I am planning a Quetico trip this year and will be taking my dog for the first time. She'll be 2 and weighs 45 lbs. My plan for sleeping is to double up a leash so I have 12 feet and wrap one end around a tree that my hammock is attatched to. I have a pad she could sleep on.

But after reading another thread about how wolves will come in camps at night and leave their scent and scat I'm really apprehensive about this. Does anyone have experience bringing a dog when using a hammock?

I usually leave my 40 lb Black lab/Border Collie mix home on the trips where I take my hammock, but have started to think as long as I'm careful, she could probably fit easily in the footbox of my WBBB.
I know a lot of people just leash off to a tree and the dog will sleep under the hammock. one guy posted a pic on HammockForums of a little hammock he made for his dog that hangs under his own hammock.

Damn, I doubt I could have my border collie inside my blackbird. I am toying with the idea of getting a bivy sack or some kind of mini tent for her. Not sure how well that would go over.

It's comical but what would work is a barbed wire fence with bells on it to enclose us. How crazy would that be?

I know people use those little kid tents too and place them very close to their hammocks. That is another option.

Took my dog hammock camping in WCPP last year. I was worried about her wandering around and night but she did amazingly well. I planned on tying her up at night but she did fine on her own. Just threw down a foam bad and a fleece blanket and she wouldn't get up until I did. I'd like to cut up an old sleeping bag or something for her that she can get under/inside to keep a little warmer since she doesn't have any fat and we usually camp when it gets down to around freezing at night.

There are wolves up there but I did see or hear any the whole trip.

Alan

I am no expert on this, but I doubt wolves would be hungry enough to take on a dog in the summer when there is plenty of small game to feast on, especially if a human is near.

quote OBX2Kayak: "I am no expert on this, but I doubt wolves would be hungry enough to take on a dog in the summer when there is plenty of small game to feast on, especially if a human is near."

+1

That's kind of along the lines of my thinking. Wolves shy away from people and camps in general (and also the reason why you don't hear about wolf attacks) and having a dog along with you really wouldn't change that behavior of wolves.

I would be more worried about the dog getting into a porcupine late at night more so than anything else.

It's reassuring to hear these responses. My dog is on the skittish side and listens extremely well. I know she wouldn't stray at night but the thought of waking up and hearing wolves dragging my dog off in the night is very disturbing to me.

I think I'm gonna look for a small dog "tent" and am considering getting a 2-man and going back to the ground.

But - I do remember a thread on here years ago about an electric lightweight "fence" you can set up. Gonna do some googlin'. My peace of mind is all out of whack right now.

I've read trip reports where people put the dog in the hammock with them. I know you are an avid hanger so are probably familiar with those who offer double hammocks. Clark, etc. I was planning on switching to hang and trying to do the same thing with my dog. After going thru what I am with my dog this week I would say take them with you before it is to late and then the regrets come.

There's no way I'm putting my border collie in the hammock with me. But I did find some tents made for dogs. This One looks pretty good. The medium size goes for $80 with a rain fly add an extra $17.

I could see this setup working. It's 3'lbs and very easy set up and take down.

I'd look for something like this one and spray the crap out of it CampDry before heading out.

cheap play tent

Well, after consulting my wife on the doggie tent idea she nixed it. The dog has to sleep inside the tent with me or no go. At first she didn't even want me to bring the dog. "Too many bad things could happen" she says, so after telling her "oh yes, she's going with me!" I had to back off the tiny tent idea.

So it looks like I'm goin' back to the ground fellas. :(

get a full enclosure tarp and pin it to the ground you will have a floorless tent ;)

quote nathan_ollman: "get a full enclosure tarp and pin it to the ground you will have a floorless tent ;)
"

Here is a picture of my Superfly with doors closed. While it is setup higher here, plenty of room to drop the hammock closer to the ground.

I've got a superfly too with full doors. I love it but my wife says no to the dog not sleeping with me. You know, I'm lucky to go to the BW most years and if it takes a little compromise now and then so be it.

Gonna leave the blackbird behind this year and take my 3-man Sierra Designs tent. The Superfly is comin' with though! If it was up to me I'd get the mini dog tent. I think it would work great and at 3 lbs is not a big deal. But this way at least I'll have peace of mind knowing my dog will be next to me.

quote TomT: "It's reassuring to hear these responses. My dog is on the skittish side and listens extremely well."

If you haven't already done so, you may want to take your dog for a trial run at a local park. Nobody, especially your BWCA "neighbors", wants to be kept up all night by a skittish dog.

Skittish is not the right word for her. "Not brave" is better. She rarely makes a sound and absolutely loves people. She's just not as brave as other male dogs I've had. She's also young and will surely gain confidence with more experience.

We takes walks and actually bushwhack through a forest preserve all the time and she doesn't like to be out of my sight. I had an Aussie who would chase wildlife and he'd go romping through the forest but this female doesn't do that. IMO she's the perfect canoe buddy in the BW.

quote TomT: "Damn, I doubt I could have my border collie inside my blackbird. I am toying with the idea of getting a bivy sack or some kind of mini tent for her. Not sure how well that would go over.


It's comical but what would work is a barbed wire fence with bells on it to enclose us. How crazy would that be?"

There is a real-life lightweight alternative solution to the barbed wire idea.
UDAP electric fence

Kinda pricey at $269 and up but you wouldn't need to worry about any critters if that a concern.

EDITED: THey also have a food containment model to take that worry off the table as well. I wish it was cheaper. Completely takes the worry off the table when sleeping at night and out on daytrips with food safely left back at camp.

I've taken my border collie to the BWCAW for about 10 years. Most of that time I've used a hammock. He sleeps outside (off-leash) anywhere he wants. I've seen fresh scat on the trail leading to my camp but never in my camp. I've never had a wolf in my camp as my dog would not let that happen without making some noise. The few times he has been tied up he was really a pain because he would wrap himself around something and whine all night.

Yes, I remember seeing pics of your BC. I know the chance of a wolf taking her in the night is slim but for mine and mostly my wife's peace of mind I'll have her in a tent.

How big is your guy? My girl weighs in around 42 lbs. I had a male BC around 55lbs.

He's probably around 48 now. He's gained some weight in his old age.

Here is what I've used:
http://www.target.com/p/boots-barkley-large-pop-open-dog-kennel/-/A-10521588#prodSlot=medium_1_4&term=kennel

It's a pop up kennel that fits in my 80 lbs lab's pack. He carries his food, bowl and kennel in his own pack. He's very comfortable in it during the day when we are out fishing, his preference. And at night, he sleeps under the dinning tarp or my hammock tarp. Stays in one place and will alert me if any critters come into camp. He's 7 and has been coming up to BWCA since he was 4 months. I should say I cover it with a single bed bug net to keep all the flies and mosquitoes away. Again his preference. Once the bugs start bothering him, he stands outside of his "kennel" and starts to whine. He wants in where the bugs can't bother him.

canoepaddle