hey everyone! I'm currently training and planning for my 2011 SoBo thru-hike. I want to take my 3 Year old Bernese Mountain Dog with me so we are training in the whites all of this summer and into fall and winter. She is a natural hiker and automatically stays on the trail directly behind me at all times, she does not disturb wildlife and obeys my every command. I have hiked Cardigan; Moosilauke, and the Lafayette/Franconia ridge loop with her thus far. and she handled it great with her large mountain smith pack. I have heard only negative things said on this forum about dogs on the AT but i have not heard about any Bernese Mountain Dogs hiking the trail. Has anyone encountered them on a long hike?