dogs in shelters

[jersey joe]

And what do you think the owner would say if I responded "Yes, I very much do mind and you need to leash him up somewhere away from here." It would not go down well, would it. When they ask they don't want to hear an honest answer. They want you to smile and say "No problem."

You are assuming that all dog owners are not nice people, which in my experience is not the case. I would guess that most of the time, IF YOU ASKED NICELY, the dog owner would respect the fact that you didn't feel comfortable with the dog there and go tent somewhere.

[jhick]

Shouldn't it be the dog owner's responsibility to ask and not the other way around?

[CrumbSnatcher]

cuz when i did use them way back in the day dog owners were very inconsiderate and let them run loose creating havoc. nothing has changed. dog owners like yourself are very biased and don't see the big picture

none of you know me well enough to judge me or group me with all the other dog owners. like i said before yeah i've had my dog in a few shelters, if no one else shows up we stay! others roll in we always pick up and move out to tent! making room for others

[MOWGLI]

Some of you need to either start hiking trails without shelters, or start hiking trails where dogs are prohibited. This issue will NEVER go away on the AT. NEVER. Best to evolve.

[minnesotasmith]

My previous post was from very old infomation. I was on trailplace in "99" and had my journal on it. After my thru hike my life went through a bunch of changes and by the time I got back to it my journal had been deleted. I hadn't been on trail place since until just now. I had thought that they went out of business.
This is the voice of the 10% who doesn't get the word.

I think I heard that when Wingfoot bailed on running Trailplace, he deleted much or all of the archives before turning it over to the guy who bought him out. Anyone who knows the picture more fully, please chime in here.

[DavidNH]

For once I am in full agreement with Lone Wolf. Dogs do not belong in shelters.


Dogs should be banned from shelters. I'd also like to ban smokers and pot smokers from being anywhere near a shelter. The trouble is, such a ban is unenforceable. There are many AT hikers who are just plain inconsiderate. Some don't care that they are smoking next to a non smoker who hates smoke and some love dogs so much that they can not understand why others dont want some wet barking dog in the shelter with them.

Up here in New Hampshire, pets have long been banned from the summit of Mt. Monadnock. But has not stopped a whole lot of folks from bringing their dogs with them. The ban though probably has at least reduced the number of dogs on this very over travelled mountain!



David

[Tin Man]

Dogs should be banned from shelters. I'd also like to ban smokers and pot smokers from being anywhere near a shelter. The trouble is, such a ban is unenforceable. There are many AT hikers who are just plain inconsiderate. Some don't care that they are smoking next to a non smoker who hates smoke and some love dogs so much that they can not understand why others dont want some wet barking dog in the shelter with them.

David

Yep. In this "ME, ME, ME" world, you are inconsiderate if you suggest others are being inconsiderate. Just move on.

[the goat]

The trouble is, such a ban is unenforceable.

......bingo!

[Appalachian Tater]

Such a ban would be enforceable if weapons were allowed on all sections of the A.T. and a bounty was offered.

[7Sisters]

Hey LW. What did you really do? Fess up now. Any weenie calling? Does 7sisters use Lekis? C'mon, the truth will set you free.

Ahhhh That seems to be the right question to ask.

Here's what Lone Wolf failed to mention. He's cursed at fellow trailplace users, insulted them by calling them names and alienated users by backing them into corners. A lot of the same stuff I've seen him do here.

The issue is that I don't have the time to baby him. I've warned him several times, asked him several times and usually what I get back is "he started it or same old trailplace". When the real issue is an individual that just doesn't know how to play with others in a way that doesn't create arguements.

Opinions are great - the spice that makes forums interesting. However it gets personal too often with Lone Wolf.

That's the part he forgot to mention in his post. It's not oh poor Lone Wolf for stating his opinion. There's a history and thankfully a lot of those negative posts have been deleted at TP.

So if you want to come over and chat I welcome you to. I just ask you not get personal with people and evoke arguements. There's a big difference between and arguement and a healthy debate

Peace be with you

[Bear Cables]

Well, my dogs sleep with us and we treat them like our "empty nest children" that they are but...I would not expect anyone else to want to sleep with them. I also would never take them hiking. The only camping they like is when we take the pop up camper. They like their mattresses.

