Momolio wrote:
Been reading all the posts pro and con . I have a dog that I lovevery 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 wellbehaved and trained etc... But is that really the case in all cases? Probably not. It would be like someone telling us our child is theclass bully and we refuse to believe it because out little "darling" wasbrought 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 planto tackle the PCT within the next 5 years. I take my dog who is a4.5 pound Papillon on training walks and hikes with me. He is a goodmotivator to make me walk faster as he simply "insists" that I walkquickly! :-) Sure I would like him to come with me on my hike but I amnot bringing him as to do so would be mostly for me not for him as hecan't tell me if he wants to go or not! To subject my little dog to daysand 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 ofabusing my own dog for my benefit! Same is if I can't give him enoughfood to keep enough weight on him. It is one thing to let myself get thinand 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 justabout anything just because we want to do it. Elizabeth