Hiking

[Woodsman]

I have a Border Collie and they need a lot of activity related exercise. I like to take him hiking in the mountians where he can run. He likes to run ahead to investigate what is around the next corner and then to return and let me know that it is safe to continue. He gets to meet other hikers and there dogs on the trail. We try and go hiking at least once a week.

[shell]

I love to take my dogs hiking too! I live about 1/2 an hr. from some foothills, so I get to do it fairly often. I enjoy HB riding with them too. :)

[madaboutcollies]

i love walking with our two ,we have border collies allso , these are the kind of walks i love

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i167/Dylansmom_2006/malvernjune071.jpg


http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i167/Dylansmom_2006/malvernjune056.jpg

[kellynharley]

Those look like lovely collies, the place looks really nice for walkin 2 :D

[janice]

great views looks a lovely place for dog walking , nice looking collies :)

[2140lacy]

im going to get one i love them

[lovethatdogg]

What nice pictures. I also take JACK hiking. I love it and it is wonderul exercize. HE loves rock climbing!
lol

[k9mania]

I got all ready to go hiking in the Sierras on Tuesday and found out it was deer season so our plans were cancelled until late October. The dogs all have orange vests but they also have white tails::)

[Weesha1717]

My dogs love to hike!! They are both under 25lbs, but they walk for miles and miles! I have to take a break before they do!! We have a favorite park with a large creek in it. My littlest dog loves to swim!! In winter they arn't to fond of going out side, they freeze very easy.

[nikk]

Hiking is one of our favorite activities. We have a park here in Klamath called Moore Park. It's just so beautiful. We always keep them leashed though, due to Wild Critters. We've seen tons of deers. And it's known to have Mountain Lions, and bears around. But it's just so beautiful. Pretty heart pumping too. I wish there was a place I could let the pups run free, but people don't like it when there's pits running loose. Oh well, Have fun Hiking everyone.:p

[poundpuppiesandme]

I live in the serria nevada mountains, So hiking is just right out my door, we can drive to any number of really cool place withen an hour, like Lake Tahoe, Lkae stampede and boca, lake fernchmens,and lake davie, eagle lakes, i mean the possibilitys are truly endless. Winter changes that all for me and my boys, they don't like to snow board!! So they veggie out in what we call their OFF SEASON! If you are ever in Reno Nevada let me know we have a pretty dog friendly town, with at leats ten dog parks, and plenty of places to let your Pits run loose. We see them all the time hiking by us in the woods, no problems, we love all our doggie friends.

[nikk]

Thanks, it would be so cool to let the pups get out and socialize. They love everyone but not everyone loves them. It really breaks my heart. Especially with the big guy he's been raised to love everyone. And he wants that social interaction. I hope to be able to get them out tomorrow. If the weather holds up. Thanks for the invite. I love Lake Tahoe. The Awesome Pawsome would really love it.

[lovethatdogg]

I also love Tahoe... but find that my dog does not like the cold water! I love pits and would love to hear more about them. I also love them becuase there is so muich to be learned about them. We almost adopted a pitbull...NAla....but we were not the right family for here. I was actually in puppy classes with jack when we were pursuing her.3 out of 5 people in my puppy class asked," why would you want a pitbull". It frustrated me, i thought"why not"!

[nikk]

Some people are just ignorant of the breed. They go by the bad press and bad rap they have. Too bad for them. They just don't know what wonderful pups they really are.

[lovethatdogg]

Ya, i understand. They are a strong breed that is to be respected...but people get scared of these wonderul dogs.

[fallenangel]

Does anyone get worried about walking alone with their dog? I seem to have this irrational fear that I will get attacked even though I have an 8 stone Rotti to protect me. It tends to ruin some walks sometimes.......

[LabpupsUK]

I can totally understand this, I refuse to walk mine in the dark and make my other half do it or come with me. Don't want to put a downer on it, but I know someone who was attacked and raped whilst walking their dog and this was during the afternoon just was an isoluated field, she was only 13 at the time and the dog didn't do much protecting.

I'd like to think my boys would protect me and I'm wiser about my safety, but always have the thought at the back of my mind, even though I try not to let it affect me.

[nikk]

Does anyone get worried about walking alone with their dog? I seem to have this irrational fear that I will get attacked even though I have an 8 stone Rotti to protect me. It tends to ruin some walks sometimes.......

Great question. I do get worried about walking alone with my dog. I too have a Hefty one. Luka loves people and he'd probably lick them. When I lived here before I had never worried about it. But now knowing what I do, I make my boy-friend go with me. Walk with a friend, husband, walking stick. Pepper Spray works too.:eek:

[k9mania]

I have been hiking alone for 11 years. First with one, now 4 borders. I believe that the woods are probably one of the safest places. We have done Pennsylvania, Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina, and California. Only once did I get a bit unnerved when my dog responded to a man who came out of nowhere to ask directions on his ATV. It was obvious he knew where he was. The dog's hair went up and I responded with ask the 5 people 5 minutes from here, they might know. He left. There were not 5 people:) The dog alerted me and I responded. I have backpacked overnight with my dogs and never felt uncomfortable. I stay to the National Forests. Our society has set us (females) up to be afraid to go out on our own. If we are fearful, we carry ourselves as victims and become the targets in the city for predators. The research shows that most attackers select those who look and act as if they could be victims. Not to say that it can't happen, but we miss out on so much when we adhere to the stereotype that we are to be the victim. When you think about it, there are lots of guys who are smaller and weaker than us. I always think about how we restrict little girls outdoor behavior because they may become abducted, raped, etc. But when you think about little boys of the same age are not in any better position to defend themselves. But we let them venture further from the house and don't worry. Yet, as 24 hour news as shown they are vulnerable too.

My dogs will protect me. My only worry is like Nikk said Mountain Lions and Bears. If I am going out for a long period, I take the bear spray cannister. That would handle a mountain lion or male human:) Great discussion.

For those that live in US, if you hike the National Forests, you can have the dog off leash. You can always find trails where noone will be around. I have a short trail that leads to a lake where I have been hiking for 5 years and maybe have seen people 4 times.

[nikk]

Awesome response. If it doesn't rain tomorrow, the pups and I are going hiking. I really just enjoy being out in the middle of nowhere, even though it's somewhere. And for years I was going alone(no man), just the k9's and me. And nothing ever happened. I too have been many different places with my dogs, desert, mountains, oceans, no man land. I love it. My dog and I went camping in the middle of no where before. You bring everything including (bathroom) facilities. There is nothing more gratifying being "on top of the world" with just you and your best friend(s).:p

[Bez]

This looks so like the Clwydian Hills where I walk with my Border Collie. Lovely looking dogs!

[Tuckerdad]

I like to hike, since I live in and grew up in the north GA mtns, it is natural for me, I guess. I plan on taking my dog hiking this spring and summer. It shold be interesting taking a beagle pup in the woods, definetly going to keep him on a leash.

[zorasdad]

Every weekend I take mo and zora for a long hike. When the back packs come out they know we are going for the long one! We do take a break for a swim. the three of us love it! My pals.