Everything I Learned From Backpacking With a Dog
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- Опубліковано 16 жов 2024
- 00:12 Some Background
01:15 Things I Should Have Done Differently
01:19 Physical Prep
01:52 More Gear Acclimation
03:24 Essential Items
03:30 Extra Food And Water
03:48 Umbrella
04:14 Boots and Liners
04:41 Harness to Carry Dog
04:55 What Fancy Carried In Her Pack
05:49 Gear
05:51 Pack
06:48 Sleep System
08:29 Leash
10:08 Collar
11:08 Food And Water
13:00 Footwear
15:10 First Aid
17:56 The Benefits of Hiking With Fancy
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Hey y’all! Here are the time stamps in case you just wanna hear about a particular aspect of our hike. Thanks for watching :)
00:12 Some Background
01:15 Things I Should Have Done Differently
01:19 Physical Prep
01:52 More Gear Acclimation
03:24 Essential Items
03:30 Extra Food And Water
03:48 Umbrella
04:14 Boots and Liners
04:41 Harness to Carry Dog
04:55 What Fancy Carried In Her Pack
05:49 Gear
05:51 Pack
06:48 Sleep System
08:29 Leash
10:08 Collar
11:08 Food And Water
13:00 Footwear
15:10 First Aid
17:56 The Benefits of Hiking With Fancy
@Tool Box ruffwear grip trex
@Jean-Louis Bourgeois Yeah Dixie's pretty smart.
Thanks for the video!
Would you please let me know where you bought the rescue harness? I’m having trouble finding one for larger dogs.
What is the dog sling called?
Don't need time stamps in this video - it's about your dog, I'm binging. You're such a wonderful dog owner and human being.
They say the trail heals souls. Looks like it works for dogs too.
You missed the Ruffwear pack tie downs that prevent the bags from flapping around. They are the little clips under the bags that fasten to the harness straps. They are easy to miss but make a big difference.
omg, those things flapping around like that was the main reason i didn't want to get that pack! good to know!
A muzzle is a great thing to carry as part of a medical kit for any dog. Even the calmest dogs can react strongly if they are injured and in pain!
Good thinking buddy, it also helps to ameliorate our dogs abilities to give in to the temptation to scavenge potentially harmful things to eat. Owners of labradors and golden retrievers are familiar with this breed trait. Given the opportunity they both are enthusiastic garbage disposal units. But it's not restricted to them. Many other dogs exhibit this behaviour too. Pay attention to your dogs folks no matter what visual distractions etc occupy your mind on the trail : their mental capacity is that of a rwo year old child, so we must always do a lot of the thinking for them. Happy hiking folks and may our dog childs all get as much out of hiking as we do.
For anyone watching this, keep in mind the leash laws. Most (not all) trails require dogs to be on leashes. Others allow them to be off leash unless they are aggressive or chase other animals, but they are required to come when called. If your dog doesn’t have an excellent recall, they cannot be off leash. You also can’t pass through areas that enter national parks, so keep that in mind on trails like the PCT, which cannot be a true thru-hike with a pet dog because there are multiple areas along the trail where dogs aren’t allowed. 🙂
When I hiked with my dog he took every opportunity to find and roll in green cowshit.
Rolling in anything smelly, especially cow pie, is great after my bath, so says my Daisy Dog.
lmao
or horse poop! great to roll in! bibi also loves to roll in anything dead.
It's in their genes! Mine will find something stinky and dip her shoulder and neck in it unless I see her in time to yell 'No!' Supposedly masking their scent for 'the hunt'.
Awww ha that stinks! xD
Gentle reminder for other pet owners out there that Neosporin complete with the steroid in it should not be used on dogs. Just carry the plain original one 👍
Good to know
Also, petroleum products are kind of evil, so i'd recommend a wax base or something else if possible. :P
I'm a veterinarian and I'm not sure why you stated the Neo w steroids cannot be used on dogs. It shouldn't be used on most wounds but for bug bites or stings it is a good thing. Obviously you don't want the dog licking either type but there is really no all-inclusive ban on steroids in topical meds for dogs. 😉
Great video! Watching Fancy playing in the snow never gets old. I am glad to hear hiking helped her anxiety somewhat.
