Product Description

Traveling with your dog across the United States can indeed be frustrating for the active dog owner. Many popular destinations such as American national parks do not welcome dogs. As an active dog owner you know the scenario. You read about a pristine trail enthusiastically described in a guidebook and, with great anticipation, you head there only to discover: NO DOGS ALLOWED.

When we travel, we want our dogs with us.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #797313 in Books
• Published on: 2004-04-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Review
"One of the best books I've seen on dogs and hiking - perfect to take with you when travleing. Definitely a must-have book." --Jon Patch, host of the national syndicated radio show, Talkin' Pets

"The Canine Hiker's Bible is an excellent and "canine companion friendly" guidebook to more than 225 dog-friendly parks and trails in the United States and Canada. Many trails presented in popular guidebooks are 'no dogs allowed.' The Canine Hiker's Bible is packed from cover to cover with black-and-white photographs, descriptive information, rules and regulations for dogs in 102 of the most-visited national lands in the United States, practical tips for caring for a dog while hiking in high altitudes or desert conditions, and so much more. The Canine Hiker's Bible is very highly recommended for nature and wilderness enthusiasts who would welcome the accompaniment of their canine companion." --Midwest Book Review

"The Canine Hiker's Bible lives up to its title. It is well written, well illustrated, and a must for anyone who enjoys hiking with a dog." --Patricia Hoffman, DOG WRITER'S ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

"provides detailed descriptions of more than 225 dog-friendly parks and trails in North America" -- Family Motor Coaching, April 2004

"very highly recommended for nature and wilderness enthusiasts who would welcome the accompaniment of their canine companion -- Midwest book Review, April 2004

"wonderful book" -- For Loving Pets, March/April 2004

About the Author
An interview with author Doug Gelbert:

Q What led you to write this book?

A Those of us who hike with our dogs are all too familiar with the dreaded "NO DOGS ON TRAIL" sign. More and more people are traveling with their dogs at the same time more and more parks are closing to dogs. I wanted to create a guide of dog-friendly places where active dog owners can enjoy a hike with their dogs.

Q How did you decide what parks and trails to include in THE CANINE HIKER'S BIBLE?

A I started with the assumption that people traveling with dogs will want to go to the same places people without dogs go to - Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone, etc.

Q You include a list of the 101 Most Visited National Parks and their rules for dogs...

A Right. You can still see Yosemite Falls or the Grand Canyon with your dog, although it is an incomplete experience. So I use those kind of parks and then describe places nearby that you can really hike with your dog and maybe see the same sort of things you couldn't see on the national park trails. I divided the United States and Canada into 10 separate destination areas and identified great places to go with your do in each. There are more than 225 parks featured in THE CANINE HIKERS BIBLE.

Q Does the book just cover national parks?

A No, not at all. Most of the destinations, in fact, are state and local parks near national parks since these are generally more dog-friendly. And when we travel, we often want to visit the big city so I have included canine hiking opportunities for 35 major cities. I describe each city's major park as it pertains to dogs and then listed a nearby park for serious day hikes. City parks like Rock Creek in Washington, Fairmount in Philadelphia and Griffith in Los Angeles would be great places to hike with your dog even if you ignored the rest of the city.

Q Do you have any favorites to take your dog?

A Well the Canadian national parks in the Rocky Mountains - Banff and Jasper - would be near the top of any personal list. Unlike the United States, national parks in Canada still allow dogs on the trail so they are all must-see destinations for any canine hiker. In Nova Scotia, you get the benefit of the ocean as well as the mountains in Cape Beton Highlands National Park. In the U.S., Acadia National Park in Maine is the most dog-friendly of the National Park Service's crown jewels. And for extended canine hiking on the beach I like Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Q Speaking of beaches, you've included beach rules for dogs in THE CANINE HIKER'S BIBLE as well.

A It is hard to find many places where a dog is happier hiking than along a beach. Unfortunately, the "NO DOGS ON BEACH" signs are even more common than signs prohibiting dogs from a trail. So I have given readers rules for dogs on some 1300 beaches in 500 beach towns on the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Pacific Ocean and Great Lakes.

Q I know I was in Florida last year and my dog was hardly ever allowed on the beach.

A Florida, Southern California, the Gulf of Mexico - warm-water places where people can swim most of the year are particularly restrictive to dogs. Northern California, the Pacific Northwest and the off-season on the Atlantic seaboard are generally the best places to walk your dog on the beach.

Q Who are the two dogs in the photographs?

A The Golden Retriever is Ben. He is 14 years old and helped test the suitability of trails for older dogs. The other dog is Katie, a Border Collie-German Shepherd mix. Katie's an athletic dog and she evaluated the tougher trails. Getting your dog on a trail is just the first obstacle for active dog owners. Not every trail can be completed by a dog. On the trail you may encounter ladders or hand holds over boulders or an open grate bridge dogs may not want to cross. Trails guides never point these things out ahead of time so I issue the heads-up in the trail descriptions, if applicable.

Q Is that what you mean in THE CANINE HIKERS BIBLE

Customer Reviews

An excellent and "canine companion friendly" guidebook
The Canine Hiker's Bible is an excellent and "canine companion friendly" guidebook to more than 225 dog-friendly parks and trails in the United States and Canada. Many trails presented in popular guidebooks are "no dogs allowed"; The Canine Hiker's Bible is packed from cover to cover with black-and-white photographs, descriptive information, rules and regulations for dogs in 102 of the most-visited national lands in the United States, practical tips for caring for a dog while hiking in high altitudes or desert conditions, and so much more. The Canine Hiker's Bible is very highly recommended for nature and wilderness enthusiasts who would welcome the accompaniment of their canine companion.

Good, but no perfect
This book is a handy starting guide for planning any hiking trip or some other just general trips with your dog. It does include a few handy tips and just general things that apply to people as well. It's decent, but not inclusive. Of course the book would be much bigger if *everything* was included. Also it can be kind of hard to figure out where the hiking is, as it's not listed by state, but by mountain names.

Canine Hiker's Bible
It's OK. It has a lot of good information in the beginning, checking their paws, etc., but towards the end it just goes into places to hike with your pet. I expected more, but the information it does have is very useful.