Who: hikes, climbs &or backpacks with a dog?

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Little Rickie said:
But she has issues. Some dogs and some people just set her off and she is scary aggressive and lunging. A very impress display for a small dog, which give credence the the expression: It's not the size of the dog in the fight but the fight in the dog. We haven't seen a consistant pattern yet on what sets her off.

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Resource gaurding....and you are the resource...you are probably the best thing that has ever happened to her, stable home, food every day, someone who loves her....she's making sure it stays that way. But, its a sign of stress in her AND a warning flag for you -- you know that you can assert leadership and she will respect that, she just needs to now learn that you are the decision maker first and foremost.

I'll suggest a few good books, you may be able to find them in your library:

"How to be the leader of the pack and have your dog love you for it" Patricia McConnell, PhD

"Good owners, Great Dogs" Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson

"My Smart Puppy" Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson

The first two in particular if you can only get two. One is theoretical/behavioral, the second is a relationship building through fun training exercises. Both trainers are awesome, and I've had the profound priveledge of working with them and seeing firsthand thier excellence in reconditioning behavior problems and teaching people to form awesome team relationship bonds with thier dogs.

Bottom line, your dog loves you, no question there. But as you are very responsibily aware of, getting her through these issues is extremely important to her well being and your hiking future together.

And kudos on resisting the electronic option, NOT for dogs with issues to work through.

And I am so very happy to read that your whole family is involved, what a lucky pup!

edit to add:
this is an excellent method for redirecting aggression:
http://www.dogwise.com/ItemDetails.cfm?ID=dtb766
a small, inexpensive pamphlet with an easy to follow and VERY effective way of training for attention on you -- will help you learn and understand those triggers and modify the behavior. excellent, I know many who have been sucessful with it (including me)
 
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una_dogger said:
I'll suggest a few good books, you may be able to find them in your library:

"How to be the leader of the pack and have your dog love you for it" Patricia McConnell, PhD
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I'm sure "the dog whisperer" dude has books on this also. My laymans opinion of dog training is that establishing yourself as the Pack Leader is the most important thing you can do. It just may not be the easiest thing to do. Most other issues should fall in line from there. IMHO.
 
I'll put in a second plug for McConnell's books - "The Other End of the Leash" is great, too. Also more about theory than technique, but it's a really great primer on how dogs (canines) communicate vs how we (human/primates) do.

We've also used Emma Parson's "Click to Calm" to work with Augie on his people and dog reactivity. A lot of what we originally put down to aggression was more about him being fearful and insecure, and the clicker work/desensitization we've done with him has made a night-and-day difference with him.
 
I'm another fan of McConnell's books.

I also agree that a dog w/ issues should not be trained w/ an e-collar. Unless used properly, even on a "stable" dog, the results can be disasterous.

I too have a rescue dog that came w/ some baggage. However, despite being an abuse case (imbedded collar) he's the most friendly german shepherd you'll ever meet. I've spent the past two years teaching him boundries. He was a super mouthy, hyper, wild child. I went to a trainer who used Volhard training methods and through those methods, he learned that I was the pack leader. I also learned what made him "tic." It was a long process but one very much worth it!

He has no prey drive, so going on trails w/o a leash on him was an easy transition. He's my first dog I trusted off lead on the trails. His recall is good, though through my own laziness lately, not 100%. I have learned that not every dog is able to be off lead. I also found that his pack seemed to calm him down on the trail. He's a totally different hiker w/ his pack than when hiking w/o it. He sticks close by when he has the pack on.

As far as trail and camping tips. Depends on what you plan. Phoenix loves the small travel/camping bed I got him. He'd much prefer to sleep on my sleeping bag and pad, but will settle down on his own pad in the tent. I also recommend a stake and rope for camping. If you are car camping, then the usual screw in the ground stakes is perfect w/ the 360 spining catch on it. I recommend a steel bowl for camping as it will take some dings w/ no problem. I also have the folding bowls for hiking for water/food. I tend to break all meals down into individual baggies for easy feeding. Also, you'll want to put items in your first aid kit specifically for the puppers like dog specific sticky bandages and include a copy of shot records.
 