Agreed!
#snowzoomies
Someone else mentioned “field checks” and a hunting dog website. Just to add my thumbs up, best resources for any outdoor information about dog care on the trail are hunters and mushers, because both rely on their dogs for success. It was from these resources that I learned about toughening up a dogs paws-just like kids toughening up their feet when they go barefooted in the summer. Booties are great to have along as Dixie so well-documented for those times of rough rocky terrain, hot trails, etc., but also I reiterate the importance of tough paws as the best defense against injuries. Thanks again, Dixie, for your videos; such a great help and encouragement.
I loved this! My girl Bella has been backpacking with me since 2014. Now that she is older, we choose our trips according to her tolerance. But she did just spend her 10th birthday out on the trail and did 20 miles in 2 days! She's a trooper, and I couldn't imagine being on the trail without her! Thanks for the video!
I guess that hiking without 'the dog' makes you 'Footloose and Fancy free'
Fancy Mae playing in the snow was the cutest thing ever! I'm glad she enjoyed the trip. She has a great momma! I've learned so much through your videos! I look forward to watching your next adventure.❤
My girl has alot of the same issues with other dogs, this really gives me faith we could do a thru hike together. Thanks so much for this video Dixie!
I love that. The hike is for the dog..... When I take my dog through the woods, it’s just as much for my dog as me. Thank you for this. I’m thinking of getting into hiking and want to take our dog. I plan to do short maybe overnight trips to start and maybe work up to longer trips. I love your channel because it has great information on all lengths of hikes and impartial information about equipment.
When it is -40 out, my husky will wrap her neck around mine and we both stay warm. Not exactly thru-hiker advice, but dogs generally know how to stay warm.
You can also check their temp by its feet
@@GuilhermeBianeck and the tips of their ears, if they're cold the dogs cold.
Huskies are a different ball game to normal dogs, those crazies sleep in the snow and love it.
The Bird Lady my Norwegian elkhound as well. -35 and he still wants to be out all day. 🙄
What about field checks? I do a lot of outdoor stuff with my pup, day hiking included, and I go by a hunting dog style field check everytime we go out. If you're curious, Standing Stone Kennels has a good UA-cam video about it. They're a hunting dog outfit and they tall about where, what, and how to check over your dog in a methodical manner so you don't miss anything. Keep them pups safe and healthy! Love your videos, thanks so much for sharing
Thanks for the info Brian. That goes high on today's priority list. Happy hiking buddy for you n your dog child. Best wishes from England.
So glad you had a good experience hiking with Fancy. I wanted to share a little trick I use while hiking with my two dogs. First of all they are each only about 23-25 pounds. Also my old man is almost 15 years old and sometimes he just gets tired, my other guy is just now 3 years old. I have always carried a one person tent and a hammock with netting, both are extremely light weight. I started carrying an extra hammock, it's only 8 ounces and has multiple uses. After needing to carry my old guy on top of my pack a few times I learned that I could use this extra hammock like a baby sling to carry him in front of me. He loves being out there with me and I want him to enjoy it as long as he can. When we stop it's easy to throw that hammock up and put my pack in it while I'm doing other things, plus the dogs love hanging out in it even with my pack. Lastly when we choose to hammock camp I hang both hammocks together. Again for a place to put my pack and shoes, and if one or both dogs need a little more wiggle room they can move over... and we all stay dry in the rain :)
Hey! So I have a few notes for you on hiking with your dog! For attaching your dog to your hip belt, use the excess from pulling it tight to hook your dog to. Just make a square knot with excess from each side so it looks like a second hip belt in front of the clip. This way when they pull they can't squeeze open the buckle on your belt. Now, about booties, using grey and white crew cut toddler socks with your dog boots is much better and also cheaper. I didn't know that you have to buy the back 2 boots a little smaller than the front ones so the toddler socks take up the extra room in the back boots. As far as a gator system goes, look into the polar trex boots, they have a built in gator type system.
