Trail Dog Training

Dog snake Training

Sierra ---age three years old

Sierra and I hike daily all year long . Local hikers with  dogs often ask me how Sierra reacts upon seeing snakes . I explain that I started training sierra to avoid snakes when she was a puppy , and that now I trust her alertness and ability to detect snakes far better than I myself can . She has advantages 

over my skills . Sierra can hear , smell , and see better than I . She now warns me of the presence of snakes  Year one and two I purchased rattle snake prevention shots to protect her . Now Sierra is three years old and trained to avoid snakes so I no longer buy her the shots . I refresh her training every spring with training videos on the big TV screen ..  

the following are but a few samples of snake training . This video ends with sierra three and one half years of age barking at a rattler snake . I hope that your computer is capable of showing all of the video . 

I know that e-collars are possibly the most popular way of training 

but I personally prefer a more humane approach to any dog training goals .

But , that is another subject .

Thus far all the skill sets Sierra has learned for her job 

as a trail dog and security dog have been learned 

through the reward method !

I f you have any questions , e-mail me at joehiker1967@gmail.com

Cerro Alto Rescue

Cal Fire Rescue on Cerro Alto Mountain

April 25 Th . I encountered an injured hiker at the same time that a member of the fire dept.reached the scene of the accident on the canyon trail on Cerro Alto . The exact location was one mile east of the trail head at the first intersection . A 32 year old man suffered a disability to his left leg . He was unable to stand up and was in pain .

The CHP helicopter hoovered over but according to Cal Fire was unable to assist due to strong winds

Within a very short time a full Cal Fire crew along with ambulance personal arrived and administered first aid ,then extracted the victim . I was very impressed with the professionalism of the entire operation .. As a daily hiker and a retired CHP officer I recognize rescue operation  efficiency when I see it . These guys were good !They kept the victim comfortable , attending to his physical and emotional needs .

Great Job !

above --fire dept arrives 

Below are photos as the rescue developed .

Above Photo

My dog Sierra guarding the scene , she remained 

at this spot the entire duration of the rescue operation .

Once again my daily hiking did her job well !

Pine Ridge Trail

Pine Ridge Trail 4-2015

Once again , we hiked the Pine ridge Trail . Mark , Wayne , Bill and Myself hiked with a triple purpose adventure . 

1. Visiting Jack English was definitely a goal as we were informed that he would be flying in by helicopter for a visit to his cabin .
2. Mark wanted to visit the Caves and see some native American cave drawings .
3. We hoped to enjoy some wild flowers  

I got lucky and accomplished all three goals . The wild flowers were beautiful and at their blooming peak . Jack did in fact fly in and we visited with him and his son . Mark enjoyed the Caves and the drawings . 

And once again , Bill surprised us with a visit in Pine Valley . He hiked in with a dinner to die for .

we enjoyed shrimp , cheeses , baked salmon , chicken casserole , bread , fine wine , and pie for dessert . This makes two years consecutively that Bill has done this for us . This is  a hard act to repay as he had to carry all this in a back pack for six miles with an elevation gain of 1000 ft .

Please enjoy the photos .

Above Sierra enjoying the wild flowers .

Myself and the Monterey Ba yin the background .

above --Wayne

too steep for gathering a bouquet 

above Pine Valley

Mark -- teaching us about flowers

above --- deer leg left behind by a cougar 

cave drawings , above and beow

more drawings

above -- the caves

more shots of the caves

caves

note worthy -- we had lunch in the caves

Life doesn't get any better !

above   Jack at 95 years of age

above Jack's son Denis

above dennis and Jack

above photo taken at the Church Ranch

dinner at Jacks cabin

after dinner music by Denis and wayne

Try this video 

above Denis and Jack

myself and Jack

This is a selfy of Bill , the friend responsible for the great dinner in the wilderness .

Without Bill this hiking adventure would not have come together as 

he kept me up to date on Jack and arranged th caves visit .

And I can't say enough about the dinner and three botttles of fine red wine !