(This is from an article originally printed in Signpost for Northwest Trails,
published by the Washington Trails Association,
1305 4th Ave, Suite 512, Seattle, WA 98101. WWW.WTA.org.
Noel is a member and has worked with the WTA
on a few of the very numerous trail maintenance projects.)Doggone it: Mind your manners!
Noel McRae
"(A dog) is the ideal companion, because he gives you a sense of companionship without disturbing your sense of solitude. Your mind is alone, but your heart has company. Who would have him more human or less canine? He divines your thought through his love, and feels your will in the glance of your eye." ~ John Burroughs, My Dog Friends
Eyes were fixed on each other as Ralph went into the edge of Big Sister Lake in order to work around Greg. His growling and chest rumbles were unnerving. "Oh, don't worry. Ralph's bark is much worse than his bite," the horse-riding human owner called out, trying to re-assure a very shaken Greg that all was just fine. But Greg never took his eyes off Ralph until the horseman and his dog finally went off. Greg was still upset when he got back to our camp at Fryingpan Lake in the Douglas wilderness.
I had been there the day before with a couple of llamas on a day hike. I wondered what would have happened if I and my llamas had met Ralph. I do not yet carry a gun, but such incidents make me wonder if I should join many of my fellow llama and horse packers. I would like to think that nothing would happen, but ...
Dogs can be controversial
In the December 1998 Signpost for NW Trails, an editorial advocated allowing dogs on trails and some shocked readers in anger removed their names from the subscription list. Such emotional reactions indicates some of the emotion surrounding the use of dogs in the wilderness. Though some can give examples of dog experiences that back up their emotion. "From dogs roaming around chasing the critters that I wanted to see, to muddying up small ponds that I was trying to drink from, to barking and baying and more barking (no matter how hard the owner tried to stop it)." Signpost, 2-99.
In response Dan Nelson replied, "... I personally can find nothing wrong with hiking with well trained dogs ... I understand that there are a lot of poorly trained, ill-mannered dogs (and dog owners) but I've also encountered a lot of unruly teenagers (not to mention rude middle-aged men!) on trails. Should we ban them from the trails, too?"
A follow-up letter in March, 1999, stated "The fanatical reactions of two WTA (or possibly ex-WTA) members in the last issue's Letters to the Editor are very possibly the result of the fact that some dog owners do not take the time and effort to make their dogs into 'good citizens.'"
Should dogs go into the wilderness?
Signpost Magazine has produced a lot of light and heat on the use of dogs on the trails in the past. There was a very good guest editorial by Phil Leatherman in the May 1993 issue. He made many good points in favor of allowing the use of dogs. Some of his points were:
- They are largely useless except as company.
- They leave very little physical impact on the land. Dogs are of little long-term significance to the land.
- Some dogs can be nuisances: barking, pooping on trails, and chasing wildlife. Some dogs are "offensively friendly." Others can be snarling defenders of territory that isn't theirs ... clearly these dogs should be left at home.
A dog can provide a positive addition to one's trip
Most dogs love the opportunity to get out and enjoy the sights and scents of the trail. Owners often find that they enjoy the outing even more as they see the hike from a canine perspective. Dogs can provide company, reassurance, be a great lookout for marauding bears and chipmunks, give one a sense of security when dirty and rough looking PCT hikers lop past camp, and be a good lookout for danger all about. Dogs can be a fun addition to a trip. But dogs also add responsibility to the handler.
You must make certain precautions for your dog.
This can include everything from food to collars, and include conditioning, identification, vaccinations, etc. This sort of information can be readily located on the internet and in a number of books and informational leaflets. You must have your dog that is under your control Dogs which run wild in the wilderness can run into porcupines, bears, and harass wildlife. This can certainly disturb the "residents" and also arouse a lot of ire from other campers. Dog owners need to be aware that they can hurt their cause by allowing dogs to misbehave toward wildlife. Unruly dogs are the cause for some areas banning dogs; others are have it as an on-going possibility. A lease or electronic collars may be helpful or necessary.
When you meet others on the trail, they may or may not like to see your dog coming toward them -- even if a happy friendly smile is on its face. They certainly do not like to have a dog menacing them or even barking at them. You must keep your dog quiet I personally hate yappy, barking, howling dogs around my home -- and that dislike is magnified in the wilderness. If a dog is a barker, get one of those electronic barking control devices.
