I have a 100 pound German Shepherd dog who is vicious to any intruders. Intruders include visitors to the house or any mamal that may approach our camp.
"Otto" and I camp remotely once a month, rain or shine. I don't use the word "remotely", lightly. We go off very deep into such places as Mendocino National Forest. I hope you can just trust that we're "out there".
The whole time we're out there, my dog is on high alert and I trust him to point out any bad boys - or animals - and let me deal with any threat. I'll admit I get laxidaisal and depend on him to point and alert me to any threats. He's the alarm and I'm the muscle.
I'll even treat him to night-time hunting. I go in 4WD mode through the fields with bright headlights on - freezing jackrabbits for him to pounce on. At the end of his hunt he's a very happy dog and rewards me with looking after camp. He makes an ever widening circle searching for rodents and protecting camp. At least in my desires that's what he's doing.
I have woken in the middle of the night and not been able to find him and stayed up all night worried about him and what fate he met. In the end I find him more of a liability than an asset. I get away to not have to babysit, but I wind up babysitting even my dog - I can't trust anyone but me.
My question is, what role does your dog play in your camp? Do you find yourself looking out for your dog, or your dog looking out for you?
"Otto" and I camp remotely once a month, rain or shine. I don't use the word "remotely", lightly. We go off very deep into such places as Mendocino National Forest. I hope you can just trust that we're "out there".
The whole time we're out there, my dog is on high alert and I trust him to point out any bad boys - or animals - and let me deal with any threat. I'll admit I get laxidaisal and depend on him to point and alert me to any threats. He's the alarm and I'm the muscle.
I'll even treat him to night-time hunting. I go in 4WD mode through the fields with bright headlights on - freezing jackrabbits for him to pounce on. At the end of his hunt he's a very happy dog and rewards me with looking after camp. He makes an ever widening circle searching for rodents and protecting camp. At least in my desires that's what he's doing.
I have woken in the middle of the night and not been able to find him and stayed up all night worried about him and what fate he met. In the end I find him more of a liability than an asset. I get away to not have to babysit, but I wind up babysitting even my dog - I can't trust anyone but me.
My question is, what role does your dog play in your camp? Do you find yourself looking out for your dog, or your dog looking out for you?
