+kazan182 Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Hello all.... I am new to caching, just starting after picking up a PN-40. Only 4 finds... I just went through numerous posts about suggestions on what to take while caching but had two questions. One being taking my puppy. He is a year old GSD and does well both on and off leash. I have a 30' retractable leash I use when I take him caching. If I get near sticker bushes, etc. I simply tie him to a nearby tree and he waits for me with no problems. Some folks say never to take the dog in the woods. I take him to socialize him with others (people and pets) and to get him out for the exercise. How do most people with dogs feel about this? Do you take your dog? Does taking your dog depend upon the info from gc.com on the cache? Next is the two way radio thing. I have an FRS/GMRS (yes, i am licensed) portable. I remember reading cachers used FRS Ch 2 so I have starting taking it with me. How may other people bring radios? Do you ever chat with anyone else caching? Trying to find out if it's worth carrying. It's small but why if I am not going to use. I carry a cell phone and I have a PLB I can take if think I am going anywhere it maybe useful (most caches probably not since most are probably in an urban environment). Thanks... Quote Link to comment
+Prime Suspect Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Next is the two way radio thing. I have an FRS/GMRS (yes, i am licensed) portable. I remember reading cachers used FRS Ch 2 so I have starting taking it with me. How may other people bring radios? Do you ever chat with anyone else caching? Trying to find out if it's worth carrying. It's small but why if I am not going to use. I carry a cell phone and I have a PLB I can take if think I am going anywhere it maybe useful (most caches probably not since most are probably in an urban environment). Leave the radio at home, unless you're going with a group, and have planned ahead of time to use radios. The percentage of cachers who carry them and have them on, is very, very small. The chance that two of them will happen to be in the same place at the same time is ridiculously small. Quote Link to comment
+Nathan Wert Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 I carry a radio, but it's my Fire Department Radio. I only talk on it if we're doing search and rescue. As for the dog...My dog loves to be out in the woods. The only problem is she's a beagle and she just wants to keep going and going and going and going and going and going and going and......... Quote Link to comment
+Cache'n Hounds Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 My wife and I go with 3 count it 3 weimaraners. Make sure to have all your rabies and vaccination tags that your state requires and most of the time on leash very rarely will you find a park that will allow off lead. Like state forests do that should be fine i usually keep mine on leashes because they are hunting dogs and they get pretty birdie while in the woods. Quote Link to comment
+uxorious Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 I try to plan my cache trips around caches my dogs can go on. My dogs are my favorite cache partners. You do need to be sure your dog is not running wild. There are places where the dogs can run of leash (remote forest service roads, or trails.) However, be sure they will respond to verbal command and are not inclined to bother the wild life. I also take my dogs to the side of the trail when meeting horses, or bicycles. They don't bark at or bother either, but the people you meet on the trail don't know your dogs, and do appreciate the little extra consideration. As for the radio, I think about taking one, but never remember too. Quote Link to comment
ao318 Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 I also take my golden retriever with me when I cache. We live in Sacramento and hike all along the river and the foothills. The 2 biggest concerns I have for her are stickers and ticks. She has long golden hair and just gets tons of stickers in her paws, legs, and belly. This is also a problem for the ticks, unless they are large enough to see right away. Make sure to check your dog whenever you leave a bushy area and before you get in your car and when you get home and the next day. I use the flea and tick ointment on her but have still found a tick or two on her a couple of days later. Because of this, it is a good idea to have a tick puller in your bag not only for the dog but yourself. Quote Link to comment
+StaticTank Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 I take my dog (8 month GSD) with me almost all the time!! He responds very well to commands, but is still playful and likes to run around so I keep on leash most of the time. He has been through several training courses and I have even begun to teach him to play a game called "Find the Cache" he is doing very well. As it warms up we will start playing outside. He had found two caches in the wild by himself in the past. Also no one will mess with you if you have a GSD at your side. See my gallery for pictures of him. StaticTank Quote Link to comment
+SkellyCA Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 I take my dog all the time! 8 year old THIN(LOL) black lab(we all know how labs can get real fat!). Most of parks around here, you can let the dogs off leash after get past the picnic areas and such. Quote Link to comment
+Knight2000 Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 I would only use radios to keep in contact with your group. It would be a pipe dream thinking you will chat with other cachers. Quote Link to comment
+Bubbles&Bonkers Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 I carry a radio, but it's my Fire Department Radio. I only talk on it if we're doing search and rescue. As for the dog...My dog loves to be out in the woods. The only problem is she's a beagle and she just wants to keep going and going and going and going and going and going and going and......... I know what you mean about beagles. See the leash? She cannot be trusted without it! Quote Link to comment
+Team Dromomania Posted March 14, 2009 Share Posted March 14, 2009 Dogs have become prey for mountain lions so keep your dog close by. Hmmm...I wonder if that means that dogs could draw mountain lions to you. I haven't check that part out. Quote Link to comment
