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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels June 17, 2004 Pooch-friendly paths By Vickie Aldous Ashland Daily Tidings New guidebooks on hiking with a dog help take the guess work out of planning an outing with Fido. Ellen Morris Bishop hikes with her dogs in various western states. Her book "Best Hikes with Dogs: Oregon" is the second book in her series highlighting appropriate hiking trails for dogs and necessary supplies to accommodate their needs. Submitted photo The Mountaineers Books, a Seattle-based publisher, recently released "Best Hikes with Dogs: Oregon" by geologist and dog trainer Ellen Morris Bishop. The book is the second in a planned series covering hiking with a dog in various western states. Meanwhile, Delaware-based publisher Cruden Bay Books is continuing its North American series of guidebooks for hikers and their dogs with the release of "A Bark in the Park! The 45 Best Places to Hike with Your Dog in the Shasta/Rogue River Region" by Matt and Krissi Danielsson. "It's a real issue for people which trails are open to dogs," said Alison Koop, a publicist for The Mountaineers Books. "Our books identify which ones dogs can go on, which are leashless and which ones require a leash. There's a real emphasis on which trails are dog fun and dog safe. They tell what trails have to offer. Which ones have shade and water to cool down in? Which ones don't have cliffs and terrain that is bad on the paws? People have been really glad to see these books." Although Bishop's 284-page book provides an extensive and detailed description of hikes throughout Oregon, she also offers valuable advice on keeping dogs safe, canine first-aid and proper trail etiquette. "It seemed like people needed a guide to what trails are good for dogs but also an idea on appropriate behavior for dogs and how to make it safe for the person, the dog and other people," said the Enterprise resident on a recent tour through Southern Oregon with her dog Meesha, a certified Animal Assisted Therapy dog. Although most owners have trained their dog to respond to "Come," Bishop recommends teaching "Leave It" to keep dogs away from such deadly hazards as a rattlesnake or a bacteria-ridden salmon carcass, "Wait" to keep a dog in sight or away from approaching danger, and "Off trail" to signal a dog to sit off the trail and allow room for hikers, mountain bikers and pack animals to pass. "Making sure other hikers are comfortable is one way to make sure dogs are able to stay on trails in the future," she said. "When a dog obeys 'Off trail,' people are happy to see that. People don't have to think, 'Is this a friendly dog or not a friendly dog?' It's good for building good relations." Bishop also listed the essentials for a canine first-aid kit, including tweezers to pull out ticks and porcupine quills, hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting and, surprisingly, a pair of pantyhose. "I take along stockings or a pair of pantyhose, not because I think we'll be invited to a party in the woods, but if you have a dog who is injured and you need to treat and bandage the dog, the dog is apt to bite. It's very light and can make a very effective muzzle if you wrap it around their mouth," she said. Many hikers carry water for themselves, but they often expect their dogs to drink out of streams and rivers along the way. Bishop said that dogs, like people, are susceptible to giardiasis and other water-borne diseases. Hikers should pack water and a light-weight plastic bowl for their dogs. Water is essential for avoiding heatstroke in dogs, especially during hot Southern Oregon summers, she said. "Dogs don't have a good cooling capacity, she said. "They sweat through their paws and cool through their mouths. They have a limited capacity on a hot day to cool off. Dogs need to stay hydrated. They need water for sweating and panting." All of these measures to help ensure safety and preparedness are especially appropriate for the types of hikes Bishop recommends: ones away from cities and in the mountains. For Southern Oregon, she details several in the Klamath Mountains and additional hikes in the Cascades. The Daniellsons include mountainous hikes, and they also cover parks and routes in or near cities. A convenient index at the back of the 144-page book lists parks and trails by county, with the most extensive list being for Jackson County. The former Weed, Calif., residents - who now live in Marina, Calif. - also have extensive listings for northern California for Ashlanders with a craving to cross the Siskiyou Pass. To help in the selection process, they list their top-10 hikes for dogs in the region, with four of the top 10 in Jackson County. Their book also includes tips for hiking safely with a dog, low-impact hiking and appropriate gear although the information is much less detailed than in Bishop's book. Dog owners with limited safety knowledge, or who travel throughout the state, will find a better fit with Bishop's book. Rogue Valley residents who want to choose from a large variety of hikes or explore every nook and cranny of the area will be better served by the Danielssons' book. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams