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ob1
climber
BC
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Topic Author's Original Post - Aug 18, 2009 - 04:27pm PT
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my wife and i have just got our first doggie - it's a 10 week old rhodesian ridgeback called cedar.
we want our guy to be able to follow us everywhere, camping, cragging, backcountry skiing, hiking - whatever. what i was hoping for was some feedback from various dog owners who have managed to raise a dog who was easy to handle in the outdoors.
obviously temperament is important but things like, when to take off lead, tips for keeping him busy - just anything that comes to mind really that will help him become a good outdoors dog.
thanks.
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the Fet
Supercaliyosemistic climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Aug 18, 2009 - 04:41pm PT
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Take him out a lot and socialize him in different situations.
Be considerate of people who don't like dogs.
Be firm and consistent in your discipline.
Ridgebacks are a great choice for a go anywhere, outdoor dog.
Don't listen to the haters who are sure to chime in.
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apogee
climber
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Aug 18, 2009 - 04:42pm PT
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I own a dog as well, and love her dearly. I also live in a mountain town that is frequented by climbers, and oftentimes, their dogs. That said, here's my view:
If your dog is exceptionally well-mannered, and has no history of aggressive behavior to other persons or dogs, their presence may be acceptable at a crag. Bring plastic bags, and clean up after your dog. (Yes, it's biodegradable, but it really sucks to see piles of dogsh*t around the crags, esp. when you step in it.) Keep the pooch secured at all times- it's really annoying to have someone else's dog get into your lunch and pack while the owners aren't watching it. Dogs that are left free while the owners are on a route tend to wander, get into other people's stuff, and can disappear for good (coyote bait). Keep in mind land manager regulations- many areas that are designated as wilderness don't allow them at all. Be aware that your dog could have an altercation with an aggressive dog of an unthinking owner.
To reiterate my first comment, if your dog has any history of aggressive behavior to anyone or anything...leave the dog home!
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kuan
Sport climber
CA
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Aug 18, 2009 - 04:44pm PT
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I think a reliable recall is KEY in enjoying the outdoors with your dog. Your dog should ALWAYS come when you call - for many reasons, including the safety of the wildlife and even the dog's safety. I would suggest training your recall with a whistle, which carries much further than a voice in case Cedar decides to wander off.
"Leave it" is also a good one to practice at home. You don't want your dog eating things it shouldn't while outside so teach this command now.
Don't let your dog run up to people or other dogs until you say it's okay. Ridgebacks get pretty big and not everybody wants a 80 lb. + canine bounding enthusiastically at them, no matter how friendly its intentions may be. Also, you don't know how other dogs will react to this, so it's best to ask hikers coming up a trail if they and their animals are okay with other dogs before letting him go say hi.
After every hike, flop your dog down on its side and check for injuries, bug bites, burrs, etc. Check his paws too - especially in the summertime and especially if you are hiking on hot surfaces! It takes a while for their pads to toughen up so help make sure they are in good condition!
Have fun with your new dog!
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dsqrd
climber
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Aug 18, 2009 - 04:45pm PT
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Congrats! Socialize the heck out of that (little) guy. Get him used to other doggies / other people as soon as you and your vet are comfortable with him being exposed. The more he gets used to all kinds of other dogs, the more relaxed he'd be with other dogs. (Kind of key if you want him to go cragging w/ you).
Remember some people will be intimidated by a dog as big as he's going to be, so the better trained he is the less stress you'll have.
Have fun!
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
sorry, just posting out loud.
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Aug 18, 2009 - 05:23pm PT
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what Fet said...
Be considerate of people who don't like dogs.
Be firm and consistent in your discipline.
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Jim Wilcox
Boulder climber
Santa Barbara
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Aug 18, 2009 - 05:31pm PT
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I agree with the considerate part. EVERY dog owner should feel like they're an ambassador for all the other dog owners when they're out in public. As true with everything else in life, it only takes a few to screw it up for many.
FWIW:
Our dogs were clicker trained.
Initially we'd spend about two hours a day to pure training and socializing. But training really is a work in progress...
You can't have a good off leash dog until you have a perfect on leash dog.
Good luck, Ridgebacks are beautiful dogs.
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GDavis
Trad climber
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Aug 18, 2009 - 05:33pm PT
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Apogee is right.
I have a year old Boxer. He stays at home. I love him to peices, but he will tear up anything and everything in sight.
This reminds me of the reason why dogs at crags (and often the outdoors) annoy me, or rather why dog OWNERS annoy me.
