Tails from the trail and tips on training your human

Exercise With Your Dog | If you’re a dog owner looking for a healthy blend of activities for your buddy, you’ve come to the right place. Sometimes, involving your dog in activities is one of the hardest things to do, especially if they’re not easy to get a grip on. Sadly, dogs aren’t any different from humans and often get tired of doing the same thing repeatedly. So, if you’re a health-conscious owner trying to get your precious pet dog to work out, here are some ways to do so.

Dog Yoga

If you don’t mind spending a few bucks on a fitness class for your dog from a trained professional, consider going for yoga. Dog yoga, or as some people call it, “Doga,” is a great way to soothe your pet while also letting them have a little fun in the process. Many tried and tested positions work for dogs, such as going three-legged and downward facing. Once your dog has learned the art of yoga, there’s absolutely nothing they will hesitate to get into.

Fetching

Fetching is the ultimate dog sport, and whether you’re a dog person or not, you must be familiar with it. However, it’s more than just something you do to kill time. Fetching is one of the best ways to make your dog run and give their body a good dose of exercise without even realizing. Another great thing about an activity as simple as fetching is that your dog will never see it as a workout, so you can always take it up a notch and throw the item as far as you would want them to run.

Hiking

You may not have heard much about dogs going on hikes, but with the given circumstances where people aren’t able to travel much, hiking has started gaining more and more momentum. What started out as a way for people to take a break and go for weekend getaways has slowly transformed into a way for your pets to rejuvenate.

Hiking is not only a way to explore nature and wear heavy boots while you do so. It’s also a way to let your dog experience outdoors unlike anything they’ve ever done before. However, hiking is not a walk in the park and not every dog breed os always. So make sure to get your pet thoroughly checked up and their strength evaluated before you take them along.

Swimming

Allowing your pet to swim does not mean throwing them in a pool of water without prior training. Just like humans, pets need training before pursuing a new activity too. However, once they get into it, swimming proves to be an excellent way of burning some calories and have fun, especially in the scorching heat of summer. So don’t hesitate to try a different activity with your dog and let them hit the water under your supervision.

Climbing the stairs

If you and your dog aren’t big on outdoor adventures, don’t worry because there are plenty of ways to make them work out indoors too. You don’t necessarily have to have a workout room assigned for the task, as you can get your daily dose of exercise with other physical activities. One such activity is climbing the stairs.

The best way to make them do it is to have them follow you while you climb the stairs. If this isn’t something you wish to do, simply throw a soft toy or a ball upstairs to allow them to fetch it back to you. This is the beauty of fetching. You can incorporate it with any and every activity. Once your dog has completed an entire round of climbing up and down the stairs, appreciate them or reward them for enhancing their motivation further.

Playing hide and seek.

At this point, you may be wondering whether we’re still on the subject of exercise for dogs. Most activities in the list are indeed ways for people to work out, not dogs, but you will be surprised to find out how much your pup loves to play the games you thought were only limited for humans. Dogs love the thrill that comes with hide and seek, and if they’ve been with you long enough, they wouldn’t mind looking for you in the house if you go missing.

Learning to play hide and seek can take a while, but once your dog learns the rules, it’ll be worth your while. There are also certain things you can use to your benefit. For example, dogs recognize their owners by the scent, so using your scent to make them find you is one way you can condition them to play with you. This way, your dogs won’t only get exercise but also enhance their brain’s cognitive ability.

Taking them to dog parks

The reason behind opening parks dedicated to dogs is to help them socialize and have a good time. Just like people, dogs love making friends too, and it only takes them a while to finally get along with other dogs and make their games and have their own fun. Dog parks aren’t exactly a way to give their bodies a full-fledged workout, but they sure are a way to make your dog burn at least some calories in the form of running and playing. You also have the option of letting your dog play with the neighbor’s dog, but the experience they get to have in a park is much more suited to their needs.

