Have Dog - Will Geocache

[+aisledog]

I have trecked the great outdoors for many years when I take my faithful hound for a five mile walk every weekend. But I have only just discovered geocaching and, in fact, I am awaiting delivery of my first GPS unit (a Magellan SporTrak Pro) so I can try it out.

 

I have read these forums and it seems to me that there are some strange ideas as to the best ways to participate. Surely the only way to get the best from the sport/game is to : -

- plan a circular route with a cache at the firthest point; and

- take a dog with you

 

The notion of DRIVING to a cache and then repeating it in the same day seems to me to be depriving some poor mut from the exercise they love so much.

 

Is there a way to identify only those sites which satisfy my criteria and leave the roadside caches to those of you who, sadly, are dogless?

[+briansnat]

Look at maps and terrain rating. A higher terrain rating will often indicate a longer walk.

The maps will give you a good idea as to whether it's a roadside cache, or it involves a hike. Just click on the Topozpne map on the cache page.

 

Also, check the page for info about dogs. Some parks with caches don't allow pets. The cache owner usually will mention this on the page.

Edited January 14, 2004 by briansnat

[+woof n lulu]

Driving to a cache site is a way of life here...nearest one is about 30 miles one way... a little too far for my 13 yr. old buddy.

[+Barnacle Bear]

Have dog. Will cache.

[+Halden]

Some caches will indicate if they are dog friendly or not. The best way to know is to read the descripton and check out the map.

[dead_white_man]

If you carrry a red and whit stick while caching, you can take your dog ANYWHERE.

[+ZingerHead]

If you're not sure you can always email the cache owner. I've been surprised a couple of times by restrictions against dogs - once after driving 2 hours only to find that dogs were not allowed. Nature Conservancy areas are off limits, same with Audubon. CT state facilities generally allow them, but municipal parks are a crapshoot. If the cache description or online logs don't tell you, drop the owner a line.

[+carleenp]

I generally just check a map and look at any regulations if it is in a park. I take my dog on longer hikes, especially if she can be off leash during them.

[magellan315]

When you find a cache with a high rating 2.5 or higher would work for you. Make sure to click the find other caches in the area link on that cache page. You may find that there is more than one cache in that park and you can spend the day hiking from one end to the other and then back to your car.

[+Team GPSaxophone]

If you carrry a red and whit stick while caching, you can take your dog ANYWHERE.

Depends on the dog. I've yet to see a Chihuaua Guide Dog

[+rusty_tlc]

We drive between caches. Things are kind of spread out around here. So we drive, park, hike any where from .25 to .5 miles, drive, park etc. etc.. Rufus has a hard time getting out of the truck after a couple of these, by the end of the day he needs help getting back in. Still, he is upset if we leave hime home.

[+Criminal]

[+Halden]

What is this? All I can see is long grass. If there is a dog in this picture he must wearing a camo bandana.

 

[+aisledog]

Just to clarify...I think that, for the more remote caches, the dog should be bundled into the car and given a good walk at the end of the car journey.

 

Whether the dog's walk or the retrieved cache is the more important I wouldn't dream of asking in this forum!

[+The Blind Acorn]

My Jack Russell loves to go Geocaching. It used to be he'd jump right up in the car and into his cage, now he hesitates to get in the cage. Dog treats work well for that though. He's pretty good and following a scent I think. We found a cache shortly after some others had left, and I'd swear he followed their footsteps right to the container because I was looking in another direction.

[+sbukosky]

I think the best thing, for now, is if you have a local or state organization, make it known that you cache with your dog and encourage others with dogs to keep requesting AT LEAST if an area is ok for dogs. Kanook and I have had to pass up many caches when we come across no dogs signs. Sometimes I come back without him or leave him in the car for a short time but yes, it'd be good if the cache pages recognized dog's needs. As an alternative, you could scope out caches with USAPhotomaps and get a pretty good idea if the area looks good for a dog hike.

[IronMaiden]

Our 2 dogs Rusty and Spunky have gone out with Ironman before. They enjoy it alot since they are hunting dogs. But when they would take off after a scent, Ironman would have to call them back. Ironman found the caches he wanted. As for Rusty and Spunky they took nothing but watered the plants and left plenty of fertilizer for woodlands

One of these days we'll take them out again with us

[+Melrose Plant]

I usually take my dog with me, except at night. She is still young, and I wouldn't want to search for a mostly black dog on a mostly black night. She's getting better every day, though. Also, I have not figured out how to reliably use Track Back on my GPS, but the dog has built in Track Back, it seems, if I can keep up with her! If I get a little confused, just follow the dog.

 

Another funny thing about my dog is that she has the ability to stand on her back legs unsupported for some time (and she's a pretty big dog, almost 26" at the withers). In tall grass, she will stand up and look around to see where she wants to go, walk awhile, then stand and look, &c. It's very comical.

 

[+rover-r-us]

if i took my dog with me i wouldn't have a arm left

[Ferreter5]

Dagnabbit, our dog finally managed to lose two of her boots in the deep snow the other day. Fortunately, it was on our own property so all I have to do is ... wait for the snow to melt.

 

And of course, order another set in the mean time. Grumble, stomp-stomp-stomp.

Edited February 4, 2004 by Ferreter5

[+1setter]

Pokey usually goes along if it is close by. He helps find benchmarks too.

[Captain Chaoss]

I usually take my dog with me, except at night. She is still young, and I wouldn't want to search for a mostly black dog on a mostly black night. She's getting better every day, though. Also, I have not figured out how to reliably use Track Back on my GPS, but the dog has built in Track Back, it seems, if I can keep up with her! If I get a little confused, just follow the dog.

 

Another funny thing about my dog is that she has the ability to stand on her back legs unsupported for some time (and she's a pretty big dog, almost 26" at the withers). In tall grass, she will stand up and look around to see where she wants to go, walk awhile, then stand and look, &c. It's very comical.

 

Geez, and she uses the arm rest ! That dog is almost scary !