No Dogs Allowed?

We love to spend time with our dogs and we like to take them everywhere! Sometimes dogs aren’t allowed in certain places or on certain trails. National Parks, like Yosemite, usually don’t allow dogs on trails or in the back country. State Parks, like Calaveras Big Trees, usually restrict dogs to fire roads and paved roads, although they are welcome in some camp grounds.

So, why aren’t dogs allowed? The National Park Service provided the following reasons:

Dogs can carry and spread diseases to native wildlife. Even healthy dogs may be secretly harboring germs or parasites that native animals don’t have any defense against. Dogs can also pick up and transport insects, ticks, and weeds.
Dogs can scare or chase wildlife away from nests, burrows, offspring, and food sources. Even the scent from a dog passing by on a trail can be interpreted as a predator to some wildlife and can really disrupt their behavior. Sometimes dogs can even attract predators like bears and coyotes, which puts humans at risk.

Also keep in mind that some people are afraid of dogs. Some dogs are ill-behaved and aggressive towards other people or other dogs. These kinds of situations can create unpleasant or dangerous situations.

Dogs are welcome to many other places, but be sure to check restrictions in advance and follow all rules about trail usage, leashes, and cleaning up after your pet.

For information about dogs in National Parks: https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/pets.htm

For more information about Hiking with your Dog: https://outdoorwithj.com/hiking-guide/outdoorwithj.com/hiking-guide/