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08-28-2005, 01:05 AM | #1 |
YT 6000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 6,238
| [News] Book Brings Yorkie Hiking to Life She had climbed about 12,000 feet on Mount Whitney in Southern California when the idea occurred to Charlene LaBelle to write a book about backpacking with dogs. "It was something I always did, but back then you just didn't see as many backpacks on dogs." So with malamutes at her side, LaBelle scribbled the entire outline for her first book on the topic, all while fighting off the effects of high altitude. The idea of hiking with a canine isn't to have your four-legged friend do the heavy lifting. For one thing, it's considered unkind or even inhumane for any dog to haul more than a third of its weight. Gary Hoffman, of Greenfield, Wis., author of "Dogs on the Trail," his fourth book on the topic, says people think of hiking with big dogs like malamutes, samoyeds or collies. But Hoffman's partner on the trails doesn't exactly clear brush for him. In fact, Willy, a 7-pound Yorkshire terrier, could get lost in the brush. "A dog is a dog; size doesn't matter," says Hoffman. "Besides, anyone who understands Yorkies knows how feisty they are." Hoffman says Willy's diminutive backpack is filled with his kibble (each meal is in an individual, sealed plastic bag), a few treats, a collapsible water dish and a toy. The formula works for nearly any dog, because big dogs eat more and eat larger kibble. Hoffman points out that when dogs are "on" and working for so many hours, it's reasonable to feed them more than you would at home. Hiking with your dog is no different from hiking with any other partner, according to Doug Gelbert, author of "The Canine Hiker's Bible." "It's about sharing an experience and bonding," says Gelbert. Bring five people and five dogs together for a long hike or backpacking trip and, Gelbert says, the dogs always become friends, and usually the people do, too. "We all need to get away and to relax," says Margaret H. Bonham, author of "The Simple Guide to Getting Active With Your Dog." "Dogs are a little more attuned to nature than we are. One of my dogs noticed a rattler before I stepped on him. That's a good thing. Bears and mountain lions can count, and now it's one against two or three (you, the dog and perhaps another human companion or dog), and won't be as likely to show themselves if you have a dog barking a warning." In LaBelle's case, it's often three dogs and three people. One night, a bear approached her tent along a trail, heard barking and made a quick getaway. Naturally, nearby campers were also appreciative. LaBelle, of Saratoga, Calif., who has written an updated version of "A Guide to Backpacking With Your Dog," says, "Their senses are so attuned to everything around them. If you pay attention to your dogs, you'll notice things you never would have, appreciating nature in a different way." Bonham, who lives outside Denver, says it works both ways; the dogs pay more attention to you, too. She recalls teaching one of her dogs to cross a stream walking on a log bridge. "I swear, she was so proud, like, 'Mom, look what I did!' " Certainly, forests and parks are filled with hazards, which is one reason to keep dogs on a leash during hikes. Having a dog skunked in the middle of a trip is no fun. Porcupines, snakes, poison oak and poison ivy are other dangers usually avoided if your dog is on a leash. Hoffman says that in nearly all places, the law requires that dogs be kept on a leash. "Besides, a dog running up and down a trail is inconsiderate to others," she said. Keeping your dog safe means providing ample drinking water for day hikes. For longer trips, purifiers (available where camping supplies are sold) can make reasonably clean water safe. Dogs (and people) who drink from streams are potentially prone to giardia or leptospirosis. Dr. Deb Eldredge, a veterinarian in Vernon, N.Y., says hiking can be a fun family activity, which in her case includes her husband, a 14-year-old daughter, 12-year-old son, a Great Pyrenees and a pair of Welsh Pembroke corgis. Eldredge says heartworm preventative is necessary for all dogs and depending on where you're hiking, flea and tick preventive may be needed too. In addition, "be reasonable. Unless your dog is really acclimated to it, you don't hike far on a 90-degree day," says Eldredge. "If your dog is lagging or seems out of breath, don't take a chance; take a water break. Dogs can overheat easier than people." Gelbert lives adjacent to Valley Forge National Historic Park in Pennsylvania, and hikes daily, rain or shine, with his border collie mix, Katie. "Some people don't understand (that) a hardy dog bouncing around a yard and running after squirrels is different from an athlete getting in shape for a long hike, or several days of continuous hiking. Just as runners get into shape for races, it's best to start slow and gradually build endurance." RESOURCES ON DOGS AND HIKING www.hikewithyourdog.com www.trailhoundz.com "Dogs on the Trail" (Insightout Publishing; $13.95) "The Canine Hiker's Bible" (Cruden Bay Press; $9.95) "The Simple Guide to Getting Active With Your Dog" (TFH; $12.95) "A Guide to Backpacking With Your Dog" (Alpine Books; $12.95) --- Also see: http://www.dogsonthetrail.com http://www.twincities.com/mld/twinci...s/12476323.htm |
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