Travelling with dogs

Lepers, really. We've travelled with our dogs for several years, all over Australia, our border collie is everyone's friend (great with kids as he'll chase a ball all day) and a retreaver (she's everyones favourite dog). People are actually drawn to our mutts and we get to meet lots more people.

Have you travelled extensivelly with dogs?

I should add,
there are a lot of guides to travelling this country with dogs, grab one and have a read they are invaluable including, accommodation that accepts dogs etc etc.

Toytruck

Wednesday,
how long would you need ot see it ALL............about 300 years:-) I know people that have been around more than a dozen times and still have not seen enough. Seriously, you need to do you research, pick out the good spots and visit them. You will not see it all in one trip, unless you have a very long time to spend doing it.

Toytruck

Friends of ours did it in 13 months (no dogs) and still talk about the places they will see on their next trip as they did not have the time on their first lap. THEN there's the central Australia trip...

My understanding is that if you are passing through a national park on a sealed road then the dog is fine as long as it is inside the car. No stopping for lunch or anything though.

HowdyDoody,
I think it comes down to the rangers attitude. I also was asked to take the shortest route from a NP. I had travelled from South Oz back across to Eastern NSW and was passing through, yes not stopping, a NP when I was stopped. The dog was in the back and although I explained that I was on my way through only I was asked to leave or get fined. The guys actuall got quite agitated and started shouting abuse.

On the other hand, when I lived in Central Oz, NP guys used to let the dog go so long as he was on a leash aqnd under control.

Toytruck

Sounds like the kind of ranger you ring the parks office about - especially if he started shouting at you.

I did hear afterwards from some of the locals that the guy was a bit of a nut but at the time...he was wearing the uniform and I just decided to go on my merry way.

I know I am digressing form the topic a little but I feel that there are some NP Rangers that are practical and then there are some that are just greeny protester types that would rather have electrified razor fences around the whole bloody lot.

Toytruck

Best ranger we ever got was one that turned up out of the blue. We had been camping for three nights and not seen a soul then the cruiser with parks signage turned up. Couldn't believe it. It seems we had picked his favourite lunch spot to camp in. He joined us for lunch and was full of great stories about the area. We had another two week left for our trip and totally changed plans based on his advise about where to go. Some of the best spots I've ever been too and still go there a couple of times a year (the kind of spot you never tell even your best mate about). I wish more rangers had that attitude. He actually inspired respect in us for what Parks rangers do (the good ones that is).

Hi Toytruck,
You are spot on about some rangers. One came into where I worked and like most things, started talking about National Parks etc. I could tell by his tone of voice that he fell into the greeny type, and having his way, would make all parks out of bounds.

For me it was time to go fishing, so I asked why the National Parks People were removing the Old Date Palms around Dalhousie Springs, even though they have been there for over 100 years, well before white man made it into station country. His reply was that they were not natural to the area and should be removed.

My reply was if that is the case, why don't they remove the Old Dalhousie ruins (even though I would never want this ever done), as they were not natural to the area then. He then stated that they were of historical value, got the bleep s up and just walked off.

It is strange how they say that some things are of historic value, while the palms were not.

Stephen

HowdyDoody,
The ranger was very explicit - no dogs in a NP any way any time. The only exception he admitted was if the road was a main through road and fenced both sides.
alastair

My little Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is now dead :( so I no longer have a dog and I rarely venture into NPs anyway but about three years ago I went to a significant (natural) tourist attraction in Victoria which happens to be situated in an NP and has a pay camping area adjoining which I decided to stay in for the one night. As I had my dog with me I talked to one of the rangers (there were quite a few around) and said I realised dogs were not permitted but I had a Cav. in the vehicle who would be kept on a lead and was it OK - he said "Dog, what dog? I haven't seen a dog" :) As always she was no trouble to anyone and a joy to most. I consider dogs and NPs are an area of common sense - you don't allow a hunting dog to run wild but a Poodle on a lead in a camping area regularly frequented by humans will make no difference whatsoever.

I haven't met a lot of rangers - they seem mainly to frequent the more popular areas but the ones I have met have always been pleasant and helpful.

Mike Harding

>There is no way I could have put them in a prison (kennel)
>while we went of without them.

You and me both.

Dogs only ever want 2 things from you - food and a bit of love - ours get heaps.

Bob

Spot on Bob :)

The paradox always amused me: when I was packing to go bush I would manage to fill a 4WD to the roof with all the things I needed to take from my itemised and detailed three A4 page camping list - all my dog needed was her water bowl, some food and a brush for her coat and me as a companion - I miss my little dog :)

Mike Harding

We lost one of ours not long after we returned - Pete is now under the lemon tree.

We just thank our lucky stars that he made it home - couldn't bear to think of him buried in some foreign state and not being able to go out and say hello to him every now and then.

They really become part of you.

Wednesday - just get out there and take ya mate and enjoy yourselves. Many places (Kalbarri for example) have facilities to look after your dog while you go into the parks for the day.

Bob Cheers