This is your page to post questions, comments, gear reviews, and stories about Ruff Wear products. So, don’t be shy, bark away! We’re waiting to hear you howl.
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September Ruff Wear Featured Comment of the Month
From: Jen and Dixie
This has changed Dixie’s life. She won’t go anywhere without it! Thought I would share this with Ruffwear!
Dixie sports the latest Ruff (Neck) Wear
Thanks so much,
Jen and Dixie
97 comments
Comments feed for this article
September 2, 2010 at 2:18 pm
ace blackler
I’m a disabled Iraq war Vet, my dog Lucy is not only certified to work for me, but she’s my best friend.
i have boots for my dog which I would REALLY like her to be able to wear in houses with wood floors, and hot pavement… I’ve tried 5 different styles and brands of boots and none of them will stay on her feet. I’m looking at the Ruffwear boots but I cant afford to continue to spend so much money on yet ANOTHER pair of boots that might not stay on.
Has anyone had this problem?
I could REALLY use some input.
September 2, 2010 at 2:27 pm
ruffwear
First, I would recommend checking out the reviews on our boots (available at ruffwear.com, altrec.com, or rei.com). Second, if you are going to buy them, I would make sure to either test drive them at the store, or call our customer service department for personalized help because proper fit is KEY! Finally, if your dog is a certified working dog, you may qualify for a discount. Please feel free to inquire with our customer service department at: 888-783-3932.
August 2, 2010 at 11:14 pm
Keith Shank
I absolutely love RW products and the thoughtful design that goes into them. I’ve been hoping for a long time that you would create a dog safety harness for car travel. The harnesses on the market are just so/so; I really think RW could do a better job.
Are you concerned about liability issues, or just haven’t got around to designing one yet?
August 4, 2010 at 4:58 pm
susan
Hi Keith -
Thanks for comment. We have heard from some customers that they would like to see a dog safety harness for car travel from Ruff Wear.
Currently, Ruff Wear makes gear for dogs to be used in the outdoors and while vehicles do transport us and our dogs to our favorite outdoor destinations, car travel doesn’t fit our “outdoor adventure” focus. Also, if we were to design and sell a harness for car travel, extensive testing would need to be done (probably in a crash lab with a dog “dummy”). We would need to devote significant resources to making a car safety harness safe and functional. This product is not a priority for us right now. We do appreciate your feedback! Thanks for taking the time.
August 4, 2010 at 7:23 pm
Hinckley the Dog
Keith,
I use my webmaster harness and a leash from bamboo – http://www.bamboopet.com/products/detail/dog/1/7/810045
It works great and there’s no chance of me flying through the window if my owner stops fast. Hope this helps.
Woof,
Hinckley the Dog
August 4, 2010 at 9:20 pm
Ruff Wear Pack
Hi Hinckley -
The Web Master has plastic buckles so in the event of a collision or accident, these buckles may not hold. The Web Master is not designed to be used for this purpose! Please use at your own risk.
Thanks for your comments!
July 31, 2010 at 3:10 am
Nick
We’re planning on taking our two dogs backpacking for the first time. Any advice? Should we worry about attracting animals? Maybe a blog post would be helpful.
August 4, 2010 at 5:04 pm
susan
Hi Nick – some good questions! Here are some links to previous blog posts that might be helpful:
http://dogblog.ruffwear.net/2010/07/15/pack-in-pack-out/
http://dogblog.ruffwear.net/2010/07/07/high-and-light/
http://dogblog.ruffwear.net/2010/07/01/dog-friendly-camping-and-backpacking-interactive-map/
Regarding attracting animals, bear-resistant containers are recommended when backpacking, REI or other outdoor outfitters can help you plan accordingly. Many times, having a dog around will cause most wildlife (small critters, deer, birds) to flee.
Thanks for your questions! Let us know if you have more.
July 29, 2010 at 5:58 pm
Sean Anderson
Anyone from the Baltimore area? I’m just moving to Towson, MD and would love to find some places to take my dog. Any suggestions?
July 29, 2010 at 6:26 pm
ruffwear
You can check out our “Dog Friendly Places” Map: http://www.zeemaps.com/pub?group=161338&legend=1&list=1&shuttered=1&search=1&geosearch=1&x=-21.7969&y=35.1738&z=14&add=1&connect=1&track=UA-4968032-2
July 29, 2010 at 5:33 pm
Liz Seely
Ruffwear Flophouse Foam Pad Review
This is one amazing product! Ruffwear claims it dries quickly and is waterproof to help keep dogs from getting wet from top to bottom. It is supposed to be used while camping, boating or in your car.
Well…I work with a dog named Tucker. He finds whale poop for me from the bow of a boat here in the San Juan Islands. While Tucker is resting between shifts, he sleeps in a crate on the boat on the Ruffwear Flophouse Foam Pad.
He and I couldn’t like it more. The Flophouse keeps Tucker dry from the water on the bottom of his crate and dries quickly after it has been splashed from larger waves. It is so comfortable that he can often be heard snoring as he’s resting!
