I've never seen a dog on a leash on a portage.

My trip this year I ran into a guy on a portage with a canoe and a large dog. I had my dog stop and told him mine was cool if his was. He said "she is, there're 4 behind me and their dogs are bigger." Must have been 600 pounds of dog in total. No leashes, no issues.

Next portage a group pulled up as I reached the end of the portage with my canoe. I told them to go ahead and move through and I'd go back and get my pack once they were done. My dog jumped into one of their canoes and sat in the bow seat ready to go. They got a kick out of that.

Funny how dogs add to your experiences considering the running opinions of them on the main board. I sleep soundly in the wilderness when my dog is asleep, I wouldn't give that up for anything.

I agree. I've never had an issue with a dog I've encountered and very few if any have been on leash. I also don't believe anyone has had an issue with my dog on a portage. Bringing the dog is a lot of fun and adds to my trip.

I've also gotten the impression that a lot of people have negative views on dogs in the BWCA. But I've also noticed that people tend to have negative opinions of anything that is different than there preferred way of tripping. Their gear is always the best gear, their portage strategy is always the best, their cooking style is always the best, their fishing strategy and gear is always the best, and it goes on and on. I put dogs vs no dogs into this as well. Whatever side people fit into they think its the only way to trip.

You both said it very well! I've never run across another dog on a portage and I've only heard a couple bark in my 15 or so trips.

Echo has been on 2 trips with my wife and I and was a great companion on my solo last fall. He will be with me on future solos. He was great the couple of times we met people on portages (sat and stayed on command) and has never made a peep (even when a dog passing by in another canoe was going balistic barking at him)

It's also the story of "one bad egg" can ruin it for all. If someone has one bad experience with a dog they think all dogs should be banned. Just like people on the messageboard have ranted about a loud group of kids and think kids shouldn't be in the bwca either. or 1 fisherman leaves a fish pile in a campsite so all fisherman do that. I could go on and on.

I think Echo enjoys our trips more than I do.

It don't put Willow on a leash on portages. I tried when I first started taking her and it just didn't work well. The terrain and carrying packs and canoes just makes it a pain. She has never caused any problems. I have never run into a dog causing problems up there.