Coming down from Bear Creek Spire, on saturday, I could tell from Gem Lakes that the trail was crowded. But I was stoked because I just finished climbing, so I had pleasantries with people I walked by. A few people were older couples with a good ol' dog with em, super amiable animals, stayed right next to them. It never registered to me that "oh, there's a dog here." It was like another hiker. I pet the pooch and walked on. Slowly, as I got closer to the trailhead, I saw more. At first it was, hey cool look a dog. Then it became, wow that dog is runnign pretty far ahead of its owner.
Finally, I'm about a mile away from the trailhead, and If I said that I had seen 25 dogs on the 3 miles I would be lying. Probably more like 35. Every party had at least TWO. I walked by an area near the trailhead that was closed for rehab, and had a big sign "DO NOT ENTER - CLOSED FOR PLANT GROWTH" or something to that effect. Big meadow, kind of trampled, but making it. Anyway, these two dogs who had been kind of amped up, ran wayy ahead of their owners, stopped in the field, and started DIGGING! They each dug a hole about a square foot in the middle of meadow and their owners walked right by. This kind of ticked me off.
Later on, I'm already annoyed, a young couple walk with two puppies who are all over the trail and off, and right in front of them one of the puppies takes a dump. They step OVER it and keep going.
I love dogs, I really do. Owners? NOT SO MUCH! Who are these people?
So, unless you have that quiet, obedient dog who doesn't dig holes in restoration sites and you clean his poop, PLEASE DON'T BRING THEM! But if you do, PLEASE bring them, because they are GREAT company!
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cleo
Social climber
Berkeley, CA
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Aug 18, 2009 - 05:34pm PT
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Take 'em out a lot, get 'em tired!
Socialize!
My doggie was a shelter rescue, 4 years old, not socialized to other dogs, kids, and ran away at first. But a lot of patience, a lot of walks, and a lot of socialization time worked wonders (note - he was never aggressive, but tended to growl loudly and run away from other dogs who tried to sniff butts...)
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ob1
climber
BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 18, 2009 - 06:16pm PT
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thanks for all the replies.
i agree with all of your sentiments with regard to polite dogs being welcomed.
my wife and i have read all the books about behaviour training, (apparently ridgebacks respond best to positive reinforcement) but what i wanted was some "on the ground" advice about how other, considerate dog-owners, got their dog to act considerately too, especially outside? is it just a matter of common sense and a little training?
the last thing i want is a whiney or pain-in-the-butt dog which will be hard to control.
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drljefe
climber
Old Pueblo, AZ
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Aug 18, 2009 - 06:27pm PT
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"what i wanted was some "on the ground" advice about how other, considerate dog-owners, got their dog to act considerately too, especially outside? is it just a matter of common sense and a little training?"
It's all about "on the ground" time. Get out there. There will a be trial and error period. Your dog's going to have to get used to the program, and you're going to have to get used to your dog getting used to the program. Heights, wildlife, other pets, humans, weather....
Don't have real high hopes at the start- keep your climbing/skiing goals modest until Cedar is dialed in. And make the training trips just you, your wife, and the dog.
Nobody really likes a partner with an epikking dog.
Experience makes a good mountain dog...combined with your patience and training.
Good luck, having a companion animal in the mountains has been so rewarding for me over the years.
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
New York, NY
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Aug 18, 2009 - 06:33pm PT
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When I first started taking Teddy with me, he wasn't all that well behaved....
He would whimper and bark when I got about 15 feet off deck climbing. he would run down into the talus slope because he sniffed the remnants of someone's discarded sandwich thrown down there. He didn't really know the deal.
But he learned, pretty quickly. And I, too, learned how to make things more better for him. Still - as a puppy(Teddy was already a couple years old) you need to understand he's going to be a puppy. Friendly to every living thing that comes anywhere near - whether they want it or not. Clumsy and fool-hearty in situations that might require more caution. Not really able to sit still, dozing and keeping an eye on your pack while you are doing your thing....
Don't expect too much too quickly, in the "good dog" department, and make your first forays into situations that you have some control over - You know the area, your partners understand the dog is learning, and have agreed to the situation.
One thing I found that helped eliminate 99% of Teddy's upset with me out of sight climbing was to have him tethered NEAR my pack. Amazing how big a difference this made! At first it didn't occur to me, and he would be tied in one spt, pack in another. But when I moved it clo.se, it was like his job was to be the "Pack manager." He also uses it for a cushion/pad to sleep on, or rest his head on.