I washed it the other day for the first time and couldn’t be more pleased! After taking the foam out and rinsing it down, it dried within minutes. The outer layer fit into the washer and came out smelling and looking wonderful. I air dried it and had no problems with the foam losing it’s shape or the Flophouse becoming lumpy.
It’s now back to it’s home inside Tucker’s crate and he’s more than happy to hang out and rest during his breaks.
Thank you Ruffwear!
Liz Seely
Conservation Canines
July 29, 2010 at 6:27 pm
ruffwear
This is so helpful! Thanks for letting us know how it meets your nautical needs!
July 29, 2010 at 1:58 pm
Seppi
Hey Ruffwear. I am an adventure bloggin’ dog named Seppi. I love your stuff! Check out my adventures at http://www.travelswithseppi.blogspot.com
Cheers!
Vince
July 29, 2010 at 6:28 pm
ruffwear
We’ll check it out! Let us know if you would like to do a guest blog entry!
August 12, 2010 at 8:28 pm
Seppi
anytime!
April 25, 2010 at 1:30 am
Boer
It’s difficult to tell from the pictures of the new SingleTrak pack, but does it have an aluminum ring for leash attachment like the other two Ruff Wear packs?
April 27, 2010 at 2:23 pm
ruffwear
It has a PVC-coated webbing ring for leash attachment between the nape of the neck an the start of the handle.
April 29, 2010 at 4:18 pm
Boer
I was considering the SingleTrak for short endurance activities with my Alaskan malamute such as running, bikejoring, and short day hikes, it seems like the perfect combination of a pack and a harness except for this lack of a metal leash attachment. My dog, being a sled dog, tend to pull a lot on a leash, so I don’t think a PVC coated webbing ring will be strong enough to hold her. And I don’t want to use a collar because the same pulling issue.
The aluminum rings on the Palisades and Approach packs are really nice and strong (I already have a Palisades pack), but I like them better for longer hiking and camping trips. For shorter trips I like something more compact and streamlined, like the SingleTrak.
I hope Ruff Wear will add an aluminum ring on the SingleTrak in the future, then it will be a perfect harness/pack combo for the active dog and their person. I’ll sure to get one them. For now I have to stick with my Palisades pack for its strong aluminum ring.
April 29, 2010 at 5:32 pm
ruffwear
Something to keep in mind. Even though the Palisades and Approach pack have a metal leash attachment, the metal piece is attached to the actual harness with a piece of webbing, much like the SingleTrak Pack. So they should function similarly. Another option would be to attach the leash to the reinforced handle.
August 18, 2010 at 3:07 pm
Boer
Reading the 7/13/2010 review for the SingleTrak, the PVC-coated webbing ring is not very strong as I have feared. Being a rock climber, I have a gut feeling about strength of material and stitching. While it’s true that the metal ring on the Palisades and Approach is also attached by webbing to the harness, the webbing is much wider (thus more and stronger stitching) compare to the webbing ring on the SingleTrak. Unless Ruff Wear reinforce the stitching on the SingleTrak’s webbing ring like a climbing harness’s belay loop, I’d still like to see the metal leash attachment on the SingleTrak.
August 31, 2010 at 3:59 pm
ruffwear
Thanks for letting us know. We will pass this on to our design team.
April 24, 2010 at 1:45 am
Desiree Townsend
I just read one of the posts about the Bark n Boots and have been thinking about buying them for awhile. I have taken my dog (a 3 yr. old Lab/Chow/German Shepherd) hiking in the middle of West Texas in the summer without anything on his feet and he did just fine. I’ve also taken him walking on sidewalks, and through Montana snow with 8-in-1 protecting wax on his paws and we had no trouble. He’s brushed into cactus and climbed up the side of a canyon. Does he need something more than the wax (like boots), or do I not have to worry about it since it hasn’t been a problem so far?
April 27, 2010 at 2:21 pm
ruffwear
It’s different for all dogs. Some are fortunate enough to never suffer from any sort of paw injuries. Bark ‘n Boots are really about preventing injury that may occur–cuts sharp rocks/glass, worn pads, or street chemicals. Wax works for some dogs and can prevent certain injuries; Bark’n Boots are for those looking for a little more protection.
Speaking from experience,we had a incident recently where one of the office dogs went for a hike on a new type of terrain and tore his pad because he was not wearing boots. It was thought his paws wouldn’t need boots because they were worn in and tough. It was a long 2-mile haul back to the car!
April 21, 2010 at 10:07 pm
Joss Heideman
Wondering, is it possible to put a larger size water bladder in the Single Track packs? It comes with two .5 litre platypus but with my dogs size and activity level she needs at least 2 litres a day.. So i thought maybe those pockets could fit a 1 litre platypus bag in each? Anyone tried, or are the pockets to small??
April 22, 2010 at 2:19 pm
ruffwear
The capacity of the saddlebags is 1.2L on each side, so assuming that you can find the right shaped bladder, you would most likely be able to fit it inside. We tried to make the saddlebags big enough to accommodate all sorts of water containers, such as bike bottles, aluminum bottles, and bladders.
