[puncho]

Hi all, hoping to get outdoors more. I've seen some beautiful TRs that I'd like to do myself and have a growing list of hikes! The older I get, the more time I want to spend in a certain area to enjoy the peace and quiet but I'd like to follow the "rules" as well. Checking WTA, sometimes it doesn't have the camp or dog icon on the page but then I see TRs where people are camping and/or bringing their pets along. So what's the deal? Thanks!

[Randito]

General rules: National Parks: Pets only permitted where vehicles permitted (roads, campgrounds, not trails) National Forests: Pets typically permitted with case by case restrictions. In popular areas expect leashes to be required and in a few cases pets are excluded. In less popular areas voice controlled pets are permitted off leash, but understand that voice control means your pet will return to you even if there is a squirrel or deer providing excitement-- the vast majority of pets are not trained to that degree and should remain on leash. Trailhead signage in National Forests are usually pretty clear about leash requirements or bans. The USFS site also typically provides info on pet restrictions, example: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/okawen/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=57577&actid=50 Personally I avoid the super popular trails when hiking with my dog Pick up and pack out dog poo and don't be on of the goofballs that leave the dog poo bag on the side of the trail to pick up on the way back, but never do.

[Bedivere]

The only area on National Forest Service land where dogs aren't permitted that I'm aware of is the Enchantments permit zone. As RandyHiker said - dogs not permitted on trails in National Parks. I hike with my dogs all the time and there is plenty of USFS land out there where they are allowed. Unfortunately, a whole bunch of the best of it has burned up in the last few years. Many trails, especially those on the West side and those accessed from I-90 and US2 have leash requirements. Check the USFS website for each trail for the lowdown. WTA isn't always accurate. The USFS owns the land, they set the rules. If the USFS website doesn't say anything about dogs for a particular trail then that means they are allowed and no leashes required by default. If there is a restriction, it will be listed. Happy dog-hiking!

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[Schroder]

[Bedivere]

[olderthanIusedtobe]

I see at least one group w/ a dog almost every time I go to Lake Ingalls. There are multiple signs clearly indicating no dogs allowed, but as noted above there always some special people that rules don't apply to.

[puncho]

Thanks all! Good to know WTA isn't accurate as that's what I have been basing it on, and thanks for the FS link. Yah I know about the national parks one and enchantments Now how about camping??

[grannyhiker]

In regular "front country" campgrounds, (such as USFS), dogs must be on leash at all times. Backcountry campgrounds--it varies. However, if your dog tries to steal food from a neighboring camper or poops in someone's campsite or even just jumps on a passerby, there will be yet another complaint that may lead to dogs being forbidden there in the future. And neither you nor your dog will be very popular. I therefore suggest a leash and a longer, lightweight tether. Dogs on leash are really bothered by loose dogs. When I had my late dog (in my avatar), he was attacked by a loose dog. This took place on a narrow cliffside trail where leashes were required. Both my dog (who was on leash) and I came within a hairsbreadth of going off the cliff! After encountering half a dozen loose dogs, none friendly, on that one trip, I have not dared hike that trail since. There are a lot of people who are afraid of dogs (having been bitten) or are allergic to dog dander. Please be considerate and keep your dog under control at all times. I must admit that my main problem when hiking with my late dog was that nearly everyone wanted to stop and pet him! However, we did meet a number of people who thanked me heartily for keeping my dog on leash. While dayhiking on popular trails, I bagged the dog poop and put it in my dog's pack to take home. However, in the back country, I treated the dog's poop the same as mine--buried it in a 6" deep cathole (I guess I should call it a dog hole!) well off the trail and at least 200' from water. As far as the leash went--always on popular trails. Always for the first hour of the day until he worked off excess energy and calmed down a bit. Always in dense forest when we couldn't see what was ahead or behind. In open spaces, I let him run loose. While he considered "come" an optional command, "heel" always brought him to my side immediately. A good course of obedience training is always helpful. So is a beginning agility class--to get the dog used to going over, under, through obstacles, walking along logs, etc. To protect both your dog and wildlife, be sure your dog is up-to-date on all his shots! Also, be sure he's on a tick preventive. Since ticks crawl around on the dog looking for a place to bite and aren't killed until about half an hour after they bite, I always took a small comb and combed the dog each night to remove "hitchhikers" just before letting him in the tent. My dog loved this, and it also cut down on floating dog hair in the tent!

[BigBrunyon]

Heres the deal pick up the poop and leash the dog

[Randito]

[treeswarper]

The urge to be Rolypoly happens.

The rules? Lots of dog treats, either make sure there are lots of "dog watering/wetting" spots or carry a lot of water. Don't push a heavy, cool weather type (Retrievers) in hot weather--take the hot time of the day off preferably near a lake. Carry insulation for them to bed down on at night--even the Chorcolate Labs can get cold. A skinny dog without an undercoat might even need a dog jacket. Be prepared to be grossed out as they make a break to go eat people poop, or roll in it. Make the trip fun. It's kind of like having a kid along. The Used Dog would whine a lot--but he still enjoyed the trips. Oh, and add ear scratches and belly rubs to the list. I hike trails and roads that are not popular. The Used Dog was a dog who stuck to the trail, except when pooping--he liked to go out into the brush for that, could find a trail under the snow, and was a plodder. No worries about him running off. The Slightly Used Dog wears a taser collar when off leash.. She is a runner and can cover too much ground in a hurry so a beep on the collar will bring her back. If not, which is very rare, she will get a shock. We took her along on a bike ride last week and we did 10 miles, she did a lot more and she finally slowed down on the way back with one mile to go. All of my dogs have been or are gentle with people and children. Know if there are rattlesnakes around. Some dogs have an instinct to keep away and some don't. I grew up in snake country and our dogs knew of the danger, then we got my mom a lab and the dog was bitten and died. There are rattlesnake vaccines but a west side vet said it was more of a time adder for you to get your dog to help. I'll be looking into that.

[SwitchbackFisher]

[Bedivere]

[settebello]

Don't take your cat. They hate that sort of thing.

[AlpineRose]