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Remember the time you caught that great shot of your dog leaping over the bushes in hot pursuit of an unsuspecting squirrel? Or the time she dove off the dock like a four-pawed super hero? Show us your leaping dog photos for Ruff Wear’s first ever Leap Year Dog Photo Contest!
Post your leaping dog photos to our wall until the 28th of February. On Leap Day, February 29th, we’ll pick our favorite photo and let the winner select a Ruffwear product of their choice!
We’re looking for photos of your dogs leaping in the great outdoors. Show us your stuff!
By Layla, Mud Puddle Connoisseur
Transcribed by Angelina Oberdan
E. E. Cummings wrote that “the world is mud-licious and puddle-wonderful,” and I’m pretty sure he was a dog despite what my mama says. Rainy days are stupid, but the days after rainy days, those are the best days, the mud puddle days.
Now some dog-parents don’t let their pups get near mud puddles, which is why I decided to write this. My parents let me play in the mud as much as I want, but if you only have a few seconds before your mom or dad drags you out of the puddle to take you home and hose you off, then you should be prepared. You have to know how to pick your mud puddle and the top three muddle moves; you might not get a second shot at this.
Safety Tips:
- If the mud puddle looks deep, wear a life jacket.
- Make sure it’s all mud: no rocks to conk your head on and no snakes. Snakes suck.
- If you have any cuts or sores, make sure you lick them clean afterwards. One time I forgot to clean the mud out of a scratch between my toes, and my foot swelled up to the size of a club, and I didn’t get to play for a week!
- Close your eyes if you put your head under-mud.
- Stinky mud is fine to play in. It’s not moldy; it’s aged.
Picking Your Mud Puddle:
- Like I said, just like wine and cheese, the stinky-er the mud, the better.
- Consider your size and weight. The mud puddle should be bigger than you. A Great Dane playing in a little mud puddle is just ridiculous.
- The mud puddle should be just deep enough that if you lay down in it, your tummy, legs, and a good bit of your chest is covered. This is the prefect depth for rolling.
- If you like to slide, choose a longer mud puddle.
- I like to splash and roll and give myself a mud facial so I like a round, deep mud puddle, preferably with a patch of soggy soil leading up to it so I can slide in, like when I slide across the linoleum into the kitchen where people drop food.
Always share your mud puddle.
Puddle Wonderful!
Top 3 Mud Puddle Moves:
- The Hunker-on-Down- This is better if you’re not so quick or if you have a hip injury. Saunter up to the mud puddle, act nonchalant, and then plop your belly down. Now wallow like a pig and hunker-on-down.
- The Slippery Roll- This is for when you know you’re going to be in big trouble for getting in the mud, like after the car’s been vacuumed. Lie down in that mud puddle, and as your parent runs over, cussing about how they just vacuumed the car, roll. One of two things will happen: you’ll be in as much trouble as you were when you laid down, only happily muddier or your parent will huff and puff, give up, and let you lounge. If your parent tries to pull you out of the mud puddle; you’ll be slippery enough that you can slip out of their imposable thumbs. (Then your dad or mom be covered in mud too, which is healthy, even if the person never admits it.)
- The Home-Run- This is ideal when there’s a soggy patch surrounding the mud puddle. Run and slide, feet first, ear cocked, eyes closed. Wait for the wave of mud that arcs over your back; that’s the best part.
Sometimes the best mud puddle you find is a little one; enjoy it anyway.
***A Note About the Author: Layla has tested the mud in at least 10 states, including Louisiana, which is by far the muddiest. On average she rolls in at least one new, unexplored mud puddle per week (except in the dry months like August); that’s at least fifty-two mud puddles per year. She wears her Ruff Wear life jacket if the mud puddles are deep, and while she knows the command “Tub,” she has wonderful parents who are willing to bathe her whenever she needs it or stands next to the tub, stamps her paw, and demands it).
As snow lovers, we often find ourselves running joyfully through endless hills of white powder without a worry in the world…until…it happens. The inevitable cosmic reaction to fluffy snow when it makes contact with fluffy fur – “Snowballs”. For those of us who charge through winter with extra fluffy four-legged companions, preventing the painful and uncomfortable snow build-up is crucial to keeping those carefree powder moments fun for everyone.
“Not the snowballs AGAIN!!!”
There seems to be a wide range of remedies, ranging from homegrown concoctions to simple planning and protection that can go a long way. We’ve listed some of the top tips and prevention methods that for many of our fluffy dog-loving friends, seem to be working the best. Now all you have to do is determine which one is right for you and your dog.
Paw Protection:
- Winter boots can help prevent unwanted snow build-up in between the paws. For powder and deep snow, we recommend our Polar Trex Winter Boots.
- For optimal boot fit, or even for a cleaner surface to prevent snow from sticking to, we recommend keeping your canine’s toenails trimmed. Additionally, you can help prevent build-up by keeping your canine’s extra paw fur trimmed. Simple trimming scissors or shears can be used in between your dog’s toes and around the paw.
Try not to look at this photo and sigh.
- Mushers Wax can be a good solution if boots are not available or ideal. We recommend a brand called Musher’s Secret that is made from safe and natural food grade waxes. The semi-permeable shield forms a barrier between the snow and the paw.