Do a check of the area if you tether him - off the trail whenever possible; if not possible - NOT in a bottleneck area which doesn't allow room for people to pass in a distance his rope cannot reach.
Shade - mandatory. In cold or wet, a pad to lay on. How would you like to sit in cold, wet ground all day? In real cold, I bring a sleeping bag for Teddy if I can.(He has his own - supposedly... ). But if not, I will put him under a jacket at least.
Check the area of tether for safety for him - what is his rope going to snagged on? Wrapped around trees? Be careful of drop offs, even ones that don't seem high. If he's wrapped his rope around a tree, and then slipped off the high spot - he could be hanging and unable to save himself.
Make a check for snake dens, wasps nests and such in his are of tether.
Plenty of fresh water.
I also brought a huge chew bone for Teddy in the beginning, which gave him something yummy to do and distracted him.
Food requirements are higher for dogs' on outside play days than they are on indoor days. At least that's what Teddy has insistently told me.
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ob1
climber
BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 18, 2009 - 06:37pm PT
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thanks happie.. a lot of good tips :)
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mongrel
Trad climber
Truckee, CA
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Aug 18, 2009 - 09:19pm PT
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If you're going to bring your dog to a crag, until is grown up and super well trained, treat it like the toddler that it acts like: always have one member of your climbing party who is 100 percent on duty to mind it. Tied up usually doesn't work well; if nothing else an active dog gets bored and then they dig and destroy the trail, base area, vegetation. At the nearest crag to my house, dog digging has resulted in the washing of several cubic yards of soil into the otherwise pristine creek just a couple hundred feet away. Don't let them do this. It's irreparable damage to the area.
Regardless of whether people like dogs, none of us likes them hassling arriving climbers, crapping in the staging area, standing in the middle of other parties' stacked ropes and interfering with the belay, with the owner uselessly out of range up on the crag. Pretty much, there's perfect dog behavior and there's, just don't bring it to the crag. This is achievable! Dogs are incredibly trainable, if you are committed to doing it. Same deal with skiing, all the same problems except digging in the snow is pretty harmless.
Ridgebacks aren't notorious barkers, but do bear in mind that people go camping to get away from the urban scene, and the very last thing that you want to have is a barking dog there. Start the no-bark training from day one and be rigorous.
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Aridzona
Trad climber
Mesa, AZ
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Aug 18, 2009 - 10:13pm PT
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Wow, I just lurk for the tr's & pics, but saw Ridgebacks and jumped in. My Ridge is 18 months, & has been out with me for the last 6. Always on leash unless I know for certain no one is around for 1/4 mile. Big dogs scare people. She has her own poop tube-it all gets picked up. Get puppy training asap - Ridges are the smartest breed I've ever had & need to learn early how to behave. Their feet are made for desert soils, so when they toughen up he'll be ok on rocks & scree. My girl Tai does have snow booties. She does not come climbing, unless we're with friends camping close by and she can join her other doggie friends in crates. Ridgebacks hate being away from their family-you won't have any peace climbing, and he'll go nuts.
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, Ca.
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Aug 18, 2009 - 10:25pm PT
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Cleo's pup is precious...although far from a pup now!
My Maggie isn't too accepting of other dogs unless she's off leash. She's a small dog and naturally defensive I think. She tends to quiet down and be nice when I take her off leash.
She was mean to Cleo's dog recently (growling), but I didn't want to take her off because Cleo's pup, Joey, is old and partially blind and has 3 legs.
Cheers, Cleo! Joey is an awesome dog.
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John Moosie
climber
Beautiful California
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Aug 19, 2009 - 01:14am PT
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Steady Persistent training are key. Puppies are much like a toddler, who need teaching everyday until it is ingrained. If at any time they don't do it right, whatever you ask them to, then stop what you are doing and give them a lesson.
As was suggested, the "leave it" command seems to work really well with smart dogs. It seems to work better then "no". We taught our border collie to not chase other animals, she loved to chase birds but we knew we wanted her to behave in the back country, so we didn't allow chasing of any animal. The leave it command worked very well for this. She learned it quickly.
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ob1
climber
BC
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 19, 2009 - 01:48am PT
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yes, have read the monks of new skete, amongst others. reading puppy books and actually training the thing are two different things though, as we're finding out. :)
we don't plan on leaving him alone whilst climbing multipitch, purely cragging so he'll be around people always.
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Aug 19, 2009 - 01:50am PT
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Doesn't Dr. Spock have something about training young ones?
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