In the end, there are several ways to get your dogs moving but make sure not to expose them to something their bodies can’t handle. Provide them with an adequate amount of training before you plan on having them pursue activities such as hiking and swimming. Remember, not every workout regime is suited to or liked by your dog, so let them take their own pick once you’ve played your part in exposing them to it. The more it seems like a workout, the more your dog may drift away from it, which is why your best bet is to try out exercises in the form of games and activities.

by Maria A Davidson

We are in business to provide great products for the outdoorsy hikers, campers and their dogs; and to help clean our parks, rivers and oceans for a better planet earth for hikers and their dogs.

Parks Clean

Parks are high-traffic areas in most cities. This means that trash is bound to show up in and around your park and playground.

When discussing ways your family can help clean your local park, don’t overlook a literal cleanup! Picking up trash will make a huge difference in the appearance and vibe of your park. A clean area will encourage others to keep the park pristine. When picking up trash and debris, make sure to wear gloves to protect yourself, and put trash in appropriate receptacles or lawn bags. You can also contact your local trash company to schedule a pickup when you are finished.

Rivers Clean

The storm drain on your street collects the water from your roof, driveway, and sidewalk and funnels it directly in your local lake or river. Nutrients from grass and leaves, pet waste, and fertilizers “enrich” our lakes and streams — feeding algae blooms and harming fish. Chemicals from washing your car in the drive and household chemical spills add up, taking a nasty toll on our favorite swimming areas and fishing spots. Soil can also be picked up by runoff, reducing the clarity of water and hurting fish.

So as you prepare your lawn and garden, here are a few helpful tips to keep our lakes and rivers beautiful and safe for all of us.

Use mulch and vegetation to keep soil from washing away.
Sweep or rake grass and leaves away from street curbs.
Mulch and compost grass clippings and leaves.
Keep paved surfaces to a minimum.
Capture water runoff with a rain garden and rain barrels.
Wash your car on the grass, where the water will get filtered.
Keep chemicals away from storm drains.
Collect your pet’s waste.
Aim your rain-gutter downspouts onto grass.

Beaches Clean (do it for the ocean)

In 2007, the United States Senate and House of Representatives passed the National Clean Beaches Week Resolution to recognize the value of beaches to the American way of life and the important contributions of beaches to the economy, recreation, and natural environment of the United States.

Clean Beaches Week, celebrated annually July 1-7, offers the perfect opportunity to encourage stewardship and volunteerism along our coastlines. But where do you even begin? Follow these tips to get started.

Identify a clean-up site. Choose a place that needs some TLC, making sure that volunteers can safely access the site. Get permission, if needed, for your clean-up event, perhaps from the local parks agency.
Choose a site coordinator. (That might be you!) A beach clean-up takes a lot of work and needs an organized person to keep everything on track before, during, and after the event.
Visit the site in advance. The coordinator will need to know where to set up a volunteer check-in station, where to leave trash and recyclables, and what area(s) volunteers will clean.
Gather supplies. Depending on your location, you’ll need supplies such as trash bags, a first aid kit, hand sanitizer, wipes, and large coolers of water. You should also provide (or ask volunteers to bring) items such as reusable work/garden gloves, reusable water bottles, sunscreen, and bug spray.
Plan how to handle the recyclables. Reach out to recyclers in your area (and perhaps your community’s solid waste departments) to make arrangements for accepting any glass, plastic, and aluminum that you collect.
Line up event partners. Contact local businesses for donations of drinks, food, and supplies. Ask a local solid waste hauler to donate their services for trash removal.
Plan for handling hazardous waste. Determine how you’ll dispose of any medical and sewage waste you might find. One solution: A wide-mouth container with a tight-fitting lid, such as an empty laundry detergent bottle. Clearly label that it contains hazardous waste.
Get volunteers to help. Recruit friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors. Create an event on Facebook and ask volunteers to sign up online. This will give you an idea of how many people to expect and will help communicate event details.
Stay safe. Be prepared for a variety of health emergencies, from minor cuts and scrapes to heat stroke.
Take photos! Post pics online to share the success of your event and recognize volunteers for their hard work.