The REALITIES of Backpacking with a Dog 

Gus and I have been hiking together for 8 yrs now. He's my wingman, my best buddy. I trained him to be a trail dog. He loves the trail, when I break out his packs he's like a kid at Chrstmas. I always remember though to hike his hike not mine. Gus will be 9 in June and he is also a cancer survivor. Great video.

Every night in my tent with my border collie pit mix on the appalachian trail she would be so alert. It was unsettling at first but that sense of security knowing she was there to protect me was comforting.

You are exactly right on people and lack of respect for other dogs and their owners. I have a 6 year old Wire Haired Dachshund that is a walking companion, tracker, and backpacker. When we are out in the public, I do not allow people of other dogs to approach us. Americans believe that our dogs are out in public to be greeted and approached by them. I have taught my dog to ignore strangers and their animals. My dog does not view strangers as someone or something to play with. The American public needs to embrace the same attitude, ignore dogs in public. Just started watching your videos. Thanks.

All great points you touched! Definitely a huge responsibility when taking your dog out on trail, but at the same time, so rewarding. If choosing between going solo or going solo with my dog, I'd always choose to take my dog when conditions are right. You do get that sense of being solo, but with a good friend who can provide some comfort when things get difficult. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

I definitely think it's a big responsibility to bring our furry friends along on adventures - but so rewarding at the same time. I love watching them enjoy the view or play in the water along the way ... just knowing they're enjoying it as much as me. Unfortunately, mine got labeled "that dog" after she got startled and the guy started warning other people about her ... when all she did was bark then immediately come back to my side. So, I certainly think it's important to know how your furry friends react to different situations and people.

I'm a new dog momma! I've taken my rattie girl out to a local trail a few times and want to expand. I was thinking about what camping might look like. I've been a little scared of going on my own but now I have new adventure ideas! But I need to be realistic about things. This video helped in a lot of ways in how to handle interactions, setting boundaries, and assigning some work to the dog. We've been together only a month so it's way early. But I hope that we get to do more adventurous things like camping with others who have experience with dogs in the woods this summer.

Some of the guys in my backpacking group bring their dogs backpacking with us. So far, we have not had any problems with them on the trail.

Subscribed. Thank you! great insight! Adjusted my Exectations thanks to you! This was really really interesting! Thank you!! so so so much!!!

So true, hiking with a dog is like solo hiking while not solo, lol. Also comforting not feeling alone and vulnerable on those hikes where you’ll go miles and miles never seeing another hiker. I “solo” hike with my Presa Canario, and always keep an eye on him for any clues of him alerting to something, it’s very comforting while still feeling you’re in nature enjoying it alone.

Great vid. I've had many dogs in my life yet I found this very insightful. Planning my next companion who I want as a trail buddy. Thank you.

I have a Malinois and Border Collie....both are rescues. My BC lived in the streets of Mexico for a very very very long time. My Mal came from a loving home where circumstances changed. Idk if its bcuz my BC is soooo grateful or what but he feels the need to protect me from strangers. While the Mal goes in for pets, my BC goes for the jugular😂😂😂 with "my people" the border collie is a love bug who smiles on command or whenever he wants something. He is quite the charmer actually ❤ I am definitely a "dog person" but i totally understand what you are saying and its sooooo true.

Aw, this was a great video, especially since I just got to experience hiking/camping with an exceptionally awesome doggo firsthand. ❤

True true! All of it! Great video!

Great video. So glad I stumbled across it. Taking my shepherd camping/hiking to Monongahela next week.

