Dog Community

dogs first hike

cyclefiend2000

Posted : 11/13/2006 11:50:58 AM

i took our dogs hiking this past weekend. this was the first time they had been out hiking, and first time i have been in quite a while. they did pretty good. the pace was a little slower than i expected, but overall ok. they were leashed the whole time. we got a few nasty looks from a couple of people, not sure why. we moved off the trail to let them pass and we still got the skunk eye. guess they arent dog lovers?

the weirdest encounter was with a group of people also hiking with their dogs. there were 4 or 5 of them. all the dogs were leashed except one. the lady was calling her dog, but it was obviously ignoring her. i stopped and pulled my dogs off to the side of the trail. her dog came up to us and was sniffing them, no big deal. the lady comes running up and grabs her dog and says "she is friendly, but i don't know about your dogs". if she was afraid of a bad encounter, shouldnt she have her dog leashed?

it was a fun outing all-in-all. i think next time we will try to find a less popular trail though. [

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TAOofGoldyShep

Posted : 11/13/2006 12:25:59 PM

I hear ya...we have a state park right up the street that we take our dogs to a few times per week. The good thing is that most people that hike in there are aware that it's a popular spot for folks to go with their canine companions. But, still, people are quirky. [

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I try to take the paths less traveled, too...and I always seem to bump into someone else doing the same thing...lol.

rwbeagles

Posted : 11/13/2006 12:31:09 PM

How fun...I love hiking but I have one knee that's never been the same since walking too much in Paris years ago. It kinda makes poping sounds and aches. Weird.

I am thinking those people just didn't like pooches or stepped in some doggy doo someplace lol! pfftf on them anyways...glad you guys had a fun time.

Outside fun with the pooches is the best!

Eric Mies

Posted : 11/13/2006 3:48:08 PM

Good for you! It's great bonding in the out doors wiht yoru dog.

We brought presley for her first hike a month or so ago - so much fun! Saturday morning's we go for an hour plus walk in the local stat forest, she loves it. not sure how it;s goign to work when ther is snow on the ground - I bouhgt her a fleece coat and will give it try but she can abe a little princess and I'm betting she wont like the cold snow...

cyclefiend2000

Posted : 11/13/2006 4:13:42 PM

we have had an unseasonable warm fall so far. it was around 80 on saturday. that is about 15 degrees above normal.

i am definitely going to have to invest in some seatbelt harnesses though. at one point sydney jumped into the front seat and put his head in my lap. not good while you are trying to drive!

the trails we went to are right outside of the city we live in, so with it being warm there were lots of people there. there are some other trails slightly farther away we may try next time. i have mtn biked them regularly, and if you get there early on sundays there arent many people (except in the summer).

if only i could convince the wife to like hiking/camping! [

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cairnterriers

Posted : 11/13/2006 6:00:59 PM

Sounds like you had a good time. I'm glad! I honestly hate it when people make assumptions really quickly like that one woman did. I guess she was being careful of her dog, but then she would have leashed it right? Anyways, she didn't really need to say that out loud.

The outdoors are best with your canine companions, aren't they?

Mark

Posted : 11/13/2006 6:08:52 PM

i love going out with the dogs...

dont worry about the first couple,they must have stepped in poop before they met you...lol

Catherine

Posted : 11/13/2006 11:32:25 PM

It's nice to hear about other people leashing their dogs on hikes!

I try to go on 1 hike per week or every other week and I swear my dog is the only one that is ever leashed. I can't say that the other dogs misbehave - they are usually right in front of their owners and stay on the trails. However, the other hikers always urge me to unleash my dog, trying to convince me that he'll stick by me - hah!

It's also nice on hikes when you are really dragging and your dog can pull you up the steep inclines :-)