Unexpected advantage of Hammocks - from First Hang

[oldgringo]

cool story

I think taking my cats camping would be a disaster waiting to happen

It wouldn't be much of a wait.

[jayf124]

Good times right there, TowJumper!

At least you didn't wake up to see two RI feet pointed at you and discover you had drooled all over your M4.......or catch him trying to take off your BFA after you fell asleep on the assault line. }:-/

[Cali]

My two Jack Russells and my Rat Terrier are good for alerting me to anything, but not very good at staying under my hammock. I guess I need to train them better, one at a time. Problem is they bark at any small noises and so I don't get much sleep.

[Corncob]

My two Jack Russells and my Rat Terrier are good for alerting me to anything, but not very good at staying under my hammock. I guess I need to train them better, one at a time. Problem is they bark at any small noises and so I don't get much sleep.

I run a line of Amsteel underneath my hammock from one tree to another for my beagle because he prefers to hunt down intruders and take the fight to them I then take a short length of Amsteel/Zing-it, with a loop on each end and use a small carabiner to hook it to his harness and the runline. This small loop allows him to turn around and around without twisting himself into the ground, which would happen when using a chain or connecting his harness directly to the runline via a carabiner.

[cataraftgirl]

We have a chocolate Lab that goes on all of our river trips. She's a pro in the raft, and she's great in camp. Whenever someone leaves camp to go for a hike, swim, or potty break, you get an escort. She lets us know whenever a person or critter is approaching camp. A few years ago the young guides from a commercial outfitter that was camped just down river from us took their "smoke break" in the woods behind our camp in the evening. I don't think they appreciated her barking to alert us of their presence. We heard a lot of grumbling before they headed back to their camp. The only down side to sleeping in a hammock with her in camp is that she likes to wake you up in the morning by dropping pine cones on you.
KJ

[grannypat]

Great story and replies. Thanks for sharing.

[Cali]

Thanks for the info CornCob. I will use that. My dogs could sleep in the hammock with me if they would lay still and not bark. It is a shock to wake to a bark right by your ear. LOL...

[Caveman]

My boxer goes with me on all my hikes. If it ain't dog friendly, I don't need to go! I actually tie a lenght of paracord to his collar and wrap the other end around my wrist (of course, he doesn't jump up and get excited and rip my arm off...or he hasn't yet)

I was cracking up at the mental picture of the ranger school response (and that poor kid next to you) hehe!

[JayS]

My dog is a Golden Doodle and absolutely loves being on the trail or in camp. He moves around at night but is quiet about it. It's as if he is patrolling the area. He likes sleeping in the rain, too. Before hammocks, he would occasionally come in a shelter or under the tarp wet and lay against my legs, getting my sleeping bag wet. Now I take a CCF pad for him if it's going to be very cold or wet.

He has come across a bear on the trail, too, and handled it well. He stopped about 25 feet away and looked, without growling, until I got to him, at which time the bear decided to turn and walk away. The dog walked after the bear (curious). I told the dog to stop - he didn't but the bear took off at a run and the dog followed (still curious). I shouted "stop" firmly and the dog stopped, then returned to me when I told him to. I put him on his leash and we continued down the trail. We saw another bear within 5 minutes. I didn't want to stay within a mile of where we saw the bears. I didn't want to leash my dog all night and not give him a chance should a bear show up but I also didn't want him loose to go try to find "that big black thing" he had seen. As it was getting dark and this was a quick "out & back" overnighter, we decided to go home and try another day. On the way back to the trailhead, we almost stepped on a rattlesnake - the dog didn't show much curiosity or fear except when the snake would rattle and lift itself up as if ready to strike. It took five minutes to get the snake to move off the trail - we wouldn't go off trail due to thick brush and the fear of other snakes in the brush.

[secondechomatt]

I have a german short hair pointer named Kyle. He accompanies me on all of my adventures. Great on the trail and in the camp. As he is over 75 pounds, he doesn't sleep in the hammock, but under. Guards the camp while I sleep too! If anything, an early wake up because of critters is rough, but not unbearable.