[Lone Wolf]

Ahhhh That seems to be the right question to ask.

Here's what Lone Wolf failed to mention. He's cursed at fellow trailplace users, insulted them by calling them names and alienated users by backing them into corners. A lot of the same stuff I've seen him do here.

The issue is that I don't have the time to baby him. I've warned him several times, asked him several times and usually what I get back is "he started it or same old trailplace". When the real issue is an individual that just doesn't know how to play with others in a way that doesn't create arguements.

Opinions are great - the spice that makes forums interesting. However it gets personal too often with Lone Wolf.

That's the part he forgot to mention in his post. It's not oh poor Lone Wolf for stating his opinion. There's a history and thankfully a lot of those negative posts have been deleted at TP.

So if you want to come over and chat I welcome you to. I just ask you not get personal with people and evoke arguements. There's a big difference between and arguement and a healthy debate

Peace be with you

show where i cursed or called names. one doesn't just "chat" at Trailplace. you have to stay within your tight guidelines. you are very biased and closed minded. you have a dog, you feel they belong anywhere on the AT with no regard for others space. you're one moderator that has let your little power go right to your head.

[dmax]

What if after hiking a week or so around the same people you see every day, they ask you why you aren't staying at the shelter. You tell them "because everybody on WB told me I couldn't". They tell you to bring your dog and spend the night.
Everybody talks about a wet, smelly, and obnoxious dog. What if your dog doesn't fall into those catagories?
Alot of people keep a dog in the house, instead of tied up in a yard. A dog tied to a post has no way to learn how to interact with other people. A house dog also learns comands alot better than just sticking your head out a door and yelling "shut up".
Just so everybody knows, I use a tent. On an occasion, when asked, or the shelter is empty, I'll stay there with my well behaved pooch. I will sweep and make sure all is cleaned up before hiking on.
For all you dog haters, Keep feeling the hate. It makes me feel better.
Dogs are people too?

[CrumbSnatcher]

Shouldn't it be the dog owner's responsibility to ask and not the other way around?

always ask if its ok,if even one person hesitates move out and tent. problem is they say no problem,even if they do have a problem, they might not speak up. trying to be too polite. tenting is more comfortable anyway,all dog owners should tent (i carried a pad for my dog) the problem might be these bad dog owners are trying to ultralight too much and they dont have a tent or tarp.some even make their dog carry thier stuff! i don't like most dog OWNERS either, they don't take good enough care of thier dogs,and not enough respect to eveyone around them.plenty of a*oles without dogs too,by the way...and hard floors hard on their hips, and if you keep them in your tent it's safer for them so they dont go chasing after something and you respect the other hikers whether they had a problem with your dog or not?

[AlwaysHiking]

I don't stay in AT shelters. I have only ever used two over the last 12 years or so. I will tent around them, but do not stay in them.

I have a dog, one who doesn't bark, doesn't growl, doesn't steal food, doesn't pee on gear, etc... Know why? Because I don't let him.

Any dog on a trail who is in someone else's space or otherwise misbehaving is doing so because the owner has no regard for other people.

If I were to use a shelter, chances are you wouldn't even know my dog was there. But, I don't use them on the AT because I don't like the rude behavior of other humans. Don't want it rubbing off on my dog!

I'm in total agreement that dogs shouldn't be in a shelter, shouldn't be near the water source, shouldn't be guarding the path to the privy and growling at or lunging at anyone who walks by, etc...

[4eyedbuzzard]

Ahhhh That seems to be the right question to ask.

Here's what Lone Wolf failed to mention. He's cursed at fellow trailplace users, insulted them by calling them names and alienated users by backing them into corners. A lot of the same stuff I've seen him do here.

The issue is that I don't have the time to baby him. I've warned him several times, asked him several times and usually what I get back is "he started it or same old trailplace". When the real issue is an individual that just doesn't know how to play with others in a way that doesn't create arguements.

Opinions are great - the spice that makes forums interesting. However it gets personal too often with Lone Wolf.