+Cache'n Hounds Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 Also make sure to bring plenty of water for your dogs. People often forget this important aspect. I have heard of dogs collapsing in the heat. Quote Link to comment
+jbar Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 I'll take the Geodog (Niki), my cell\Bluetooth headset, GPS, small backpack with batteries, water, cache supplies, first aid kit. The Geodog will go just about anywhere. Quote Link to comment
+wesleykey Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 Hello all.... I am new to caching, just starting after picking up a PN-40. Only 4 finds... I just went through numerous posts about suggestions on what to take while caching but had two questions. One being taking my puppy. My opinion? I hate picking ticks off my dog after a wander in the woods. Your mileage may vary. Next is the two way radio thing. Thanks... These are great if you left your wife in the car and need to talk to her 200 feet away. Otherwise, they have very limited range and a cell phone is FAR superior. Quote Link to comment
+Annie & PB Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 If you can, take the dog!! We would love to take our two with us, but there are very few areas where we live that it is possible/safe. As for radios, here in NZ you can use limited range/limited frequency 'walkie-talkie' type radios without a licence, so depending where we are, PB and I will both carry ours. We can really only talk to each other on them though - if one of us is back at the vehicle or a bit further along the trail or what ever - it can be quite helpful. It could be fun being able to talk with other cachers, but it sounds like the chances are slim for you to be able to talk to anyone. Annie Quote Link to comment
+eljae&mojomerle Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 I take my dog, an Australian Shepherd, on as many caches as I can. Sometimes, he helps by giving me an excuse to be in the area (ie micros in parks), and the rest of the time he's just a great hiking buddy. We vaccinate for Lyme Disease anually, as we live bordering woods, and he has a pack to carry his own water. (Make sure that you work up to this and never to have your dog carry too much.) Also, its nice because he's great at tracking so when we have found a cache, we turn the gpsr off, and between the two of us, we can find our way back. Quote Link to comment
+gdpsych Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 Just my 2 cents. I do not take a dog caching,but maybe a good idea would be to take a small can of pepper spray(if legal) especially if you tie her/him up and leave her/him alone. just in case your dog encounters a wild animal or stray dog. It shouldn't permanently harm your dog and could quickly break up a situation that could lead to serious injury or worse to your pet or yourself. Just my 2 cents. Quote Link to comment
+edscott Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 Dog and a two way radio?? My dog seldom barks let alone talks on a radio... Quote Link to comment
+Mredria Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 If your dog responds to verbal commands to leave people and wildlife alone and is good offleash, you should be fine. Remember to comply with leash laws where they apply. Quote Link to comment
+sundogranch Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 I take my two girls everywhere- especially caching. They are trained to attack a potential FTF'er first and only go for the throat if the cache is about to be FTF'ed without me there. Quote Link to comment
+DatCrazyMongoose Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 I bring Maggie with me all the time. Everytime I find a cache, I let her sniff at it and get her excited about it. Hopefully she will get the idea that she should be hunting for them and signal me if she finds them. So far, she sucks at it. I found one buried under pine needles and she actually stepped on it and kept walking. She even had her nose to the ground, sniffing away. Useless mutt. I have a 2-way radio, but was unaware of a "geocaching" channel. I'll have to do a forum search for that. I wouldn't mind meeting new people that way. Sounds like fun. Quote Link to comment
+ziggy4733 Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 I take my dog ( 3 year old border collie) whenever I can. I keep him on a leash most of the time unless there's a chance to go swimming. There's even a dogs only cache near me filled with dog swag. Quote Link to comment
+Maya Bee Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 I take my dog ( 3 year old border collie) whenever I can. I keep him on a leash most of the time unless there's a chance to go swimming. There's even a dogs only cache near me filled with dog swag. I take my beagle with me for protection and companionship since I hike alone a lot. I'm actually more afraid of the weirdos I meet on trails than bears or cougars, and carry bear spray all the time. He's an unusual beagle because he can be very aggressive if threatened. He also has a built in GPS system which points him to all balls, and an automatic tracking system that allows him to "find the car" where ever we are. Yesterday while hiking in a remote area of Vancouver Island I came across a massive stray Great Dane. Weirdest thing ever to see this dog way out in the middle of nowhere. Tracked her for 30 minutes before I could convince her to get near me, she was obviously terrified. Then, once I got her back to my car, I had the dilemma of what to do next? There were no cars driving by, it was getting dark, all I knew was there was a campground a couple miles away and a coffee shop a few miles the other way. Of course, the dog had NO ID, just an electric shock collar. Can't believe people do that. Always have your phone/cell number on your dog's collar! The dog solved the problem by hopping into the back seat of my tiny Mazda 3 (had to open the side window so she could stick her head out, otherwise she was too big.) My beagle was NOT IMPRESSED but knew she was way to big to take on. I headed to the coffee shop thinking they would know who owned the dog and came across a woman walking her dog. She was flabbergasted that the dog had escaped her neighbour's electrified fence. She relieved me of the massive canine and off I drove, feeling so glad I wasn't the owner panicking over a lost dog. Quote Link to comment
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