Hiking etiquette with dogs

[chumley]

There was a recent thread about rabid foxes and the threat to unleashed pets which got me to thinking about hiking with my dog. I have a yellow lab, who is by nature, a people-loving dog. His greatest threat to anybody is the ability to possibly lick you to the point of illness due to his bad breath. He's getting old and has always been a little bit lazy, so chasing rabbits, squirrels, skunks, and porcupines only lasts for a few yards before he comes back to me. He is always fascinated (but scared) of larger animals such as elk or cattle.

As a result, I frequently hike with him off-leash. This allows him to stop and sniff things while I continue my pace uninterrupted. I am cognizant of other people however and realize that not everybody loves dogs. If I encounter others, I always try to either put him on his leash or at least give him a "sit" command while people pass. I will always restrain him when we encounter other dogs (especially off-leash) until I've had a chance to talk to the owner and determine the demeanor of the dog.

I love to go somewhere that there's nobody else around for miles and miles ... but its nice to share that solitude with my dog. Often it is impractical to have him restrained, especially on trails that involve climbing or scrambling over obstacles.

So, what do you all think of dogs on the trail? I think part of my responsibility as a dog-owner is to try to understand the feelings of others, and while I have some ideas, it can't hurt to get more input.

[PaleoRob]

I pick up after my dog in the backcountry as well, unless I manage to forget a bag or he poops in a cactus (which he loves to do).

[DarthStiller]

I see enough coyote feces in the back country, cleaning up after a dog doesn't seem like it would do much. I think the main issue for people who don't like dogs is the unwanted interaction, even if it is getting slobbered on in a friendly way.

[Jeffshadows]

FWIW - dogs out on the trails drive me berserk. In my experience, they are rarely restrained and frequently well outside of the control or even sight of their owners. Months back I ran into a group of college kids with a dog all the way in at the first dam in Pima, can you believe it?? Guess what the forest service did when I called? ZILCH!! Two weekends later I ran into a couple with unleashed dogs in Saguaro east!! Luckily, there was a ranger there to fine them for once. Get with the program, people, there are signs *everywhere* that proclaim the ban on dogs in these areas.

If your dog is your companion and so forth, that's great. He or she's not mine so please keep him to yourself and out of areas where he or she is explicitly prohibited from being. I go out to the wilderness to get away from the annoying things in life, please respect that.

One more thing - if you have a yellow lab that likes to run up and lick, I'll be annoyed. If you have a rotty, shepherd, or other aggressive dog that runs up on me or my party, it might just get shot. Yes - I'll actually do it, too; then I'll go make camp and sleep like a baby and never think about it again. If you are in an area where you might encounter me with an aggressive dog off-leash and on the loose, you are threatening your dog's safety in addition to the safety of everyone else around you. I have a friend that was mauled before my very eyes when I was ten and I'll never stand by and let it happen again.

I think most folks on here have friendly dogs and just want their companionship. Follow the rules regarding their presence and control and we'll all get along fine. ;)

[joebartels]

Are you sure your last name isn't Fish?
I'm kinda with ya in thought but I wouldn't kill anything. Heck what do I know I chase bears and coyotes on a regular basis

[Jeffshadows]

Yep, why?

[joebartels]

I thought so, I'll let you hike in front

[dysfunction]

I thought so, I'll let you hike in front

That would be what I've learned from this thread

[joebartels]

opps I forgot the link
viewtopic.php?t=1992

[Jeffshadows]

I would never kill someone for what their dog did. That guy was a walking poster for gun control.

[Jeffshadows]

I probably should have just kep my rabid opinion to myself, but it's bothersome. I just run into so many unruly dogs with snotty-punk owners that it gets old.

[joebartels]

I'm not concerned about you unless the owner is naked

Like I said, I'm kinda with you. I mentioned it cause some don't think uncontrolled dogs are an issue. Nobody here is concerned about a controlled dog off leash. Unfortunately the judgmental split second decision is difficult for people scared or not accustom to dogs to decipher. Actions turn irrational and things get ugly.

Then again... how dogs ever got domesticated seems odd when you think about it

[dysfunction]

In response to Jeff MacE:
I agree. To the point where I'd rather not bring my dog (and I used to all the time), because that introduces a whole new level of irritation. I have to admit, this weekend was the first time I can remember that I did not encounter any dogs in the designated Wilderness. Only a couple (on leashes) by Hirabayashi. All in all it's the owners that are really the problem.

[Jeffshadows]

Yes, good point - none of this is the animal's fault at all. Even the aggressive fighting dogs were made that way by a human.

Now, if the person has a NAKED DOG...well, then there's gonna be a problem!!

[chumley]

I probably should have just kep my rabid opinion to myself

Its your rabid opinion that I was seeking. I doubt you're the only one who feels the same way, and as a dog owner, its good to be more familiar with the perspective of non-dog-owners.

[joebartels]

In response to Jeff MacE:
Congratulations you've graduated from the rank of "HAZOPELLI"

[chumley]

So I have another question about this ... are all federal wilderness areas closed to dogs? I don't think that I've ever seen any no-dogs allowed signs, but I think that only Superstition, Mazatzal, and Hells Gate are ones I can think of at the moment. I do know that the Squaw Peak Summit trail is a no-dog trail, as is Echo Canyon. I couldn't care less about these two because there's already too many people on those trails anyway.

As for the wilderness prohibitions, why is that anyway? I understand the mechanized ban, but a dog is no less unnatural than you are, and you're allowed in there, right?

[dysfunction]

Nope, I've been in Wilderness areas (Tahoe in CA and areas in CO) that allow leashed dogs. The Pusch RIdge Wilderness has a Bighorn Sheep Management Area in which dogs are prohibited.

[Jeffshadows]

So I have another question about this ... are all federal wilderness areas closed to dogs? I don't think that I've ever seen any no-dogs allowed signs, but I think that only Superstition, Mazatzal, and Hells Gate are ones I can think of at the moment. I do know that the Squaw Peak Summit trail is a no-dog trail, as is Echo Canyon. I couldn't care less about these two because there's already too many people on those trails anyway.

As for the wilderness prohibitions, why is that anyway? I understand the mechanized ban, but a dog is no less unnatural than you are, and you're allowed in there, right?

Depending on who you ask - they disrupt wildlife habitats; one good example is the bighorn sheep management area down here. Even people are not supposed to leave the trail during certain months, etc.

[Jeffshadows]

In response to Jeff MacE:
Congratulations you've graduated from the rank of "HAZOPELLI"

:guilty:

This calls for a celebration!!

[allanalxndr]

As long as they are not bothering me and are trained to listen to their owner I don't have a problem with them. Never had much of an issue when out backpacking. Most of the time I find it an issue in the Fossil Creek area, car camping. I don't think I've ever come across a single responsible owner with a well behaved dog there. Especially around the bridge area.