Hiking in bear country with a dog

Justin, or anyone- do you know why the NPS would ban pepper spray in some parks and advocate its use in others? The NPS website has a long article about using pepper spray to deter bears if they attack. Seems weird. Is it only parks without Grizzlies which ban it? While I never used to carry it (it wasn’t widely available when I first started hiking in Alaska), I don’t leave home without it now, especially after a friend was mauled some years ago.

Most of the people I know here in Alaska hike with their dogs, when not in national parks, and none have ever had dog-bear interactions. But all of those people also have good voice control over dogs and keep them at close range when in brushy areas. No guarantees!

I can’t say for sure as I didn’t make the rule, but I have my own theory. Lets take Yosemite for example. It’s important to understand there has never been a recorded human fatality from a bear attack in the park. Yosemite gets several million visitors each year and there are a lot of bears hanging out in touristy areas looking for food. The media likes to hype up bear attacks and the danger of wild animals in general. If an ignorant tourist gets their hand on bear spray, they could see a bear walking by them in close proximity (the bear is not even minding the tourist, they are very accustomed to people) and spray the hell out of the bear and possibly the people around them. So the idea is with no recorded human fatalities, bear is spray is most likely to cause more danger than it would prevent in the park. I’m not totally sure if I agree with the rule but I can understand why it exists.

The stated reason for no bear spray in Yosemite is that it is not needed (as pointed out) and the chance of “misuse” it a problem.  Such as someone accidentally setting it off in a crowded building.  Or having it go off in your car while driving.

“Or having it go off in your car while driving.”

Or on the shuttle buses which are essentially required to get to and from Yosemite trailheads in the Summer and are jam-packed full of visitors.

Stephen Herraro PhD’s research on decades of bear attacks find that human outcomes are better with pepper sprays than with guns (and the bear’s outcome is VASTLY better).  Pepper spray weighs 1/5 to 1/10 of what an appropriate grizzly gun does, and if you misuse it, you end up crying all afternoon, not dead.

I’ve mostly read his research as it relates to brown bears, but here is a video about their findings on fatal black bear attacks.  Several of their data-based conclusions are in opposition to assumptions people have long made (spoiler: it’s mostly male bears, not females with cubs).  Sorry there’s 20-second ad first, then it gets good:

http://www.nytimes.com/video/science/100000000812441/stephen-herrero-on-black-bear-attacks.html

800,000 black bears in North America and 799,998 of them don’t kill humans.  In the few dozen black bear encounters I’ve had, most run away immediately.  I chase the rest of them off and they always run away (if my food is involved.  I just watch them in a NP).  Of course, if I keep doing that – once a day every day for the rest of my life – I’ll eventually get to one of those two bears.  1,096 years from now.

Worked with a horse packer who said her little border collie chased off all the Sierra bears they met (Sierra National Forest, next to Yosemite and Sequoia NP’s).

The neighbor’s Collie does the same thing along with both coon hounds I have owned (one weighed all of 29 lbs). Sierra bears are very smart, but not too dangerous.

A service dog would be very well trained. Wouldn’t run off after animals. A faux service dog would be obvious to a ranger by it’s behavior. Chasing any animals would earn the owner a ticket, allowed or not.

I havent read all the replies, so this may be redunant….

I take my dogs in CA bear country all the time.  As a service dog, I am assuming your dog is well trained with good obidience.  My dogs all go off leash with me, but with a simple comand they will come to my side and sit.  I use this anytime I pass other hikers on the trail.  On the numerous occaions I have seen bears, I put my dogs in a down and wait position…even if they are mid sprint after an animal, they will stop and lie down.  Good obidience is very important in the backcounty…for wild animals, other hikers, dangerous stream crossings, and tough off trail routes.  If yours isnt at that level, you have some time to work on that.  its MUCH more enjoyable for you and your dog when they can be off leash.  I am also a big supporter of remote shock colars (I am sure ill get some issues with this from people).  But if used properly and safely they can be an amazing tool.  My dogs LOVE their shock collars…when they go on they know fun and adventure awaits.  if your interested in these check out TriTronics (now owned by Garmin).  They are very high quality colars with a long range and fully waterproof.

