 40 pounds on my dogs back, tie him to the bumper and go for a drive to cool off. He loves it (when he quits puking).

glacier48
05-20-2008, 16:25
Just an idea for you of what I am doing about dog food along the trail. I have bought a beef log, Science Diet I think. It weighs 6 pounds. I cut it in about 1/4 inch slices and then dehydrate it. My dog loves it, it is light weight and nutritional for the dog. I figure if the dog gets cold and wet like I probably will I can hydrate it back with warm water for warming up the cold doggie.

I am carrying some of her food and then I am mailing some and arranging food drops from friends. I agree the dog determines the pace and distance of the hike. She will carry about 3 lbs of food and me the rest. I will treat her like a queen while hiking while respecting my other hiker friends.

I hope that she will be one of the good dogs on the trail. Will sleep in a tent, not beg, she doesn't bark much at all and will be on a leash at all times even in camp. I will be a woman hiking alone so I feel that I really need and want her company.

Glacier

superman
05-20-2008, 17:24
Hiking With a Dog Considerations <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial Black'">

jrnj5k
11-19-2008, 14:22
Pits are great. I have one and so do most of my friends. If he is trained you should be good to go. Just make sure he can walk not pull. I would keep him on leash even if he is perfect because other peoples dogs might not be as good and if there dog runs up to your dog to say hello the leash can be useful to give a reminder correction. I say go for it and it sounds great. I may do the same thing with my pit but shes dog agressive and a leash puller. so im still working on teaching her what is and is not acceptable.

I LOVE PITS

TheKO
11-26-2008, 09:27
Well, the origial post said they were planning on a 2008 thru -hike. Seeing as 2008 is about over, how did the hike go with the dog?

Any info for the rest of us planning a thru hike with our dog?

Highpointbound
01-04-2009, 21:25
Well with such ignorant comments like "why do you have to bring a pitbull" and "get a breed more acceptable to humans" I can see why the OP would be done with this thread.

Geesh..hate to see what would be said if the OP said " Hey, i'm bringing my black friend with me on the trail". :rolleyes:

Aubbies
06-07-2009, 22:00
I have one piece of advice for you.. well maybe 2 !..You have to let the dog LEAD the hike.. when he is tired you are done for the day. You will spend more time in hotels.. so budget. The dog will require ALOT of rest... more then you. I live in Alaska and working sled dogs require about 15 hrs of sleep a day.. when we hiked with Lulu we spent alot more time in town and in hotels.. so she could rest while we did chores.


Good advice on remembering dogs require a lot more sleep then the humans!

MyName1sMud
06-09-2009, 16:59
Well with such ignorant comments like "why do you have to bring a pitbull" and "get a breed more acceptable to humans" I can see why the OP would be done with this thread.

Geesh..hate to see what would be said if the OP said " Hey, i'm bringing my black friend with me on the trail". :rolleyes:

blacks are not allo............ oh wait.:banana