April 8, 2010 at 5:00 pm
Hinckley
Hi,
I have to say I love your producst, and was very excited to see your new spring products. Unfortunately, I’m a smaller dog and they are just to big for me. Are you going to be coming out with smaller versions of the Singletrack Pack, Headwater Collar, and Hydro Plane? I have about 17″ girth and 12″ neck. I spend a lot of time out on the boat and around the water so I’d love to have them. Thanks again for your great products.
Woof,
Hinckley
April 8, 2010 at 5:03 pm
ruffwear
We are working on it. We’re sad that your dog is just a few inches shy of both products, but we are looking into ways to maximize the adjustment of our collars and packs so we can accommodate more dogs. Thanks for the bark!
February 24, 2010 at 7:13 pm
Paul Field
Can you make the harness using blaze orange? I have a wirehaired dachshund I use for blood tracking deer. Since this is always in hunting season and her coat is wild boar, I am afraid someone might shoot her for a varmit if she gets away from me.
February 24, 2010 at 9:18 pm
ruffwear
We have a blaze orange coat called the Track Jacket™ but unfortunately it does not have an integrated harness. I will pass your suggestion along to our product team.
http://www.ruffwear.com/Track-Jacket?sc=2&category=12&leadsource=SM2010TrackJacket
February 12, 2010 at 4:43 pm
Mary Beth Murray
In the summer of 2010, Ken Shaw, along with his dog Gracie, will thru-hike the Finger Lakes Trail from the Catskill Mountains to the New York, Pennsylvania border in Allegany State Park as a fundraiser for Theatre Of Youth (TOY) located in Buffalo, NY. Ken is the Head of Design at TOY.
Gracie, a Whippet mix, was adopted by Ken in 2009. She has been training in RuffWear boots, pack and trail leash. She loves her hikes with Ken and is very comfortable on the training trails with her gear. Gracie will begin their 50 day journey on May 15, 2010. Each hiking day is 8 to 18 miles. Gracie will join Ken on the trail that has been deemed safe terrain for pooches. Ken has arranged for Road Spotters and Trail Angles to take care of Gracie for the unfriendly parts of the trail. Gracie and Ken will cross rivers, climb mountains, descend into ravines, cross 1 National Forest, four State Parks, 41 State Forests and 3 Wildlife Management Areas. Additionally, their adventure will have them pumping and filtering water, cooking food on a portable stove, sleeping in tents or open front shelters, hanging bear bags, building fires and hopefully not get lost in the woods! The Kids at the Theatre think this is all very exciting and most especially are interested in Gracie’s adventures
(I am a friend of the Theatre and a strong supporter of animal rescue programs, the Theatre and the Finger Lakes Trail. I love this story and wanted to share a taste of it.)
February 12, 2010 at 4:51 pm
ruffwear
We wish Gracie the best of times on her 50-day adventure and hope you will keep us updated on your progress! Happy Trails (or tails!).
January 9, 2010 at 7:44 pm
stephanie
Your dog beds are the only ones my blue heeler does not try to destroy. I have the Mt. Bachelor pad and Urban Sprawl. I would like to get another Urban Sprawl but appears you have discontined them? Any chance another style may be coming out with the additional padding like the Sprawl?
January 12, 2010 at 3:10 pm
ruffwear
Yes, the Urban Sprawl has been discontinued. You may be able to find it online still, or through your local retailer. No plans on replacing it with a similar bed for the time being, though we recommend the Flophouse Foam Pad as a nice replacement. Though a much lower profile, the Flophouse has two layers of foam density that provide similar comfort without the bulk. The other bonus is the Flophouse can be washed with a squirt of the hose and hung out to dry.
July 31, 2010 at 11:14 am
Carmel
I am so sad that you have stopped making the urban sprawl. I bought 2 of these in 2007 for my canine rehab business and all my patients love them. Thick, warm, perfect for old dogs and dogs with sore elbows, hips, knees. Especially the big dogs. I always used to recommend them to my owners, and now they can no longer buy them for themselves.
August 5, 2010 at 5:39 pm
ruffwear
For those of you love the Urban Sprawl, might we recommend the Big Shrimpy…very similar in size and structure: http://www.bigshrimpy.com/our-products/all-products/original1
January 5, 2010 at 11:15 pm
bobderiemacker
Hello, I just bought the Web Master Harness and older style “the Beacon” (yellow/red single LED). Does the Web Master Harness have a specific spot for the beacon or just where ever you can clip it on??
thanks
Bob D
January 6, 2010 at 3:25 pm
ruffwear
Because the Webmaster™ is often layered with other products, and because it is used for working dogs who don’t want any added pieces that have the potential to get caught on brush, there is no light loop on the Webmaster™.
We recommend placing the Beacon™ on the top of the Webmaster™, centered at the front (just below the nape of the neck). There are many other options, however, such as placing the Beacon™ on the collar, or on the tow loop on the back of the Webmaster™
January 5, 2010 at 4:35 am
FRANKLIN HARRINGTON
i just wanna say that my dad loves your products!!! he has been buying me all this really cool stuff since i was a pup and i thank you so much for building such a solid product. i am a service dog (husky/aus shep mix) and travel quite a bit. we live in colorado mostly but spend our summers on marthas vineyard fishing. my dad has me on the only 100% natural diet on the market (NATURES LOGIC) and it gives me the overall health to just run and play all day. i would be so bummed if your gear and toys were poorly built. i really count on you everyday. i just wanna say thank you so much. YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!!!!!!!
