In an attempt to get a straight, honest answer and hopefully avoid offending anyone, here goes:
I plan on hiking with my 2 dogs next year and I am doing some research on how to be a responsible dog owner and have respectable dogs out on the trail. And for the most part, I have received some fantastic tips and advice for this forum!
But one thing that I am struggling with is the concept behind not letting my dogs drink water out of the lakes and rivers and streams along the trail. Quite frankly, I have no desire to carry a water dish for them or filter water for them. I take them on trails all the time and make them responsible for finding their own water (obviously if I know there isn’t a water source around, I will pack water for them).
So if someone can please explain to me (logically, not irrationally) why it is important for me to keep my dogs out of the potential drinking water sources, I will respect the reasons and start training my dogs (to go against all animal instincts and not drink water when they are thirsty).
Any helpful insight here?