Pets not allowed in some state/national parks

[CautionToTheWind]

While some state and national parks don't allow pets, what IF you didn't let the pet outside while visiting for short time (read: say an hour) crating your pet inside? I know most would avoid that park all together and move on; thus not voting with their money in that case. I often think about the experiences lost due to "no pets." (of course outside/inside temp's determine comfort for pet)

Local to me, the city closed down a famous trail to pet owners due to not picking up after pooches (poop everywhere).

I've considered a dog for the the road, and on the other hand, the limitation may suggest not having one without alternatives.

How much is it a liability vs. a dirty issue?

 

[Van-Tramp]

Huge issues for me. My dog, Moose, came to me over 3 years ago. And while I do not regret taking him in that day, almost every single day since he has held me back a bit.. some more than others; I had to find a place to put him up for 10 days while I was in Hawaii. $200 to board him while I backpacked in a National Park for a weekend. Many missed trails or camping locations due to him... heck, even dinning or parking locations are at risk thanks to dogs.

I do like my dog, don't get me wrong, but I doubt I will get another after Moose gets eaten by a bear.

 

[Queen]

I loved my girls like they were my kids, but when they were gone I rediscovered a huge amount of freedom, and a lot of extra money. They are the best companions in the whole world, but like VT said, they can hold you back. I passed up a lot of paddling opportunities because we're tent campers and I couldn't leave them zipped up in a hot tent; same with trails and restaurants and museums, etc. It was either pay to board them, or not go, and over their lives the cost of boarding them while we traveled was substantial.

Bottom line, if you really really want a dog, get one, love her to death, and accept the inconvenience, which will be far overshadowed by the love. Or don't go down that road and retain your freedom, but miss out on the love and companionship.

 

[DuneElliot]

I'm in the same boat as those above me. I love my dogs, and I love camping and hiking with them but you do have to make allowances for their needs and places that won't take them. Since I have some plans in my future that involve overseas travel or long-distance hiking it is unlikely I will get another dog after my current two are gone, at least until I can check those things off my bucket list.

I haven't come across a NP that won't permit them yet, but I also haven't been to any that aren't out west. I do know they exist. I prefer to backpack away from the NPs and camp outside them where I can leave the dogs for a day to go check things out and then come back to camp at night.
Work can also be an issue.

 

[jonsun]

got my side business idea.....mobile dog watching

 

[ArtW]

Main reason I've left Buddy with my ex's new husband is the total unfairness of leaving him locked in a small travel trailer for 9+ hours while I'm at work
I just couldn't do that to him

 

[mayble]

got my side business idea.....mobile dog watching

I've often wondered about doing this in campgrounds, either as a straight up pet sitting business (if campground allows), or just getting a couple folks to take turns watching each other's pets while the people go sight-seeing, etc.

 

[ArtW]

That's what military moms did with their kids back when I was a kid, each of them had 'their day' for the grocery store, and watched each other's kids
I never saw the inside of a grocery store till i was 6
Mom probably wished she'd waited for 10 lol

 

[DuneElliot]

Main reason I've left Buddy with my ex's new husband is the total unfairness of leaving him locked in a small travel trailer for 9+ hours while I'm at work
I just couldn't do that to him

I'd feel the same way if my camper wasn't 27ft long with a slide. They have enough space. I'm honestly hoping to rent a fenced horse pasture or something when I'm in a location for a while so the dogs have a yard as that is what they are used to.

 

[jonsun]

mine wont get out of the damn van half the time. it's her sanctuary I guess. she literally acts like a kid being dragged away from the candy isle.

 

[slynne]

CautionToTheWind, I imagine that leaving a pet in a parking lot inside of a vehicle would not be against the rules but you can always call ahead and ask!

I generally just avoid places that will not allow dogs. I did get really angry when, after I worked very hard fundraising and donating money myself to a charity designed to save farm land from development, the organization chose to not allow dogs on any of the properties they turned into preserves. Oh well. At the least the land has been preserved and there are plenty of other places where I can go with my dog.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

I always say that after my dog passes I'm not getting another one.  That was 3 dogs ago. Just feels like a piece of life is missing when one isn't around. To me the benefits far outweigh the inconveniences.  There is so much more to do and see in this world than i'll ever have time for, so any place that doesn't allow dogs is just doing me a favor, by getting to cross it off the list.  And if/when all else fails, it's easy enough to board them for a week or two like when I went to Hawaii.  Half way through that trip I was missing my dog and couldn't wait to get home to see her, that's how I knew for me, living with out a dog isn't living at all.

