Skip to Content
Register · Login
About Theme

A Letterboxing Community

Atlas Quest

Letterboxing Code of Conduct

Letterboxing With Pets

Letterboxing with pets—dogs in particular (and in this document I’ll focus specifically on dogs)—has many benefits such as protection against bad people that otherwise might do you harm or just for companionship when nobody else is available to letterbox with you.

If you hike with your dog, follow these guidelines to help ensure a happy letterboxing experience:

Safety

Approximately 5 million Americans (or 2% of the population) are bitten by dogs each year. Simply telling someone that your dog is friendly is not enough—dogs must be under your control at all times. Do not became that person on the 5 o’clock news that says, “Fido has never done anything like this before!” Of course not, there’s always a first time!

Additionally, even a small, friendly dog that likes to jump up on people can knock someone over causing injuries and hardships. And you, as the pet owner, are 100% responsible.

It cannot be stressed enough—unless you have an extremely well-behaved dog, keep it on a leash at all times. It only takes one accident to regret letting Fido run loose.

What to do if you see a dog on the trail

Dogs can be unpredictable and, at times, dangerous. Follow these tips to help ensure you are not the next victim of a dog—especially if it appears one might be on the verge of attacking you:

While bears, snakes, and other woodland creatures get all the fame, it’s dogs that are most likely to cause you problems—regardless of whether you own the dog or you happen to see someone else’s dog along the trail. Between responsible dog ownership and responsible actions around dogs you come across, every one of these problems is preventable.

And they can even provide security and companionship for those hiking alone—or an opportunity to introduce yourself to that cute guy or girl who has the pet. ;o)

  1. Code of Conduct Introduction
  2. Leave No Trace
  3. Safety: Part I
  4. Safety: Part II
  5. Security
  6. Respect
  7. Pets