Such an informative video. Thanks for being so vulnerable and open about this topic. I haven’t gone backpacking with my dog yet but it’s in the plans. I have done a lot of walking out in nature with her though and I agree with you that there seems to be a strange expectation from people of how your dog should behave when they want to pet the dog. I really appreciate when people respect and understand that my dog and myself have boundaries for both our safety/comfort and the safety/comfort of those around us. I have done training with my dog since she was a pup and I agree that training is a life long commitment. I think my biggest annoyance and what is particularly dangerous is when other dog owners assume their dog is “friendly” based off of a few interactions they have had with other dogs or people and then proceed to have their dogs roam off lead without a good recall. Again there seems to be a lack of recognition that dogs are animals and that they don’t have to like or get along with every other dog they meet but it is ABSOLUTELY your responsibility as a dog owner to have your dog under control at all times around other dogs and people (like on a leash when you don’t have any information on the dog your coming up to) Luckily for the most part I haven’t had many bad experiences and I think talking about it so eloquently as you have in this video sends some information out there on the walking/hiking and camping with dogs experience.

Never camped with my dog before, thinking about taking the jump this spring/summer, thank you for your candor, I think you explained yourself well and your concerns/praise of camping with the dog, I too have a GSD, he's 5 and very well trained luckily, I'll report back on how it went, I expect we will encounter very similar situations! - Thanks

Perfectly put n nice dogs..I'm lucky enough to have a bull grey hound half malinois n U stated everything Right in breed's instincts boundaries and doing Ur best to b respectful and protect U URS and everything else.. quality 🙏

I have been doing a mix of extreme hiking mixed with very dense urban travel, i have a collie cross kelpie farm dog so the urban stuff has been the most difficult but he is super good on trains and this video although from another country 100% validated some of our findings when we started training for adventures

So really true what you say, exspecialy tey just wanna be with you, soo rewarding.....love your topic... i hought i was alone whos think so...thkx!!

Love your dog knowledge!

This!!! 100% this. Specially the last part. My dog is my everything, well behaved and thinks everyone is her friend. That said i never let her w/o a leash on the trail cause i know not everyone like dogs as much as i do, for me is more important to keep my dog safe and make other people feel safe than leting everyone know how great my girl is. It also exhasperates me the people who let their dog loose and claim "it's ok, he's friendly" yeah, maybe, but my dog may get scared or anxious if approached suddenly and then throw a bite at yours which may then respond back and get us in a fight. And finally those people who think that because a dog is very well behaved at home but only take it to the woods once or twice a year: the dog may behave very different in a new environment they're not used to, so having a very well behaved dog when you're watching series in your living room doesn't guarantee it'll behave the same outdoors where theres a lot of stimulus he's not used to.

Hundred percent agree. Me and my pup trained each other for many years, eventually it got to the point where he looked at me or I looked at him and we both knew exactly what was needed. He was so if I may say a Rock Climbing Fool

You are right, not only on the trail it is like that...a walk in the park is the same...

Love hiking w my Dutchie- he’s great company and loves to b outdoors on the trail

Everyone Who's backpacking alone! especially women...we need to be careful. This is my main concern...I'd love to hike solo but the risk of other people...with bad intentions is frightening.

Dogs have extraordinary hearing and sense of smell, and they can sense danger before we do. I hike with my big German sheperd and we have a great time. The important thing is to have the dog socialized with people and other dogs, and to be trained to obey commands. I usually let him roam free, but if we approach bikers or horses I put him on a leash. Some people are frightened of dogs, especially large ones, and will overreact when surprised by dogs. It is the owner's responsibility to control the dog at all times. Do that, and you will have a good time.

Love those monster ears on your pup.

Main reason i bought my malinois puppy is to have a buddy on my adventures! Absolutely love it going in multiple day trips this summer😍

Dogs only seemed to become so important and trendy if I may, in the early 90s with the boom in outdoor life. Imho. Lol. Now they are our best friends and so spoiled. Lol

I've watch "Foresty Forest" videos. He is a mountain climber who lives in a 4 wheel drive van who climbs mountains, not cliffs, but mountains and takes his Jack Russell with him. She is amazingly coordinated, and doesn't wander off. I've seen another Jack Russell running a Rocky mountain ridge and was amazed to see the balance and coordination, more like a cat. They are also small, less food and water.

