Strap on a pack and join the fun! Pack Dog hikes offer an opportunity to get back to nature amongst the support and encouragement of other Swissy owners. Hike intensity will vary with terrain, but this is a sport that most Swissies can excel in with just a little effort put towards preparation. Dogs need to be fit and ready to carry 20% of their body weight over a 10 mile trail. Owners must be fit enough to tag along.
Earning a Pack Dog Leg(s) towards a title requires the dog/handler team to complete a ten mile hike, 8 mile back to back hikes or a 5 mile (each way) primitive overnight camping trip. The dog carries a sturdy back pack loaded with a 20 or 30 percent of its body weight. Pack weight can only be reduced through the hike by normal consumption of water and snacks carried.
The legs can then be applied toward appropriate titles including:
- NWPD-Novice Working Pack Dog
- WPD-Working Pack Dog, or
- WPDX-Working Pack Dog Excellent
For more information about Pack Hikes or hosting a hike, please contact the GSMDCA Pack Hike Chair Deanna Never at deanna_never@comcast.net
GSMDCA Pack Hike Rules and Regulations Effective 10/2023
Application to Host Pack Hike Event
Handler Entry Form
Training Tips for a Pack Dog Event
Overnight Pack Hike Equipment List
| HIGHLY ACCOMPLISHED WORKING PACK DOG EXCELLENT GSMDs | |||
| Registered Name | Call Name | Sex | Date Earned |
| Pine Grove’s Chief of All Muses | Rupi | B | 12/28/2023 |
| Pine Grove’s the Man You Need | Collins | D | 2/5/2023 |
| Pine Grove's 100 Grand | Cash | D | 2/5/2023 |
| Fireside's Drums Of Autumn | Rumble | D | 10/29/2022 |
| Aegis All It Takes Is Moxie | Frasco | D | 11/1/2021 |
| Cherished Savvy | Savvy | D | 12/19/2020 |
| Cherished Nevada's Wild Sagebrush | Sage | B | 11/8/2020 |
| Snowy Mountains Norman Invasion at Redrock | Norman | D | 4/20/2019 |
| TwinPeaks Amuse Bouche | Caboo | B | 10/7/2018 |
| Fireside’s Pick Me Out A Winner | Hobbs | D | 10/30/2017 |
| Aegis Ellis Island Special | Ellie | B | 10/28/2017 |
| Blossom Hills Northern White Cedar | Cedar | D | 4/23/2017 |
| Second Time's A Charm Sweet Caroline | Caroline | B | 1/29/2017 |
| Sunhaven's Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl | Linus | D | 10/19/2014 |
| Breezy Ridge Merlot del Ticino | Brig | D | 2/3/2013 |
| Trout Creek's Isle Royale | Porter | D | 5/1/2011 |
| Matterhorn Whisperingpalms Pleaides | Fury | D | 4/16/2011 |
| Bermuda High's Heads Up | Tallulah | B | 4/3/2011 |
| Blue Mist All-American Herschel | Herschel | D | 4/3/2011 |
| Halfmoon's Dashing Big Blue | Dash | D | 2/6/2011 |
| Bit-A-Swissy's Bridger Teton | Bridger | D | 7/11/2010 |
| Suddanly-Peregrine-HavinABall | Peregrine | B | 12/6/2009 |
| Trout Creek's Grail Damsel | Flurry | B | 4/10/2009 |
| HalfMoon's Colonel Crockett | Davy | D | 3/8/2009 |
| Rippling Waters Havelock Key | Keygan | D | 12/14/2008 |
| Seamus Zum Ringo Dem Grossen | Seamus | D | 12/7/2008 |
| Brie'Sway Aftershock | Tremor | D | 12/7/2008 |
| Markee's Green With Envy | Titan | D | 12/7/2008 |
| Riverwalk's Celtic Shaman | Doc | D | 11/30/2008 |
| Red Fern's Beau Derby | Spot | D | 2/10/2008 |
| Federal Hill's Alpine Raven | Raven | B | 2/10/2008 |
| Bermuda High's Bottle Of Rum | Kaiser | D | 4/1/2007 |