Gotta have a co-pilot, otherwise how do you prevent yourself from becoming lost?

 

[DuneElliot]

I always say that after my dog passes I'm not getting another one.  That was 3 dogs ago. Just feels like a piece of life is missing when one isn't around. To me the benefits far outweigh the inconveniences.  There is so much more to do and see in this world than i'll ever have time for, so any place that doesn't allow dogs is just doing me a favor, by getting to cross it off the list.  And if/when all else fails, it's easy enough to board them for a week or two like when I went to Hawaii.  Half way through that trip I was missing my dog and couldn't wait to get home to see her, that's how I knew for me, living with out a dog isn't living at all.

Gotta have a co-pilot, otherwise how do you prevent yourself from becoming lost?

I can pretty much guarantee I'll be getting another dog after my two are gone...but after I check a few things off the bucket list, like hiking the PCT and a four month trip to New Zealand.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

I can pretty much guarantee I'll be getting another dog after my two are gone...but after I check a few things off the bucket list, like hiking the PCT and a four month trip to New Zealand.

I meant to add that to my post, that in between dogs is the perfect time to do the things you couldn't as easily do while having one.  I think that's the perfect way to balance the two together.

 

[highdesertranger]

I lost interest in National Parks they have become to developed and to commercialized. highdesertranger

 

[akrvbob]

There is some inconvenience to having a dog, but my experience has been totally different than all of yours. As far as I know in 100% of the national Parks the dog can go anywhere your car can go. Yes, you are limited to 8 hour hikes when it's not miserably hot, but I'm grateful for that, now I'm not even tempted to torment myself with that kind of thinking that I can hike when it's so miserable. What's the point of that?

If my dog would hate it, I will hate it!!!!! Thanks for bringing some common sense to my life Cody!

A dog does rule out multi-day hikes in the National Parks. Compared to all he gives me, that's totally meaningless to me.

However, there are a few circumstances where dogs just don't work. For example, I do have a friend who loves her dog more than life, but she won't get another one. She wants to do through-hikes and travel internationally, and a dog makes that very, very difficult.

 

[DuneElliot]

However, there are a few circumstances where dogs just don't work. For example, I do have a friend who loves her dog more than life, but she won't get another one. She wants to do through-hikes and travel internationally, and a dog makes that very, very difficult.

I'm the same way. But I'll do these things when my dogs are gone, get them checked off my bucket list, and then get another dog. It's definitely about what your priorities are.

 

[IanC]

Traveling wouldn't be the same without Todd, but it does cramp the possibilities. Got to do shopping early while it's cool for him in the car. Can't really visit tourist attractions - I'd like to go up to Nashville and check out the scene, but what to do with him? He could stay in the trailer for a few hours, but will he be barking and disturbing the other people here? In the days when I had many animals - horses, ponies, donkeys, goats and dogs - I didn't have a day away from them in 14 years, so I'm familiar with the drill - it's just part of life, and it wouldn't be my life without animals around.

I couldn't even imagine hiking without him - he's what makes it fun.

As far as parks that don't allow dogs, I haven't run into any so far and if I do, what the heck, I'll go elsewhere. BTW, what we pay to camp in State and National parks doesn't even scratch the surface of what it costs to run them. At some point, some dog owners made themselves a pain in the neck = probably left them to bark all day or left piles of crap around their sites when they left - if there are parks that don't allow them, there's a reason.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

 In the days when I had many animals - horses, ponies, donkeys, goats and dogs - I didn't have a day away from them in 14 years, so I'm familiar with the drill - it's just part of life, and it wouldn't be my life without animals around.

I'm hesitant to add more than just chickens at this stage of the game for that very reason, I'd love to get some other farm animals eventually.

My uncle raised/raced dogs in Alaska for 30 years.  Having up to 40 at times.  Him and his wife didn't get to travel together for 30 years because one had to stay behind with the dogs.  They had 22 left when they retired from dog mushing and instead of putting them down (common for Alaskans to do that once dogs can't be raced anymore) they decided to let them live out their days at home.  My uncles been wanting to travel more and always said once the last few move on they were going to do a few big trips, well the last one finally passed last year at 15, however, my uncle passed the year before.  He would have actually laughed that the dogs outlived him, just the way life goes sometimes. And he bought a Class C and had it all set up for long term traveling a few years prior in anticipation.

 

[IanC]

He would have actually laughed that the dogs outlived him, just the way life goes sometimes.

That's the reason I got an older dog.  The chances that a puppy would outlive me are pretty high.