From Yahoo Travel: Camping With Dogs is the Very Best Thing on Instagram
We hit the "go" button in January and 8 months later we are featured in Yahoo Travel! You can read more about what they had to say about Camping With Dogs creator, Ryan Carter, and National Camping With Dogs Day: HERE
But for now, don't miss this adorable #CampingWithDogs video from Yahoo Travel!
25 Reasons Dogs Make The Best Camping Companions
Cover photo PC: @isaacloval
There are dogs and then there are dogs that love to hike, camp, kayak and SUP! Camping With Dogs is the latter of the two. We're a community of people that love having a companion to join us on our outdoor adventures. On September 5, 2015, we are celebrating the first ever National Camping With Dogs Day. National Camping With Dogs Day is a day to celebrate and appreciate our dogs that follow us to the ends of the trail map.
Here are 25 reasons we think dogs make the best outdoor companions:
1. They celebrate every summit
2. They love hanging out with a view
Hanging out with Mother . #campingwithdogs @loki_the_wolfdog
3. They can play "follow the leader"
Playing a game: follow the leader. #campingwithdogs @isaaclkoval
4. Or they can be the leader
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world. #campingwithdogs @sam__davis
5. They love day time naps in a tent
6. They never miss a sunrise
7. They never miss a sunset
It's moments like these we wish time could stand still. #campingwithdogs @manamon_kauai
8. They love camp fires
Does this sum up your perfect weekend? #campingwithdogs @noemilag
9. They won't let you forget to take them with you
What are some of your "must have" camping essentials? #campingwithdogs @robinventures
10. They travel well...
10. They pack their own gear
This dog is basically a human. Someone give her a drivers license! #campingwithdogs @mazamadog
11. They love alpine swim sessions
12. They don't mind muddy trail conditions
13. Snow is their favorite
14. They make friends with other campers
15. They will let you know when it's time to rest
16. They will let you know when it's time to go!
"Did somebody say bacon?!" #campingwithdogs via @patagonia and @bluemountainthyme
17. They will collect your firewood
@west_coast_heeler_pack was promoted to branch manager today... #campingwithdogs
18. They wake us with morning kisses
19. They have a sense of adventure
First ascents? @deanpotter's dog holds all the K9 records. #campingwithdogs
20. They can be protective
21. They are man's best friend
22. They are woman's best friend
23. They give the best hugs
Mountain top snuggles are the best kind. @jessica__caitlin #campingwithdogs
24. They make relationships 10x better
The definition of #HappyCampers. #campingwithdogs @camptogether
25. And they give us memories that will last forever
Now THIS is the best #CampingWithDogs night shot we've ever seen! @kaffegram
We want to see your next Camping With Dogs moment. Share you adventures with us by using the hashtag #campingwithdogs and @campingwithdogs on Instagram.
Peace. Love. Camp With Dogs
Wag N Swag Contest
Our wonderful friends at Kurgo have put together an awesome Summer Gear Pack featuring a Camping With Dogs shirt, Surf n Turf Life Jacket, Ruff Guide Travel Book, Wood Chuck & Ball, Planet Dog Chew Toys, Quantum Leash and a Zippy Bowl. All you have to do is enter below!
Wag'n'Swag Summer GiveawayWhen is my dog ready to hike off-leash?
Meet John Imler! John is the owner and lead trainer of Top Dog Training. He’s a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers and International Association of Canine Professionals. He is a graduate of National K9, a nationally recognized school that has been in operation for over 30 years. He has worked with trainers and clients from all over the US and as far away as Greece. We’re excited to start sharing John and others expertise with you.
Getting out with our dogs is one of the most rewarding activities we can do with our dogs. It takes us back tens of thousands of years to the same activities our ancestors did with their canine companions.
Before we fall to the allure of cutting our dogs off leash and going into the woods, we have to be realistic in our skills and the capabilities of our dog. The risks are substantial and could result in best-case, our dogs running off chasing an animal for a few hours and worst-case our dogs getting lost and being struck by a vehicle.
Regardless, here are 3 key commands/behaviors your dog needs to understand.
The dog’s name: I tell clients the 2 most important things to teach your dog is their name and a recall. I want the dog to know their name because when we say it, it is imperative that they look at us. They need focus on us rather than the object that held their attention a moment ago. Too often we call our dog and we end up repeating the dog’s name over and over and basically pleading with them for attention. When you call your dog and they look at you, make it worth their while. Reward them with a treat or praise!
A solid recall: that has both a verbal cue/command as well as a hand signal. As I mentioned above, a solid recall is one of the most important things your dog needs to have in the real world. We need to call the dog once and the dog responds by moving directly to us. Provide the dog with a high value reward and/or substantial praise EVERY time they come to you. Let them think that the greatest thing in the world is getting to you when you call them!
And finally, an off leash command: Recalls, casual walk commands, and heels are all commands that allow the dog to manage distance. When we teach a simple “walk” command we are teaching the dog to match our pace, on our left or right side within 4 feet. When we teach “heel” the dog learns to walk in VERY close proximity to our left and maintain focus on us. When we teach a “Hike” or “Let’s Go” command we are teaching the dog to stay within 20-30 feet and maintain contact with us by checking in with us. We can manage this by using a long line.