Just started extreme hiking with my collie x kelpie and he is a natural climber

I’m planning a section hike. Really want my dog, along but how do you deal with resupply shopping along trails?

I think people don't know how to pet a dog they don't know. The only way is getting down at its level from 1,5 meter, twist knees not to face it, look at the ground and lay your arm with open hand. Dog decides to come or not. If it comes, you won't get biten 'cause it is asking to be pet. If it ignores you or growls, don't ask for more. Yep people like to throw their hand on the head from their size : this is domination act from dog perspective. So i think this is our responsability as owners to educate people, as well as a lesson to understand the difference between taking and offerring, in order to make the world a better place.

I’m worried about my dog puncturing gear with their claws. Besides trying to trim the claws, do you have any advice?

Your dog, your rules.

What about going into town for resupply with a dog. I'm worried about hitchiking from the trail to the Post office and into town.

Thank you. First video that I have seen from you. I agree that some people are confused and just assumed all stray dogs want to be petted. Is that a word? I like that you just calmly ask that people not pet your dog. It may be a lie, but just say my dog is weary around strangers. I feel that once you have stated something; then the person is simply being rude. Most people will listen and go with their day. Again thanks and looking forward to seeing other videos.

How can I hike with my dog while using trekking poles without staying tangled?

I try and give my puppy every opportunity to meet other dogs of all sizes and people. I think it’s important that the dog learns how to interact with different dogs and personalities. Of course nothing is forced and you kinda get a read on ppl if they want their dog to interact

Any “tent camping” advice for comfort due to a back injury from rodeolife…?

Thank you!!!! Definitely makes me feel better when faced with A**holes! My dog is very protective and nothing gets near me...sometimes even my husband....but, I pull him far away from the trail, make him sit... he's even starting to get off the trail without prompting....but he still growls and if someone tries to talk, he will bark. He's learning with age and trying to socialize him, we live extremely 'rural' and he will fight with other dogs...sooo many people let their dogs run free...it's hard to take him but even harder to not. He will not eat or drink until I'm home....every single time, for any reason 🫤

Do you have any advice for a dog who doesn't sleep well on the trail?

What is your ignore command, and how did you train it? I don't know that one. I rely on my dog's excellent sit stay if he gets distracted, excitable, or if the trail is too narrow to pass widely. He's a pitt bull mix so I hold him to high behavior standards. I avoid little dogs on the trail. The little dog owners is often very irresponsible and allow their dog to get in my dog's personal space. Littke dogs need training, too. And retractible leashes are the same as not having a leash. They offer no control if their dog does something they shouldn't. I avoid all dogs who walk their hiker. The hiker should be walking the dog. The most recent one I saw on trail was a goldie tethered to someone's waist. But the lady being walked freaked out because my pittie was sitting calmly on his lead, and she thought he didn't give a leash on. Big dogs don't trigger prey drive for my dog. He just watched curiously as the hyper goldie dragged the lady everywhere.

What about dogs and bears

Would take my dog just for protection.

I train working dogs; we teach neutrality - which means socialization is NOT letting strangers touch or interact with them and not allowing strange dogs to greet or approach the dogs both as puppies and as adults. Dogs being social animals is not quite what most people think it means. Neutrality is essentially micromanaging what a dog is exposed to - you cannot control other people and you cannot control other dogs. If something spooks your dog, you then have to go back and work on something that could have been preventable. If a dog grows up knowing other dogs and people exist, but they're not part of that dog's life - dogs tend to not be over the top about greeting and on the flip side they are less likely to have fears or nervousness associated with other people or animals. Of course breeds and genetics play into the overall success in this, but the concept applies.

hi, thank for share

Good video but I think you are teaching your dogs to be defensive of strangers by avoiding them. Total socialization is the key. It is actually not much different than people being scared of different races or ethnicities.. Really don't mean to get too deep or ..you know. Treat everyone equally , your dog will probably too.