On another note, check out The Honest Kitcken Dehydrated Dog food.  Kibble starts to add up quickly and take up a lot of weight and space.  The Honest Kitchen makes some great dehydrated food that my dogs love, is good for them and packs plenty of nutrition for long trail days.  All at half the weight and space.  My dogs keep most, if not all their food in their packs (depending on how long we are going for).  I keep the food in zip locks and then in small dry bags. My dogs love to swim, and the last thing you want is to get their food all wet.

Check out Mushers Seceret.  you can get it in Amazon.  its a waxy like balm you rub on your dogs paws for protection…I find it works MUCH better than booties.  I apply it to my dogs paws ever morning before we hit the trail…after weeks of hiking on granite, my dogs paws dont have any tears or rips or raw spots.  Also consider talking to your vet about getting some medications to bring for your dogs…there are very specific human medications that your dog can and cannot have.  See about some good pain medication and an antiimfalmatory as well as a antihistamine like benedryl.  Ask your vet about correct dosages for your dog.

Hope this helps a little!  Hiking with a dog is so much fun!

if you have any questions about specific dog training to get your pup up to a good level of obidience off leash feel free to PM me.

My hiking partners bring dogs all the time in black bear country. You’re less likely to see bears. Less likely to almost walk into a black bear as I’ve done (whoops!).

The tape/paw covers were a good recommendation. My buddy’s dog has hiked alot but the time he cut his paw my buddy had to carry him 8 miles out.

You said you’ve hiked with him before. So you likely know he’ll need more frequent water breaks in the heat than you do.

As long as your dog is friendly and well socialized then I support your dog presence on the trail. If only stock animals had the same poop removal requirements as dogs… : P

Edit: Just thought of something. I don’t know the Rae lakes area. We hike in SNP and the bear management plan here works great. I would not bring a dog to the Smokies though, as their bear/trash management plans are sadly not implemented well. So their bears are NOTICEABLY more aggressive than shenandoah bears. So there is that Variance to consider by location

I also hike with a service dog. Many people with service dogs are very capable hikers. Mine happens to be a seizure alert dog. I have met a hiker with type 1 diabetes hiking with a service dog.

My advice is be absolutely sure that your dog is obedient and will not chase animals or it doesn’t belong on the trail.  A well trained dog will be an asset in bear country. They hear and smell bears long before we see them. Mine alerts me to anything unusual by simply stopping at attention in the trail. When my dog was young I would use a remote collar until I was certain he would not chase anything.  Hiking on leash is miserable, dangerous and exhausting.

Treat dog food the same way you treat your own.

nm

They can smell when blood sugar is at a dangerous level. This is helpful at all times but most important when the person is sleeping so, not likely to test himself.

Dutch Shepherds are awesome!!

Share some pix with us!

I almost had one but got a Malinois instead – she’s done several wilderness trips with me – and came face-to-face with a mama bear and cubs and didn’t chase them. Truth be told I am more worried about Porcupines in Northern Ontario than bears.

I don’t take regular kibble with me as it’s too heavy instead I use something called K9 Natural Freeze Dried Dog Food. The stuff is very light and you just add some warm water and let it sit for about 10 minutes.  My dog loves it.

I keep the dog food in its own  lok-sak in my bear bag.  My dog carries 5 lbs of gear in her pack. It holds my rain gear; dog booties; first aid kit (for both of us) extra lighters; maps in a ziplock bag; leatherman multi-tool etc.

I clip her flexi-lead to a ‘biner which I attach to my pack. This allows me to use my hiking poles and still have the dog secured by leash.

I looked for years for a good Dutch shepherd. I compete in IPO so the gripping is very important.  I never did find the Dutchy I wanted. I got a Malinois and absolutely love him.  I wish we could try the freeze-dried you recommend. Unfortunately he has food allergies so I make his food from a recipe I got from UC Davis. I have been dehydrating dog food for the last two weeks.

We came across a mama and cub last year in the middle fork of the Gila River  we were not very close but he was a champ

• it is unfortunate that so many people are passing off pets as service animals  I do understand some hostility because this is becoming quite a problem
• happy hiking!

Michelle:

The freeze dried food I use is raw food – don’t know if that would make a difference. My Mal came from IPO lines. I had her in French Ring for a while but had to quit that for numerous reasons.

Quite a few requests for pics of Tara, here ya go… On the dehydrated K9 food, how much do you usually feed per day, also is the warm water imperative? I would need to heat water 3 times a day and account for the additional fuel isn’t ideal.