First aid stuff! I'm glad someone remembered :)

Confession - I keep "vet wrap" as a human first aid supply, too. It's cheaper, and it comes in cool colors :cool:

Other useful items are a disposable razor (for cleaning around wound sites), something to cover a paw in case of pad injuries, and a couple of stiptic (sp?) pads to stop minor bleeding.
 
griffin said:
. A lot of what we originally put down to aggression was more about him being fearful and insecure, and the clicker work/desensitization we've done with him has made a night-and-day difference with him.
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That's awesome that you took the time to learn and understand. Taking the time to build a relationship with a dog is incredibly rewarding, especially with dogs who've come with some baggage. Finally breaking through those walls and earning their trust, friendship and partnership -- there's no greater feeling that being honored with the true trust and willingness of a dog to be your team mate.

That doesn't come through intimidation methods.

Intimidation will simply shut down a dog -- it looks like training, it looks like compliance, but it does nothing to build a relationship and it teaches a dog nothing. I have no bones about stating that Cesar Milan is not a trainer in my book. It disheartens me that National Geographic, of all entities, has chosen to highlight this man as a "Dog Whisperer".

The Volhard Methods are awesome, I'm impressed that you worked with them, Shewolf -- they take alot of time and dedication, I know many competitive obedience folks who swear by them.
 
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Shewolf said:
He has no prey drive, so going on trails w/o a leash on him was an easy transition. He's my first dog I trusted off lead on the trails. His recall is good, though through my own laziness lately, not 100%. I have learned that not every dog is able to be off lead. I also found that his pack seemed to calm him down on the trail. He's a totally different hiker w/ his pack than when hiking w/o it. He sticks close by when he has the pack on.
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Giving your dog a "job" is especially important with working breeds. When Mika, my sled-dog bred siberian is bored she can become the most misbehaved dog one would ever meet, chewing on anything and digging massive holes everywhere. However, get her on a trail moving at a comfortable clip, and she is a totally different dog. You can almost see the "purpose" in her eyes, like a dog on a mission. I hike with her on a lead, usually attached to a Sporn "No-Pull" harness which she actually keeps a moderate amount of tension on but won't jerk hard enough to pull my arm out of joint. On days when I'm feeling frisky I'll put her in her racing harness and hitch her to my waist with a shock-absorbing tug line and run along / get pulled along behind her. In this case, I choose wide trails and cart roads where I don't expect to see many people (if any at all) and where we have good sight lines down the trail. We go as hard and fast as I am able. I know I haven't been able to get her to top speed - I can't run that fast.

As for hiking with her on a lead, for us there is no other way. Her prey drive is huge, and will bolt after anything that moves, and at that point her recall skill is zero.

All I know is it works for us, and that's all that matters to me.
 
una_dogger said:
I have no bones about stating that Cesar Milan is not a trainer in my book. It disheartens me that National Geographic, of all entities, has chosen to highlight this man as a "Dog Whisperer".

The Volhard Methods are awesome, I'm impressed that you worked with them, Shewolf -- they take alot of time and dedication, I know many competitive obedience folks who swear by them.
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Oh, yes, Vohard methods take lots of time and dedication. What I love about them are that they don't just focus on "training" but understanding the dog and his drives/responses. Because I didn't know much about Phoenix's past when I got him, this worked well for both of us. Intimidation would not work w/ this dog b/c he had such low flight and fight scores. We've come a long way since I got him two years ago.

As far as the first aid kit add-ins...go online and take a look at what most K9 kits have and just add what you don't have to your own kid. I love the vet wrap too...so happy to hear someone else uses it for more than just "the dog". I also include two booties in Phoenix's pack as a just in case. His pack contains not only his water, but also his own first aid kit.