January 4, 2010 at 1:22 am
Camilla
First a few comments about your coats; I find it a bit odd that all of them only cover the front parts of the dog, as it is in my opinion very important to keep the muscles in the back legs warm. I understand that there is not always a need for a “proper” coat, but here the temperature goes at times below -30 and the wind from the sea makes it even worse.
But then my question; I am interested in the DoubleBack™ Collar, but I have 2 questions. Because we do not have them here in stores I need to order them so I can’t check them before ordering
1. Is it hard to put them on and take them off? I do not want my dogs to wear collars inside, so I would need to put them on and off many times a day.
2. Does it hold the size adjustments? I read a comment that the plastic part would not work properly? I have two very strong dogs and I can’t afford any accidents.
Best regards from Scandinavia:
Camilla
January 5, 2010 at 3:31 pm
ruffwear
Hi Camilla –
To answer your questions, the DoubleBack™ collar is not as quick to take on and off as a collar with a with a side-release buckle because it requires to be laced every time. There are two ways to lace it (straight-thru or double-backed). The straight-thru method takes less time but the double-back method ensures the webbing will not budge, and has a strength rating of 2,000 lbs–so your dogs will not slip out of this one.
The other benefit of this collar is you are able to size it down to the micro-meter. When doubled-back, the color will absolutely hold the size adjustment. I’m afraid the reviewer had this collar mistaken for another–the buckle is strength-rated metal, not plastic, so it will not break.
January 3, 2010 at 4:44 am
Wimsey
OK, so I now own the Cloud Chaser also which is ideal for snowy days in the Big Apple (see pics on the blog). It’s kind of like wearing an insulated Speedo or a wet suit and the form fitting nature of if took some getting used to but when snow happens, I happen. And my human doesn’t have a pile of black filthy wet towels at the end of a romp.
January 5, 2010 at 3:33 pm
ruffwear
One of our favorite features of this jacket is the belly coverage, which protects the underside from dirt, debris and snowballs!
Way to pick up on the look of the jacket. Often customers buy the coat too large, but it should in fact have a fit similar to a “wetsuit.”
December 20, 2009 at 4:20 am
Boer
I really like the reflective thread in the Knot-a-Just collar for that extra safety for my dog at night. I would love to see this feature on the other styles of Ruff Wear collars as well!
December 29, 2009 at 7:08 pm
ruffwear
Stay tuned. We have a new reflective collar that will be available in April.
December 14, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Adam
Hi, I’m posting to get in contact with marketing or whoever deals with your website.
I work for http://www.fitnessfootwear.com -a UK sports and outdoors retailer.
We’ve started sponsoring canicross events in the UK.
Can someone get back to me about a cross promotion please.
Kind regards
Adam Smith
http://www.fitnessfootwear.com
December 12, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Michelle & Jack
Ruff ruff to you, I have a question about your boots, I’m aprox 1.5 years old, a 65lbs Weimaraner and a very energetic wild wild fun boy. I live in beautiful Teton Valley area of Eastern Idaho, if you know the area then u know we kinda have it all here :^), the problem that I’m experiencing is with my paws
the snow, ice and extreme temps. My mom is very concerned about running me because I start dancing and crying (ahhh don’t laugh, it hurts) just after being out for 10 minutes. I saw your really cool boots on your web site and was wandering which style would be the best for my environment, level of energy and my love of chewing, mind you I am a clever clever boy but I am learning the value of cool new things too make my path more enjoyable, my mom helps alot with this:-). Would I need liners for either pair for the region in which I live? I also plan to be a river/mountain dog come the warmer season as I like to blow bubbles and fish not to mention the cool boat rides and high altitude weeee!!…. so if you could help me out that would be sooo great 
Happy Trails ~~~~ Jack
December 14, 2009 at 11:41 pm
susan
Hi Jack! Sounds like you live in Ruff Wear paradise! Lots of fun outdoor adventures to be had in the Teton Valley area.
For packed snow and ice in the winter and rocky trails in the summer, the Grip Trex Boots will be your best bet. The Boot Liners make the fit more precise, so we recommend using the Liners with the Grip Trex boots. Tell your human companion, Michelle, to carefully measure your paws to make sure you get the right size! Fit is critical to the performance of the boots.
If you need help with sizing, please contact us at support@ruffwear.com or call us at 888-783-3932. Thank you!
December 4, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Wimsey
As a generously proportioned bloodhound I just want to let you know how much I appreciate the cut of your XL coats. Most coats XL and above do not fit we deep chested guys, but yours fit perfectly! I have your cooling coat and now your winter fleece model. I will be posting pictures of me in the winter fleece on my blog, Wimsey’s Blog: Diary of a Manhattan Bloodhound at http://wimseyblog.blogspot.com. Keep up the good work. (would suggest making the coat in a darker green, however; my humans think I look like a giant pea)!
