Shan
08-30-2006, 10:46 AM
Last week we went on a dual vacation! Mountains of Idaho and desert of Utah all in the same week.
This was Gina's first backpacking trip. I got her her own backpack by Outward Hound. She's a large by all measurements, but because she is so "narrow" or "ungirthy" she needs a medium in everything. Unfortunately the medium pack had 50% less capacity than the large pack!
Before we took off I rented this book from the library:
http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/1577790634.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
Backpacking With Your Dog (Paperback)
by Charlene G. Labelle
It's really the only comprehensive book on backpacking with your dogs. Plus there is a doggie first aid kid list in there. However, I probably also needed a doggie first aid book. It doesn't cover actual first aid.
She carried her own food, food/water bowl, snacks. and doggie vest. I carried her wool blankie. This dog gets very cold easily despite being lab/pointer and almost 60 pounds. In the tent, I folded up her blankie by our feet, put her fleece vest on and then covered her snuggly with my rain jacket. It was the only way to not have her shivering. Temps were only in the 40s at night. Oh and I also bought a camp towel to dry her off in case she went swimming after the sun setting. She was chattering like a wood pecker one time!
I got compliments on what a great trail dog she was.
Getting excited!
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/ginamom/excited.jpg
Starting off the trip!
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/ginamom/HPIM2111.jpg
Must go through lots of trees before reaching the mountains and lakes.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/ginamom/shanginapcak.jpg
Taking a break at our second campsite, Toxaway Lake
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/ginamom/ginaresting.jpg
Great views, best campsite ever, Toxaway Lake!
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/ginamom/ginabythelake.jpg
Hanging out with the boys while they fish
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/ginamom/flyfishingwgina.jpg
Queen of the Mountains!
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/ginamom/HPIM2125.jpg
Then we headed down to Southern Utah for another trip.
In the Escalante Grand Staircase NM.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/ginamom/HPIM2166.jpg
Watching me take a plunge!
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/ginamom/HPIM2157.jpg
Desert camping!
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/ginamom/HPIM2186.jpg
Doggie in the desert! She stepped in a cactus and had one stuck to 3 paws. Luckily we brought leather gloves and pliers for that. After that incident she was on a short leash near me.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/ginamom/HPIM2280.jpg
All in all, she did excellent with her new pack and didn't mind it at all. She quickly learned not to bump into rocks and trees. Her "injuries" only consisted of a cracked dew claw and a small scrape on her side (probably from a fallen tree branch) that left her hairless in 2 spots. Her pads did well.
It was hard to get her to eat breakfast. So I ended up feeding her when we all breaked for lunch. Then she wouldn't eat all her dinner either or her snacks I brought. I think she ate less than she would eat at home.
This was Gina's first backpacking trip. I got her her own backpack by Outward Hound. She's a large by all measurements, but because she is so "narrow" or "ungirthy" she needs a medium in everything. Unfortunately the medium pack had 50% less capacity than the large pack!
Before we took off I rented this book from the library:
http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/1577790634.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
Backpacking With Your Dog (Paperback)
by Charlene G. Labelle
It's really the only comprehensive book on backpacking with your dogs. Plus there is a doggie first aid kid list in there. However, I probably also needed a doggie first aid book. It doesn't cover actual first aid.
She carried her own food, food/water bowl, snacks. and doggie vest. I carried her wool blankie. This dog gets very cold easily despite being lab/pointer and almost 60 pounds. In the tent, I folded up her blankie by our feet, put her fleece vest on and then covered her snuggly with my rain jacket. It was the only way to not have her shivering. Temps were only in the 40s at night. Oh and I also bought a camp towel to dry her off in case she went swimming after the sun setting. She was chattering like a wood pecker one time!
I got compliments on what a great trail dog she was.
Getting excited!
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/ginamom/excited.jpg
Starting off the trip!
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/ginamom/HPIM2111.jpg
Must go through lots of trees before reaching the mountains and lakes.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/ginamom/shanginapcak.jpg
Taking a break at our second campsite, Toxaway Lake
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/ginamom/ginaresting.jpg
Great views, best campsite ever, Toxaway Lake!
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/ginamom/ginabythelake.jpg
Hanging out with the boys while they fish
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/ginamom/flyfishingwgina.jpg
Queen of the Mountains!
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/ginamom/HPIM2125.jpg
Then we headed down to Southern Utah for another trip.
In the Escalante Grand Staircase NM.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/ginamom/HPIM2166.jpg
Watching me take a plunge!
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/ginamom/HPIM2157.jpg
Desert camping!
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/ginamom/HPIM2186.jpg
Doggie in the desert! She stepped in a cactus and had one stuck to 3 paws. Luckily we brought leather gloves and pliers for that. After that incident she was on a short leash near me.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/ginamom/HPIM2280.jpg
All in all, she did excellent with her new pack and didn't mind it at all. She quickly learned not to bump into rocks and trees. Her "injuries" only consisted of a cracked dew claw and a small scrape on her side (probably from a fallen tree branch) that left her hairless in 2 spots. Her pads did well.
It was hard to get her to eat breakfast. So I ended up feeding her when we all breaked for lunch. Then she wouldn't eat all her dinner either or her snacks I brought. I think she ate less than she would eat at home.