Hiking Dog Introductions

[Daniela Wagstaff]

How about we all introduce our canine hikers?

I have 3 dogs but Shawnee is the only hiker. All 3 are adopted shelter dogs. One never could hike because of a broken hip and atrophied leg she lived with for years (now fixed) and the other had to retire from hiking as of this year as she started slowing down and is no longer able to do the distances. For those two it's maximum 2 mile walks around the neighborhood. Shawnee is the youngest at 8 years old. She has arthritis in one of her knees but I have never seen her limp and she has hiked up to 16 miles at a time with no problems. Either the hiking is keeping it at bay and/or the supplements she gets help. She a great hiking dog and I hope she can accompany me for many more years.

[njHiking.com]

We hike with my brother's dog, Bela. She was adopted from a shelter about 13 yrs ago. We had tried taking my brother's other dog hiking with Bela, but the only sport Dozer enjoys is couch surfing.

Bela is part Terrier, and therefore is a bundle of energy. We actually started taking longer hikes because of her - she'd get annoyed when we'd arrive back at the car after only 6 or 7 miles. And it's a running joke that my brother never had to hike as hard as the rest of us because Bela just pulled him uphill. She is semi-retired now due to her age and a creaky hip, so she only goes on short hikes now so she doesn't overdo it.

One time while hiking in the Delaware Water Gap, Bela startled a rattlesnake a few feet off the trail. She yelped and jump back and we had a tense moment while trying to determine if she'd been bit or just surprised. Rattlesnakes are rare but are can be found in northern Jersey, especially in the Water Gap, we've run into a few over the years.

In the photo below, Bela is at - well, in - Sunfish Pond at the Water Gap. Her little backpack holds some treats and water, and never slowed her down a bit.

[Marj Sceigle]

Hi, I have 3 dogs as well, a tea cup Yorkie , Belle, she likes to hike but gets over whelmed by the big dogs, including mine. I have a shelter girl -Molly, I got her when she was about 1 years old and she is 12 now, and our new addition is Digby, a Great Pyrnese, he's 8 months old and loves to hike and go to the dog park. We try to hike every week end - at the very least locally but would love to do more hiking around NJ. I found this website today- on a bumper sticker on a car at Cheesequake Park. Hope to connect with other dog/people hikers and do a day trip.

[Marj Sceigle]

Great Pictures!! Beautiful Golden. . Where is Mt. Tammany? Now that the weather is warming up - time for a road trip and hike :0)

Katrina Eckman said:

Hi there,
I just took my 6 month old Golden Retriever, Scout, on a hike up the Red Dot Trail to the top of Mt. Tammany and down the blue trail. He seemed to really enjoy it, and had a real nice swim in the creek toward the end.