By: Lawrence Gunther
As someone who travels extensively as an outdoor adventurer, I’ve experienced occasions when my guide dog and planned visits were questioned. Thankfully, my experiences being denied access in Canada have become exceedingly rare. Still, I can never be sure how owners of outdoor tourism operations will respond to my guide dog, which is why I always have that conversation up-front.
Operators of outdoor tourism facilities located in remote parts of Canada often utilize large, powerful dogs to deter bears, wolves, and other predators from roaming too close. These dogs are friendly to humans, but who knows how they will get along with a strange dog.
Curious wildlife isn’t restricted to the forest; wild animals will approach cabins on ice, ready to investigate when triggered by strong smells. Coyotes are less fearful of humans than wolves but are known to prey on domestic dogs and cats. This was all a part of the conversation I had with Yanick Loranger, owner of Ottawa River Guided Fishing and a half-dozen large on-ice fishing cabins. I told Yanick what I tell all my potential hosts; “I won’t be letting my guide dog off the leash.”
Fast-forward ten years, and Yanick and I have become good friends. There’s nothing quite like spending a couple of days on the ice, far from land and the pressures of everyday life. My guide dog loves it too. He can see for miles in all directions, something he seldom experiences in urban spaces or in the woods. It’s interesting to witness how his character changes as he takes on the watchdog role, alerting me to everything near and far. In many ways, my range of awareness also expands exponentially when visiting these largely silent worlds of ice and snow.
If you want to read more about Lawrence’s outdoor and on-ice adventures, read his blog at www.blindfishingboat.com or listen to his biweekly show on AMI Audio – Outdoors with Lawrence Gunther.