Activities for Dogs
Hiking
and Backpacking with your Dog LinksHiking and backpacking with your dog can be fun and exciting--or miserable--depending upon how much planning and preparation you have done. You can't just show up at a hiking spot and expect to be welcomed.
You need to know things like - in many states it is perfectly legal to shoot a dog merely for being in the same pasture as livestock, or for running after wildlife (game animals). Every state allows a landowner to shoot a dog found chasing livestock.
So make sure your recreation doesn't spoil other people's recreation. Before you go make sure you can control how and when your dog approaches people. Not everyone loves dogs and they should be able to enjoy the same space as you without having to deal with your dog. It doesn't matter that your dog is friendly. For many people merely being approached by a dog is frightening. Would you run up to a person and give them a big hug if you didn't know them? Would you expect that behavior would make a person uncomfortable? Well plenty of people never grew up around dogs, and it makes them uncomfortable to have dogs approach them. It shouldn't be too much to ask that your dog abide by normal social rules - ask for an invitation before getting in touching range. Asking before approaching isn't just a human thing, it is correct canine social behavior. Other dogs will also react badly if your dog fails to exchange signals and wait for permission before approaching. There is no reason your dog has to meet everyone and everything for both of you to have a good time.
And finally, before you go, make sure your dog is healthy enough and fit enough to enjoy your planned activities. Practice ahead of time, make some shorter excursions from home. The resources below will provide more details on specifically how to prepare, and how to find places that you can enjoy with your dog. If you are looking for a dog friendly vacation activity also check the camps and trips pages.
Basic conditioning tips and guidelines. Things to watch for.
Choosing the right pack, conditioning, even how to earn a hiking title.
A large collection of links and information to hiking in dog friendly parks.
This page is a short description primarily on acclimating your dog to a pack. It is hosted by a commercial site offering not only dog packs, but also search and rescue gear as well as assistance dog equipment.
Something most people don't think about is the group dog walk. Some are scheduled as purely social events, some are fund raisers. This site is devoted to Dog Walk Events - promoting them, and helping you find events near you to participate in.
The purpose of the Companion Dog Patrol is to contact other dog walkers and encourage them to follow all park rules. By educating and gaining rule compliance dog access to the park system is protected.
A modest collection of articles and links
An overview on the benefits and problems of jogging with your dog.
Title: Running with Your Dog
Author: J.A. Sanford
Denlingers Publishers, Limited
A way to join in on group activities. Guidelines for trail manners.
Some general advice on hiking and backpacking with your dog safely.
(San Francisco Bay Area, California)
.Dogs are permitted in most of the East Bay Regional Parks (San Francisco Bay Area, California), and off leash walking is permitted in a large percentage of those. Most are not dog parks. By that I mean that dogs are permitted off leash but must maintain company manners - running up to strangers is rude, even if its intended to be friendly. Other park users should be able to enjoy the park as if your dog were not even present. Making the park uncomfortable for other users is a sure route to getting dogs banned.
The guidebook series called The Dog Lover's Companion describe and rate recreation areas, restaurants, lodgings, and diversions for dog lovers who want to travel with their dogs. It also tells which areas are leash-free. See The Dog Lover's Companion to California; The Dog Lover's Companion to the Bay Area (San Francisco Bay Area); The Texas Dog Lover's Companion .
An information exchange forum on camping with your dog.
A Southern Oregon pet friendly bed and breakfast near Crater Lake.
A list of dog related activities in the SF Bay Area with the focus on the South Bay Area.
Some tips and comments on promoting dog parks. Also includes links to sites that may help you find a dog park near you. Most of those used to be on this page.
A Guide to Backpacking With Your Dog by
Charlene G. LaBelle
The
Canine Hiker's Bible
Hiking
With Dogs
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Copyright © 1997-2003, Diane Blackman Created: September 30, 1997 Updated November 12, 2007
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