Dogs at glaicer and Yellowstone

We've just had our mini schnauzer with us for 30 days in Yellowstone, took him out everyday. We did a few short hikes, it was cool (actually cold) in the car and he was fine in the car. You can not take them on hikes in the back country, and they are not allowed 10 yards off the main road (I think that's a bit much actually) Of course if there are animals around, no dogs should be out on a hike!

In the RV park it was grand - most parks are pet friendly, and you have the little ubiquitous blue bags to go on poop patrol, and you're in good shape.

If you plan to do backcountry hiking and camping, dogs are not a good idea, but that's about the only thing I can think of that would preclude you including them in your trip. One of the things I love about RV-ing is including our pet in all our trips!

as others have said, you just adjust to the situation and work within the rules.
we don't do much hiking anymore, so we take our Lhasa almost everywhere with us and do a lot of sightseeing from the jeep. Or take turns at a special sight. He gets his long walks in the campgrounds, but even there, is you're in bear or coyote/wolf or javalina country, you need to be alert to your surroundings.

jsrore wrote:
does anyone have experience with dogs at Glacier and Yellowstone and how friendly is it for them we have two small dogs that we would like to take with us

Go and just make adjustments. They are part of your family. Just as you find a way to adjust when taking a toddler, you find a way to adjust when taking your fur-kids.

MaverickBBD wrote:
As the NPS says: dogs scare away the wildlife you want to see and attract the wildlife you DON'T want to see.

On one trip to Yellowstone, with the big dogs in their crates in the back of the pickup, we stopped to view a sow and her three cubs. While DH took photos, I got out and stood by the crates to keep them quiet. It works, you just have to find a way. Another trip, through the West Entrance, there was a huge herd of elk close to the road. Again. DH and I took turns walking closer to see them, so one was with the dogs at all times, keeping them calm and quiet.

We've gone to both parks and have three dogs. You can't take them on the trails but can in some areas. In Glacier, you can take them in St. Mary's village and along the shoreline, same as other areas. In Yellowstone, they can't go on the trails, but since they ride with us, we take all the scenic drives and when we get out, we take them with us on a leash. You can take dogs to Old Faithful and along that village. There are lots of campgrounds and picnic areas that you can take them to. I'm sure you'll have them leashed so that's not a problem. With our big dogs, we just left them in the shade, in the parking lot in their crates, while we took a short walk and never have had a problem. We've done this even at the Grand Canyon, taking our little Maltese in her over the shoulder Sherpa bag with me on a trail. I walked right past a Forest Service ranger and he smiled. Other people thought I had a camera bag till I unzipped the top and she poked her head out. We've had to forego some trails due to our dogs, or we take turns. We did this when we went to Natural Bridges National Monument. DH is a photographer, so I stayed at the top in the truck with the dogs and he hiked to the bottom to take photos of the bridges from the bottom-side. After, we all had a picnic together at the top so it works out. You can make it work and still stick to the rules.

As the NPS says: dogs scare away the wildlife you want to see and attract the wildlife you DON'T want to see.

The coyotes and wolves will invite them for dinner.

You cannot take them on trails and it would be a very bad idea anyway. Bears find dogs to be a toothsome snack.

BK