Dogs in the back country

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Hi all.

New guy here, first post actually, so perhaps I should tell you a little bit about myself before I post my question.

I'm getting ready to retire in a couple of years and am planning to full time RV in a more or less expedition style. I'm thinking a 4X4 pickup and small - 16 to 20 ft travel trailer. Set up the TT as a a base camp and use the 4X4 to get deeper in to interesting places for photography, both day trips as well as short 2 to 3 days overnighting in a tent. I want to spend winters in the southwest and summers up in MT and WY, probably go up the Alaska Highway and the Yukon at least once, and so on.

I just finished reading the thread here about the woman who was attacked by a bear while sleeping in her tent. The thing that hit me was that she had no warning whatsoever, being sound asleep.

Now I've had a license to carry a concealed handgun for the last forty years. I've worked as an armored car guard, and I've had a fair number of firearms training courses with some of the big name trainers. (BTW, if anyone here has any questions about that kind of thing, I would be happy to serve as a resource for this forum.) I've done Mas Ayoob's LFI courses, and Mas always pushes the necessity of alarms so that you are not surprised and overwhelmed in your sleep.

So when I read the bear attack thread, the first thing that popped into my mind was to wonder if a dog would have alerted her in time to take action?

I also noticed that no one in that thread raised that suggestion.

So then I also got to wondering if a dog would keep waking you up all night long every time a racoon or possum came near your camp?

Does anyone here take a dog into the back country with them? If so, how does that work out for you?

I must confess that my family has always had cats, but I'm now thinking about getting a pup - maybe a border collie - so I can begin raising and training him so he'll be ready to go when I am. Would love to hear from anyone here with practical experience with WELL TRAINED dogs in the woods. Thanks.

Regards
John

 

[Abel Villesca]

Hi John, welcome to ExPo! I've always had a dog with me while traveling in the back country. My chocolate lab has been exploring and camping with me since she was as puppy. I'm sure experience will vary, but once bedded down for the night my dog doesn't wake me up with alerts for small critters. She doesn't wake me or bark for anything she doesn't consider a threat. That said, large game animals or free range livestock walking around near camp do occasionally sound threatening to her :sombrero:

 

[maximumrob]

The dog will do exactly as you expect...it will alert you to outside noises it's not expecting. That could be everything or very little.

Since you're trained in defense (and offense?), you already know there's not much one can do about a well-executed ambush attack, whether by man or bear!

Enjoy the outdoors and take your quadriped buddy along if you like. Follow all the basics of camping safety and you'll likely have a great time. If I can offer any advice at all on camping with the dog, make sure your dog is the right kind of animal to have with you. For instance, taking a Malamut on a Death Valley trip isn't kind to the animal nor does a single-coat Pit Bull belong on any kind of winter trip! Mine shivers too much and is miserable

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

I'm already doing what you are planning on doing. I also have a cabin, so when I'm not traveling, I hang out there. I have a Yellow Labrador Retriever and she also does not wake me up at every odd sound. We do plenty of back country stuff and she's a pleasure to have along. If you plan to travel alone, dogs are a great addition.

 

[Lost Canadian]

We take our dog everywhere with us and truthfully, once she's in the tent she doesn't wake up for anything. We've had critters roam by our tent waking us up and she's just kept on sawing logs. When she's sleeping she offers nothing in terms of an alarm, awake is a different story. She's a good foot warmer though.

 

[huskyfargo]

I usually travel with my good friend. He has a chocolate lab, and I have a chocolate and a yellow. My experience is the same as the other lab owners. Once they're down for the night, they don't get up for much of anything. I can't imagine traveling without my dogs!

 

[PirateMcGee]

I take my dog............however, if you read my post here http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44664&page=11 you'll find that my dog was more of an attractant than a deterent. Only get a dog as a companion and if enjoy yourself more when your dog is around. Otherwise i do not recommend you get a dog.

 

[goin camping]

We camp with out Yellow Lab and German Shepherd. Once the Lab falls asleep he's not waking up for anything. Unless the Shepherd hears something and wakes him up. She wakes up at everything but only makes noise for big critters and people.

 

[rambrush]

Like others have posted my yellow lab and black lab mix seem to ignore sounds outside of the tent. With the Moose, Elk, deer and bear traffic I would have thought they would be barking but nope they sleep through it.
The yellow lab used to chase deer but figured out quickly she was no match.

 

[Terrainist]

Dogs, so many good and nice reasons to have one or two. And just about the same amount of reasons not to have one around. Don't have a dog around where there is cactus, that always tips the scale for me.

 

[BKCowGod]

My lab mix (I hate the word "labradoodle", he's a MUTT) goes camping with me. He gets carsick, but otherwise he seems to love the change of pace and he makes an excellent motion detector at night!

Just remember to keep him hooked up or make sure he is VERY well trained - if he bolts after something in the wild, you may never see him again...

 

[hillbillyjake]

my female black lab goes were ever i go. she is great with the kids and will let you know if somethings up. she has never had any special training. i know this sounds funny, but it knida seems like intutition to me. strange i know, but she just some how seems to know some thing not right.

i personally will never be with out a dog in the house. or tent, camper, ect....

my $.02. good luck

 

[goodtimes]

My pit bull goes everywhere with us. Around camp, she isn't on a leash or in a crate -- she roams free. At night, she used to sleep in the tent with me, until she got booted in favor of my current girlfriend (Marisa doesn't stink like the dog does :sombrero. Now, she sleeps on a blanket on the ground -- still untethered. I can't recall a single time that she has made any noise once bedded down while camping.

She is extremely well behaved, quiet, and very friendly. Even dog-haters like Cherokee. But she is *not* a guard dog (or even a 'warning' dog). She is also slightly problematic when traveling in hot climates -- you can't leave 'em in the truck while you go into a restaurant, grocery store, etc.

My advice is to research and pick your breed carefully. Get one that is going to fit in with your personality, and one that you can accommodate with regards to the amount of exercise they need, physical size, etc.

Or go down to the pound and find the most pathetic looking mongrel they have, and take it home (that's pretty much what I did last time -- and I ended up with the coolest dog I've ever had).

 

[Errant]

Two dogs always with us when remote camping.

 

[huskyfargo]

My Herd: