People are increasingly finding the desire to get back to basics, simplify and connect with nature. We are surrounded by so much stuff competing for our time – our cell phone, Facebook, Twitter, Email, people who need something from us, etc. Getting out in the woods and unplugging, even for a few hours, can get us away from that stuff and allow us to relax and spend time connecting with nature and … [Read more...]
Hiking with Your Dog
Dogs make great hiking and camping partners. Hiking with your dog is a great way for both you and your dog to get exercise, get some fresh air, and provide your dog some mental stimulation. Camping out in the woods with your furry best friend by your site is fun. Here you will find tips and information to get started hiking with your big or small dog and make your trip more enjoyable if you already have some experience.
Hiking With Dogs: How to Know When Your Dog Has Had Enough
As you know, I'm all about hiking with dogs. I believe that almost any dog in good health can do it. However, it IS true that not all dogs can go the same distance or over the same terrain. If your dog has never been hiking before, you should start them slow on easier trailsand work your way up to more difficult hikes. Even dogs that love hiking and have been hiking for years have their limits … [Read more...]
Hiking Fitness: Exercises for Strengthening, Balance and Body Awareness in Dogs
A big part of Gretel's active recovery from her back injury, caused by Intervertebral Disk Disease (IVDD), were rehab exercises prescribed by our veterinarian. They're designed to improve her strength, balance, and body awareness. By doing these exercises, she is less likely to suffer re-injury. She'll also be a stronger hiker for it. Disclaimer: I'm not a vet. I worked with a dog rehab … [Read more...]
How to Feed Raw When You’re Backpacking With Your Dog
I previously shared our food journey with you and talked about how I transitioned from feeding Chester some junk dog food to feeding both dogs raw. If you missed the series, you can catch my last post about deciding to feed raw here. I rotate their diet between a few different prepared, frozen raw foods but I prefer to feed Chester and Gretel food that is just organs, meat, blood, and bones … [Read more...]
Don’t Let a Little Fear Keep You From Adventure
Everyone has fears. Some fears are healthy and some keep you stuck. They keep you from doing something, deep down, you really want to do. For a long time, I was fearful to hike and run because I didn't want my back to hurt again. Once, when I was a wildland firefighter, I was too fearful to ride in a helicopter with a crew I had never met before to get an aerial view of the burned area. I took … [Read more...]
6 Reasons You Should Get Certified in Pet First Aid
Getting certified in pet first aid is one of the best things I’ve done as a pet parent. The knowledge came in real handy that time my hubby and I hiked 6 miles into the woods to camp with Chester and Gretel. Chester got bit by so many mosquitoes that his face swelled like a balloon. After a moment of panic, I was able to gather my thoughts and take control of the situation. Chester scraped … [Read more...]
Top 10 Things You Hear When Hiking With a Small Dog
As pet parent to two adventurous wiener dogs, I think I've heard every comment about small hiking dogs there is. People think they are being original with these comments but they are not. I am sure (or hope at least) they don’t mean it, but those comments can feel a little insulting because they imply that my dogs aren’t capable of much. Many problems result from the small dog stereotype. A … [Read more...]
Tread Lightly on Trails – Practicing Leave No Trace Principles with Your Dog
With many - hundreds in some cases - people using the same trails and parks, humans can have quite an impact on the environment. In 1990, the United States Forest Service in conjunction with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), developed a set of outdoor ethics promoting conservation in the outdoors with the aim of keeping wild areas as natural as they were found and preserving natural … [Read more...]
How Far Can My Small Dog Hike?
By “my” I mean mine but also yours, if you’re the one wondering. By long I mean anything over 5 miles but probably closer to 10. And the answer is yes and no. I recently announced plans for my 4-day backpacking trip. I will be hiking with my 11 lb miniature Dachshund Gretel for 7 – 10 miles a day. Someone left a comment on that blog post scolding me for having “bad judgement” because … [Read more...]
Altitude Sickness: Can Dogs Get it Too?
