I hike with my Aussie whenever I can. He's 10 now so he can't quite manage the trails that he used to but a good 3 hour adventure does him just right. I'd love to hear from others who hike with their dogs. If you backpack long range trips, that would be good to hear about to. Here's a video clip of my wingman:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3209256260504785769

My dog loves backpacking.

Here's a link to some pics of my buddy Bennie...AKA "Sherpa".

http://www.freewebs.com/bigfootpictures/bigfootandsherpa.htm

He naps everytime we stop. Usually right between my feet if I am sitting. I sure do love this dog.

My dog likes to go (springer spaniel) but I tend not to take him on backpacking trips because I spend much of my time in Grizzly country where it's a bad idea, or places where it's mountain caribou habitat and dogs are really really really a bad idea. I've never taken
him on much more than an overnighter though, so I couldn't comment on that part.

As a follow up question, has anyone had any success getting their dogs to wear "booties"? I live in Southern California and the sunbaked earth can be extremely hot in the summer on my dog's paws. I can't for the life of me get him to agree to wear boots, however.

Poor little dog - there must be some way to solve this. Have you spoken with a veterinarian?

I've got an 11 year old Aussie that goes with me everytime I head out behind our house. He's farm dog and lives outside watching the rest of the critters we have. It's a pretty tough life for the old guy, but I swear he loves it. His name is Tucker.

He's a real "Alpha Male". No one can get near his food and none of the other critters mess with him, though almost all have tried him once. He's not vicious, he's dominate. The breeder I got him from told me he would be this way. She told me several times. But he truly is a "Shepherd" too. The goats and donkeys stick close by him all day and night and sometimes I'll look out and he'll just be sitting there watching over them.

Tucker is awesome out in the forest behind our house. He runs in big circles around me the whole time we're out bushwhacking and just hangs near me when I sit down for awhile.

I've never taken him backpacking overnight with me. He's not a dog that would do well on a leash and all the public land here has laws except for hunting when there is a season to use them.

I have been working on a campsite down in the holler below us though and real soon Tucker and the Donkeys will spend at least one night with me down there after hiking around all day and hopefully lots more if that goes well. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

BTW, where's that swimming hole with the waterfall on your video? Is it Malibu Creek State Park? It sure reminds me of it, but it's been about 20 years since I've been there. Where ever it is, it's a really sweet spot.


Here's Tucker....



He's sitting with me in my office right now (It's really a converted pole barn) and he's soaking wet. Whenever there's a thunderstorm he gets out of the fence and pounds on my door. Looking at him now, I'm not sure if a real "Alpha Male" would do that, or a real "Shepherd", but he insist I let him in even though he has a real barn to stay warm and dry in.

Bill

I used to have two dobies that I took on every trip, wilderness or otherwise, with there own packs. Only way to go on a week long trip. Non-aggressive dogs when out or at home. Although my male got protective at one campsite and stood between me and some hikers on the trail above us and barked a little. My late dog, Pooch, a Yellow Lab X was a excellent pack dog. I took him everywhere as well, which prevented me for years from going into Lassen or Yosemite parks. He stayed close on the trail and in camp. A great bear dog also. In his life, I only heard him bark about four times, three of those times at bears. He was partially trained in SAR also. A great moment the first time he "alerted". What a feeling. Very trusting dog, on one bp trip, he had to come down a narrow chute to me, which was nearly vertical for 10'. With no hesitation, he piled down. Big hugs after that. I lost him to a bleeding cancer at around 11 years of age.:(

Edit. Pooch was a rescued dog from the animal shelter by a vet.

Does he like REI? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

As a matter of fact, he did. And the people that worked there knew him by name. They were happy to see him.

wild bill-
i've had the best luck with "Muttluk" brand dog boots. My previous dog liked to "spin his wheels" on rock and pavement, so torn pads were common. I'd use boots on him when we were on extended hikes on hard surfaces. I would put the boots on him for a couple hours, then off for a couple hours. i've used 3 other brands, but they didn't last. The muttluks would last a couple days that way- the leather can be patched with "shoe goo" or "freesole"
my current dog is smarter than to rip his feet up. however, he was feeling the heat while hiking in the desert, so he wore the boots (on & off like above) during much of our desert hike.

i don't have any fancy training hints with the boots, except treats, treats, treats.

my daughter trains horses, and she has taught me a trick- introduce the item to the animal. if it worries them, wait until the animal relaxes. then remove it.

simple, right? not always for me, with my goal-oriented thinking. it is very hard for me to *stop* putting the boots on while the dog is cooperating. my nature is to stop when the dog fights. and that just teaches the dog to fight!

