Dog on Wheels: traveling with a dog

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Traveling with a Dog

A friend recently offered to take Coltrane for the summer. Though it would surely save a lot of headaches, I declined his offer. Coltrane loves being outside, exploring new smells, carrying sticks in his mouth, and meeting new people. I think he will absolutely love taking this trip. And I expect he will invite me to discover all sorts of things I would ignore. I will be very glad to have his company. Traveling sometimes for days without seeing another person, it will be great to have a smiling and eager companion. But there are lots of concerns to address on the trail and beforehand:

Vaccinations and Tags
Obedience
Fitness
Water
Heat
Terrain
Wild Animals
Food
Waste
Traffic
Emergencies
Risk

It is important to be aware - and not to begrudge your dog - that you will need to alter your plans for the dog's health and safety. Traveling with a dog will require taking rests when you're not tired, traveling different trails than you might otherwise travel, sometimes slowing down, and having a particular awareness of what factors around you might distract the dog from your course.

Some people note that dogs behave differently in the wilderness than at home. Of course, I don't know what I'll see from Coltrane, but I'm looking forward to it.

Vaccinations and Tags:
In the outdoors a dog will encounter wild and unvaccinated animals. It is very important that a dog be current with its shots when camping. Also consult with your vet about any particular health risks in the areas where you will be traveling. I do not have any interest to overmedicate my dog, but do want to take the appropriate precautions. We have not yet had this conversation with our primary vet, but will get to it in the coming months.

A dog should wear a tag with the dog's name, the owner's name, and an address and phone number. In addition to Coltrane's regular tag, I plan to have a special tag printed for this trip:

    Coltrane
    traveling CA to DE
    [my cell number]
    [my mom's home number in Seattle]
    info: www.dogonwheels.us

Many people have their dogs microchipped. This is a chip, implanted behind the dog's shoulders. Scanned by a shelter or vet, the chip will provide identification, license, and vaccination information. Unfortunately, these technologies are proprietary. Different vets and shelters use different scanning technologies. Often a scan will only reveal that there is information there, but it may not be readable by the technology being used. Coltrane has not been microchipped, and I expect we'll not do it before this trip.

Obedience:
Before traveling with your dog, you must be certain that he will stay with you. He must respond to your voice, come when called and generally keep you near. For a great portion of this trip Coltrane will be restrained - in the trailer, when he walks or jogs beside the bike, and even when we walk together without the bike. Somewhat paradoxically, though we will leave the confines of our little apartment, his freedom will most of the time be quite limited. When safety and local regulations allow, I will let him off leash, but we need to expect that these times will be relatively rare. Other times, I need to be prepared for the possibility that he might break free from his lead. Coltrane's recall (responding when called) is not perfect; he can sometimes ignore me when engaged with another dog or (less often) another person. But if I can call him before he engages, he is quite good about staying with me. Because he does like to greet other animals, I will need to be particularly aware of possible encounters with wild animals. In the months preceding the trip, we will work particularly hard at coming to me when faced with distractions.

Leashes are required almost universally at campgrounds and within established cities and towns. No matter how well behaved or how friendly a dog is, it should be leashed around unfamiliar dogs and people. It is disrespectful for your dog to encroach on another person's space or comfort. And you never know when those you are encountering, whether human or canine, are aggressive themselves. When weight and space are not issues, it might make sense to travel with an extra leash and collar. We will have both a collar and a harness for Coltrane. I'll carry just one leash, but will have a few short ropes that might be used in an emergency.

As a rule, a dog must be trained to come when called, must not harass wildlife, and must respond when commanded to clear the trail. It is not fair to other hikers and bikers to bring a dog that will detract from their experience. Fortunately, Coltrane is not a barker and will not disturb other campers when we are sharing a campground.

Coltrane, fortunately, is incredibly personable. I recommend that you not consider camping or hiking with a dog that is aggressive toward either dogs or people. You can't always control a situation on a trail or even in a campground. If there is any chance that your dog would injure another person or dog - even if it would aggressively approach them - it does not belong on a trail.