People sometimes get altitude sickness when they reach an elevation of 8,000 feet or higher. I knew it was a possibility that someone would get sick on our recent trip to Colorado. People who live in Colorado are used to the altitude. People who travel there, especially sea-level dwellers like us, can get quite a shock to their system. It can take anywhere from a couple days to several months of … [Read more...]
Backpacking With Dogs: What to Do if Your Dog Has an Allergic Reaction to a Bug Bite
Do you know what to do if your dog has an allergic reaction to a bug bite or sting when you are out in the woods? Most people assume they can rush their dog to the vet when something like that happens. The vet is not an option when you are in the backcountry like we were though. Thanks to my pet first aid certification, I was able to handle the situation without too much panic. To be clear, … [Read more...]
Protect Your Car from Muddy Paws
You would be really surprised how dirty a 10 lb Doxie can get. After 12 years of hiking and walking in the rain with a Doxie, I am still surprised. I swear it's their paddle feet that flip mud and dirt on their bellies when they walk. I didn't care so much about my old car getting dirty but I bought a brand new car two years ago and started caring. If you look at my car windows, it's obvious I … [Read more...]
Is Your Dog Active? Beware of Harness Chafing
I feel the need to caution people about using harnesses on active dogs. I believe that harnesses are better than collars for dogs when they are being active. However, a harness does have one big downfall for active dogs. It can cause severe harness chafing if you're not careful. My warning harnesses chafing primarily applies to smaller dogs, dogs with thin skin, dogs with little hair, … [Read more...]
Don’t Make These Hiking Mistakes
About 5 years ago, when I was first dating my now husband, I took him and Chester to one of my favorite overnight backpacking spots. We hiked to Marmot Pass on the Upper Big Quilcene trail to camp. Dog's aren't allowed in the Olympic National Park but this trail leads to a 5,000 pass on the boundary of the park that gives you amazing views of the Olympic Mountains. This dog-friendly trail … [Read more...]
Do You Know the Definition of Hiking?
We've had a love affair with Zuke's since before they had any idea who we were and we are proud to have them as one of our long-term sponsors. Their continued support helps to make sure we have the treats we need to fuel our adventures and that I can continue to share our stories and tips. I was sure I knew the definition of hiking. I was also sure I knew the meaning of adventure. During the … [Read more...]
Don’t Get Stuck Hiking In the Dark
We've had a love affair with Zuke's since before they had any idea who we were and we are proud to have them as one of our long-term sponsors. Their continued support helps to make sure we have the treats we need to fuel our adventures and that I can continue to share our stories and tips. In a perfect world, I would be able to head out on a hike with Chester and Gretel and come back when … [Read more...]
Where to Get What’s Inside My Hiking Backpack and Winner
A couple of weeks ago I shared with you what I carry in my day hiking backpack when we go on an adventure with the dogs. Then I held a contest to give some of that stuff away (the winner was Kate Volz - congrats to her!). I got a lot of questions about the items in my backpack. Specifically, a lot of you wanted to know where to get them. (If you are not curious, this post might be a little … [Read more...]
What to Bring When Hiking With Your Dog
I have been hiking with dogs for almost 15 years now. I still manage to forget to pack something every now and then - especially when I am getting back into the swing of things at the beginning of the season. For example, I know better but have been leaving the bug spray at home because we haven't rain into any major bugs in a while....until our hike to Eagle Lake. The mosquitoes were thick there … [Read more...]
Hiking in the Desert with Your Dog? Beware of Valley Fever
A few years ago, a friend spent a couple months traveling and hiking around the southwest desert with his dog. During their road trip back to the Northwest, my friend called me and said his dog wasn't feeling well - acting "off", lethargic, and panting. The dog's symptoms got worse and he was eventually taken to the vet where they diagnosed him with pneumonia. After more tests, it was … [Read more...]
7 Reasons Why Hiking with a Small Dog is Better
I love all dogs and do not discriminate based on size. However, it is a fact that there are differences between small dogs and big dogs. Some of these differences become apparent when you are hiking or backpacking with your Dachshund, Chihuahua, or other small hiking dogs. Advantages of Hiking with Small Dogs [Tweet "7 Advantages of Hiking with Small Dogs via @YDWWYW"] 1) You can use … [Read more...]