Also I forgot to mention, always carry a large triangle bandage for an impromptu muzzle in the event they get hurt. Dogs can get very aggressive when hurt in the woods as they feel unsafe so a muzzle is as much about protecting others as it is about protecting you and your dog
I love the tip about getting an umbrella! Just ordered one! I have some great backpacking trips planned with my two dogs this summer, so really appreciate you sharing your experiences and the things you learned! SUPER helpful!
The footage of Fancy Mae was too sweet 😍 Thank you for rescuing her and treating her like such an angel, Dixie - looks like you do a great job!
It’s so GREAT that this hike was a positive experience for Fancy and that it strengthened your bond!
And thank you, thank you, thank you, for sharing such sound advice with everyone. It’s a big responsibility to take our dogs out like this and it’s really good to know there are people like you that take it seriously! 💚
You can tell a lot about a person from how they treat their fur baby. You are an excellent mommy to Fancy and a good person Dixie. thanks for all you do.
Hi Dixie. A little tardy in my comment about hiking with Fancy. I take my Australian Shepherd, Bear, with me on backpacks band canor trips and one thing I never leave behind is a couple rolls of vet wrap. It stretches and sticks to itself and can be used for abraded paws, padding, and muscle wraps. Works on people, too. And it's so, so light. Hope you and Fancy get out on the trail again soon.
Our backpacking dog, Magnus, is 100 pound pit and carried roughly 9 lbs of gear, Ruffwear XL pack, inflatable mattress, Costco down blanket, fleece mattress cover, rain coat, warm coat, 2 collapsing bowls, wet food pouches, dry kibble and cookies. It's pretty impressive how much those packs will carry! Your Fancy reminds me of our youngest, Toby... same markings, same anxiety, LOL. GREAT VIDEO!!
I had no idea there was rattle snake vaccinations for dogs! Learned a lot about taking your buddy on trail from you Dixie :) Thanks!
James King also there are rattlesnake avoidance class that work great.
Keep in mind that it does NOT make your dog immune to rattlesnake bites. It simply increases the amount of time you have to get your dog to a vet for antivenin. (The word "vaccine' is a bit misleading.)
Angela French absolutely plus if you have a large dog, like I do, Carrying him to find help would be impossible for me
So glad Fancy's backpack worked well. My dog acts like I'm beating her when I put a pack on her. The other dog prances like she is doing something fine when she's wearing it.
I did a 108-mile section hike of the North Country Trail earlier this summer with my Australian Shepherd. I, too, highly recommend the Palisades pack. I did find that 25% of Oslo's body weight was too much for him to carry; I ended up with a bunch of his 10-day supply of food, for the first few days. Dogs, like kids, have plenty of energy when they start out-- or when something interesting crosses the trail! -- but they aren't anywhere near as good as we are at rationing that energy to last a long day. One thing I made him carry: our poop shovel. He needed it more often than I did.
Another thing to add is bug control! Make sure heartworm and spot treatments are in place, check at every break for ticks, and provide some bug protection in camp. I'm seriously considering adding a Thermacell unit to my gear, after having to share a hammock with a hot, panting dog one mosquito-infested evening. (On the bright side, the mosquitos were so miserable that I ended up skipping the next night entirely, hiking 31 miles to the car rather than deal with another evening in that swarm!)
I loved watching Fancy having fun Thanks for sharing your opinions Dixie , it means so much!!!
It is very kind of you to work with Fancy and her anxiety problems. I had a little female Basset Hound who was rescued from a puppy mill who had similar problems. She was certainly worth the time and effort, she was a great little girl.
She seems to love the snow :) Cool That her anxiety was reduced.
Proof that the trail is good for the soul.
I both enjoyed and learnt many new things from this video (sitting here in London with little prospect of having a dog or backpacking), thank you!