That's the part he forgot to mention in his post. It's not oh poor Lone Wolf for stating his opinion. There's a history and thankfully a lot of those negative posts have been deleted at TP.

So if you want to come over and chat I welcome you to. I just ask you not get personal with people and evoke arguements. There's a big difference between and arguement and a healthy debate

Peace be with you

Your words: "My lab will growl at someone who comes up to the shelter for the first time. It's my responsibility to ensure that nothing happens and that he gets comfortable with the situation. I don't get mad at him when he growls, in fact I both praise him and reassure him that it's ok..."

No hiker should ever be greeted at any shelter or anywhere on the trail by a growling dog. PERIOD. You have no valid argument.
EDIT: Your ongoing disagreement with LW over whether or not his posts fit the culture you wish to maintain on your site is your business. But your personal position on dogs is disrepectful of the rights of hikers to enjoy the trail without having to worry about growling dogs and whether or not they can be controlled by their owners.

[CrumbSnatcher]

cuz when i did use them way back in the day dog owners were very inconsiderate and let them run loose creating havoc. nothing has changed. dog owners like yourself are very biased and don't see the big picture

so when you used to use them,you had a opionion on dogs in shelters. you say now that shelters suck and only dumba**** use them. if you no longer use them why care? you can admit it. you duck under them once in awhile,don't ya. perhaps when its raining...

[Tin Man]

Your words: "My lab will growl at someone who comes up to the shelter for the first time. It's my responsibility to ensure that nothing happens and that he gets comfortable with the situation. I don't get mad at him when he growls, in fact I both praise him and reassure him that it's ok..."

No hiker should ever be greeted at any shelter or anywhere on the trail by a growling dog. PERIOD. You have no valid argument.

Actually 7sisters is being totally ridiculous. If your dog growls at people, even once in awhile, you should not be anywhere near a shelter, campsite, or other places where hiker's tend to congregate. Leave the dog home.

[7Sisters]

Your words: "My lab will growl at someone who comes up to the shelter for the first time. It's my responsibility to ensure that nothing happens and that he gets comfortable with the situation. I don't get mad at him when he growls, in fact I both praise him and reassure him that it's ok..."

No hiker should ever be greeted at any shelter or anywhere on the trail by a growling dog. PERIOD. You have no valid argument.

You're right I said that. My dog will know you're coming up to the shelter long before you even know there's a dog in the shelter. It's my responsibility to rectify the situation, by both reassuring the dog it's ok and letting him know what he's doing is OK. I've had no instances where he's growled at people while they were right outside of the shelter and could hear it.

I didn't come here to continue the debate on wether dogs should be allowed on the trail or at shelters. We're not going to change each other's mind.

I came here to correct the BS that Lone Wolf was saying about why he was asked to leave (after being warned repeatedly).

Peace be with you.

[Gaiter]

to start with, whiteblaze was the place i found online that was most informative of backpacking information (alot of info to pick and choose) I was kinda suprised at all the negative dog comments, so as I started to realize that my dog was going hiking w/ me, I trained her well, I took the 'dog haters' comments into consideration (yes there are people on WB that can back this up)

Now i'm going to skip over mentioning my hike w/ her and get to traildays '07 my first trail days, and i was shocked and amazed at the dogs and their owner's behavior. I suddenly understood what all the bitching was about.
Going back to my hike, (and not to brag just to point out there are good owners/dogs out there and to possibly help other owners) I hiked in a time where nearly all thru-hikers were north of me, so the trails weren't crowded, and yes my dog stayed in shelters with me, majority of the time it was just me, her, and one other hiker if any at all, she also stayed under the shelters a good bit too. I always asked permission, always offered to go somewhere else. Not one person ever had a problem with my dog, and often receieved compliments on my dogs behavior.
Key things: I was considerate, I was well trained and so was my dog.

Due to my trail days' experience with dogs, I understand that majority of dogs and their owners don't belong anywhere near a shelter, but please don't hate on all owners/dogs, there are good dogs and owners out there.

To add to this NO ONE WHO GETS UP BEFORE 5:30AM SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO STAY IN SHELTERS