Fitness:
Some dogs can spend a full day running, and some simply cannot, so it is important that I honestly asssess Coltrane's abilities. Before traveling with Coltrane, we have decided to consult our vet. If Coltrane had come from a breeder, I would have talked to that person too. I want to be aware of my dog's body shape, physiology, and potential to develop joint problems.

I am at a disadvantage, not knowing Coltrane's breed, but a good vet can still make some important observations. On March 15, we met with Dr. Julie Mayer at Integrative Pet Care in Chicago. Integrative Pet Care is a holistic veterinary practice that specializes in rehabilitation, specifically dogs recovering from injuries and surgeries. Dr. Mayer has been named by Chicago Magazine one of “Chicago’s Best Vets.” She combines alternative treatments such as veterinary acupuncture, veterinary chiropractic and Chinese herbal medicine and nutrition with 14 years of expertise in traditional veterinary medicine, offering patients an integrative healing experience. She is a member of the American and Chicago Veterinary Medical Associations and a certified member of the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society, the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association and the American Holistic Medical Association. Dr. Mayer was very positive about Coltrane's potential to run for significant periods each day. Of course, we will need to pay attention to the terrain and heat, but he appears capable of sustained physical exertion. She recommended first that we think about the health of his paws and hips. For his paws she recommended we bring along "paw wax," which is apparently often used on show dogs. It could provide a light, non-obtrusive layer on the paws to protect them from heat and sharp objects. With regard to his hips, she recommended that we begin now to supplement his diet with a glucosamine product to strengthen his joints. Dr. Mayer was particularly concerned to talk about building up the strength of Coltrane's rear legs and lowering his heartrate before the trip. Her clinic specializes in preparing fitness programs for dogs. Unfortunately, the program recommended for Coltrane was too costly, given my present budget, but we learned some good ideas to implement on our own. Specifically, Coltrane ought to do some swimming, walking and running in water, and walking and running on hills. Additionally, we've been encouraged to enroll in an agility class, where Coltrane will both strengthen some of his muscles and encounter obstacles like those he might find on the trail.

I know from experience that Coltrane loves to run but prefers moving in spurts to jogging at a constant pace. Some of this we have been able to change simply with training. He is now much more comfortable on a medium-distance jog than he was before he and I had done any running together. Still, I will need to be sensitive not to push him to run too long beside the bike. I will also need to be attentive to the weather: He can easily run for 30-40 minutes in 40-degree heat, but 10 minutes in 90-degree heat is probably the upper limit.

It is important to be aware - and not to begrudge your dog - that you will need to alter your plans for the dog's health and safety. Traveling with a dog will require taking rests when you're not tired, traveling different trails than you might otherwise travel, sometimes slowing down, and having a particular awareness of what factors around you might distract the dog from your course.

Water:
Keeping your dog hydrated is critical. Without enough water a dog can die of renal failure. Even if you are just walking with your dog, the dog is working harder than you are. This imbalance is exaggerated when you are biking and the dog is jogging or running. I don't know if there are rules about how much water a dog needs to drink, but I expect Coltrane will consume at least as much water as I.

We also need to be careful about water sources. When he's thirsty, Coltrane is not terribly discriminating about the water he drinks. In some places along the trail, however, we will need to be careful about parasites, bacteria, or chemicals, like pollution from mining runoff or pesticides. As much as possible I will want to be sure the water sources are safe. If there's any question, I will try to keep him from drinking. When available I will fill water bottles and a large water bladder with potable water. At other times I will filter water for both the dog and me.

Heat:
Heat can be another major concern. In conversations with the Chicago Anti-Cruelty society about this trip, heat in the western desert regions was their primary concern. The precautions you can take to relieve excessive heat are very few. Dogs are not terribly efficient at cooling off. They don't sweat; they lose most of their heat through their tongues when they pant, and a bit through their paws. Big dogs are less efficient at cooling than little dogs because the ratio of muscle mass to the surface area of tongue and paws is much greater. Additionally, a dog is always wearing a fur coat. A cool breeze does very little to cool a dog down. As a result, there may be times when I will be feeling quite comfortable, and Coltrane will be unbearably hot. In very hot conditions, Coltrane will do very little running. I will need to take extra care to keep him hydrated. I may even choose to wet a chamois towel and place it next to his skin. I will need to determine whether the top of his trailer provides valuable shade or inhibits the circulation of air. And when possible I'll give him opportunities to step into flowing water.

