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I’m not just a self-proclaimed river rat; I literally dwell on the river–or at least I used to–on a floating home. That’s right, a home that has floats instead of a foundation and bobs up and down with river tides.
Our floating home
There is a universal code for identifying river rats: dock shoes, tan lines, Oakleys, the last surviving species of the relic “koozie”, and of course…the Labrador Retriever.
Deeg, my Labrador/Golden mix was meant to be the “perfect” dock dog. At only a few months of age, he would approach the water with such enthusiasm, he would practically hyperventilate at the sight of a puddle. So when we moved onto the river, we thought, “how perfect for Deeg.”
Deeg was part of our "river rat" pack long before our floating home days
Hmmm…perfect alright. In case you were wondering: DOG that loves water PLUS living on WATER, EQUALS the following lessons learned:
- Carpets are not sponges, though that’s what ours felt like.
- Leash plus lounge chairs means unanticipated afternoon dip.
- Toys that sink to the bottom of the river are considered unretrievable by humans, but not dogs. Read the rest of this entry »
I believe in my heart that winter camping is reserved for true powder hounds who love nothing more than to be waist deep in the fluffy white stuff. These hardy souls have a skill set that I just do not possess.
I’ve found that many of my co-workers enjoy nothing more than spending a frosty night in the backcountry. My biggest question for them has always been: where do you sleep?
After comparing their answers with the blizzard of information available online, I learned that there are, in fact, tons of options when constructing a snow dwelling. Who knew? After assessing the good, the bad and the ugly…here are my findings. In conclusion, if ever I was to go winter camping, I think I’d like to try the Quinzee for the following reasons:
1. I would feel like an Eskimo.
2. It seems pretty easy (even if time consuming) to build.
3. It seems like one of the warmer options.
4. The time spent constructing would keep my blood going, and keep me warm.
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Snow Cave
What is it? A dug out snow structure.
The Good: Some protection from the elements. FREE to build.
The Ugly: Time consuming. Requires a shovel. Will get wet while constructing.
A Snow Cave
Quinzee
What is it? Something between an igloo and a snow cave.
The Good: It looks like you’re sleeping in a snow cone. FREE to build.
The Ugly: Time consuming. Requires a shovel. Will get wet while constructing.
A Quinzee
As a bit of a newcomer to Oregon’s trails, I’m always a little shocked to see trails where dogs must be on-leash, or worse yet—not allowed at all. When it says, “dogs are a disturbance to nature,” I think, “don’t they have the same rights to be in nature as we do?” I mean, after all, aren’t we both the result of the domestication of our ancestors? Both mammals, both companions, and both, well…natural?
After recently taking a look at the FAIR campaign—a campaign raising awareness for giving dogs off-leash access to outdoor spaces—I wanted to know why anyone would be opposed to that. Turns out, there are a variety of reasons, but if we take responsibility for dogs on trails where they are allowed, the likelihood of keeping those spaces available to dogs (and making more spaces available) is higher. So, as reminder to those who frequent trails with their dog (and an education piece for those new to the trail) I have compiled a list of canine trail etiquette for your viewing pleasure:
1. The only dogs that should be barking are your feet. You wouldn’t let your dog run after cars and chase them on a walk—same rule applies to the trail.
Recently, I overheard a customer asking a sales person about what type of camping supplies they should buy. The retailer asked, “Are you backpacking or camping?”, and it made me think of the differences between the two activities and why it’s important to consider the type of overnight adventure you are planning before purchasing outdoor gear–yes, even dog gear!
Ruff Wear makes a variety of canine gear for outdoor adventures. But before the first design is drafted, the first stitch is sewn, or the first dog hair is shed on it, our design team determines the use, conditions, and activities for the product being designed. In our pack, bed, and bowl lines, our goal has been to design products ideal for backpacking and camping, with features that complement each activity.
Since backpacking gear requires long hikes over many miles, weight and space were huge considerations in our design plan for backpacking gear. The Highlands Bed™ and Bivy Bowl™ were designed to be lightweight and compact, while capacity was a huge factor in the Palisades Pack™, so your dog can carry it comfortably during multi-day adventures.