Also I have another of the packs shown in the pic for sale if y’all are interested let me know. Its a Ruffwear Pallisades size small, great pack holds her sleeping bag, jackets, bowls and 2 Platypus 1L bags. Its $150 retail I woulds let it go for $99.

http://www.ruffwear.com/Palisades-Pack_2

Pablo:

Just saw this not sure if your question re Dehydrated food was for me but here goes.  The brand I use has pretty clear instructions as to what to feed based on dog weight and activity level. I take the amount they suggest and then double it.

My Mal is 50LBs  so according to the instructions I should feed 2 cups a day per her weight. On the Trail I feed her 4 per day. But the food is so light it works out to only 4 oz per meal so over a 6 day trip I’m only carrying 3 lbs of food for the dog.

As for the water it doesn’t need to be warm. But usually in the Summer local water sources aren’t that cold to begin with.  In fact the brand I use technically doesn’t require water – you can feed dry. But I add lots of water because as I mentioned earlier my dog doesn’t seem to want to drink a lot while hiking so I make sure to hydrate her well during meals.

I am new to BPL and don’t often frequent forums.  I am a veterinarian and have hearing service dog that often backpacks with me.  No doubt this topic big issue with all the “fake” service dogs out there.  A real service dog has been through a lot of training (Ben over 250 hours now) but there is no such thing as a “license.”  I got a National Parks Access Card just o make easier with Rangers.  You get via mailing in request with medical proof of disability.  For service dog, a business (or park) can if your dog is service dog and what duties he performs, and not any more.  If out of control, they can ask you to remove your dog or if dog poses immediate threat to health or safety of others.  Otherwise the use is protected by Federal Law.   For me, I can’t hear whistles, high pitch voice, or rattlesnakes rattle, so Ben is important part of safety while backpacking.   But a lot goes into prep of dog for long distance hiking, just as much as for yourself.  Lots online about health, food, first aid, and gear (yes there are special manufacturers of ultralight dog gear!).  Be safe and be safe with your dog.

I don’t much agree with dogs in the backcountry, service dogs or not.  I have yet to see any dog in the backcountry on a leach and without that, they hunt and harass the wildlife, the very reason NPS doesn’t allow them on the trails.   Besides this, dogs bark all night when wildlife are active and roaming through the camps, and your fellow hikers deserve better than that.

Terry, while what you say is true about some dogs and their owners I think you are painting with a pretty broad brush. Not all dogs bark all night, roam around campsites and harass wildlife.

<div dir=”ltr”>Understand opinion Terry, but perhaps you have not seen a properly trained service dog.  They do not bark or chase wildlife.  I have hiked over 1000 miles with my service dog without single incident.  Over 300 hours of training.  And service dogs provide perhaps the only means for handicapped to enjoy wilderness.  NPS allows service dogs in all national parks and rights are protected by Federal Law.  Look up “blind hiker” on PCT and Appalachian Trail with service dog.  Would you really want to deny him access to our amazing back country?  It is too bad that people with ill behaved dogs ruin it for all, and over half of all dogs I see in backcountry are not properly trained, for service or as trail dogs.  As service dog owner, I am even more rabid (bad pun) about people on trail with poorly trained dogs.  Passed one last night on full moon hike that should never have been on trail, vicious and scared.  I am also a veterinarian and abide by vaccine laws as well to try to make sure my dog is in best of health and carry full medical kit for him as well as me.  Just my opinion.  Dr. Bob</div>

FYI, my dog, when she comes with us, walks on the trail, leaves it to “do her business” with zero prompting from us, doesn’t chase anything – a breed without a prey drive can easily be told no and listen – and sleeps in the vestibule all night with a couple of growls once in a while to let us know there are night creatures afoot. Quite a different creature than you are picturing.

She has however been traumatized in the past by the dog you describe. I keep her on a leash, not to keep her under control, but for her protection. She sometimes walks a little ahead of us on the trail without it and if another dog comes around the corner we want to be right there to kick it away from her before she gets bitten again.

Bob,

Thanks for explaining the process.  I love seeing dogs in the wilderness and have yet to have a bad encounter there.  Our local urban trails are something else altogether and the issue has more to do with lazy owners not cleaning up after their dogs than poor doggo trail manners.