I love that you called her your "dog daughter". Awwh how absolutely sweet. I saw the video with her sleeping and you tried to wake her up and she seemed to not want to get out of her bed. LOL
Jessica, I LOVE that you opened your home and heart to rescue Fancy. You taking your time and teaching her - giving her the best life. You are the sweetest thing! And, the best thing that could have happened for Fancy Mae.
I think Fancy is a great dog. She adapts very well and has that happy attitude. Every day is Christmas, Yippee!
Good info! I hike with my Cattle Dog Gus.. We also use the Ruffware Palisades packs and the same basic pack contents. You are right though, if you are going to hike with a dog then their health needs to be first and foremost when on trail. Thanks for mentioning the rescue harness, I can't tell you how many forums or FB pages about hiking with dogs I frequent and hardly anyone brings that up. I bring the rescue harness even on day hikes. I also spray his packs, harness and bandanas with Permethrin. As far as weight goes. I never go over 15% and most the time stay right around 10%. I just carry the rest of his food if his pack weight exceeds 15%. I also have taken Gus to Rattlesnake Aversion Training. My vet told me to use Benadryl for bites. I also carry an antibiotic on longer hikes that my Vet (she is a thru hiker) gave me in case Gus should contract giardia or lepto.... that way we can start treatment before we are out of the back country. Oh yeah, one other thing I use if we are in snow a lot and or heavy overgrown brush is Rex Specs. Their eyes need to be protected as well as ours. We don't always realize what their world is like 2-3 feet off the ground. I even get down on my hands and knees to Gus's level just so I can relate to where he is at and how he see;s things.
What brand rescue harness do you use? I looked for one on Amazon and couldn't find one like the one in her video.
@@HikingwithGus Thank you. I've been googling everything I could think of related to dog rescue harnesses and couldn't come up with anything even close to those pictured.
@@janetlauer8382 I like the Fido Pro because it has the quick release buckles. There is another one out there that you have to feed the straps through buckles.... That cold be a problem if you have to disconnect for the harness in an emergency.
I have to say Dixie you are the perfect example of a great fury baby mama. In my opinion you did everything and anything you should have for miss Fancy I think she had a wonderful time on the trail. Thank you for taking such good care of your fur baby.
It is heartwarming to know that dixie was able to overcome some anxiety because she got to build more of a relationship with you and other people and nature. awwwwww
And Fancy Mae too! I think Dixie is still anxious! :D
You're not the only female through hiker but you are the best and complete package if I ever saw one. You tell a story, keep it interesting, document your journey with transparency and joy, you encourage others, give safety tips and your postings might as well be college classes 101,102, 103 etc... I'm actually dreading completing all your postings because I won't have them to look forward to. Maybe they can make a movie telling your life story.
Thanks for the tip on the rattlesnake vaccine, I never even knew that was a thing. There is a company called Groundbird gear that makes custom harnesses, backpacks, sleep systems and bowls that are another level from Ruffwear. Think of them as the Zpack of dog gear. My dogs cuban fiber bowl does have a cord to save the food like you suggested. You will definitely pay more but if your serious about backpacking with your dog and can afford it it’s something to look into. I also feed my dog food made for dogs burning lots of calories, higher protein and fat. There are multiple companies that make it. I use Parina. I will definitely look into that vaccine next year as we are planning on doing the Colorado Trail. Hiking mostly in Vermont and the Whites we don’t see rattlesnakes. Take care
Can’t wait to see more of Fancy Mae in 2020! My husband and I are finally getting outdoors more next year and have several camping and hiking trips planned with our little rescue Border Collie mix, Tonks. We went through the paw troubles when we moved from rural central PA to urban east coast and am glad you thought ahead on that! Happy New Year from a southern girl and her border collie in Boston!
Great video! I love backpacking with my 95lbs. Rhodesian Ridgeback Maestro. We live out here in central California. I also recommend having your dog take a rattlesnake avoidance class. Works great. We have run into rattlesnakes on trail and Maestro always tells me. I also recommend NRG dehydrated food, as well as Stella Chicken chews. And buff makes a buff for dogs. I sprayed sawyer bug on it and seems there were less flies and mosquitoes. Happy tails.
