Dogs and Shelters

[hikingff77]

What do you do when you're hiking with your dogs and planning on staying in a shelter? Obviously the curtious thing to do would be to sleep in a tent if any people in the shelter don't want the dogs there or the shelter is full.

How do you keep them in the shelter when you're asleep? Our dogs normally stay right at our side all night long, but I'd be a little worried about just leaving them unleashed through the whole night.

Thanks.

[Jack Tarlin]

Most people, for any number of reasons, don't want dogs in shelters. A few of the reasons: The trample on people's stuff; sometimes they piss on it; they beg food; they bark; they ALL, without exception, have fleas and ticks; some folks are allergic, and so on.

So the answer to your question is very simple: If you're planning to bring a dog on your hike, you shouldn't plan to stay in shelters. (And asking folks, "Hey does anyone mind if Fido stays in here tonight?" is really uncool, as it puts other folks on the spot and makes THEM look like the bad guy).

And as to being tied up, unless your dog is trained well enough to stay by you at all times or responds to immediate voice commands, it needs to be leashed in a campsite, as unleashed dogs tend to be a pain in the ass, especially when people are preparing or eating food.

[dessertrat]

Here we go again. . . but Jack's right. People can and *do* regularly show up at shelters after dark, so simply waiting until dark and assuming nobody else will show is not proper, either.

[Gumbi]

There has been quite a controversy here in the past about dogs... you may have stepped on a hornet's nest by asking the question, but lots of people would agree with Jack's opinion that the considerate thing to do would be to plan on tenting if you are bringing your dog.

[Nearly Normal]

Scroll to the top of this page.
Click on Seach.
Choose thread.
Type in "DOG"
Hit enter.

Repeat procedure choosing post.


Read each and every word about dogs posted on this site.

This should take about a month.

[hikingff77]

I know the dog subject is a rather sore one, although from purusing the site there seems to be tons of people who enjoy bringing their dogs on the trail.

We have brough our dogs on the trail a bunch of times and met only one person who doesn't like dogs. One in a group of 15 isn't bad. He even admitted that our dogs were the best ones he's been around and didn't bother him.

I'm no a** and I can understand if you don't like dogs, that's fine, I take no offense if that's the case. Normally people light up around our dogs so you know it's cool, but if they don't then they def. stay on the leash.

I do love the dog arguments. People get so bent out of shape about things with dogs. I've never had a dog pee or chew on anything, mine or someone elses. They might do a little beggin' but they are under voice command and will stop instantly.

I understand your point, just was curious to see what people did in that situation.

[hikingff77]

Scroll to the top of this page.
Click on Seach.
Choose thread.
Type in "DOG"
Hit enter.

Repeat procedure choosing post.


Read each and every word about dogs posted on this site.

This should take about a month.

And this is going to get me where?

[wrongway_08]

My dog slept in the shelter by my head (most of the time I slept head out), he is well behaved and I always kept him by my feet - so if he had to pee he would just get up go pee and jump back up by my head.

As far as those who come in after dark..... thats why we carry tents. They shouldnt be jumping up in the shelters waking everyone up anyways.

[Jack Tarlin]

It isn't a question of "liking" or not liking dogs. I like 'em just fine, as do most people. It is true that there are few people who'll actually admit to dislking them. But there are plenty of folks who don't want to be around them at the end of the day, for the reasons I mentioned and more. This doesn't mean they don't LIKE your animal companion; they simply don't want to bunk down with them in a structure that, let's face it, was built for people.

[Pedaling Fool]

There are some weirdoes that don't like dogs, just let them bitch, who cares. The problem is that so many bad dog owners (note: Dog Owners) give somewhat of a platform to dog-hating hikers. We've all seen those undisciplined dogs that jump all over people's stuff in the shelter, at the same time covering it in mud and dog hair.

More dog owners need to take a lesson from the Dog Whisperer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cesar_Millan, or at least watch his show on National Geo.

[Mags]

Just tent it.

No conflicts between dogs owners, dog lovers and otherwise this way.

2-3 lbs of nylon will make your hike, and others, that much more pleasant.

