14ers.com

Planning for next July which 14ers my dog and I might do. We did Elbert, Quandary, G&T, and Bierstadt over 8 days in July. Of these 5 I found the final boulder berm of Bierstadt to be the most challenging for the dog and in looking at trail routes I see the same, e.g. Massive, Sherman. Maybe will tackle the DeCaLiBron, reverse route, but would appreciate suggestions on others in Sawatch, Mosquito.

Great. Now I'm thirsty for a gin & tonic.

Huron and Belford-Oxford are almost all dirt trail, so pretty dog-friendly. And yeah, the Mosquitoes are easier and good.

Sherman is good. Took a 20 pound dog up there with no issues. Saw lots of other dogs too.

I think all the clsss 1 and 2s are within the realm of doable for most dogs. There may be some small difficulties -like you found on Bierstadt- but nothing insurmountable.

IMO Challenger and Kit Carson could be done by a dog but I would hesitate to bring one up Blanca or the other difficult class 2s.

Thanks for the tips. Found this link that is good for further research and may be helpful to others as well.

https://sites.google.com/site/colorados ... ourteeners

If only my lab weighed 20 lbs then I could just pick him up for the challenging stretches but mine hits the scales at 90 lbs. He gets no lift from me. On Bierstadt I put him off leash on that last section. He knew which line to take which was different from mine and may have saved him from injury. Plus, we both had to deal with the hordes scrambling at the top. Saturday in July not good for a peaceful hike.

Yes, SkrdShtls time for some gin.

OldDude wrote:Thanks for the tips. Found this link that is good for further research and may be helpful to others as well.

https://sites.google.com/site/colorados ... ourteeners

If only my lab weighed 20 lbs then I could just pick him up for the challenging stretches but mine hits the scales at 90 lbs. He gets no lift from me. On Bierstadt I put him off leash on that last section. He knew which line to take which was different from mine and may have saved him from injury. Plus, we both had to deal with the hordes scrambling at the top. Saturday in July not good for a peaceful hike.

Yes, SkrdShtls time for some gin.

No lifting on Sherman. I would recommend the Iowa Gulch side. You'll likely have the trail to yourself until the ridge.

Was wondering if anybody had any suggestions or must knows before going out with a dog on the trail. Obviously have to pack in pack out and bring a lot of water for the pup. But if there are any other suggestions it would be greatly appreciated! Also, I had a few questions for Christmas. The first is a backpack so he can carry his own water/food! Any suggestions?
And for the second, I'm nervous to take him on some trails because they are so rocky and I don't want him to tear up the pads on his paws. Not exactly sure because I don't think the booties or whatever they have are really an option. Does anybody have experience in this area and may have some suggestions?

mattdhicks20 wrote:Was wondering if anybody had any suggestions or must knows before going out with a dog on the trail. Obviously have to pack in pack out and bring a lot of water for the pup. But if there are any other suggestions it would be greatly appreciated! Also, I had a few questions for Christmas. The first is a backpack so he can carry his own water/food! Any suggestions?
And for the second, I'm nervous to take him on some trails because they are so rocky and I don't want him to tear up the pads on his paws. Not exactly sure because I don't think the booties or whatever they have are really an option. Does anybody have experience in this area and may have some suggestions?

Tons of info in the sub-forum where you posted...

https://www.14ers.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=35

Took my yellow lab up Mt Princeton. It was pretty hard on her pads. They were bruised and scraped up pretty bad. Wouldn’t take her again without having some booties for her.

OldDude wrote: ↑Thu Nov 29, 2018 3:01 pm If only my lab weighed 20 lbs then I could just pick him up for the challenging stretches but mine hits the scales at 90 lbs. He gets no lift from me.

leave your dog at home if you aren't strong enough to self-rescue him in an emergency.

Labs are rugged, working dogs bred for the outdoors. Unless you want to protect paws from chemicals, extreme cold or extreme heat, then booties might not only be unnecessary but also counterproductive. The bigger problem is that while dogs know their limits, because of the leash and pack mentality, they can seldom make their own decisions such as when to stop for a break, when to sip some water, when to eat or when to cool down. So if your dog is new to hiking, give him plenty of opportunities to do those things until you can read his cues.

When scrambling, I gently direct my dog with my hands, but ultimately he needs to learn how to choose his steps, so it's his decision. I obviously hold onto the leash but with enough slack to not restrict or pull him. Don't push or pull him, don't pick him up. If he won't budge, then either turn around or find an alternate line up. Remember, the immense trust your dog puts on you is damaged every time you lead him to a decision that causes him pain.