Advocate III
- 1,416
- First Name
- Mark
- Last Name
- Quigley
- Member #
-
20252
- Service Branch
- Game Warden
I recently searched for a thread on Overland Dogs and really didn't find much. So, thus the reason for this post. I thought it might be fun to see if anyone else would be interested in the subject and had input for traveling with a dog? Ideas, comments, pics and more.
I may be weird but always travel with a dog. Basically wherever we go even little trips like going to town for grocery stores runs, post office, work and more. Of course Overland trips. I think any dog who is well mannered and disciplined,listens well... makes a good Overland dog. Some of the benefits, at least for me, are the following....
Mind you, I almost always travel alone unless I'm guiding fly fishers.
10 Benefits of Having an Overland Dog With.
1. Gives me someone to talk to. Most of my trips are off grid with no service.
2. Good for keeping an eye out for wildlife, predators and bad people and warning me ahead of time. Watch the camp.
3. Deterrent. That warning can be good for notifications to people who may have Ill intentions and they just go the other way when a dog alerts. Just last night we had to camp fairly close to others. Our dog started growling and barking around 2am. Have no idea what but she quit after a bit. Whatever it was must have heard the noise and left.
4. Because a dog can be taught to watch for wildlife, thus offering great opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography. They spot mammals before we do.
5. I heard someone say once... that a dog provides "meaningful touch. " Meaning, petting and talking to your animal helps us humans. This has been proven true with therapy dogs, hospital dogs and dogs for the elderly.
6. Dogs make us responsible for their care so require work on our part. That's good for us also!
7. Dogs require exercise so we need to walk them. Good daily exercise for us.
8. Bonding. There is a special thing between a human and a dog. Hard to define.
9. In my case almost all my guiding work and personal Overland fly fishing travel is done in grizzly bear country. So I put a big bell on my dog's collar and she bounces around all day as we hike up remote rivers fishing. She is one noisy bell constantly. Much noisier than a human wearing a bell. Give the bears notice well ahead of time to go the other way!
10. Dogs can carry their own packs and food. There have been a couple of times I've had to raid my dogs water bottles. Helpful. I haven't tried the dog biscuits yet.
Non Benefits of an Overland dog.
1. The big one for me is poop pick up. In the big city's and other places one needs to be responsible and pick up those warm smelly leftovers. I don't like it. If traveling with others it's a good idea to do this in camp so no landmines get stepped on by your crew.
2. Some people just don't like dogs, especially someone else's dog. I bring an extra camp chair for my dog and tell her to hop up in it and "stay" there. That way she is not wandering around camp bothering people.
3. Sometimes it's just best to leave your dog at home if traveling with those that don't like dogs.
4. Dog hair everywhere in the vehicle! Ahhhhh! One kind of gets used to it and the extra cleanup. Or get a breed that does not shed!
5. Cost of owning a dog raises the monthly budget. Vet bills, yearly vaccinations, kennels, registration and food are some. Not as costly as horses though!
6. National Parks do not allow dogs in them or they have to stay in the Overland Vehicle. Not an easy visit.
So is it worth all the cost and hassle? Well for us... you bet it is. Maybe we are just dog people. Maybe you are also.
My dog's name is Orvis, a seven year old female Belgian Malinois we got at eight weeks. We are on our third Mal now. Each one has been excellent, long living, well behaved dogs. The breed requires lots of daily exercise so that's good for me... also and they hold up well on the long fishing hikes and can carry a larger pack. Love to hear about your thoughts on having an Overland dog along? And about your dog and pics.
Reminder...
As I've said before, if any of you get up Yellowstone, look me up. We provide a small apartment below our house on the Wind River in Wyoming and it's all free. Love to entertain Overlanders. If we are not around we hide a key so you can let yourself in. About 48 miles east of Grand Teton National Park. Special instructions on my profile page if interested. No more than two nights please and we just ask you to keep it clean for the next folks. If anyone messes, steals or leaves it dirty we will stop this service. Otherwise things have worked out well.
I may be weird but always travel with a dog. Basically wherever we go even little trips like going to town for grocery stores runs, post office, work and more. Of course Overland trips. I think any dog who is well mannered and disciplined,listens well... makes a good Overland dog. Some of the benefits, at least for me, are the following....
Mind you, I almost always travel alone unless I'm guiding fly fishers.
10 Benefits of Having an Overland Dog With.
1. Gives me someone to talk to. Most of my trips are off grid with no service.
2. Good for keeping an eye out for wildlife, predators and bad people and warning me ahead of time. Watch the camp.
3. Deterrent. That warning can be good for notifications to people who may have Ill intentions and they just go the other way when a dog alerts. Just last night we had to camp fairly close to others. Our dog started growling and barking around 2am. Have no idea what but she quit after a bit. Whatever it was must have heard the noise and left.
4. Because a dog can be taught to watch for wildlife, thus offering great opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography. They spot mammals before we do.
5. I heard someone say once... that a dog provides "meaningful touch. " Meaning, petting and talking to your animal helps us humans. This has been proven true with therapy dogs, hospital dogs and dogs for the elderly.
6. Dogs make us responsible for their care so require work on our part. That's good for us also!
7. Dogs require exercise so we need to walk them. Good daily exercise for us.
8. Bonding. There is a special thing between a human and a dog. Hard to define.
9. In my case almost all my guiding work and personal Overland fly fishing travel is done in grizzly bear country. So I put a big bell on my dog's collar and she bounces around all day as we hike up remote rivers fishing. She is one noisy bell constantly. Much noisier than a human wearing a bell. Give the bears notice well ahead of time to go the other way!
10. Dogs can carry their own packs and food. There have been a couple of times I've had to raid my dogs water bottles. Helpful. I haven't tried the dog biscuits yet.
Non Benefits of an Overland dog.
1. The big one for me is poop pick up. In the big city's and other places one needs to be responsible and pick up those warm smelly leftovers. I don't like it. If traveling with others it's a good idea to do this in camp so no landmines get stepped on by your crew.
2. Some people just don't like dogs, especially someone else's dog. I bring an extra camp chair for my dog and tell her to hop up in it and "stay" there. That way she is not wandering around camp bothering people.
3. Sometimes it's just best to leave your dog at home if traveling with those that don't like dogs.
4. Dog hair everywhere in the vehicle! Ahhhhh! One kind of gets used to it and the extra cleanup. Or get a breed that does not shed!
5. Cost of owning a dog raises the monthly budget. Vet bills, yearly vaccinations, kennels, registration and food are some. Not as costly as horses though!
6. National Parks do not allow dogs in them or they have to stay in the Overland Vehicle. Not an easy visit.
So is it worth all the cost and hassle? Well for us... you bet it is. Maybe we are just dog people. Maybe you are also.
My dog's name is Orvis, a seven year old female Belgian Malinois we got at eight weeks. We are on our third Mal now. Each one has been excellent, long living, well behaved dogs. The breed requires lots of daily exercise so that's good for me... also and they hold up well on the long fishing hikes and can carry a larger pack. Love to hear about your thoughts on having an Overland dog along? And about your dog and pics.
Reminder...
As I've said before, if any of you get up Yellowstone, look me up. We provide a small apartment below our house on the Wind River in Wyoming and it's all free. Love to entertain Overlanders. If we are not around we hide a key so you can let yourself in. About 48 miles east of Grand Teton National Park. Special instructions on my profile page if interested. No more than two nights please and we just ask you to keep it clean for the next folks. If anyone messes, steals or leaves it dirty we will stop this service. Otherwise things have worked out well.
