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Come Along, Little Doggie

All you need to know before bringing your best friend to the backcountry
By Ron C. Judd

sk any good trail dog: When slopes get steep and rocks get slick, full-time four-paw drive is a very nice option. But a hyperactive nose and ceaseless imagination are just as crucial. Dogs live to smell. And the outside world is one giant snifforama. This point struck home one day as I watched Lucy, my young Labrador recliner, stop abruptly along a trail she had trod at
least 300 times. Transfixed, Lucy dropped her snout and inhaled deeply, as if savoring a fine cabernet. Lucy has sniffed a billion rocks. But she’d never had a good whiff of this particular one. That is precisely what makes backcountry trips with a canine companion so rewarding. Over time, people begin to take wild places–even new ones–for granted. But for a dog, every scramble
into the bush is the first time, part 844. That glint in the eye at every switchback can render wet trails drier, evil winds friendlier, lonely places homier. But for successful backcountry tromping you need to abide by some basic rules, most of which Lucy and I learned the hard way:

Don’t overdo it at first. Older dogs probably have spent too many evenings watching zebras on the Discovery Channel to take on a 27-mile backpack trek. Just like people, dogs need to build up muscle strength and footpad-toughness for long hikes. Pick a short trail not too far from home and let him build his stamina.

Practice commands. Working on voice control will pay big dividends later, when you might be hiking on trails filled with people, llamas, horses, and other dogs. If the dog is on a leash, a well-learned “wait” command is key. An untrained dog will clear an obstacle such as a deadfall or rock in a stream, and then plunge ahead, pulling you off-balance right when you’re teetering
on top of it.

Make it a habit to carry water for two or three. Dogs often drink more than people, and you won’t always be near streams or other convenient water stops, particularly in midsummer.

Let your dog shoulder some of the burden. Dogs in good condition can carry 30 percent of their body weight. A proper-fitting pack is essential (see “Canine Couture”). Don’t forget to remove it before your dog crosses streams or other obstacles.

Create a designated sleeping spot for your dog inside the tent with a roll-up mat or burlap bag as a bed away from home.

Be patient, or failing that, learn to embrace your dog’s unsink-able zeal for all things outdoors. Five minutes after discovering her irresistible rock on our walk that day, Lucy spotted another one behind me, raced to sniff it, and hog-tied my legs with her leash. I stumbled and fell, smacking my head on a stump. Cursing, I looked up and saw Lucy’s upside-down snout, nose
working madly. I could almost read the delight in her eyes. “Dufus.” Sniff. Sniff. Sniff. “Excellent!”

Oh, the Places We’ll Go
Finding a good place to unleash your dog in the wilds can sometimes be risky business, given  the hundreds of differing rules for thousands of public lands. We polled dog owners for a few legally sanctioned canine favorites.

Boulder, Colorado. Boulder’s hardy hikers, climbers, and bikers rave about the 33,000 acres of public open space and 131 miles of trails around the city–most of which are open to dogs on voice control. Residents note that the Third Flatiron, Boulder’s most famous climbing rock, has been summitted by more than one four-legged climber. Information: City of Boulder Mountain
Parks, 303-441-3400.

The Sky Lakes Wilderness, Southern Oregon. South of Crater Lake National Park, Sky Lakes’s 110 miles of trails lead through spectacular glacier-carved lake basins, and the Pacific Crest Trail cuts north-south for 30 miles through the 7,113-acre wilderness. Dogs are permitted off-leash (voice-control rules apply), and hikers are advised to avoid the mosquito-plagued month of
July. Information: Rogue River National Forest, 541-858-2200.

Pasayten Wilderness, North Cascades, Washington. This high, dry, 530,000-acre wilderness in the North Cascades is crisscrossed by 740 miles of trails, all of which are open to dogs under voice control. But don’t let the pooch stray too far as a large lynx population lives here. Information: Okanogan National Forest, 509-996-4003.

Tilden Park, Berkeley, California. Here’s one for the day-tripping crowd. Tilden, which allows dogs off-leash on trails and in fields, has fast become the favorite escape of Bay-Area dog owners. This large East Bay park has miles of hiking trails with expansive bay views, and even a lake for dog-paddling. Information: Tilden Park, 510-562-7275.        
                         –R.C.J.