1. i combine her trick with treats. make sure you can handle to dog's feet. give the dog a treat every time you can touch the dog's foot, touch the nails, etc. this is the most important step. if you can't handle (truly manipulate) your dog's feet, do not try to put on boots.
2. make sure the nails are trimmed! treats!
3. start putting an old sock on the dog. treat! treat! dog boots are tight and sometimes pull on their toes. start with something loose.
4. when that's going well, switch to the booties.

the process will take many training sessions. be patient.

use lots of praise and treats!

when we get the boots on the dog, we start hiking right away- the dog has less time to fuss with his feet, since he's getting left behind! again, give treats when the dog walks along with you, and not fussing with his feet.

note: i wasn't into giving a dog treats, until i got my current dog. very dominate, and impossible to get his cooperation. treats did it! and you won't have to treat forever. use the treats until the process is smooth. then treat for ever other foot. then once for all 4. then only once in a while.

good luck. i hope this helps.


[img]http://picasaweb.google.com/elle.beals/Utah607/photo?authkey=gLN3S7Hlhc8#5168012133221597954[/img]

My beloved Hysson (3/4 Lab, 1/4 golden retriever) goes with me always! His pack is a little out of balance here....

image

My current dog, Sadie (springer spaniel), has pads hard as rocks and she's never needed booties. However, my old dog, Lucy (also a springer) tended to be a bit tender-footed, so I ordered some booties from Cabela's. Every time I put them on she would just lie on her back with all four feet in the air and a pathetic look on her face.

This is our Maggie,a husky lab mix. She loves going out on the trail. Our last hike was a day trip of about 14 miles. Even if I go out for a training type hike she gets all excited. Literally as soon as the as soon as the hiking clothes come out she gets all ramped up and happy! BTW,she is never off the leash while on trail.
Patrick

Some great looking dogs. Mine is below. Since he is just now nine months old, we have only done some day hikes.

Some nice looking dogs, but don't tell JimShaw I said so, he thinks I'm only a cat lover <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

My vicious, man-eating Daschund loves to go backpacking.....so long as he's in the backpack. Those stubby little legs were bred to dig out badgers, not for long distance hiking. Sure, he'll go for the first hour or so but when he gets tired he sits down and that's it. Doxies are known for being stubborn too.

Here's my hiking partner, Mr. Dog . No shortage of energy. No shortage of love.

Runs like a nutcase when I let him, but settles down and heals when needed. I put him on leash when approaching other people as not everybody wants to be licked by a happy dog. I don't have a pack for him yet - suggestions?

Just took my dog out for three days. He has such a good time. We have a fenced yard and I wonder if he dreams about camping when he is back there in the yard - like I do when I am at work. I take him to places where leashed are not enforced so that he can feel freedom. He had Mac and Cheese for lunch yesterday.

TR I'm surprised, I would have picked you to own a running type dog <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

This is my partner in training. Once she stops chewing on the thermarest she's good to go. She got to hear a pack of coyotes howling at the moon a few miles from the campsite last night and had a real call of the wild moment. The coyotes and the lunar eclipse made it a night to remember.

Braddock
Pretty dog. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Welcome to the board. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Did you fill out your profile? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

I'd say maybe you should be using closed cell pads with a puppy. Coyotes and an eclipse camped with you dog is pretty special all right. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the welcome. I put a dab of Tabasco on the thermarest nipple and let her have a good lick. She now thinks the thermarest nipple is the devil and gives it a wide berth.

Well, I just got a new puppy. A border collie mix. The mix means that we got him for free. I plan to take him with me and my son either at the end of summer this year, or next year, depending on how big he is.

Here's to good times with the dog, pepper. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

We took our dog Shawna backpacking at for months. This her and me at Shamrock lake in the Sierra.

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm217/lv2fsh/pic1067.jpg


This is her now at 9 months.

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm217/lv2fsh/IMG_0462.jpg

I don't go hiking without my boys.

Yellow lab is Gaius, black lab is Hoban.

You need to put a black dog in your avatar. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I know, I'll have to call Life Is Good to see what they can do about adding another mascot....