The Essential Guide to Hiking with Dogs by Jen Sotolongo

Author:Jen Sotolongo
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Falcon Guides
Published: 2021-01-27T00:00:00+00:00

“WATCH OUT, SHE’LL TURN ON YOU ONE DAY.”

The words of a passing hiker infiltrate my ears. Though I keep my cool and pass without response, I feel a wave of anger wash over me. Comments like this are just some of the many I have experienced since I adopted a pit bull–type dog in 2013.

Leilani (Lani) is my first dog as an adult. Unlike many of my friends, I had no breed expectations. My husband, Brian, and I simply wanted to adopt a dog that fit into our lifestyle. When the time came, Brian and I chose the dog we bonded with at the shelter and paid no attention to how they labeled her. That said, I’ve always been attracted to bully breeds. I love their big blocky heads, short fur, athletic build, and how their bodies never seem to stop wiggling. It’s only fitting that we came home with one. Bringing a pit bull–type dog into an apartment with breed restrictions posed an entirely different set of problems, but that’s for another time.

Admittedly, I had a glorified idea that she would innately be the perfect hiking companion. Naively, I thought she would walk calmly next to me. This was not the case. I severely underestimated the amount of work and training it took to have an appropriate trail dog.

Our first time on the trail, an elderly gentleman stopped to say hello. I watched Lani’s body fold into a beautifully executed play bow, and, thankfully, the man was very understanding when she exuberantly mistook his trekking pole for a stick and pranced off with it.

Not everyone is as forgiving; I learned this the hard way. A few years ago I thought she was ready for off-leash hiking. It was a foolish mistake, as her recall was nowhere near perfect. After failing to return to me, she intercepted someone’s picnic and scored a sandwich. The poor, unsuspecting person was upset, and understandably so. The thing is, they weren’t upset that she was off leash, but that she was a “pit bull” off leash.

Another time, we were the recipient of an off-leash dog that did not end well. The other owner was quick to place blame, pointing out that pit bull–type dogs tend to be dog aggressive due to their history of dog fighting. He recommended I leave my dog at home where she belonged. This really hurt. Had I really failed to socialize my dog? Or did decades of breeding predispose her to this behavior? Would we be able to hike together like I had always dreamed?

Every unwelcome experience led to the profound realization that I carried a heavier responsibility than the average pet owner. Somehow, a pit bull barreling toward a picnic poses a much greater threat than say…a bichon frise.

Knowing I had much to learn, I delved into the world of canine language. I absorbed every word of every book and article I could get my hands on. I made a commitment to training, one that would last her lifetime.

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