Dogs on the Trail

I love walking & hiking with a dog- it simultaneously makes you more & less approachable. Friendly people- by that I mean dog pet people- smile & sometimes stop to pet my dog. Unfriendly people- non-pet people- steer clear of the dog & often won't even make eye contact with me. With a dog, I not only have a walking or running buddy, but an eager partner who's excited to go anywhere regardless of the weather. All around, a great deal & why I'll probably never be without a dog in my life.
Here is my current hiking buddy- Phoenix.

Almost all my hikes include my dog Phoenix; he also backpacks with me. For overnight, he has a pack to carry his food & dish. He also carries out all our trash, my camp shoes & our poop shovel. I carry his bed, our tent & the water. It's a great partnership. So as I get ready to hike the AT next summer, it was never a question of if Phoenix would hike with me- of course he would! It makes me sad that there are areas on the AT that ban dogs- the Great Smokey Mountains National Park in TN & NC & Baxter State Park, MN both don't allow dogs in. Dogs also aren't allowed in Bear Mountain Museum & Wildlife Center in NY, but they offer an alternative route, so Phoenix & I are cool with that.

There is a trend in some wilderness areas to ban dogs from coming in at all. I can understand this up to a point. Bad owners let their dogs bother wildlife & other people out enjoying themselves- sometimes they bother me as I walk my dog responsibly! But I really feel this is a case of a few bad apples spoiling it for the bunch & that's unfortunate. I totally get that it's the owner- not the dog- that's to blame for the bad dogs in the parks. Dogs are just doing what they're asked (or allowed to get away with) & being dogs; the dog owner is the one making the decisions about what to do & where to go. The owners are the ones who need to work with their dogs & behave in a way that lets everyone enjoy the park experience in their own way. Not everyone likes dogs, & wildlife certainly should be left unmolested by pets in a park.

So here are 3 simple rules for becoming a Good Dog Owner when on the trail:

1. Use a leash! Phoenix has an extending leash but doesn't always get all 16 feet of it. When walking by other people on the trail or in crowds, he stays at my side by my choice (he likes it, too, since he's rather shy). He can interact if someone wants to pet him, but not everyone does. When we hike away from people, Phoenix can wander ahead of me or linger behind as he chooses without getting in anyone's way. Fortunately, he rarely pulls, so I can even use a waist belt & know I won't be jerked off balance with a full pack while we walk. He's a great dog- the only time he gets off leash is when he has to go under an obstacle I have to go over, or to go down to a stream that's a little beyond leash distance. Know you dog.
Keeping your dog on a leash is live saving. Phoenix loves to meet other dogs- I encountered a bear on the trail- she was about 100 yards ahead of me & stopped when she saw me. I stopped, too, but Phoenix went to meet her. Because he was leashed, I was able to stop him before he got past me. After staring at us for a time, the bear looked into the woods she'd come out of & soon 3 cubs crossed the trail behind her. An amazing site! When the cubs were gone, mama walked off after them. Phoenix & I waited a while before continuing on our way. I did more talking & singing more than I had before just to make sure mama bear knew exactly where we were. If my dog hadn't been on a leash, he would have been killed or injured, or worse, he would have realized the trouble he was in & ran right back to me with mama bear pissed off & in pursuit.

2. Don't let your dog poop on the trail! It's easy to teach your dog where to use the bathroom. They don't go in your house, or they have a spot they use in the house. Apply this same training outside, but be responsible for accidents. I hate scooping poop- does anyone actually enjoy it? So I try really hard to anticipate Phoenix's needs & make sure he's at a trash/leaf pile when nature calls. I always have 2 bags tied on his leash just in case, but no one complains if he deposits another pile in their yard waste. On the trail, I use the same kind of logic. I taught him go off trail, then bury his waste with debris or dig a hole. The same principles applied to house training apply to trail training- know when your dog has to go & praise them when they do it right. The only thing more disgusting than dealing with my dog's poop is stepping in dog poop. Do unto other, guys.

3. Walk your dog often! Practice makes perfect & that's especially true with dogs. A lot of time walking with you, dealing with crowds & other critters makes both you & dog better at working together on hikes.

Happy Trails!