Conversely, camping usually allows for a greater number and size of supplies, providing the opportunity for increased sleeping space (our Mt. Bachelor Pad™ comes in a 3′ x 4′ large size), and larger multi-day food and water bowls, such as our Quencher™ bowls.
Here are our recommendations for the best canine camping and backpacking gear options.
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Backpacking Gear List
The Pack – Palisades Pack™
The Palisades Pack is our largest capacity pack; with enough room for a bowl, food, a Highlands Bed™, and 2L of water. It comes with two, easy-pour water bladders, removable saddlebags for breaks and water crossings, and a compression system to help balance a large load.
The Bowl – Bivy Bowl™
The Bivy Bowl is single-walled, so it packs down into small spaces and weighs less than 2 oz. It also shakes dry, making cleaning and drying a breeze when there’s no extra water to spare.
The Bed – Highlands Bed™
The Highlands Bed comes with its own stuff sack which compresses to fit inside any size Palisades Pack (total stuffed size is 12″ x 5″ [30 x 13cm] and 14 oz [400 g]). The water-resistant, quick-drying shell doesn’t require the shelter of a tent, so Fido can enjoy the outdoors…outdoor! The synthetic shell fabric was built to withstand tears from dog nails, sharp rocks, and campsite debris, and includes four stakeout loops to help keep it in place or for hanging out to dry.
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Camping Gear List
The Pack – Approach Pack™
The Approach Pack is large enough to fit all the essentials: water, leash, food, and bowl.
The Bowl – Quencher Cinch Top™ Collapsible Bowl
The Quencher bowl comes in a variety of sizes from 24 fl oz (.7L) to 2.6 qt (2.5L). The cinch-top version is great for filling with kibble and cinching shut, while the open-top style is great for water. The pyramid-style, tapered shape works well in the car, minimizing spillage.
The Bed – Mt. Bachelor Pad™
The Mt. Bachelor Pad rolls up into a convenient bed roll for carrying to and from the campsite. It has 1″ of loft and up to 7″ x 19″ (18 x 48 cm) of bed space (size L) for your dog to “sprawl” out on. It will hardly seem like your dog is “ruffing” it!
(customer-submitted photograph)
First, let’s start off by saying we believe dogs have a great ability to maintain a natural balance that keeps them clean despite their hygiene habits.
A dog’s fur and oils are amazingly resistant to dirt and stench without lots of grooming, and over-washing may actually strip a dog’s fur of natural oils.
That being said, there comes a time in every dog’s life when their smell is no longer welcome in the car or home, and one must bite the bullet and wash their dog.
How do you know the time has come?
Here are ten signs that a dog bath is in order:
1. He’s growing a nice coat of mud.
2. When your dog greets you with her smell before her bark.
3. The skunk runs from the dog.
4. He’s beginning to get rather manageable dread locks.
5. People begin asking what breed she is because they’ve never seen a brown (Pyreneese, American Eskimo, Husky…).
6. Fleas have begun to hold Town Hall meetings on his back.
7. She’s getting the cold shoulder at the dog park.
8. He catches a whiff of something he wants to track down, and then realizes it’s his own stench.
9. She actually has entire bushes embedded in her hair.
10. People call him in as an abandoned dog while still on-leash.
Jack taught us to truly enjoy every moment outdoors
Shortly after moving to Central Oregon to work for Ruff Wear, my husband I decided we needed a dog that matched the Central Oregon lifestyle. We wanted a dog that would keep up on long runs, enjoy bike riding, and endure the cold Central Oregon winters. But little did we know just how “active” an active dog could be!
We checked the local shelters for a dog that would meet our credentials. We wanted a larger dog with shorter hair and a fun-loving personality. We stumbled across a shelter 40 miles away that was a no-kill shelter (The Humane Society of the Ochocos). They had just received a litter of five pups–”probably Saint Bernard mixes” (FYI – that’s shelter talk for “Husky”). Read the rest of this entry »