We go nowhere w/o an ID tag. I have my cellphone number on it since if were were traveling, I wouldn't be home to answer my home phone...;)

If camping, I recommend bringing along some liquid Benedryl just in case the puppers gets stung. Phoenix loves to snap at anything that flies and even though he's been stung a few times, he's yet to learn his lesson.
 
Thank you all, it's all good stuff.

What do you think of those doggie rain/warm jackets I see those little dust mop dogs wearing? My thinking was they look kind of wimpy and laughable.

Today though we had our morning walk in cold rain and I had a hard time thinking how uncomfortable or dangerious it would be for her if we had to hike for hours in the rain. She has a short coat and has a low body fat.
 
Well, this time of year, I would think blaze orange ought to be the hottest fashion going ;)

When you say short, how short? Are we talking German Shepherd? Lab? Or like Viszla/Weimeraner/short-haired hound short? Can you tell if she has a double-coat (like a husky, for example)

One of my friends hikes with a Viszla about the size of your girl, and she does wear a fleece whenever she hikes in cold weather (snow, or below 40). She too has little body fat.

But if her fur is a bit thicker, she may be ok with just a shell (if that). Dogs are pretty hardy, and from watching them roll in the snow I think they do ok on their own if they have sufficient fuel to burn.

My guy, augie, has a coat more like a Lab in length and texture, and he's usually fine unless it's well below freezing, or snowing/raining.

I did get him one of these last fall:
trackjacket340.jpg

http://www.ruffwear.com/Track-Jacket?sc=2&category=12

It works as a rain jacket, it's light enough he doesn't get too hot, but seems to give him just enough extra insulation when it's cold. It doubles as safety gear in hunting season and also makes it a lot easier to keep track of him when he's exploring. Nothin' wimpy about it, either - he hasn't managed to damage it, despite a love of tearing thought the underbrush and wrestling with his pals.

You might want to start her out with a lighter shell, if your worried, and add something beefier if she seems to need it. And of course, making sure she's got lots of extra calories to burn is just as if not more important than what she's wearing.
 
Well boxer short. She is mostly boxer and has all of a boxers personality.

I googled Viszla, it looks that short.

I'll look into rain jacket. She was in a big hurry to get back to the house and inside, that tells me enough for now. I'll see how she does as it gets colder outside. She's from Kentucky so she may have never seen or felt snow and cold.
 
Boxer? I bet you're reading her right - she may need a rain jacket of some kind, and a fleece for when it's colder (and hey, sometimes a girl likes to change outfits to match the season)
 
StashZdanuk said:
Be aware when purchasing dog clothing that you heed the voice of experience... http://www.vftt.org/forums/showpost.php?p=262695&postcount=31
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Ha! I'll second the recommendation of Tom about K9 Topcoat. Tucker has hair, not fur and loves the cold weather. But snow, especially fresh snow collects on him and turns his coat into a sea of ice balls. I got the Lycra suit - not insulated - for him. I got it from the website. He absolutely hates it when I approach him to put it on. But he forgets about it when he is out in the snow. Then he is relieved to get out of it when we get home. He thinks it makes him look fat.:D
3967874422_4a5a15c875.jpg
 
Little Rickie said:
Thank you all, it's all good stuff.

What do you think of those doggie rain/warm jackets I see those little dust mop dogs wearing? My thinking was they look kind of wimpy and laughable.
Click to expand...

My Airedale Duffy just never got cold, even at -40 on Mt. Washington. Lauky, on the other hand, has a nearly identical coat, but he is much smaller and especially in the beginning of the winter I noticed that he seemed to be getting a bit chilly some times so I put a fleece jacket on him which I also have used a couple of times in a heavy rain.

It worked well and he doesn't seem to mind it at all and it stashes away very conveniently in the bottom of my pack when not needed.

004.jpg
 
Oh Ya...My wife let Mona off the leash in the front yard last night and she bolted after a rabbit around the house and across two back yards. She chased Mona in her socks, the grass was still wet after it rained. :D

I told her she shouldn't do that, we were still working on the off the leash thing.

I wonder where Mona learned not to listen to me? :p;):rolleyes:

It was my fault.
 
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