You don't usually need the Ruffwear socks. They help if your dogs have dew claws but usually they don't need the sock. The socks pulls and mushes their toes together and the boots without socks allow their feet to move and spread out normally. I'd say order the socks just in case but try them without the socks first. I have a service dog in Orlando and we use the boots every summer. Last summer we didn't use the socks at all. This year, he needs the socks on the front feet only because of his dew claws. I think the dew claws are getting caught in the shoe.
Musher's Secert is a life saver. Musher's Secert is a wax that helps for hot pavement. It doesn't moisturize. It's a wax. Think of it like candle wax. It protects against hot pavement.
This post is great because I always hike with my dog , mostly day hikes. I don’t think I have watched a single one of your videos without learning something new. I have hiked with my dogs for over 20 years , so that’s saying something.
The umbrella is definitely a very helpful tip some thing I definitely will be incorporating!
Hiking with my dog is the only way I know. I have had several English Labradors by my side from early youth till today. To me there are more benefits then drawbacks. Great to see you and fancy grow on the trail together, in my opinion the trail will help fancy see a lot more diversity and new experiences that will help her learn to overcome that anxiety and become more confident. Look into honest kitchen dehydrated dog food! You can carry so much more food without the weight and bulk. Hope you and fancy continue your adventures.
Great video Dixie. As always very informative. I think Fancy Mae really enjoyed her time on trail. Very happy for you all having trail time, including mom.
What a little baby, you guys are very lucky to have each other!
Your a good person. I don't think very many people would have taken the time to make a dog with anxiety comfortable.
I just wanna give your dog a million kisses. Shes soo cute. :)
never thought I could get into thru-hiking till I came across the homemade Wanderlust girl, now totally interested and can't imagine it without my dog. thanks for another good video!
it's worth noting that she didn't do a thru hike with her dog, only the fire closures. she talks about why in another video
You can totally thru-hike with your dog. Just look out for your dog more than yourself. I've done it with my boyfriend. AT is a good trail, with all the tree cover from the sun. And towns so close in mileage.
I have a service dog. (Boxer). About 58 lbs. I’m having problems finding a harness or pack system. I bought a tactical harness. It chaffed and scared under his neck on his chest. The regular service dog harnesses chaffed behind his legs. He great with other dogs so no issues there. I’m going to contact groundbird gear and see what they offer. I walk him on a collar not the harness.
Awesome video. People always ask me why I don't take my dog to certain places and I tell them because I am responsible for their safety. Some hikes are okay but the longer ones are just too rough. Great aspect. I think a lot of people will find this useful.
Awwww... so cute in her blankie! We actually found a really lightweight yoga mat at Goodwill - made of foam, I guess. I should weigh it, but it's extremely light as a sleeping pad for our gal (doubled up), and a little fleece blanket there for like $1. We have used them for years, so they have more than paid off. Our pup doesn't see the trail as her territory, but once we make camp, she takes that over and can be a jerk. I'm so glad you had this experience with Fancy. I think most dogs love hiking.
The videos of her playing in the snow were the best. Ruffwear is amazing gear for dogs on the trail. Would have never thought about the rescue harness.
Wow, so glad this turned up on my newsfeed.
Youre such a good mom!! Everyone needs to see this video.Some dog owners are thoughtless regarding their dogs.
I am sure Fancy May had the time of her life even house dog's love to get out and play outside dog. You will see excitement in her face every time you pick up her pack from now on. Awesome
Steven Wright For sure! I showed it to her the other day and said “let’s go!” She was super excited 😂
I'm not sure if anyone has already mentioned this in the comments, but figure it'll be helpful info! There are some groups that offer rattlesnake aversion training for dogs. It's advertised every year here in southern Idaho since rattlers are commonplace throughout the foothills and mountains. I haven't taken my dogs through it yet, but I've heard great things from other hikers and dog owners! Your vet, local humane society, or parks & rec departments may be able to point you toward groups who offer this opportunity.