Using these commands, we can teach our dog to explore with us and stay within close proximity off leash WHILE checking in with us. We have the confidence to know that when we call our dog’s name they will immediately turn their attention to us. Finally, if we need to get a leash on our dog we are confident in our recall that we can get the dog to us as soon as possible.
So work on these with your dog… and when you are ready, unleash and go!
John Imler left a successful career with a Fortune 500 company to spend his days with wagging tails and covered in dog slobber. He is the owner and lead trainer of Top Dog Training in Louisville, KY. He is a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers and International Association of Canine Professionals. He has worked with trainers and clients from all over the US and as far away as Greece.
Connect with John for more tips and tricks!
Facebook- Top Dog Training, LLC
Twitter - @johnimlerTDT
Instagram - @TOPDOGTRAININGKY
Tips for Hiking with a Dachshund (Or any small dog!)
With National Camping with Dogs Day just around the corner (9.5.15), we thought it would be fun to ask some of our more avid hikers, there top tips for hiking. We’d like to introduce you to Marjorie Clark and her adorable dachshund Ellie. Hiking with smaller dogs can be a challenge. Here are Marjorie’s top 3 tips for hiking with a small dog:
Ellie has been my constant outdoor companion for the past four years. She goes camping and hiking, rain or shine, and she’s only 10 inches tall. My little 6-year-old dachshund is my most constant companion.
I admit that it’s pretty fun to see the look on hikers’ faces when they realize there’s a short little dog with me. The idea of a dachshund making it to the end of a five-mile hike with incline and creek crossings is the ultimate underdog story. The real story is little dogs need exercise and adventure and an opportunity to explore (and chase squirrels) as much as big dogs.
1. Be aware of distance and intensity. Ellie can easily go five miles, but if the trail has a significant vertical climb, she’s done at four. It took me a few adventures to discover her limit, two of which ended with her 13 pounds riding comfortably in my arms back to the car. If you’re unsure of your pup’s limit, start with shorter hikes and work up the miles and they become conditioned to the distance and terrain. Watch for signs of exhaustion, including panting and slow, low-energy steps, and be ready to pack your friend out.
2. Be aware of obstacles. My pup is surprisingly limber and spry; her 4-inch legs handle stairs, logs, and creek crossings like a champ. But she certainly can’t handle a five-foot leap up a slippery boulder. I let her navigate finding an alternate route, and she’s pretty good at it, but that time we came across an old-growth tree blocking the trail? She needed a lift. Better safe than sorry in giving your pup an extra hand navigating tricky terrain.
3. Be aware that your small pup is working really hard. Ellie works many times harder than long-legged dogs to travel the same distance. She’s also closer to the ground, so puddles and snow piles are within range of her chest and belly and can be shocking to her system. If the weather is particularly chilly or wet, I make sure to bring her jacket or a towel to keep her warm during the lunch break. I also pack extra snacks for her, and make sure we frequently pause to rehydrate.
It’s rewarding to take Ellie out and reach the top of the mountain or secluded lake where the big dogs play. It’s especially rewarding when she sees her harness and knows we’re in for an adventure. She loves it as much as I do.
Marjorie Clark is a writer and editor living near Seattle. When she's not working, she's reading, exploring the woods, and catching up on 30 Rock. On her bucket list is rafting through the Grand Canyon and a months-long road trip across the U.S. with her dachshund Ellie, who enjoys romping in the woods, exploring the beach, and sleeping in a tent as much as her human.
Twitter: @marjiebc Instagram: @marjiebc
What a $5.63 Jamba Juice Drink Taught Me About Being a Dog Owner
By Christine Brewer of Camping With Dogs
I learned a very invaluable lesson today and this time I only paid $5.63 for it. I’m here visiting Phoenix, Arizona where temps right now are about 116 degrees. Basically miserable. I felt no guilt as I made a much needed stop to my favorite smoothie chain, Jamba Juice.
As I was patiently waiting for my Pink Star, a women and her daughter popped their heads in the door and asked if anyone owned a gold pick-up truck. A young man responded that he did and turned back around.
The women then said,
“You have a dog inside of your car and it’s 113 degrees outside meaning it 130 degrees inside your car and he’s barking like crazy.”
The man said, “I’ll only be a few more minutes” and again turned back around. The women then said something so simple yet so profound:
“You do realize that you have left your dog helpless in the car. That wasn’t his choice. It was yours. Now I’m going to make a choice. If you’re not out here in 2 minutes, I’m calling the police”.
This summer as you are out and about taking your furry little friend on all sorts of adventures, be sure to remember one thing: Your choices don’t just affect your life but also that of your fellow dog. Adventure responsibly so that your days together may be long and prosperous! (Yes, we did just throw a little E.T. into this) We’ve even blogged about the top 5 most important things to remember when taking your dog camping. Your dogs life is in YOUR hands.