SHTF and Pets

Maybe the dog pooped on his bed roll, once too often?

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Good points

I've had a couple of dogs who didn't need a lead, but most of the places we go require it and two of the current dogs aren't trustworthy enough to just drag a short loop (the sign says pets must be leashed, it doesn't specify it must be in my hand).

The best command my dogs were ever taught was "IN". It means come closer to me, NOW. Could be a car, could be a street sign, could be a bike. I like "OUT" too, for times Daddy has the idiot furkid's leash and there's a tree between us, for when I want the Lab to go farther in the direction I'm pointing to get the ball or floatie, for times I want the mud to stay away from my couch when I'm on it and Daddy walked them through disaster zones. Another excellent one is "go around." Like, we started around a tree or sign, I didn't catch it fast enough, and it will be easier if one idiot goes around than if I haul all of us around.

I do have 550 cord in their backpacks, but I became a convert to the retractable lead (if it locks) a few years ago. A climbing D ring lets me clip the lead on and off my belt or backpack strap quickly and easily. I can keep the dogs close and tight on busy streets and around strange animals, but let them zoom back and forth and do their thing on less congested sidewalks and on trails. I can keep them at differing lengths, too, with Mr. Stop and Sniff right at my side to keep him from lagging and tangling (not a well trained example and stubborn old guy to boot), the Lab allowed to run back and forth like a nut, and Fuzz Muffin running ahead, stopping to sniff, getting passed, and catching up. Then everybody can have their full 26' in camp. The locking feature and carabiner clip lets me quickly and easily go from hiking to staking them around trees or to my tow hitch, and for the most part, it's hands free, just like screecdrete mentioned.

I do booties, too, and I DID have rough and tumble, go-get 'em dogs when I first used them. When I packed the Appalachian and the old Oregon trails, there were a lot of times we had to detour on and off trails, over gravel, and along the odd roadways. Their feet got tender going back and forth. Then I had a mighty big bill after a walk where the thankfully smaller 40# dog cut his foot on a broken bottle, and a less big one when the Lab was swimming and ended up with a rusty tack wedged between her toes. They now have Kevlar-footed booties with the drains on the sides. It protects them from big thorns, human debris, and if it's cold and we're walking a long distance, it keeps their feet from getting messed up by the de-icer (and them from consuming it).

Like the commands, teaching dogs and a cat to wear a bootie takes patience and practice - none of mine have had me stick one on and been "cool, dude, let's roll." (The Lab forgot and instant adjusted when a ball came out, but the cat and pit bull both crashed to their sides and insisted they couldn't walk. For. A. Week. Straight. Only chicken could get them to wiggle over.)

The point about water is excellent, too. I carry water for mine even for short neighborhood jaunts of a half hour or forty-five minutes. I haven't been to a dog park or walking trail without a backpack in years because it takes a LOT of water for all of us even for a jaunt of a 2-4 hours total drive and walking time. Their water needs are why I first looked into a folding game cart.

Yeah, leaving them behind would be easier, but it would have to be a dire, dire emergency with no end in sight. I am not going to survive an INCH situation. I have a secondary location. That means if we can just reach that location, we'll be okay and all I have to do is get us there.

I'm glad to see somebody else who mentions that connection after being in the field with the pup. I have two that really bring that out, both their willingness and enjoyment and the cooperation yet freedom we can enjoy there, especially leashless. It's awesome, but make sure of that off-lead training with local squirrels and bunnies and ducks. I hate seeing those signs where it turns out a good, well behaved dog in its yard got in a new place, smelled a deer or coyote (maybe for the first time), and took off.

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