My perspective
You need to understand a couple of things about me. One, I pack with a dog. My dog does no bark at people. Sometimes I wish she would tell us when people come up to the house. She even greets the UPS truck driver with a happy smile. Molly welcomes everyone. She never jumps on people. She is likely to come up in anticipation that you will pet her. We reprimand her to stay with us, unless people are receptive to her. She will not jump on you or your children. I do not like my dog to jump on me, nor do I like someone else's to do that either. Molly may sit beside you in case you have a hand that needs to feel dog fur.
Anyone who has been around her at our camps has fallen in love with her. It does not take long. The trail builders on Tatoosh fell in love with her as we packed them in and wanted her to stay with them. The Forest Service Supervisor we took into the Douglas Wilderness all vied for her affection. They all fell for her appropriate, friendly and quiet demeanor. Dogs can fit in. She even usually goes off the trail to do her toileting. If not we make sure to clean up after her. Hey, llama packers even clean up after their llamas.
Molly is a useful watchdog for the llamas. She chases anything that gets in the llamas pasture or scares them off. She alerts us to intruding animals around camp. (She's not too good at protecting us from chipmunk attacks, however) She has scared off a mountain lion checking on our animals in the Norse Peak Wilderness.
Molly loves to meet other dogs -- almost as much as she likes to meet people. You and your dog have no worry from our dog. She is not of intimidating size, as a part border collie, and always approaches with her happy smile. It would not be good for her to meet the "Ralphs" along the trail. She has been nipped by unfriendly and over-protective dogs. She assumes everyone and every dog is a friend.
Second, as I mentioned, I am a llama packer. Llamas are naturally very leery of unknown dogs. As I have established, I have nothing against a well-trained dog companion on the trail.
However, I am developing some pretty strong opinions about some dogs on the trail.
Why your dog may be in danger
When we are in the wilderness our biggest concern is not predators, it is confrontations with unruly dogs. We are never sure how controlled or controllable they are. We are never sure of their reaction when they see stock. We have had dogs run into camp and chase our llamas, causing the llama to panic to the end of their tether and flip -- three times. Fortunately for the llama, it did not have a broken neck. Luckily for the dog, I did not have a gun. A backcountry Forest Service ranger friend in Oregon had three dogs rush her llama this past summer causing it to panic, fall off the trail and shatter a leg. It cost $2000 for the surgery. If they had not been close enough to the trailhead to actually carry the animal out, it may not have worked out as well as it did. There have been numerous dog incidents with stock. Enough to make most stock people leery.
My reaction to your dog
As a llama packer I am beginning to take a sterner attitude toward unruly and unfriendly dogs and their careless and thoughtless owners. I have seen and heard of enough problems that I try to preempt them whenever I can.
When I meet you approaching me and your dog is not under control, I will ask you to get him under control and take it off the trail so we can pass without scaring the packed llamas.
If that does not work, I may come across as a little more forceful and tell you what to do with your dog. My demeanor will change rapidly to whatever level necessary to protect myself and my animals. Either you will take care of your dog or I will.
Even yappy little miniature poodles can be spooky to llamas. I especially am concerned about the effect of a spooked response by my packed llamas on a steep sidehill. We just want to be prepared and to prevent any problems -- for our llamas and for you. Injured stock can bring an unfriendly lawyer knocking at your door.
Some of my fellow packers do carry guns in case they have to put down a wounded animal or meet a marauding predator. They have either had or heard of enough dog incidents to have a short fuse toward an aggressive dog. One fellow in Idaho uses what he calls a "Swiss shovel" as a walking stick. He says it serves as a walking stick, a water bar cleaner along the trails, and works pretty good for sweeping aggressive dogs out of the way.
I know this: If a dog attacks my llamas, I will do whatever I can to stop him as quickly as I can. That should be taken very literally. I will try to work with you, but if you cannot get control quickly, I will take things into my own hand.
I need to say that the vast majority of people with dogs are very cooperative. We especially are appreciative of people who see pack animals coming, get control of their dog and step a ways of the trail. We have had very few bad experiences and want no more.
My advice is: If your dog is noisy and obnoxious to others and you are unable to control him, keep him home. It will be the courteous and right thing to do. To leave behind such an untrained and inappropriate animal will help all of us avoid a possible unpleasant confrontation. And, please, do not bring a gang of dogs (that is two or more) into the wilderness. Gangs of dogs are like gangs of kids. They are more likely do things that one might not by alone. You may well ruin the experience of others and maybe cause some really bad reactions toward all dogs.
Well-mannered, controllable, quiet dogs are welcome.