Has anyone been to Tennessee or Smoky Mtn National Park with their doodles?

[L.M.]

We are driving from Jersey to TN the week after next with our 2 doodles.  We rented a cabin just outside Gatlinburg....very close to the Smoky Mountain National Park.  Has anyone been to TN or even the national park with their dogs?  If anyone has any suggestions/ travel tips that would be great too!  I know there are only 2 trails we can actually bring the dogs on in the park...which makes me a little nervous in regard to some of the wildlife there........I will be bringing my air horn with me again (if anyone remembers my trip to Maine last year, my air horn was the first item I packed LOL....luckily I never needed it! hehehe)   

We have never been to the area with or without the dogs so any suggestions would be most welcome!  =)   

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

Hope you don't have to use your air horn this time either.  All I know is there are bears, bobcat, coyotes and wolves in the area.  DH works with a couple of guys that live/hunt somewhere around there.  I just remember DH talking about wanting to go hunting with them.

It sounds like beautiful country though.  Enjoy your trip.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I believe the entire Smoky Mountain Park is a NO DOG park (UGH!!!).  There are bears!!! So be careful! 

 

But really, just stick to the dog friendly paths and you should be good to go.

 

Are you staying in Townsend?  If so, there are some great hikes around there, before you get to the actual national park.  Enjoy...it is so beautiful around there (and cooler than where I am in MidTN).

[TrevorDoodle]

Cades Cove.  Dogs are allowed but must be on leash and they are only allowed on a couple of trails.  It is a really pretty drive.  See:  http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/cadescove.htm

The earlier in the morning you go - the more wildlife you are likely to see.  If you just drive the loop - you wont need the air horn lol!

 

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Wow, sounds like a great trip and so beautiful...I thought until I heard about the all the "THINGS" roaming around out there! I would tie the horn to your neck! Have a good time, hope the doodles are able to experience most things with you!

[2m42srv7vi6sq]

We live 30 min south of the Smoky Mountain Nat Forest.

This is a very bad year for copperheads and diamond back rattlers.  Please keep your Doodle on a leash and look over every log and stone before stepping over them.

There is actually a rattlesnake bite shot that you can have your vet administer before the trip.  Ask your vet about it.  It lessons the risk of death, in the event that your dog is bitten by a rattler.

I hate to sound like la wet blanket, but it is better to be safe than sorry.

Gatlinburg is very hot and crowded, so bring lots of water for you and the pup.

Have a great time!  We are going tubing near there today.

[L.M.]

OMG I thought all I had to worry about was bears!  We definitely don't plan on doing real trails with the dogs.....the only 2 "trails" that they are even allowed on seem to be more like walkways from what I can tell.  Are rattlers for the most part deeper in the forest?  (I'm also concerned for my husband and myself!)