Copyright © 2005 Trail Hounds. All rights reserved. Email webmaster |
Welcome to the Trail Hounds! About Trail Hounds We are a group of dog owners who enjoy walking and hiking with our canine friends. The Trail Hounds organizers strongly believe that being a responsible dog owner and to socializing our dogs is a very important part of a safe and happy human-canine relationship. We welcome all dog breeds and mixes! Tall, short, fast or slow, we all can go! In order to keep it simple and fun we do not charge membership fees. We may ask participants to contribute to our expenses for outings such as camp-outs and picnics. You may participate whenever you like, no memberships or reservations are needed for our regular walks. Walk are scheduled year round, unless the weather is not suitable for our pooches. The Trail Hounds group was founded in May 2001 by Bret and Christina and dogs Gibson, Bullet and GreenBean. We always loved to discover new trails and parks with our canine friends. After learning about a dog walking club in NY State, we thought that this is a great idea. We came up with a name, created a web page, handed out fliers, and started our walks every other Saturday morning. Since then we grew to a great group of dog lovers and their pooches. We encourage all members to take an active part in this group. Assistance with leading hikes, choosing routes, promoting Trail Hounds, etc. is always appreciated. We also encourage all members to set an example of responsible dog ownership by keeping your dog under control, removing your dog's droppings and respecting other hikers and bikers on the trails. Members participate at their own risk! Trail Hounds is not responsible for injuries and/or losses! By joining us on a Trail Hounds walk you are agreeing to our guidelines. About our Hikes Our walks and hikes are scheduled for weekend mornings or afternoons and take place in the Raleigh, North Carolina, area. They range from easy strolls through the park to strenuous mountain hikes. We also schedule day trips to the coast and mountains, as well as camp outings and picnics with our pooches. You may bring along friends, whether or not they have dogs. We usually have some "spare" dogs to share. Children should be used to being around dogs and should also be as well-behaved as our canine friends. Trail Ratings Level 1: Easy - A paved 2-3 mile long trail without hills. Any couch potato can probably do these walks in normal weather conditions. Level 2: Moderate - A forest/nature trail of about 2-6 miles with some hills. Not for the true couch potato. You may have to watch your steps to avoid rocks or roots. You and your dog should be in relatively good condition for these walks/hikes. Level 3: Strenuous - A forest/nature trail with steeper hills, longer and/or more difficult. You and your dog must be in good physical condition for these hikes. Weather Use your own judgment regarding the weather. In extreme weather conditions such as extreme cold or heat, snow, hail, thunder, strong rain, wind etc. where we feel that it is not safe to walk, we will stay home and spend quality time with our pets. There is always another walk. Our main concern is to make sure that we are safe and have fun. Guidelines All well-behaved dogs are welcome! Dogs must be on leash and under control at all times, a 6' leash is recommended to avoid tangling accidents. Your dog's droppings have to be removed (bring poopie-bags) by scooping or kicking them off the trail whichever is appropriate for the area. Bring water and snacks for you and your dog, depends on weather conditions and difficulty of trail. Humans should wear appropriate walking gear. Your dog should be up-to-date on shots and wear current ID tags. Bring small first aid kit, just in case. Follow park rules, respect nature. Participate at your own risk. Observe your dog's health condition during the walk. Make sure nobody gets left behind. Have lots of fun! For More Information Contact us at: HollySpringsHounds@nc.rr.com 919-815-5903 Thank You for walking with the Trail Hounds! |
Copyright © 2005 Trail Hounds. All rights reserved. Email webmaster |
Trail Hounds founders Bret with Gibson and Christina with Sir Waldo, GreenBean and Lil Butterfly |
ABOUT US |
