When Fido Travels with Humans

[Wildwoman69]

Originally Posted by Ray Eklund

Our Blue Heelers wear a scarf when we are out in the back country. No Coyote would wear a colorful scarf.

Excellent idea. We used to have a red one and they look even more like coyotes!

[Flying Nana]

We are traveling with our newly blind 10 yr old Mini Aussie. We have a new 26 U so more room than our 20 FC. We seem to find she is approached by everyone as if she were sighted and if frightened and anxious now as we travel. We let everyone know not to pet her and that she is blind. We are now going to start using a hoop harness to keep her from bumping into things. She loved to travel before her blindness but now she has to use a thunder shirt to travel. Any suggestion?

[alreed]

How your wife trained you is one matter: But dogs do not need pinch collars or choke collars. Our job for our dogs is to reward good behavior, not punish bad behavior. It's called positive reinforcement, and it's the best path to having happy dogs, not fearful ones.

[Mollysdad]

Molly is a trooper.
She gets the entire back seat that's covered with a dog hammock kind of thing. She lays down as soon as the truck moves and sits up when it stops.
In the AS, she sleeps in this soft crate, which fits through the door to take it outside.
It folds up but mine stays set up.
I highly recommend buying it from Amazon Warehouse, like new, much cheaper.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by Ray Eklund

Bob... Humor is a terrible thing to lose. We need more of it on this Forum.

Nancy will... love... that I posted this photo of us camped at 8,000 feet elevation in the Gila National Forest of New Mexico. When the Heelers do not want to sleep outside, someone has to move out to make room. A two sleeping bag cover with two Heelers is a cold night without company.

An Oxymoron as humor...

"Fado" did not appreciate the irony....

Bob
🇺🇸

[Ray Eklund]

Originally Posted by janicemd

Did I understand you to say you leave your dogs tied up outside when you leave the campground? I read it several times and I just can't wrap my head around a responsible dog owner doing this so I must be missing something. But to each his own. It's not my dogs' behavior I worry about, it is passersby who may or may not be knowledgeable about dogs.

*****
Yes. I did and you need not wrap your head around it. We treat our dogs better than most parents treat their children, but we are the pack leaders in dog terms.

Our 15 year old Heeler tore both back CCL tendons over a period of several years. First the right and while healing, the left. Many advised we put our Heeler down. We did not and nursed him back to being able to walk our daily 1.5 mile hike each morning in Boulder City, but he would be incapable to do our five or ten mile hikes any longer. This was three years ago.

He is also nearly deaf, so we use hand signals. To get his attention we clamp our hands which will get his attention.

You have a great imagination. We camp in locations that are remote so people wandering through camp never has been an issue. Even then, these are people dogs, not junk yard hounds that snarl and bark at everything and everybody.

I said DOG, not dogs. Blue can handle long hikes and climbing.

I suppose we could put Dingo into our Tent? In the back of the pickup, while we are gone for several hours? The photo is the last campsite where plenty of trees were handy.

I know you mean well, but do not let your imagination take over your thought process. Horses are tied up this way when packing into the mountains. So... maybe we can agree that our dogs are lucky they are owned by a couple who understand smart techniques to make our Heelers safe and comfortable in town and the Boondocks.

[Ray Eklund]

Originally Posted by alreed

How your wife trained you is one matter: But dogs do not need pinch collars or choke collars. Our job for our dogs is to reward good behavior, not punish bad behavior. It's called positive reinforcement, and it's the best path to having happy dogs, not fearful ones.

*****
As my previous post, I would be exhausted trying to explain to you the benefits of the tools that are available to train our Heelers.

One photo to show suffering Heelers needing restraint.

If anyone from our previous adventures who camped with Blue and Dingo, might be able to ease the minds of those who find THEIR way, the only way.

...and what kind of dog do you work with? Dogs are not the same. Much like Birds.

I am sure when you watched the Dog Whisperer on television you also protested. Or Dr. Pol treating animals at his clinic...?