Thnx for super this lil cutie to be her best doggie self!
I have/had? an anxious dog but getting out into the woods, I swear, gave her so much confidence.
A foot bootie is GREAT to have even w a tough-footed dog in case they slice a pad. A bandage won't last long on the trail so covering the bandage w a good tough boot will be so helpful.
I just loved watching your videos with fancy. Seeing her romp in the snow with so much canine joy did my heart do much good. Thanks for posting.
hear hear. good video. i travel with my 15 year old pit ( Izzi) both on the motorcycle to get to the trail and of couse on the trail. and you really have to make alot of connections to travel with your girl. mine like i said is old so we dont ride a 1000 miles at a time anymore. we ride no more than 8 hours and thats not as far as you might think because all gas stops become walking stops. likewise hiking is between 9- 12 mile a day with some two day stops. she's still very fit for an old girl but like you i love her and want her to be happy and comfortable. this year i chaged up my pack ( made it heavier) because of the way she likes to sleep.
im doing a double bed now three person tent and i dont make her carry anything anymore. it works out and we are still having a good life traveling . we're on our way to Alabama on monday to see my son then were going to Montana to hike the rockies. ps Izzi has been hiking her whole life so no shoes but i make Vaseline cotton balls , good for all kinds of stuff and i rub the Vaseline on her feet as needed. Sasha ( another hiking partner of mine before Izzi was bitten by a copperhead in the face. my only option at the time was to keep her down , cool and hydrated. seven days i thought i was going to loose her on the 8th day she jumped up like nothing ever happend. she lived 20 years.
Fancy rolling in the snow is just hillarious. Very sweet and awesome dog you have there
Great to see you took your mom and dog with you. It must have been nice, and I can see you as a pretty good mom. I had a serious problem with my dogs paws once. She was still young and undeveloped (about 6 months). I had her go with me on an 18-20 mile bike ride.
Eventually she just laid down and I figured she needed rest. After a rest she refused to continue so I even spanked her, which I apologized and felt sorry about later.
I figured some water and she will be fine. So we went into a gas station bathroom sink and when I put her paws up on the sink there was blood. She had blisters that had been worn through. I actually ended up having to carry her on my shoulders for several days afterward when we left the house.
So definitely be sure that your dogs feet are toughened up before a long, hard treck.
I gotta say, one of the best parts of your video is Fancy going absolutely nuts and having fun! I can vicariously relate.
One thing you should do with your dog, is to introduce her to a dog that feels very safe. and let her spend time with that dog doing different things she wouldnt normally do by herself. Dogs tend to lern alot from eachother. Just a tip. :). It will most likley help alot with her anexiety. Also for water, i suggest using a mountain paws water bottle, weight next to nothing. And you only need one, the water bottle, i regret buying the food bottle as well, since i tend to just use the water bottle for food and water.
I hiked the CT last year and hiking it again with my heeler, Coco. Thanks for the advice.
Thanks for your wonderful advice for hiking with your dog. I hike with mine short distances now. I can't imagine going on a long one without him. Yep, I can tell you haven't lived in a snowy climate. A snow blower doesn't make snow. It blows loose snow from your sidewalk and driveway. I guess you will just need to travel with her more!
All amazing advice! Thank you for making such a useful video. Me and my boy appreciate it greatly.
Great video about caring for our best friends! Short short hikes for me and my rescue dog Willie, he's old and short hikes suit him, as long as he's happy....I'm happy.
I'm a beginner backpacker and camper and I'm planning on taking my pup with me soon. My dog is A LOT like your dog so this was super helpful . Thanks!
