Tails from the trail and tips on training your human

Whether you plan to explore a new trail or hit the same old neighborhood loop, don’t forget to take your dog along. Hiking is the one activity people can afford both financially and physically.

What more would you want for yourself and your dog if not a good sweat-breaking hike? Moreover, if your dog loves being outdoors, the chances are that they will make great training partners too. Here are five more benefits of taking your dog for a hike.

It’s a Workout that Doesn’t Feel Like One

Far too often, we feel burdened by the thought of working out or going to the gym. Sometimes your dog may also not respond well to the idea of going out if you’re taking them on the same old walk in the same old dog park. When working out starts feeling this way, it may be a sign you need to mend your ways.

This is where hiking proves to be a great way to break a sweat and enjoy nature at the same time. Giving your dog a challenge in the form of slopes and rocks every once in a while can help them rejuvenate without it feeling like work.

It Helps Regulate Your Dog’s Temper

The idea of going for a hike to regulate your dog’s temper may seem odd but sometimes tiring them out is for their own good. If you’ve been a pet owner for some time now, you may already know how hard it is to get them under control, especially when they’re all hyped up.

A tired dog is less likely to lash out or throw tantrums at home when they come back tuckered out. All they would care about is getting into their comfy spot and sleeping.

You Both Get to Experience a “Healthy High”

Similar to humans, dogs also have increased endorphin levels right after working out, and these hormones are linked to feelings of happiness and pleasure. They work as natural opiates to give you and your dog a healthy high.

It Helps Bring Down Elevated Stress Levels

We all know what a good workout can do to bring down our stress levels. Be it work, bills, or home, mental and physical stress don’t take long to build up inside us, and releasing it is the only way to ensure your health is on the right track.

Interestingly, your dogs can also experience this phenomenon and may look for ways to release their stress from time to time. Hiking can give them as much of a sedative effect as it does to you, and the fresh air that comes in the equation doesn’t hurt either.

It Helps You Trust Each Other

Going on a hike is very different from going on a regular walk. It’s less predictable and can expose you to different situations and challenges. When your dog gets to see something other than their usual routine, it helps them find new ways to deal with challenges too. In the process, you and your dog are able to form a bond unlike anything else.

Sometimes, the experience is very similar to going with a friend. It’s a known fact that embarking on different adventures with friends can give you a whole new perspective on life. In the same way, your dog learns to trust you along the way, and you get to experience new limits and behaviors they demonstrate.

How Will Hiking Keep Your Dog Healthy?

Hiking is like an upgraded version of a walk. When something as simple as walking has benefits for your dog’s physical health, imagine what something slightly more strenuous like hiking can do.

Just like us, dogs are also susceptible to suffering from the consequences of physical conditions like obesity. As much as we like to feed them their favorite treats, it’s also important to keep a good walking and exercise routine planned for them. Burning calories is the only solution to avoid medical complications that may come as a result of being overweight.

Additionally, their joints also need some movement and exercise regularly, or they may become stiff if kept sedentary for a long time. Muscles and weight aside, your dog’s urinary and digestive health can also benefit from a good walking regime that comes with a hint of hiking now and then.

A good workout can help prevent constipation and other digestive issues in your dog. You may also notice them getting bladder infections frequently when urine sits in the bladder for a prolonged period due to inactivity. Hence, keeping their anatomy happy is also very important.

Why Can’t Your Dog Get All These Benefits Just By Running Around the Yard?

When it comes to a dog’s overall health, physical aspects are not the only limit to consider. Mental health is equally important and cannot improve by staying within boundaries all the time.

Dogs can get bored easily unless there’s always something constructive to do. Walking exercises not only the body but also the mind. A good way to stimulate their minds is to let them enjoy new paths and wildlife and, most importantly, watch other pets with their owners. It’s almost impossible to give them the same experience inside the boundaries of your house.

You may have a lot to do with your time, but your dog doesn’t. For them, you’re their entire universe, and your attention means the world to them. There’s absolutely no way to ensure that you both are spending quality time together without going out frequently. Hiking allows you to spend one-on-one time with your beloved pet and also prevents them from whining or barking excessively, which often happens when they’re all by themselves.

All in all, hiking is more than an adventurous activity to embark on once a year. It’s something that you should consider going for with your little buddy frequently. Unlike friends who aren’t often available for such activities, your dog will never hesitate to accompany you on a walk.

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.