December 7, 2009 at 10:09 pm
susan
Hi Wimsey! Thanks for the feedback. I agree with you that us big-chested hounds need good-sized coats. I’m a big fan of the green Climate Changer fleece too…I’ve even been known to sleep in mine.
I do think of split pea soup sometimes when I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. Thanks Wimsey! Stay warm this winter.
- Donovan, the greyhound
November 24, 2009 at 9:17 pm
Niko
I absolutely love the Knot-A-Leash concept, but it would work a lot better with a swivel clip. The leash gets twisted easily with my little guy, Niko, a terrier mix. He doesn’t like to stay on one side, there’s too much to see! So I am constantly untwisting it. I love the “lock” of the clip as he has gotten loose several times from the conventional clips on leashes. Any chance you will be upgrading to that design?
December 2, 2009 at 6:05 pm
susan
Hi Niko -
We’re always looking for ways to improve our products…thank you for your suggestion! We have heard from other Ruff Wear fans that a swivel on that carabiner would be great to have. We will take that into consideration the next time we redesign the Knot-a-Leash!
Thanks again for taking the time to comment!
November 14, 2009 at 9:12 pm
maggie
RUFF WEAR
I am wondering why you switched the color of your frisbees from an easy to see red color to a green and blue color that is easily lost in the color schemes of either an evergreen forest or the aspen groves my dad and I play in all the time?
November 18, 2009 at 6:20 pm
ruffwear
We changed the colors for a few reasons. First, the new colors match the new colors of the Portage Float Coats, so your dog can experience the outdoors in coordinating colors. We also thought this color combination was a nice change for the red. But one final reason was that dog’s actually have great difficulty seeing the color red, so the red choice was actually more for the humans than the dog! See more information about dog’s vision at: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/canine-corner/200810/can-dogs-see-colors
November 8, 2009 at 6:12 pm
Dawn
Hello! Can you help with more information on the SunShower coat? In particular, how does it work with leash, collar & harness. We live in Seattle and are thinking of one for our new Westie, but he is currently using a harness that attaches to his leash at the back of his neck.
THanks!
Dawn
November 9, 2009 at 8:12 pm
ruffwear
Hi Dawn –
As fellow Pacific Northwesterners, this coat was created with these climates in mind!
To answer your question, the collar will ride higher on the dog than the coat, allowing you full access to both the collar and leash. If you decide to use the hood attachment, there is a slot for the leash to feed through the hood. If you choose to use the coat in combination with a harness, we recommend putting the harness over the coat, as with all of our harness/coat combinations.
October 15, 2009 at 3:01 am
Cynthia Pinholster
I’m interested in purchasing the Beacon light. Our dog, Alakazam, is a chocolate American Water Spaniel, and it’s difficult to see him at night, especially when we’re walking, or running to dry land for a potty break from the marina.
Does the Beacon light “blink” or stay on continuously?(with the on/off switch.)
Thank you!
October 19, 2009 at 10:24 pm
susan
Hi Cynthia – the Beacon has three settings, slow flash, fast flash, and an always-on setting. You can click the On/Off button to cycle through the settings as well as turn it on and off. Thanks!
September 29, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Dan Reyer
I love Ruffwear product’s and have a smaller dog. I have your approach pack, webmaster harness, cloud chaser jacket, roamer leash, and flat out leash as well as a few other things. Needless to say, I’m a big fan of your products. I love the flat out leash, however I wish it was a littler smaller i.e. use 3/4″ webbing instead of 1″. The roamer leash is offered in two sizes so I was hoping you’d offer the Flat Out in a smaller as well. Please consider this as smaller dogs need cool gear too.
Thanks,
Dan
September 16, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Gibbare
I just got a lightly used palisades pack for my 110 lb bernedoodle puppy but, since it was used, it didn’t come with any instructions. I was just wondering what the proper placement was for the pack so that he is as comfortable as possible on our long hikes
September 17, 2009 at 3:49 pm
susan
Hi there! We have Palisades Pack instructions that we can email you.
Please send me your email address and I can respond with that document.
Thanks!
Susan
susan@ruffwear.com
January 7, 2010 at 1:08 am
Patrick French
HI! My name is Abbie and I am an 80lb German Shepherd. I am very active and love to be outside. I was recently given the Approach to use on hikes, but the pack did not come with the instructions. I want to make sure it is being put on correctly. Is there any documentation you can send that will help?
Thank You,
Abbie
January 8, 2010 at 4:35 pm
ruffwear
All our packs are designed on the WebMaster™ harness frame, so the instructions are the same for our packs and harness. Please go to to:
http://www.ruffwear.net/popUps/tips/3010_tips.html to see how to fit your pack.
September 5, 2009 at 4:43 am
Michael Baxter
For many folks the family dog is much more than a pet. It’s a companion and a loving member of the family to share life’s experiences – experiences such as . . . going to the beach.
The powdery, white sand beaches at Dauphin Island, Alabama are known for being the most pet friendly on the Gulf coast. “We love animals here on Dauphin Island,” said Mike Henderson, executive director of the Dauphin Island Parks and Beach Board.
