[pct-l] Kinda like a bear canister?

[c.engberg at cox.net]

On March 20 Ben Gunderson wrote:
"...i'm putting all my food in his saddle bags, he isn't that good of a dog 
anyways."

Even without this comment I would recommend you first off don't take your 
dog on a through hike and if you do especially don't make him carry all of 
YOUR food. I often take my dog hiking- at most allow them to carry their 
own food and water (though their bodies aren't really designed to carry 
weight). Also domesticated dogs simply are not meant to to high-milage 
days required for a thruhike especially with the extremes (mostly heat) of 
the trail and excess weight. Think of them first. Did they decide to travel the 
trail? Make it easy on them and carry all (or nearly all) of the weight and 
they will provide companionship second-to-none on the trail.

After reading the second part of your comment I am not going to ask but 
simply tell you: DO NOT TAKE YOUR DOG ON YOUR THRU HIKE. I 
mean what exactly did you mean by that? When a bear comes in in search 
they can simply maul your dog (with your food strapped to his back who's 
probably trying to protect you) instead of a having a bear canister? That is 
one of the most disappointing things I have ever heard on this list.

-Chris