[pct-l] Dogs on the trail

Been reading all the posts pro and con . I have a dog that I love

very much so I guess that would make me a dog lover.

I think the problem with bringing dogs on the trail is that they really

do tend to annoy others. Everyone likes to think theri dog is so well

behaved and trained etc... But is that really the case in all cases?

Probably not. It would be like someone telling us our child is the

class bully and we refuse to believe it because out little "darling" was

brought up properly and wouldn't do something like that. I am sure

everyone here can understand that point.

I am currently getting in shape for a "99 thru-hike of the AT and plan

to tackle the PCT within the next 5 years. I take my dog who is a

4.5 pound Papillon on training walks and hikes with me. He is a good

motivator to make me walk faster as he simply "insists" that I walk

quickly! :-) Sure I would like him to come with me on my hike but I am

not bringing him as to do so would be mostly for me not for him as he

can't tell me if he wants to go or not! To subject my little dog to days

and days and months of grueling mileage because that is what I want to

do and my little dog ends up with raw bloody paws, I am guilty of

abusing my own dog for my benefit! Same is if I can't give him enough

food to keep enough weight on him. It is one thing to let myself get thin

and haggard from hiking as that is my choice but to let it happen to my

dog is abusive.

Well I have rambled on long enough but it is prety easy to justify just

about anything just because we want to do it.

Elizabeth