Dog friendly public beaches have been a major draw of Dauphin Island for many years, and as neighboring destinations have restricted the canine companions, the number of dog loving visitors has steadily increased. “To be perfectly honest, we may be the only dog friendly beach left along this part of the Gulf coast,” Henderson said. “I don’t believe that you can bring your dog to the beaches at Gulf Shores or Orange Beach anymore, and because of that we are getting more visitors with their dogs than ever before.”
The Island’s dog friendly public beach policy is simple – owners are required to keep their pet on a leash, they must clean up any mess that the dog might leave behind, and the animal must not disturb other beachgoers.
The public beach near the Red School House and the old fishing pier is the largest area on Dauphin Island set aside for dogs and their owners to romp and play on the sand and in the surf. “There are at least a couple of miles of beach there, and with Sand Island now connected to Dauphin Island, we have another three miles of undeveloped beach jutting out into the Gulf on that barrier island,” he said.
“The Dauphin Island Campground is a very, very dog friendly location,” Henderson said. “There is a public beach connected to the campground that welcomes dogs and their owners year ‘round. In fact, sometimes it appears that our winter Snowbirds average at least two dogs per couple because of our openness toward their pets.”
Henderson added that he has never witnessed a dog fight at either public beach. “It’s like the dogs really enjoy being there and playing together,” he said.
“Families contact us throughout the year just to say thanks for allowing them to bring their dogs to the beach,” he said, “and, word must be spreading because it’s amazing the number of dogs our campers are now bringing in.”
Though dogs are allowed at Dauphin Island’s primary public beach and at the Dauphin Island Campground, pets are not allowed at the West End Beach Park on the Island’s extreme west end.
Located just 22 miles south of Mobile at the mouth of Mobile Bay, Dauphin Island is Alabama’s Family Beach Within Reach ®. For more information, please visit http://www.dauphinislandcoc.com or call 251-861-5524.
September 1, 2009 at 11:49 pm
Karyn
Hi,
I have a corgi crossed with a duck toller. I want to get him a jacket for this fall , being a long and low he gets very wet and dirty on his underside. He stands about 12″ tall at the shoulders, about 27″ long and 22″ for his girth. I am not looking for warmth as much as I am for coverage. Between the Cloud Chasre and Sun Shower which would fit my needs better?
Regrads,
Karyn
September 2, 2009 at 3:24 pm
ruffwear
We would recommend the Cloud Chaser. It offers collar-to-tail protection from the elements and full underbelly coverage which prevents dogs from getting wet and dirty underneath. The Cloud Chaser is good for use in in wet conditions, because it’s made with windproof, water resistant and fleece-lined upper to combat all the elements.
August 26, 2009 at 6:45 pm
mary
P.S. I almost forgot that Abby’s vet was so impressed with the way she is now walking, that she video taped her and shows it to other clients with aging canine friends.
August 26, 2009 at 6:39 pm
mary
I have a 13 yr. old Lab who is diabetic and arthritic. My daughter bought her some Ruff Wear Boots and it has made all the difference in her ability to get around. Because of the diabetes, she had lost some feeling in her rear feet. With the boots coming to her ankles, she now “knows” where her feet are and lifts them up when walking – far better than dragging as she was prone to do. The boots also protect them from injury which, because we live in the country, is a major worry for diabetic canines. Thanks for coming up with such good and practical products for our canine friends.
August 26, 2009 at 6:49 pm
ruffwear
We are so glad to hear the boots are helping Abby get around better. Best wishes to you both!
August 26, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Dianne Coleman
I love the new Sun Shower rain coat. When will you have it available in the same blue as all my dog’s other Ruff Wear? Soon?
August 26, 2009 at 6:17 pm
ruffwear
I’m afraid there are no plans for a blue Sun Shower as of now. The red and green colors were chosen to provide optimal visibility in the rain.
But some good news. Starting today through October 31, 2009, we are offering Facebook and blog customers the Sun Shower at a 35% discount. Just type in the promo code: FW09-SunShower(FB) at checkout to receive the discount.
August 22, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Otto
Thanks Ruff Wear for the great fitting Portage Float Coat I recently used on the Pocomoke River in Snow Hill, MD. I felt very protected while I went canoeing with my parents on this lazy running river. Had we had any problems and I went into the water, I knew I would be protected! You Rock! Woof!
August 12, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Panuck&Jason
Thanks for the response, will call the number for customer service.The harness still works for now, and we’re off on our next adventure…!
August 10, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Panuck&Jason
Panuck has a person named Jason. Jason bought Panuck a Palisades pack. They both love it, climb mountains, run cani-cross, go mountainbiking together and snuggle up at break time. The only problem is, Panuck eats everything(Jason is not much better), but Panuck ate the straps of his pack, do you have areplacement policy for hungry Husky puppy protection?
August 10, 2009 at 11:23 pm
ruffwear
Unfortunately our warranty does not cover chewing. We do, however, carry a selection of replacement parts such as the buckles and belly pads. If you would like further help with replacement parts, please contact our Customer Service department at: 888-783-3932.
August 10, 2009 at 8:07 pm
Leeloo the crag dog
any chance of a down winter camp-coat coming out soon? leeloo wants to go out camping in the 4th season… but is acclimated to cozy house temps.