Heat stroke can be life threatening for a dog, and dogs get hot very quickly. Signs of heat stroke include particularly heavy panting, wide eyes, salivating, weakness, and a bright red tongue or mucous membranes. In advanced stages of heat stroke a dog will collapse and become unconscious. Gums will look pale and dry. Heat stroke usually occurs when the animal's temperature reaches 107 degrees. If the dog's temperature, taken rectally, is 105 degrees or higher, it is at risk for heat stroke. The best treatment is to immerse the dog in water, making sure that the water contacts the skin, not just the fur. Dr. Mayer also recommended that we carry rubbing alcohol. Applying rubbing alcohol to the pads of a dog's feet will pull the heat from its body more efficiently even than water. The dog is safe when its temperature reaches about 103 degrees. If possible the dog should be taken to a vet immediately, where various treatments might help damaged cells.

Of course, the places where it will be hottest on the trail, we will also have the least access to water. We will have to bring a temperature guage with us and may have to avoid traveling during the hottest times of the day.

Terrain:
By reference to terrain, I mean to designate at least two things. First, it is important to keep track of where you are. In some places dogs are not welcome. In others there are particular regulations about how they must be controlled. It also designates the surfaces on which the dog might be traveling. And, though we address this more specifically in the next section, it is also important to know something about the wildlife one might encounter in the area. That is, is this a place where I might worry that a curious dog might discover a poisonous snake or seek to make friends with a mountain lion?

Plotting our course I have looked up, whenever possible, the regulations for each park, forest, or trail we will intersect. Rules vary. Dogs are never allowed in wilderness areas. They are usually allowed in national parks and forests if they are leashed and remain in developed areas. Whether they are allowed on trails is less generalizable, but usually they are not allowed on U.S. National Park or National Monument trails; they are only allowed on-leash near paved, developed areas. In U.S. National Forests, dogs are usually allowed on the trails and sometimes allowed off leash as long as they are under the verbal control of their owner. Dogs are usually allowed on Bureau of Land Management land, but one needs to be particularly careful here about wildlife. And each state has different rules for their state parks. We will have to make a few significant detours from the official route of the ADT to accommodate the dog, but these detours are few and often would be required because I am biking, rather than hiking, anyway.

I've been cautioned to be careful with Coltrane when riding cliff-side trails. No matter how sure-footed he is, there's no reason to tempt fate. I'll keep him in the trailer in these cases.

I will need to be careful to watch the health of Coltrane's paws. Some surfaces can be quite abrasive to a dog's paws and others can be particularly hot in warm weather. To address the second first, a good rule of thumb is that if the surface is too hot for a person to walk on, it is too hot for the dog. I understand that asphalt is especially hard on a dog's paws. A rocky trail is less hard. Dirt and sand are even easier (but heat becomes an issue again in the sand). Some hikers and bikers outfit their dogs with booties to relieve the heat and stress. I've seen other people comment that they might help with irritation caused by ants or other small insects. I will not do this initially. Coltrane seems not to have particularly sensitive paws. He has never shown irritation at running short periods on concrete, and he has no problem with ice, snow, and salt during the winter. If his paws start to show evidence of soreness, we may explore the shoe option. Mostly, it will make sense to watch our speed on rough or abrasive surfaces.

Wild Animals:
Despite being fairly well trained, Coltrane loves to greet other dogs, has trouble resisting the urge to chase squirrels, and barks every time he sees a dog, horse, or bear on TV. I can't know exactly how he will respond to an unfamiliar animal, whether he will want to say hello or stand back and bark. Likewise, I don't know how a wild animal will respond to him, whether it will run from him or challenge him. I fully expect that we will see deer, snakes, rodents, and lots of birds. We will pass through areas where one might encounter a bear, mountain lion, coyote, or wolf. Of course, the best thing I can do is keep Coltrane under control in places where these encounters might occur. We will need to keep food secure and away from camp each evening. And we will carry bear spray just in case we find ourselves in a situation where we might need it.

