Does Rover belong on the trails?

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

Tell us what you think.

 

[Buttermilk]

I voted yes, but I will quantify that with, as long as the owner of the dog is a responsible person.

In the UK a lot af trails go through farmland with livestock, and farmers are at liberty to shoot a dog if it is worrying their livestock.

 

[kitkatsnarepadpen]

I think it's fine as long as you pick up after them. Don't wanna be steppin in the pooh.

Jimbo

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

I agree that dogs should be allowed on the trails if the person is responsible. The problem is, I keep finding evidence that people aren't bringing shovels and blue bags with them, or at least burying it in topsoil where it will degrade quickly. Nothing like getting a beautiful pair of new hikers covered with doggy "due."

 

[Whimsy]

I think that as long as the dog isn't prone to attacking any random passer-by or doing his business on the trail itself, it should be ok. Then again, dogs aren't really allowed in many areas of the park I hike in, so I can't really symphasize about getting my shoes coated in doggy-doo.

 

[jcright]

I voted no. Sorry, had to be done. I love dog's, but the owner's are never responsible enough for their dog. If it isn't dog-do on the trail then it's a dog that has to sniff you out (even if they are on a leash). Perhaps if the dog was made to take a test where it can prove it could behave the master BEFORE it goes on the trail....then I might change my mind.

 

[Piano Player]

My dog and I love the trails in our local park. My dog does her business outside of the trail, but since they are bridle trails everybody has to watch where they are going anyway.

 

[alexeeah]

Sure but maybe they could have a specific park for dogs or one trail that is only for dog walkers.

 

[thirsty]

I have seen more waste on the trails from humans than from dogs.

 

[Ave Maria]

I see nothing wrong with it as long as the owner cleans up after them.

 

[Silent Enigma]

I have seen more waste on the trails from humans than from dogs.

Whaaaat? Gross. Unless you mean soda can type of waste.

But there's enough irresponsible people out there to warrant banning dogs from many trails. There are horse trails at the state park near here. That would be a good spot in one sense, except that horses get nervous around dogs...

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

Whaaaat? Gross. Unless you mean soda can type of waste.

But there's enough irresponsible people out there to warrant banning dogs from many trails. There are horse trails at the state park near here. That would be a good spot in one sense, except that horses get nervous around dogs...

This is happening. I found out recently that I can't take my recently acquired pooch onto any of the long backpacking trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. And I will say that, given the piles of doggie "trail apples" I've seen on trails elsewhere, I can understand it. Still, I want li'l Miss Radar to know the Smokies. Hm.

 

[Wolflily]

Gotta have my dogs on the hikes with me. Dog owners will tell you that half the joy of the hike is watching how much your dog enjoys it too! I understand the problem with irresponsible dog owners - that is always the catch. More and more places don't allow dogs and it's getting hard to find dog-friendly forest areas that aren't simply off in unchartered wilderness. But I will always stand by the desire to be able to take my dogs with me hiking or to the beach or where ever I want to take them.

 

[ZiSunka]

Carry a bag with you to clean up rover's mess and it should be okay. It's not okay to leave rover's refuse on the trail or to kick it off the edge of the trail, but it is okay if you are careful not to let rover mark his territory.

Most Metroparks and municipal parks allow dogs on leash if you clean up after them.

 

[jcright]

I have seen more waste on the trails from humans than from dogs.

Sadly enough, I have as well...eh, not necessarily bodily waste...beer cans, trash, etc. Maybe humans should be made to go through a screening too

 

[Buttermilk]

Sadly enough, I have as well...eh, not necessarily bodily waste...beer cans, trash, etc. Maybe humans should be made to go through a screening too

Sadly that is also true in the UK, especially on popular, easily accessible routes.

 

[Gozo]

ok, well, for one, i hiked alone a lot, and being that i'm not permitted to carry in national parks, i wanted my dog there with me because i prefer the 'road less travelled'. i had a weimaraner that would always go with me when i went hiking. if i couldn't take him, the trail was not worth my time. two of my major reasons for picking the breed i did was for their ability to protect and to endure backpacking trips (he carried his own stuff in his own pack). as for cleaning up after him, where i would hike, it was likely among a lot of wildlife, and his poo made no difference as long as it was off the trail (if there even was a trail). he is awesome, and i hate that i had to give him away to move to south america. i miss Titan.

 

[PhantomTorment]

The thing is, I think dogs should be able to be on trails and stuff but people have to take resposibility. That means if your dog goes number 2 on the trail, pick it up with a plastic bag, or at the very least take a stick and flip it off the trail. And people NEED to keep their dogs on leash. If people can take some resposibility for their animals then I think it's great to take your dogs on trails.

 

[holyorders]

dogs is cool in a trail
;

 

[lastcodec]

Im glad I live in an area where this isn't an issue. In the country people are used to dogs running around. Growing up around dogs most people love them and don't care if a dog sniffs them and wants to greet everyone. Also the trails around my house are anywhere from 6-39 miles long and you rarely run into people.