August 10, 2009 at 8:30 pm
ruffwear
This is a possibility for the future. For the time being, we recommend use of our Cloud Chaser™ storm jacket which provides water resistant, full body coverage. It’s fleece lined to maintain core heat. In fact, these coats were used by one of our ambassadors for the Iditarod where temperatures reached below -40 degrees F, so it should work for 4th season camping and backpacking as well, as long as you insulate your dog from the ground while sleeping.
August 3, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Connie
I recently purchased the Swamp Cooler vest for my standard silver Labradoodle. She overheats easily in the South Carolina heat and I hoped this might help her. I’ll have to admit, when I unpackaged the vest, I was not impressed. This didn’t look like anything that would keep her cool. I thought, well, since it’s here I’ll give it try, so I did. IT IS MARVELOUS!! It exceeded all expectations and keeps her remarkably cooler. She is now MUCH more active at the dog park, and her panting is negligible after coming home versus 45-60 minutes of heavy panting before using the vest. If we stay out a long time, I may have to re-wet the vest, but it does an EXCELLENT job of keeping her cool. Every item I’ve ever ordered from RuffWear has been of the highest quality. I should have had more faith! Thank you–and my dog thanks you, too!
July 30, 2009 at 1:36 am
Tommy Adkins
We waited until she was a year old before we got her a frisbee. I guess jumping is bad for the joints before then. All the while I researched the best dog friendly disc. Abbey could not be happier. This is by far her new favorite game. The Hover Craft is ideal, flies great, floats, and is soft yet has held up well. Big fan, two thumbs up.
Tommy and Abbey
/Users/tommy/Desktop/DSC_1605.jpg
July 18, 2009 at 1:49 am
Anne Alaman/Cassius
Just wanted to say a big THANK YOU for your Grip Trex dog boots. We are the owners of a 18 month old Boxer boy named Cassius. When he was 6 months old he was injured in an auto accident resulting in life long front limb nerve damage and a chronic open wound (no pad) on a toe. Your boots have are the best thing. We use them as you would a shoe for a child. The boot fits well over bandaging and his withered ankle and Cassius feels very free with the boot on to run wild like every other pup. Thank you again. We will be customers for the life of our Cassius.
June 30, 2009 at 12:19 pm
janet
Whereis the link to your catalog? I want to order a life jacket for my whippet.
June 30, 2009 at 3:23 pm
ruffwear
Our entire product line is available at http://www.ruffwear.com, or through any of dealers in your area. Go to: http://www.ruffwear.com/store_finder to find a dealer in your area.
June 24, 2009 at 4:58 pm
Ellen Perlson
Our corgi Boo loves to kayak. We have a 21 foot Tandem kayak and Boo has his own cockpit. Of course we would never go out on the water without PFD’S and neither would Boo. He loves his k9 coat float. It fits better than any other vest out there and I have peace of mind knowing if he goes swimming we can eaisily get him back in the boat. Boo needs a little help as he didn’t pass his paddle float rescue class! We took a picture of the three of us in a friends pool for a joke for our corgi club newsletter. Currtent designs put it on their website.
Here is Boo in his Ruff Wear vest
http://www.cdkayak.com/gallery/gallery.php
July 2, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Susan
Ellen – Your Corgi looks great in his Float Coat! Love the pool set up.
Thanks for sharing!
June 15, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Dojie
Hi I’m Dojie the river dog,
Just a few tips for summer,
For the dogs that just received there new PFD float jackets or back pack. Let your dog get used to the new gear. In the back yard no more then 5 minutes the first time. Does this at least 3 times the first day increase the time by 3 to 5 minutes? Repeat for at least 3 days in a familiar place like the back yard or in the house. . ALWISE MAKE THIS FUN FUN FUN FUN TIME play games. The first time out let your dog be in the gear for short times. Take it off on breaks let them run free for a bit. Do not show your dog the gear in less you are going out. This will make it a treat to weir the gear. When the gear comes out that means that we are going out COOL.
For the pups out there.
Please don’t throw me in I scared enough.
Go in with them about waist deep, praise them for doing a good job. You being there will create safety and security for your pup. Let them swim around you have fun and they will have fun. let me figure it out my self whether it is a log, a hill or water don’t help them in less it is necessary by doing this you are making them think on there own. A dog that thinks for it’s self. Will think safety it’s self.
May all the dogs have great adventures and fun times?
Human: Whitewater raft guide.
Marlin Starr
DOG: whitewater raft Guide Dog
Dojie R Starr
June 15, 2009 at 4:49 pm
ruffwear
These are GREAT tips and we couldn’t agree more. We get lots of comments from customers saying “My dog hates boots,” or “My dog freezes in clothing,” and we always recommend trying out the gear ahead of time and then engaging the dog in their favorite activity immediately. This helps them associate the gear with a fun activity, and pretty soon they’ll be jumping up and down when you break out that lifejacket, boot or harness!
June 7, 2009 at 5:02 am
Conservation Canines
Check out a picture of Shrek uploaded to your Flickr site. He is wearing one of your Float Coats, spending time in the river during one of his days off from helping us conserve Northern spotted owls in California.
