Activities For Dogs In Great Basin National Park
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Prepare for unexpected vet bills
Introduction
The dog-furiendly Great Basin National Park is more than 77 thousand acres of mountains, desert, hiking, hunting, fishing, sagebrush and saltbush meadows, valleys, caves, and many different types of critters including some that are protected because they are endangered. They are also well-known for their bristlecone pine trees, which are ancient. You and your canine kid can enjoy most of these activities together and more in the gorgeous Sierra and Wasatch Mountains. Your dog is allowed to be with you on the campgrounds, streets and parking lots, and the Lexington Arch Trail so you will both enjoy yourselves fur sure!
Lexington Arch Trail
Most Popular
1 Vote
Any Day
Free
Normal
3 - 4 hrs
Items needed
leash
water
compass
GPS
map
doggy cleanup bags
first aid kit
Activity description
Hiking the Lexington Arch Trail is a bit of a walk, so you need to make sure you and your canine kid are in good enough shape to make it safely. Bring a lot of water and when you think you have enough, bring more. This is the Nevada desert, and it gets really hot and dry so for you and your pooch to stay hydrated, you need a lot of water since there are no water sources anywhere along the trail. You will need a GPS trail seeker and map as well as a compass because some of the trail is known to be washed away. Your pup should be on a leash, and you have to bring doggy poo baggies to clean up any deposits your pooch makes.
Step
1
Learning the leash
If your dog is not used to being leashed, training starts now. It should be started when your canine kid is a puppy, but you can teach any dog to walk on a leash. Letting them get used to it first is essential so let them walk around with it on and give your pup a treat for wearing it.
Step
2
Walking on leash
Teach your fur buddy that being on the leash is a good thing because it means they get to go for a walk. And all dogs like to go on walks. It also helps if you give your pupster a treat when you get the leash on, when on the walk, and every time your pup does something good on the walk.
Step
3
Trek safety
You may not make it around the entire trail and don't plan on it if this is the first time you and your dog are attempting a big hike. Hydration is key here - offer your pup water even when you don't think they need it. For a destination such as this, you must leave word with the folks at home as to where you are headed and when you will be back. As you walk this trail be very intuitive to your canine hiking partner's signals. If they exhibit signs that they have had enough, take heed and head for home.
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Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive
Popular
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Any Day
Free
Easy
1 hr
Items needed
water
Activity description
The Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive is a 12-mile mountain road in Great Basin National Park where you and your trusted pooch can relax and enjoy some of the most beautiful views in Nevada. You will start at the park on highway 488 and head along the South Snake Mountain Range and up into the clouds over 10 thousand feet above sea level to the face of Wheeler Peak. Along the way, you and your canine kid will see quite a variety of different critters like coyotes, jackrabbits, marmots, mule deer, and squirrels. On this trip, you will not need to bring anything, it is free, and your dog doesn’t have to do anything but behave in the car.
Step
1
Behaving in the car
In order to enjoy an excursion such as a scenic drive, you have to train your dog to love car rides as much as you like driving. Start out by opening all the car doors and scattering some treats in the back seat. Show your pooch the treats and encourage them to get in there and get them. Once they do that, you can close the front doors and feed your poochie in the back seat a few times.
Step
2
Start your engine
Once your canine kid is comfortable eating in the car, you can start the engine and make sure you give your pup a treat if they stay after you turn it on. After a few minutes, shut the doors and try a short trial run out of the driveway and back in. Give more treats for enduring that without complaint.
Step
3
The journey
If that goes okay, take a short trip around the block or to the end of the street. Take longer trips each time until you are able to get to a place where your dog wants to go, like to the park. If your pooch knows that being good in the car means you get to go to the park, that can work better than treats. After a few days of car ride training, you are all set to go to the Wheeler Park Scenic Drive. If your pup isn't tall enough to see out the windows, be sure to train them to use a doggy car seat before the big day.
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Hunting Trip
Popular
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Any Day
Moderate
Hard
2 - 4 hrs
Items needed
hunting license
hunting gear
leash
Dog safety vest
water
doggy cleanup bags
Activity description
The Great Basin National Park offers hunting following the state hunting rules and regulations. You are allowed to hunt with firearm, crossbow, or bow and arrow. Traps and nets are also allowed during the right seasons. Some of the animals you and your pooch can hunt include elk, mule deer, rabbits, raccoons, otters, muskrats, beaver, minks, otters, waterfowl, turkey, and coyote. There are specific rules for each type of hunting and certain times of year to hunt. You also have to have a license to hunt certain animals like elk, deer, and turkey. This is a free activity, but you have to purchase the hunting license and tags as well as bringing all hunting gear, leash, water, and dog cleanup baggies. The length of time it takes to teach your pupster to hunt depends on the breed and what you are hunting, but most can get it after an hour of teaching for a few weeks before you go.
Step
1
Getting ready
You need to desensitize your fur buddy from loud noises because guns are loud. Even if you are not going to be using a firearm, other people are so your pup has to be ready. To do this, start out with a loud drum or pots and pans. Treat them for ignoring the loud sounds. After a few days of this, take your pooch out shooting with you and give them a treat when they don’t run away. Repeat several times on different days, giving treats every time. Dogs on hunting trips need to be wearing a brightly colored safety vest. If your dog is not used to the vest, have them wear it around home a few minutes a day several weeks prior to the trip.
Step
2
Ignoring distractions
As you are out hunting, there are going to be a lot of distractions that can deter your pup from their hunting and retrieving job. Take your pooch out with others while they are hunting and just practice getting your dog to come when you call them. Reward your dog when they come right away. Proper recall is essential in hunting.
Step
3
Retrieving
If you have a retriever breed, they may already have this trait built into them, but most dogs don’t. You have to teach them the basics of retrieving. Get a decoy that is scented like a freshly killed bird or other prey. Let your pup get used to the scent and treat them when they show interest. Tell your dog to bring it to you and give them a treat when they do. Then, hide the decoy and have your dog find it and bring it back. This may take a few weeks of practice but make sure you treat them for it when they try, whether they find it or not.
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More Fun Ideas...
Caving
Yes, there are some caves your pooch is allowed to enter in the Great Basin National Park. Not the Lehman Caves, but the ones that are out there just waiting for you to explore. Of course, you need to be safe by keeping Fido on a leash and bringing a flashlight, water, first aid kit, compass, and cell phone.
Happy Camping
Teach your canine kid how to be a good camper by training them to be quiet, not bark at everything, stay in your campsite, and play quietly. Camping quiet times are between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM, so be aware of that. Keep your pup happy by playing some fetch or tug of war while you are hanging out at the campsite.
Conclusion
The Great Basin National Park is dog-furiendly enough to be able to take Fido along for the trip as long as you have a leash with you. Be sure to follow the rules you will find on the website, and you can also find more answers at the visitor’s center at the park. You and your canine kid will love the beauty of this amazing park and all the critters and scents as well.