Floyd the Very Big Dog Took a Very Long Hike

Photo credit: Salt Lake County Sheriff's Search and Rescue
Photo credit: Salt Lake County Sheriff's Search and Rescue

From Popular Mechanics

  • A 190-pound Mastiff and his human were hiking when the dog became exhausted and couldn't continue.

  • The Salt Lake County Sheriff's Search and Rescue team saved the day.

  • Floyd, a very good boy, was safely carried down the trail by the rescue squad and is reportedly on the mend at home.


Rescuers saved Floyd, a very good, 190-pound Mastiff, after he became exhausted during a hike with his human. They were two miles into the Grandeur Peak Trail in Utah.

After fellow hikers called the police around 6:30 p.m. to tell them about the stranded pair, the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Search and Rescue (SLCSSAR) leapt into action to "make sure Floyd could get off the mountain ... before it got too cold."

The rescuers said the 3-year-old Floyd was cooperative, letting them load him onto a stretcher and sitting patiently the entire way down the trail.

"[He] was a good boy and was happy to be assisted. Floyd, his human, and all the team members got off the mountain around 10:30 p.m.," the SLCSSAR said in a Facebook post.

Amy Sandoval commented on the Facebook post, saying that Floyd was her brother's dog and that he was fully prepared to stay with Floyd overnight until the big fella was able to hike back down on his own.

My brother never left his side. He was going to sleep with him overnight. Thank you to all the people who called the police and search and rescue. A vet also stopped to exam Floyd and recognized what bad shape he was in. We took a wrong turn on the descent and ended up on a very tricky slope. We had a 10 year old with us and it was so hard getting everyone back up to the trail. Poor dog just couldn’t take any more after that. Thanks to all the nice hikers who offered us more water, as we used the remainder of ours to keep Floyd hydrated. And my rockstar dad who hiked down to the creek and collected more water for the dog and then hiked all the way back up, twice, to try and help my brother. —Amy Sandoval

While Floyd's paws were torn up from all the hiking, he's currently at home, on the mend, and receiving lots of belly rubs for his efforts. Keep your own paws—er, feet—protected with the best hiking boots for exploring the outdoors. Just make sure your pup is comfortable, too.

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