- Bag Balm is another safe option to use on your canine’s paws and can perform similar to a Mushers Wax.
The Good Stuff
Belly protection:
- Both our Cloud Chaser jacket and our Climate Changer offer the most protection in the snow and can even act like a shield of armor as dogs bound and jump though powder.
- Using a cooking spray to coat the fur can also reduce the snow-build up on the exposed fur
- Trimming the hind quarters of fur and under the tail can also help keep the excess fur to a minimum giving your pup an excuse have a new svelte look.
Care-free Jumping at last!
Overall, these are a few ways for us to keep our extra fluffy dogs enjoying every pounce into invisible mounds of snow squirrels or tree tigers. Until next time, get outside and live it up!
Packing and planning for the nitty gritty of a backpacking trip that is also easy on the paws can challenge us to consider exactly what we choose to pack in and pack out. From life changing treks through the backcountry, to sunrise missions up your local mountain, as a community, we can learn how to educate each other along the not-so-beaten path.
Rango scouts the wonders of the Wallowa Mountains in Oregon
So how do we hike responsibly with our furry friends while still embracing the unexpected along the way? Here at Ruffwear, we’ve honed a few tricks to help with planning your canine’s pack logistics and content for your next expedition.
What size pack should I order for my dog? Ruffwear packs are designed to fit based on your canine’s girth measurement rather than weight or length of the dog. We find that all dogs are unique inside and out. Finding the right sized pack for your canine companion is important, that’s why we’re here to help!
- If possible, try the pack on at your local Ruffwear dealer Friendly and knowledgeable staff can help you find the right size.
- Size down to ensure a snug fit. If your pup is in-between sizes, sizing down can often offer fit that will work better for hiking. If a pack is too large, it can cause shifting and a less-than-ideal fit.
- Adjust the pack to fit comfortably over the shoulders. Our Ruffwear packs are designed to position the majority of the weight forward over your dog’s shoulders, rather than in the middle of their back. This allows the strong parts of your canine’s frame to support the weight inside. You can adjust the front martingale on all of our packs to find the best fit for your canine’s shape.
How much weight should I load into my dog’s pack? The total weight of your canine’s pack should not exceed 25% of their body weight.
- Be sure to load both sides of your canine’s pack equally. Keeping the saddlebag load balanced will minimize on-trail adjustments and provide a more stable load for your dog to carry.
- If you are using our Ruffwear Palisades Pack™, use the built in compression straps. Along with the general weight of the pack, these straps will compress the gear inside leaving more room for weaving through the trees and over rocks.
Compression Straps of our Palisades Pack
In addition to ensuring that your canine has the most appropriate pack to fit their shape and size, we also considered those times when you may wonder; Which Ruffwear Pack is right for my adventure?
Click for a larger view of our Pack Comparison Chart
To truly let loose, and enjoy the trails with our dogs, it always feel great to be prepared. Knowing that our canine companions are comfortable, we can happily watch the dust settle as they zoom through the leaves in fall, pounce over the snow in winter, and wade in the waters of summer.
Where will this year get you packing to?
Squid sniffed the air and glanced up at the thin bit of webbing bonding us together. It was a cool spring morning and his sweet demeanor, on an otherwise normal Saturday Morning, seemed to rub off on me. I glanced up and scanned the landscape for signs that might cause me to doubt his newly-acquired recall abilities. The coast was free and clear with the silence of the woods as we hiked on.
“Alright. You’ve paid your dues my little Squidlet. Here you go”
I unclipped his harness to what seemed like a slow-motion whirlwind of dust and uncertainty. Immediately he pounced across the creek, effortlessly lifting his 50lb mass of muscle that is an American Staffordshire Terrier to the opposite bank. I leaped across the creek to follow and found him dancing with what he presumed to be his new best friend and what was later thoroughly explained to him as an ‘OUCH’. Many hours later he lay sulking at the bottom of the stairs donning the ‘cone of shame’.
Relieved that this was only a minor swing dance with a full-grown porcupine, I was able to calmly transport Squid to the car where we then drove straight to the vet to have his new ‘Quill-jewelry’ removed.
How do we prepare ourselves for the unexpected in the great outdoors with our dogs? The truth is, we can facilitate the safety of our outdoor experiences with our dogs by applying essential tools and knowledge to our everyday excursions. With some planning and forethought, we can prepare ourselves to confidently trot into the unknown and unveil every corner we turn with ease.
Here are some simple tips, tools and suggestions based on our own experiences in the great outdoors:
- In an emergency, phone your veterinarian or emergency clinic to help them prepare for your arrival.
- When planning extended trips, you may want to consider contacting your veterinarian for over the counter medicines and proper dosages for your pet.
- Ask local veterinarians about potentially poisonous plants, animals and environmental conditions that you should be aware of
- Remain calm.
- Stabilize your dog and transport him or her to a veterinary hospital.
For more specific First Aid, we’ve highlighted a few of the most common things to look for whether you’re on your next trek through the hills, or bombing through the powder on the backside of Mt. Bachelor.
In the end, your Ruffwear dogs are thankful for every step you take with them even if means running through the pouring rain after work. Off-season or in-season, get outside!