Thanks Ruff Wear!
June 4, 2009 at 10:18 pm
Dojie
Hi my name is Dojie or D. O. G.
I have many names that the humans call me.
D.o.g. the river dog,
D.o.g. the wonder dog.
They call me a mixed bread dog. My best friend my dad or what they call my master. His name is Marlin Starr; he thinks that I am a Border collie lab mix. I guess you could say that I’m not your normal dog. I started rafting, swimming, cliff climbing and cliff diving at an early age. 5 or 6 months old. At about 17th month old I started my new career you see I love to work I’m a river guide dog I take the humans in the raft down the river. Making shore that they are all there and ok, well dad dose. My mane job is to look cute and help the scared humans. I point them out dad takes care of them. We have used your products I’m 4 ½ now so for 4 years. At least the back pack and KFD or K9 flotation device. Do you have pro deals or have rep dogs. Out there where it counts in the wilderness testing the gear if not I would love to be a tester feel free to contact me at face book.
Type Dojie R. Starr in the search and look for me.
You will recognize me by my picture. I’m the black dog take a look at the photos that my peeps sorry my human friends posted on my face book.
Looking forward to meeting you in dog I mean in person soon.
D.O.G
June 6, 2009 at 2:06 am
ruffwear
We do have a pro purchase program. Please contact our customer service department at luckydog@ruffwear.com to find out more. Happy Travels!
June 2, 2009 at 12:32 pm
corey,larah and meadow
This is our dog meadow on the entrance to part of the Appalacian Trail in PA she is our pride and joy and she loves her ruffwear approach pack.
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m244/mtnmax600/DSCN0742.jpg
June 2, 2009 at 3:09 pm
ruffwear
She looks amazing in her pack!
June 2, 2009 at 5:14 pm
corey, larah, and meadow
We are getting meadow ready becuase this time next year we hope to hike the AT from Georiga to Maine for 6 months. And thanks so much meadow appreciates the compliment.
June 2, 2009 at 6:12 pm
ruffwear
What an amazing adventure. Please send updates and pictures. We would love to feature you on our “Dog Tales” section.
August 10, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Leeloo the crag dog
the at is a great place for pups! get the boots too, she’ll need them in pennsylvania with the rocks… also helped a whole heap in the white mountains! her paws will thank you!
thru in 2002!
June 2, 2009 at 4:32 am
Aaron
This last winter my wife and I took our choc lab/gsp to get some Bark’n boots. We sat on the floor of the store and tried on different sizes till we found one (M 2.75″) that seemed to fit. My friend was looking to buy some boots and I recommended the Bark’n boots and sent him the link to read up on them. In doing so I noticed the how to measure your dog’s paw size and I couldn’t recall measuring her paw like that so I just did and she was just shy of 2.5″. She only wore them once last year but they never came off. I am wondering if her paw is going to slop around in the boot causing chaffing or something.
June 2, 2009 at 3:14 pm
ruffwear
Because the measurements for each size are so close, sometimes dogs fall between sizes. While we usually recommend to size down in this scenario, the fact that the original boots you bought stay on are a good sign they fit just fine.
We recommend using our Bark’n Boot Liners (http://www.ruffwear.com/dog-boot-liners_2) to help the fit the in-between sizes and prevent chafing and rub. Just like a human shoe rubs without a sock, dog boots sometimes do too.
We would also recommend taking her out close to home before a long adventure to make sure the boots will stay on, and to confirm that they aren’t causing any abrasion. If you notice abrasion or if they come off, I would recommend sizing down.
Happy Trails!
May 20, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Mary Watson
Since we were marketing the NRS flotation vest on our website, http://www.MonsterDogz.com and agreed to use RuffWear as the supplier, have you replaced the NRS with the Big Eddy? My concern is that our clients (and we) own only giant breeds and the Big Eddy doesn’t appear as large as the biggest NRS vest. Is it?? The largest NRS vest is modeled by one of our own English Mastiffs on our site. He’s 190 lbs. and it works! He’s featured on Team Canine’s site swimming in it, too. As you may know, many big dogs love the water, but sink like rocks. The NRS keeps our Mastiff’s head and back up and doesn’t allow “flipping”. We would really like to continue our relationship with RuffWear, so let me know. Definition of a MonsterDog is any giant breed over 100 lbs. Mastiffs, Bouviers, Newfies, Saints, Pyrenees and all the giants that are left out of the general marketplace.
Wags!
Mary Watson
May 28, 2009 at 9:43 pm
ruffwear
Our Big Eddy Float Coat™ is sized to fit the majority of dogs, topping out at a 40″ girth for a size Large, which is almost identical to the X-Large NRS coat for a 41″ girth. We found that our Big Eddy Float Coat™ suited breeds such as large-sized Goldens, Labs, Malamutes, and even smaller Mastiffs and Saints.
However, for those dogs that are even larger, we do offer our Portage Float Coat™ in an X-Large, which will fit up to a 48″ girth–similar to the old K9 Float Coat™ and probably better suited for a Newfie, Saint, or Pyrenees.