The other animals to be aware of are the insects, specifically mosquitos and ticks....

Food:
Dog food is one of the biggest hassles of this venture. That stuff isn't light. We will pick up dog food 5 or 10 pounds at a time. It will be mailed to us via general delivery. Of course, I never know exactly where I will be at a given time, so I will call a friend about every 8-10 days and ask her to send food according to my anticipated itinerary.

Coltrane will be working hard during this trip, so I don't yet know exactly how much he will eat each day. We may have to adjust his rations en route.

We spoke with Dr. Julie Mayer at Integrative Pet Care in Chicago about Coltrane's diet on the trip. We need to pay particular attention to see that he consumes enough protein and fatty acids. For the first, the Dr. recommended possibly traveling with a dehydrated meat product. There are other sorts of protein supplements that might work as well. I am exploring some of these options with Flint River Ranch, and I know Zukes carries an energy bar for dogs. Regarding the second, Dr. Mayer recommended carrying Omega III fatty acid capsules. We will need to be careful to keep them out of the direct heat, but the other option would be fish oils, which require refrigeration.

Dog food, like human food, may attract critters. The food will need to be kept sealed in something tough and waterproof. I expect we will keep the food in ziploc bags, each containing two cups of food. The Ziploc bags will be kept in an Ursack, a bear bag, which will also contain some of my own food. Each night we will hang the bag some distance from camp.

Waste:
Living in the city, it has already become a habit to pick up my dog's waste. Here it is both the law and a courtesy to my neighbors. On the trail it will also be important to pick up after the dog. Of course, in settled areas, it is again a common courtesy to those with whom I will share the roads, trails and campgrounds. In less settled areas it becomes important for other reasons. I am told that dog waste is not like the waste of wild animals. It can be bad for the environment, particularly near water sources.

When in a setlled area, I will pick up Coltrane's waste as I would in the city. It may take us a short time to find a garbage can, but that's just how it goes. In less settled areas we will follow the rules of "Leave No Trace," and bury the waste in a small hole.

Traffic:
Whether he is in the trailer or running alongside the bike, we're driving a pretty wide rig. The trailer measures about 32 inches from one wheel to the other. At most times, too, we will be traveling a bit more slowly than another biker might. Seeing a dog will be distracting to some drivers, either passing or oncoming. I don't have the option to leave Coltrane at home on occasions when I will travel on heavily trafficked roads. In traffic it makes sense to secure the dog in the trailer, rather than let him run. I will need to be particularly conscious of the situation. And I will keep myself as far to the right of the road as possible. When I can, I will try to alter my route to avoid busy roads.

Emergencies:
I am not really concerned about having to perform any emergency medical procedures in the wild, but being on the trail for so many weeks, both Coltrane and I are likely to collect some scrapes and bruises. We will travel with a standard First Aid Kit. And I will bring a copy of Randy Acker's Field Guide to Dog First Aid. We will have to assess how much medical gear we can carry. Some things often recommended to carry when traveling with a dog include:

    coated aspirin
    VetWrap
    Kwik Stop or septic powder
    nail clippers
    ear and eye ointment (Ottomax and Terramycin)
    tick tweezers and Tick Release
    hemostats, needle nose pliers, and a razor to shave hair from an injured area
    butterfly bandages
    waterproof surgical tape
    Sam splints
    Secta-soothe
    Mole skin irrigation needle
    snake bite kit
    Benedryl
    a suture packet
    bandana

Risk:
Of course, I love my dog. Still, traveling with Coltrane is a risk. I will take all sorts of precautions, but must acknowledge that there is possibility of injury or even death - as there is also for me. I wouldn't take the risk if I thought tragedy was likely. I hope you will contribute to our good health and good fortune with your thoughts and prayers.