I am glad that you do not train horses with positive reinforcement. They will give you a thank you, one would not forget.

Anyone who has gone to a local Dog Park confuse this with working dog behavior.

[Ray Eklund]

If you look closely at Post #26, you will find the step ramp that we let both Heelers use to get out of and into the F350. It can be seen in the shade in an A folded position. It works great and if you have a heavy dog that needs help getting in and out... this is a great way to do it.

Every gas stop they use it to get in and out.

Dingo gets a push from behind in the event his knees go out on the way up. Both Heelers know that when the ramp is being moved... they do not leave sight of the campsite.

[Acheron2010]

Whatever

[FloydCoVa]

Hey Ray, where did you get that ramp? I would like one for our Aussie, Freck. I don’t like her jumping out of the truck, I think is bad for her back. Thanks Scott

[Ray Eklund]

OK... enough about how we treat our Heelers and defending them from any help they do not need.

Some last photographs of 'Living the life of a Dog'.

[Ray Eklund]

Originally Posted by FloydCoVa

Hey Ray, where did you get that ramp? I would like one for our Aussie, Freck. I don’t like her jumping out of the truck, I think is bad for her back. Thanks Scott

It is called Petstep embossed in the step. It is good for any sized dog! It has been so long ago we do not recall where. But Petstep should get you there.

Great to prevent any shoulder problems in their future. Also saves our backs 'heaving' them four feet into a pet porter. on the back seat..

[FloydCoVa]

Found them!

[FloydCoVa]

Yep thanks. Our new truck is so high,I have been lifting her out but she jumps in just fine. A ramp will be just the thing. Thanks

[UncleBad]

WeatherTech makes a nice ramp for pets as well.

https://amzn.to/2RnMWVz

[drjudy]

I appreciate your post. I was unable to keep a very small very tenacious blue heeler female Xena from attacking her younger tri heeler Mathilda. Xena had to be re-homed to a very strong woman (as I am). Mathilda has the medium temperament, still strong-willed but more willing to go with the program.

[janicemd]

Originally Posted by Ray Eklund

*****
We camp in locations that are remote so people wandering through camp never has been an issue.

Sorry, I didn't read your first post carefully enough, I had no idea you were tent camping in remote locations. So my apologies. It doesn't take much imagination to see the bad things that can happen in a family campground with dogs left unattended. BTW, my great aunt used to say the worst thing you could say about a person is that they mean well.

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by Ray Eklund

It is called Petstep embossed in the step. It is good for any sized dog! It has been so long ago we do not recall where. But Petstep should get you there.

If I may butt in...Molly uses this one.
Gen7Pets Natural Step Ramp for Pets.
Very sturdy, I like the artificial turf for her footing, and it's only two sections which don't make it as thick folded.
She weighs 75 lbs, and it doesn't flex at all. When folded, it fits easily in the space between the seats.
My only nit pick is IMO, the handle is on the wrong half, I moved mine. I wrote them also, but when you hold it and release the catch, it flops open with the top on the ground and the bottom in the truck. (The top has a strap for securing it , and a lip to sit on the seat.)

[pdavitt]

Originally Posted by Ray Eklund

OK... enough about how we treat our Heelers and defending them from any help they do not need.

Some last photographs of 'Living the life of a Dog'.

Ray,

I have Aussies, that are ranch bred and raised, and understand where you are coming from. Herding/Shepherd dogs are very intelligent and bred to be independent thinkers.

To add a little humor, below is my lead dog Zorro during a normal day.

Pat

[Ray Eklund]

Sometimes our Heelers need to carry their own water on those longer hikes.

Some dogs get use to a back pack and some do not. No... we do not make them carry when the temperatures are either too cold or too hot... we do the heavy lifting. I am sure there are smaller packs out there, but these we had used for many years.

Back Packing dogs the Narrows in Utah
Montana log jam
Montana Sapphire and Gold panning campsite