Besides, in the words of Lone Wolf, "Shelters suck!"

Seriously, just tent it. You'll find life easier if you hike with a pooch.


Finally, read these articles on the ATC website:

http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site..._with_Dogs.htm
http://www.appalachiantrail.org/atf/...F1%7D/fido.pdf

[SunnyWalker]

Ditto, Jack.

[Cookerhiker]

What do you do when you're hiking with your dogs and planning on staying in a shelter? Obviously the curtious thing to do would be to sleep in a tent if any people in the shelter don't want the dogs there or the shelter is full.

How do you keep them in the shelter when you're asleep? Our dogs normally stay right at our side all night long, but I'd be a little worried about just leaving them unleashed through the whole night.

Thanks.

All you wanted to know about dogs in shelters:
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/show...=dogs+shelters

[ki0eh]

Now here's a real dog question: What do you do when two lost, lonely, hunting dogs escape from their trainers and make a beeline for a shelter?

(BTW: hff77!)

[FatMan]

I hike with my dog about 95% of the time and the last thing I would want to do is overnight at a shelter. Hiking with a dog is tough enough without having to worry about his behavior with others at the end of the day. Just plan on tenting away from shelters and you and your dog will have a much more enjoyable hike.

[Mags]

Hmm..how about a nice, juicy can o' worms?

[Tinker]

Bring a tarp for your dogs, though if they normally sleep right by your side, they will probably whine and bark all night and annoy the other shelter inhabitants. Better yet, carry a tent with a large vestibule and let them sleep within eyesight of you, or a small tent and a tarp.

[CrumbSnatcher]

Most people, for any number of reasons, don't want dogs in shelters. A few of the reasons: The trample on people's stuff; sometimes they piss on it; they beg food; they bark; they ALL, without exception, have fleas and ticks; some folks are allergic, and so on.

So the answer to your question is very simple: If you're planning to bring a dog on your hike, you shouldn't plan to stay in shelters. (And asking folks, "Hey does anyone mind if Fido stays in here tonight?" is really uncool, as it puts other folks on the spot and makes THEM look like the bad guy).

And as to being tied up, unless your dog is trained well enough to stay by you at all times or responds to immediate voice commands, it needs to be leashed in a campsite, as unleashed dogs tend to be a pain in the ass, especially when people are preparing or eating food.

i love yA JACK, but NO. my bear(dog) never had fleas or ticks on her, for any longer than a hiker would have a tick or flea on them. not only did i check her for them daily.(but with her preventative treatments) she never had them!!! they would jump off immediatly if they did hitch a ride? so they wouldn't DIE! her whole life she went to the vet regularly. non hiking and hiking she had her meds her entire life. flea collar, front line (applied once a month)every month of every year for ticks. she had lyme disease shots every year of our hikes. if you stay on top of the dogs shots,meds,vaccanations and preventatives. all human hikers would have a tick or flea on them longer than the dog would.and most hikers were alot dirttier than my dog was. but i totally agree, keep your dogs out of the shelters. the tents are more comfortable than the hard floors of shelters, and they won't get stepped on like they could in a shelter and end thier hike.you can contain them better in the tent than a shelter(i agree if you need to restrain a dog in the evenings on the trail there not trained well enough to be on the trail! they rest better away from strangers too. your dog will be just as tired as you. soft grass tenting is the way to go.IMO.

[Bob S]

Dogs and kids are a lot alike in the owners & parents mind. All dog owners just like parents think their kids or dogs are perfectly well behaved. No one will be able to tell them different, they are not open to it.

But the truth viewed from a distance view is somewhat different.

Dogs do invade the space of others, they do beg for food (food that had to be carried on someone’s back and cooked with stoves and fuel that also had to be carried.)

You are also walking in the woods, only a naïve person would say their dog would not pickup a few flees in this situation.


Jack hit the nail on the head.

[CrumbSnatcher]

i never said they didn't jump on, but they got off quick when the dog is juiced up on preventatives.(front line, flea collar, etc...) i' ve seen hikers beg for food too. your right it ain't pretty.