Tails from the trail and tips on training your human

Hiking With Dogs | Going for a hike with your dog can be a really enjoyable experience. Not only do you get a great chance to get outdoors and get moving, but it is also the perfect excuse to get some quality bonding time with your furry companion.

However, a hike with a dog requires a little extra planning than usual. You want to ensure that you have all the gear to make the journey safe and comfortable for your dog. So if you’re planning a hiking trip with your dog anytime soon, make sure to pack the following things in your backpack.

1. Collar or Harness

This is something your need every time you leave your house with your dog – whether it is to go for a hike or even just down to the grocery store. This helps identify your dog as a pet and makes it easier to find in case you somehow lose them outside.

While going on a hike, make sure to buy a brightly colored collar – red, orange, or blue – so that it doesn’t camouflage with nature and is easily visible from a distance. Also, make sure that the collar or harness is loose enough for your finger to comfortably slip in but not loose enough to slip off your dog’s neck.

2. Leash

In addition to a collar or harness, you also need a leash to make sure you don’t lose your dog on the hike. The leash should be durable and strong enough to withstand the rigors of the outdoor trails. Both nylon and leather are great options to choose from.

Since the purpose of the trail is to let your dog enjoy the outdoors, you may want to get an expandable leash to provide more freedom for your dog to explore. Make sure that the lease is long enough to let the dog enjoy but short enough for you to retain sufficient control.

3. Doggy Backpack

If you aren’t already aware, you can actually make your dog carry its own gear for longer hikes. With some training, you can enable your dog to carry a backpack. This can help take off some burden from your shoulders.

You can easily find a variety of lightweight doggy backpacks in all shapes, sizes, and colors. You’ll have to pick a bag after taking your dog’s breed into consideration. However, avoid putting the bag on dogs who are younger than a year old, as that may cause development issues.

4. Dog Foods

While going on a hike, you should pack more food than your dog usually eats. This is because a hike is as energy-intensive for your dog as it is for you. And since they will be expending more energy than usual, they will also need more food to keep going.

You may also want to pack in some trail treats for your dog. These are perfect for providing a quick dose of energy and can help them through a rigorous hike.

5. Water & Water Bowl

A lot of people tend to make the mistake of assuming that they’ll find multiple sources of fresh water during their hike – especially for their pets. This results in them not packing enough water for their furry companions. Do not make this mistake.

Even if there are rivers where you are hiking, always bring water with you. You need to pack enough water to keep yourself hydrated while also meeting the water requirements of your dogs. If you are hiking on a warm day, make sure to pack a little extra than that to be on the safe side.

6. Canine First Aid Kit

No matter how much you try to keep your little furry companion safe and protected, small accidents and mishaps are sometimes inevitable. This is even more true when you’re participating in a physically intensive activity like hiking.

To make sure that you are prepared for the worst-case scenario, pack a canine first aid kit for the trip. This kit should include basic supplies that can help you deal with injuries your dog may sustain on the trail. Hydrogen peroxide, bandages, gauze pads, tweezers, scissors, and small socks to protect the wound are some of the things you need to add to the first aid kit.

7. Insect Repellent

Your dog wants to shoo away those annoying mosquitos and other insects as much as you do. So carrying a good insect repellent with you is a necessity – especially if you’re planning an overnight hike.

However, make sure to do a patch test of the insect repellent on your dog before the trip. Apply it on a small patch of your dog’s fur and observe it for at least 24 hours. If there are any signs of drowsiness, nausea, or lethargy, try switching to a gentler insect repellent.

While applying insect repellent on your dog, make sure to avoid places where your dog can lick it off. Instead, opt for places such as shoulders, back of the neck, and around the ears to prevent your dog from reaching it.

8. Identification Tag or Microchip

While it is important to have your dog wear a collar ID, it is possible that your dog may lose it under extreme conditions. a vet can easily provide your dog with a microchip or tattoo that can help you be reunited with them in case the two of you are separated.

Make sure that your dog’s microchip or tattoo is registered with an authentic online registration service and that your contact information is up to date online. Having an identification tag engraved with your phone number can also be helpful since anyone who finds the dog will be able to contact you without needing a special microchip scanner.

With these gears and equipment, you can make the hiking experience so much better for your dog, as well as yourself. Make sure to have a checklist of these things while packing your stuff, so you don’t end up forgetting anything at the last minute.

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.