Thanks for the video! I learned a lot and Fancy is adorable. You are a caring dog mom and she is lucky to have you. If your dog has a wondering mouth like mine did, I suggest also bringing hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting. My dog ate rat poison at a house we were staying at and it saved his life. I also recommend having a towel (his own or yours) to dry him off if he gets wet to prevent getting too cold or hypothermic. (and obv a coat if it is that cold. My dog slept in a fleece when camping.) And I also recommend learning and practicing emergency muzzling your dog with a rope or cord (like his leash, flat is best) in case he is injured. So he doesn't bite you while you treat him or transport him while he is in pain. Had to do this twice. Once after he stepped right in a cactus. I traveled and hiked extensively with my dog and he accompanied me on our Pacific Coast bike tour. Make sure you get the right vaccines for ticks and such that might not be recommended where you live. Also consider vet specific bandages that are sticky and elastic. I didn't have those and I just wasted regular gauze that he ripped off his paws in a second right after we put them on! You can quickly check if your dog is too cold or hot by feeling their ears. If you do it often, you learn what temps are normal for them and which aren't. And save some med records on your phone or bring with, like vaccination records in case you need to lodge your dog (even if you don't plan on it). And to know their baseline stats to share with a new vet on the road. Thanks for letting me share my tips. I hope Fancy has more adventures with you!
warms my heart to hear you being so considerate of your girl Fancy
I use Self Adherent Cohesive Bandage Wrap on the top of my pups boots to act as gaiters. It works great to keep snow and dirt out of his boots and it will not stick to his fur. Thanks for a great video! 😃
I was a little worried about my dog hiking. I went with him and my 2 teenage kids. We all walked a different pace and we were prolly a couple hundred yards apart. He would run from one person to the next person to the next all day long. If we went 10 miles he went 40. Hes a healer tho so I guess thats what they are bread for. He took a nap and was ready to play fetch at camp. I wish I had that kind of energy.
The Ruffwear Quencher bowls have the cinch close for the food bowl. I have both the food and water bowl, and they're fantastic! I carry the water bowl on a carabiner on the outside of my pack so that it will dry.
This is why I'm a huge Follower of yours Dixie- you put a lot of thought into the preparation needed before taking the 1st step of a hike. I agree with you that the 150 miles gave Fancy Mae 🐕 courage to be in unfamiliar surroundings. Looks like that one brand- Ruff Wear performed very well too. Thanks again :-).
Great video! So very true that when you take a dog hiking it’s “their hike”. When I go hiking it’s my hike, when my GSD (German Shepherd) is along it’s Zeke’s Hike and we both get to enjoy the adventure equally. Thanks Dixie & Fancy! Becky & Zeke
OH! Here it is! I wondered if you had made a video like this! Thanks so much! My golden/border collie loved to hike but I never tried more than day hikes so was curious about all of this!
Great video! Seeing Fancy on the trail with you and your mom was awesome. So glad that she did well and she grew from the experience. Yep, she needs a snowblower indeed!
I have a dog who goes about everywhere with me, from urban to back country and we love the JC House multifunctional leash (it comes in 2 sizes, pick the best for you/your pooch) because it’s hardware is mega-strong and I’ve not had a failure. It can fasten around your waist, as a hand-loop, around a tree, etc. We also cut a plastic bag from dog or human food that is meant to stand up to form an emergency dog bowl. HTH someone out there.
That anti-anxiety medicine, Clomicalm, is a tricyclic antidepressant. As such, it takes weeks before you even know if it works so I can see why you dropped it. Anxiety is a problem when traveling for my little poodle mix dog but I would probably choose a benzodiazepine myself if she got very agitated - used very sparingly and with a vet’s Rx of course. ...I didn’t know they had dog socks for the booties. ...I have one of those elastic leashes but it is a little short. Thanks. More scenery please.
Love watching her in the snow. She is having as much fun as we do playing in the snow...
Very nice video, Dixie. You're a very responsible dog parent and a great ambassador for dogs on the trail and dogs with anxiety. Thank you!
Love all your videos. I've learned a lot from watching. A topic that I think needs addressing is how to store and organize all the backpacking gear. I haven't seen many videos on this and it's a problem for me. I don't have a ton of gear but need some ideas on what works best. Maybe you can start this topic with your video and tag some other UA-camrs to show their storage systems. Just an idea. Thank you for the excellent content and presentation of your videos.
