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So the Product Team and I spent our workday on the front lawn throwing flying discs back and forth and playing fetch with resident canine fetch machine, Nellie. Yep, that was our day, and we were getting paid, benefits, everything for playing fetch. Sound like a dream job? It is for me, but really it is all part of our ongoing design process. Design, test, design, test, design, test, hug your test dog, design, test, design, test, product release.
June Ruff Wear Featured Comment of the Month
From: Andrea Kaelin and Rescue
Location: Stafford, Virginia
None of our previous Dalmatians ever cared about a frisbee enough to chase it and fetch it. But, Rescue, now 7, has spent the last few years loving his Hover Craft.
As a young pup, he destroyed every frisbee thrown – the cheap plastic ones from PetSmart, the higher end rubber frisbees, the durable fabric frisbees, triangular frisbees, boomerangs, etc. You see, we don’t just catch the frisbee and bring it back to the owner’s feet. Rescue catches, shakes it violently, steps on it, throws it for himself, runs around like a madman, and then wants to play tug-of-war with the frisbee. No other frisbee lasted more than a month, and some only a few minutes. And then, we met the Hover Craft.
It holds up to all the tearing, tugging, shaking, scratching, ripping, freezing, fetching, drenching abuse that he puts it through – and best of all, STILL flies straight and true, in case some humans want to get in on a game of frisbee.
We’ve loved our Hover Craft for about 3 years now – each winter, it almost always gets accidentally left outside, only to be eventually found under the melting snow.
As he gets older, it is wonderful for him to be able to play with a frisbee that doesn’t hurt his teeth when he catches it, and doesn’t hurt his head when he whips it from side to side in a victory dance.
I just bought a new Hover Craft, but I’m giving it away to a pair of terriers since ours is still in great shape!
Thanks for making such a durable product.
- Rescue and His Hover Craft
June Dog Tale of the Month – Tiki Dog Learns to Paddle
location: Central Oregon
As long as I’ve lived in Bend, I’ve seen people on the lakes and rivers with their well-behaved dogs on boats and been envious. Since Tiki has been mountain biking and trail running with me this past year, he wants to go every where I go, and he gets bummed out when he’s left at home. This spring, I decided to take Tiki out in the kayak, even though he’d never been in a boat before.
First, I made sure I had a good life jacket for him. I picked out a Ruff Wear Portage in fern green. It fits him snugly but not constricting. He’s not the best swimmer in the world, so I wanted him to be safe in case he fell in the water or the kayak flipped.
- Lauren and Tiki Paddle the Deschutes
We went down to a kayak put-in on the Deschutes River where I could take Tiki in the water first, to get him acquainted with the life jacket. He didn’t seem too fazed by wearing it in the water. I got in the kayak first and settled in. Then Tiki was lifted in. We sat in the boat together for a few minutes, getting used to the gentle rocking caused by the wake. I thought for sure he would jump out, but he stayed put.
Now came the moment of truth – the launch. I still wasn’t sure how Tiki would do once we got out on the water and added the swaying of the paddle with the motion of the kayak tracking against the current. He was curious – sniffing the air, watching the ducks and geese (on the same level as he was), seeing other boaters go by. I talked to him the whole time, telling him what a good dog he was, and how much fun we were having.
I didn’t want to take him too far the first time, in case he wanted out of the boat. We paddled about 20 minutes and then I turned the boat around. He got a little nervous, moving around, and leaning into me, causing the boat to tip ever so slightly. I kept talking (and singing) to him until we made it back to the dock. He was very happy to be back on shore, and ran to chomp on a stick he had found.
Since that went so well, we went back out a few days later. We went to the same put-in and paddled around the same part of the river. Tiki seemed much more at ease the second time around. Upon our arrival back at the dock, the brave Tiki Dog decided to dive out of the kayak and swim back to shore. He swam like a champ thanks to his Float Coat.
My plans for this summer include taking Tiki up to the high Cascade Lakes and paddling around for a few hours at a time. With a little time he’ll learn to just lay down and enjoy the ride. There’s nothing better than sharing the adventure with my dog.
Ruff Wear’s new Climate Changer Fleece Jacket for dogs keeps your four-legged friend insulated from the cold when you’re trail running, hiking, or kicking around town.
Ruff Wear expands their existing eco-sensitive line this fall with the addition of the fleece jacket, made with Polartec® Classic 200 fleece fabric. The Climate Changer contains 87 percent recycled content, which minimizes the product’s carbon footprint. In recognition, Polartec® has awarded Ruff Wear its coveted APEX Award for outstanding achievement in design and innovative use of Polartec® fabric.
Each year the Polartec® APEX Awards recognize the best garment and accessory designs in the world for their innovative use of Polartec® fabrics. Products are judged on fit, function, and design as well as the thoughtful application of Polartec® fabrics to achieve the desired performance.
“Ruff Wear strives to develop new products that leverage the latest carbon-reduction technologies while elevating overall product quality. Minimizing our environmental impact is a core tenet of the company and of the Ruff Wear brand. We are honored to receive this recognition from Polartec®, one of the leading outdoor brands, and are excited to bring the Climate Changer to market this fall,” said Patrick Kruse, Ruff Wear founder and owner.
The Climate Changer will be available this fall through specialty pet and outdoor retailers as well as through www.ruffwear.com. The Climate Changer will save the energy equivalent of 7.2 pounds of carbon dioxide per jacket compared to virgin polyester.
