[pct-l] dogs on the trail

[toby_patke@hotmail.com (Toby Patke)]

Matter of time before this one goes around…again.

I have to say that, as a dog lover, I really don’t think dogs belong on the 
trail – or, at least the southern parts.  There are numerous environmental 
reasons, but, for me, I wouldn’t take one for the dog’s sake.  I have seen 
too many dogs suffering from heat exhaustion, and cracked feet.  (You try 
lugging a fur coat through the desert while bare foot…most dogs that are 
natural to the area – coyotes – have light coats and travel at night / 
dusk.)

…even if the dog has been “training” with the owner.  For some reason, dogs 
don’t adjust to the trail lifestyle as well.  Of course, there are always 
exceptions and I am sure that some dogs do the whole trail without any 
problems.

Granted, the sections of the PCT I have hiked have been in the South (Campo 
to Big Bear), and a dog would probably do better in the cooler temperatures 
with a little bit of foliage under their feet.

As for the pros – you have a great partner.  Always by your side, never 
complains or argues, with you until the end, etc…

My two cents anyway...

Toby

>From: "Craibonn" <craibonn@earthlink.net>
>To: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
>Subject: [pct-l] dogs on the trail
>Date: Sun, 3 Feb 2002 10:39:09 -0800
>
>This is Moose.  I would like to hear from others who might have taken a dog 
>on the PCT - pro and con.
>
>Thanks!
>
>
>--- StripMime Report -- processed MIME parts ---
>multipart/alternative
>   text/plain (text body -- kept)
>   text/html
>---
>_______________________________________________
>PCT-L mailing list
>PCT-L@mailman.backcountry.net
>http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l




_________________________________________________________________
Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com