My face hurt laughing at your dog getting used to the pack, sliding down the snow. True LOL
The hike really bonded you and Fancy and definitely bought her out of her shell. I can see more hiking in the future for the both of you. Being an experienced hiker definitely made it a lot safer and a better experience for Fancy Mae. She is gorgeous btw.
excellent info again....Fancy is a "snow dog" for sure....she was making some good turns, like any skier/snowboarder....did not know we could get a snake faccine, always a concern of mine when we're out West....did you all have any close encounter with snakes? how'd she react when she saw a rattlesnake? thanks for all the advise....love your channel...
So gad Fancy had a blast out there! Such an answer to prayers on the anxiety issues! Glad she overcame some of those issues to!
Thank you. I hike with my dog and it was helpful to hear your experience.
Great feedback about your and Fancy's firsthand experiences using the product. Really liked what you shared at minute 14:00 about the use of the use of boots and possible enhancements. Thanks for sharing!
I hike with my Border Collie. I almost always am a single hiker and she goes everywhere I do.
All this info is excellent, especially the gear recommendations. I see you hike with your dog off leash. I do to and I will continue, but it's caused some issues.
First, she antagonized a bear on one of our hikes. We encountered the bear ( Very large black bear in Montana) and she barked at it. I believed this bear would have scattered if I was alone or with a group, but the bear was defensive ( I believe it was because of my pup). My dog stood down immediately after I corrected her and the bear eventually left, but I think my dog was an issue here. I still hike with her in the Rockies but I'm slightly on edge. There are some places I would love to go but I avoid due to too many bears ( Wind River Range, Beartooths etc.)
Second. People being aggressive toward me because of my dog. My dog is superbly trained. ( Walks no more than 10 feet in front and immediately comes to my side when called - EVERY TIME) When I see other hikers in the distance I bring her to my side and leash her - step off the trail and let them pass. I leash her prior to going around blind corners. Even, with this I've had hikers aggressively get in my face about hiking with my dog unleashed.
Third. Other dogs. Usually an encounter is a happy time. Hikers with dogs immediately have something in common beyond hiking. But, some other hikers don't have their dog as well trained as mine and their dog has been aggressive towards us. This has happened several times.
Observations. My dog won't wear boots - Mushers secret is the key. Rattle snake shot won't work on some rattlers.( check with your vet) I use 15% of my dogs weight as her maximum pack weight.
Thanks for all your work. War Eagle!!!
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Benedryl has helped my dog, Sir Ivan, recover from abrupt inflammation from a bee sting.
And this is SO helpful! I plan on taking my pup (who has fear-based anxiety) on the JMT. Its good to see that the thru-hike really helped her.
Such a beautiful attitude in regards to your dog’s wellbeing on a hike. Love it!
That was a great video, been looking forward to it for a while.
Fancy is so adorable, nothing like a happy dogs antics to brighten anyone’s day.
Try using booties called Muttluks. They have a knit scree collar, which helps keep stuff from getting into the bootie. This brand of dog booties is the best I have found after 25 years of hiking with a dog. I never used socks with them; a dog's fur provides the same type of friction control.
Lol the look on your pups face while your putting the boots on 😂😂😜, priceless
I tried boots for my dog years ago, he would stand there let me put them on no problem. As soon as he was all booted up and I stepped away, he would fall over sideways roll to his back, stick his paws straight up in the air and freeze. No amount of encouragement, enticement with yummies would get him to move under is own will. I could pick him up and carry him but as soon as I put him down he would immediately fall over roll to his back and stick his paws straight in the air.
I really enjoyed these videos with you, your mom, and Fancy. Thanks for doing a great job modeling responsible choices with your dog. It definitely seemed like all three of you enjoyed the experience, so I hope there will be more videos from future hikes!
Dirty Girl "Fancy" gaiters! You just came up with a new product!