How do you feel about hikers and backpackers that take their dogs on the Trail?

[Tree Top Flyer]

andyblack wrote:

I personally do not like dogs. Sometimes they get on my nerves when they’re on the trail, but I understand that a lot of people love their dogs and consider them family members. Therefore, I say bring the dogs on! Just don’t cause me to step in any more doggie piles. I may just find out where you and your dog are camped at and leave you a pile of my own in front of your tent.
Just kidding!

No you’re not…hehehe

[PROJECT359]

This should be down to the common sense of the owner. If you have an uncontrollable dog, then you shouldn’t take it on the trail. My last dog was a small one but I would still put it on the leash when other hikers were close by.

Nearly all of the dogs I have seen on hikes have been well behaved.

[Guests]

do dogs leave behind plastic bags and condoms? …no. too much anti-dog crap now. let the dogs reconnect to their wolf roots, just like we try to become tribal.

[cat]

I have a dog who hikes with me all the time.

My gripe is people who have dogs that attack my poor old pup. If your dog is not friendly with other dogs, get far off the trail when you see another dog & keep your dog under control on a leash (maybe a choke collar too!)

We had a dog attack our dog on a narrow cliff trail up here in Alaska. We were lucky the dogs didn’t tumble down to the ocean below.

[Guests]

Dogs are great on the trail… but, they must be trained properly. If you cannot control you dog while not on a leash–you’d be best to leave them at home

[swampfox]

As several have said, the dog must be well-behaved.
I went hiking at Jones Gap with a friend who brought his yellow lab. She was so smart and well-behaved, it was a real treat to have her on the hike. She enjoyed being in the woods more than we did.

[mudpuppy]

I’m a new dog owner and Marles loves to go hiking. I have to say though, he gets a little too excited and doesn’t always listen to me. It’s not his fault, I am still learning how to be a good dog person. We’re working on it- so for now he is always on a leash when we go hiking.
I was on a trail once and this huge husky came running up to me. It jumped up on me and it’s paws were on my shoulder. I found it pretty annoying and a little scary. How was I to know if it was a nice dog or not?
I think unless your dog is very well behaved and comes as soon as you call it, it should always be on a leash when others are sharing the trail.

[Grey]

I have yet to meet a dog on a trail that was any trouble at all. Hiker’s dogs seem to be especially sociable yet respectable.

And I’m a cat person.

[Richard Ivy]

I would not even consider not bringing my canine companions. I do think that hikers, like everyone else, need to have some common sense and courtesy. Pick up any messes. Control your pets. Leash them when meeting other hikers (with or without dogs of their own) because you never know … even if your pet is an angel, maybe the person you’re meeting has had a bad experience or maybe their leashed pet is not so friendly with other dogs.

[sh4d0wm4573ri7]

My main companion is my dog I have no problem with dogs that are well behaved and kept under control

[Tree Top Flyer]

We now have a Choc Lab and it’s really disappointing to not be able to take her on some of these trails. I’ve had a sort of change of mind on this topic. Although I’ve always enjoyed the non Kujo dogs on the trails now that we have a dog I’m even more of a fan of dogs on the trails.

TTF
Back in the USA again….KSVN, GA

[Author]

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