Tails from the trail and tips on training your human

Environmentally-friendly camping | We all know that camping is a great way to spend time with family and friends. It is also an opportunity for your pet dog to enjoy the outdoors while you’re taking care of them. There’s no doubt that camping with your dog can enhance your camping experience, but there are certain rules you and your pet will have to abide by. To ensure that everyone has a great time, it’s important to be remember these rules, especially if you are looking to have an environmentally-friendly camping trip with your pet dog.

Basic Guidelines For Campsites

As a dog owner, you might find yourself wondering where it is okay to bring your pup. Luckily there are many public parks and developed campgrounds that allow dogs onsite. However, backcountry sites may have different rules depending on who manages the area so make sure to check before taking your furry friend out for an adventure.

Local Parks

Most developed compounds and local parks allow dogs and this is due largely in thanks to how important dogs have become for many owners. As a rule of thumb any place you would drive into allows pets.

Cherry Creek State Park is a great place for dog lovers and their pups to hang out at. With an on-leash area with water access, as well as off leash areas perfect for dogs who love the outdoors or are big runners.

National Parks

National parks are a great place to explore with your dog. It’s important for you to be aware of the different rules set by each individual park and follow them accordingly so that both you and your dog can enjoy your adventures together.

Many national parks have been welcoming to dogs as long as they are leashed and under control. Some of these dog friendly trails include Acadia’s 100 mile trail, which is one the most popular national parks. However, some other national parks do not allow pets at all, such as Rocky Mountain National Park where the terrain can be too rough for any canine friend out there.

Tips For Camping with your Dog

Don’t Leave Your Pup Alone

When nature calls, it is sometimes difficult to find a place where you are allowed to let your dog out of the car or tent and safely do their business without encountering another person with an animal. This could lead them into getting attacked by dogs protecting themselves from being startled as well as territorial animals defending their territory. If this happens then there will be two scared animals who need help calming down before they’re able to scurry away peacefully.

Always Keep your Pet Under Supervision

For environmentally-friendly camping, always keep and feed your dog under your supervision. Also, the wild animal population is not the only thing that should worry you when it comes to camping with your dog. Your canine friend can also be in danger from an attack by a predator, which may lead to injury or death of both animals if left unsupervised while eating and drinking outdoors.

Dogs are naturally curious creatures who often love exploring new environments, but this could put them at risk for unsafe encounters with lurking wildlife like bears or coyotes, so make sure they’re always under close supervision.

Don’t Feed The Wildlife

Feeding pets outdoors is one way people unwittingly encourage dangerous interactions between wildlife and themselves at camping sites. This is especially true when they feed dogs directly on site rather than keeping them leashed inside camper vehicles where they belong while eating scraps generated by an outdoor cooking fire.

Off-leash pet feeding sends signals attracting all sorts of creatures including hungry bears who might not otherwise show up looking for snacks.

Leave No Trace

Leaving no trace is one of the most important things when it comes to environmentally- friendly camping. Increased outdoor campsites have led to more littering along trails and campgrounds for those looking for peace and tranquility in nature, especially where pets roam free without an owner around.

Increased outdoor camping by pet owners means there are now piles of poop found on trails through the woods. This could have contributed to what’s called “No Trace Ethics” being taught at many summer camps across America. This includes teaching pets how not to leave anything they bring when going outdoors including food scraps.

The best way to clean up after your dog is by using a pick-up bag. The bags can be included in one’s tkit and are helpful for avoiding the spread of bacteria from canine poop as well as contamination of soil or water sources with germs that may have not been properly disposed of on previous walks.

Keep your Dog Leashed

One of the many reasons why your dog needs to be leashed when camping is because they can get excited about a variety of things. They may come across squirrels and chase them down, or have their sense heightened by steak being grilled nearby.

Conclusion

These tips may seem like common sense, but they are important reminders for those who want to have a positive impact on the environment during their camping trip. Be mindful of your dog’s diet and the types of food you pack in your backpack so that he or she does not leave any leftovers behind.

When it comes time to go home, be sure to clean up all messes, leaving no trace of poop or food from our campsite. Follow these simple steps and you’ll have an environmentally- friendly camping trip with your pet.

by Bobby J 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.