a.     Named after the Greek God, Canidae, God of Sun and Light

b.      Named after the astrological constellation Siruis, or “Dog Star”

c.      Named after a symptom of heat stroke, which causes humans to pant, similar to that of a dog

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If you guessed “B”, you are correct!

The term “dog days”, often used to describe the hottest days of summer (between July and September in the Northern Hemisphere and January and March in the Southern Hemisphere), stems from the ancient belief that Sirius, or Dog Star, is responsible for the hot, stagnant weather.

The Romans believed Sirius, the brightest star in the Canis Major (Large Dog) constellation, controlled the heat of summer because of its brightness and close proximity to the sun.  Since heat was associated with wine turning sour, dogs turning mad, and man burning with fever, the Romans sacrificed a brown dog at the beginning of the “dog days” season in order to calm the tyranny of “Sirius.” Seems a little far-fetched to us.

Apparently, the Romans never discovered the joys of swimming with a canine companion in the heat of summer!

Thursday, July 22

7:50am – Ruff Wear Pack meets at HQ and gets ready for departure.  Kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards are loaded and lashed to roofs in a manner that still allows hatchback access to our canine crew.

8:00am – Mavis decides to call shotgun, regardless that new guy Geoff is already sitting there.  No matter…Mavis uses Geoff as a seat cushion.

8:30am – The night owls of the Pack beg for a coffee stop.  Note: If you order a coffee “plain and black” from McDonalds, you are likely to get an iced Vanilla Latte of sorts.

9:30am – Arrive at Black Butte.  Check for enticing scat before letting out the hounds to avoid stinky car companions when traveling to the campsite.

Tripp, Chelsea, and Debbie at Black Butte

9:35am – Dogs reach the summit.

10:30am – Humans reach the summit. One mile of straight vertical.  Luckily, the view is incredible!

Group Photo at top of Black Butte

10:45am – Wish we had made human versions of the  DoubleBack™ harness so we could be belayed back down. Granola bars make for some quick energy for humans.  A Bivy Bowl™ of water works for the dogs.

Water Break for Cinder

11:30am – On to the Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery for lunch.  We test out the shocks on the cars and debate whether it’s better to be hot OR dusty (windows up or down?)  Realize quickly why it’s good to be the “leader of the pack” on this rutted, dirt road.

12:00pm – Lunch!  Yum.  We rinse off dusty paws and dirty calves in the Metolius …then tempt the dogs with all the fish at the hatchery.

You've Heard of Farmer's Tan...this is a Central Oregon Dust Tan!

2:00pm – Arrive at Suttle Lake Campground.  Contemplate where to mark our territory.  Did we have sites 8 – 13 or 9 – 14?

2:30pm – A giant 6 person condo/tent (quickly dubbed “The Sorority House”) is erected.  No boys allowed!

3:00pm – We discover the world’s sixth ocean—the Suttle Lake/Ocean—or so it seems.  Despite the winds and white caps, we give stand up paddleboarding a shot.  Maybe it will be easier with a dog on the board…or not!

Patrick and Mavis Give Paddleboarding a Try Despite Rough Seas

3:30pm – Tara hitches a ride on the gear bed of a kayak.  Despite her petite size, we are riding a little low, making it look like a scene from “Shallow Hal.”

5:00pm – Wet dogs and humans retire to the campsite “kitchen” for appetizers, followed by delicious cocktails, dinner, and cobbler.  The dogs are definitely begging for scraps!

Sorry dogs, this chow's for humans only!

6:00pm – Clean up crew is called in.  Susan steps in as drill sergeant, complete with a whip (built using campsite materials thanks to Patrick, our resident MacGyver.)   No one’s getting out of line here!

"Ba-Bam!"

7:00pm – Karaoke time!  Lindsey opens the show with “These [Grip Trex] Boots Are Made for Walking.”

These Boots Are Made for Karaoke!

7:05pm – Karaoke over.  Machine blew a fuse.  Hmmm…What to do?  How about we experiment with dry ice?  The Question: Just how long will dry ice steam in a Bivy Bowl™?

(Note: This Experiment is not covered under our "Warranty Replacement")

8:15pm – The Ruff Wear Pack begins to “howl at the moon”.  A few sneak away for an evening nap.  Even Ripley joins in on the fun by helping herself to a cocktail hidden under a camp chair.  Cinder almost becomes cinders when her leash is singed by the campfire.

Howling at the Moon

11:00pm – Will and Jesse capsize their canoe during a late night paddle.

Canoe Operator Error?

Very Late (or Early the next Morning) – Night owls head to their tents, tee pees, and hammocks.  Sorority house shuts down for the evening.

Friday, July 23

7:00am – “Good morning sunshine!”

8:00am –  “Lindsey, you’re on server duty!  Get up!”  Where did that whip go?

8:10am – Chelsea declares that despite overwhelming evidence, she did not wet her pants, but rolled over on the bite valve of her pack in her sleep.  Hence the large wet spot on her pants.

8:15am – Mmmmm… crepes.  How did we get Martha Stewart on our retreat? Lucky us.

9:30am – Playtime!  Water is like glass today.  Everyone gives their paddleboard and rowing skills another try with more success.  Dogs make it on to boards this time for a relaxing paddle around the lake.

Tara Shows Off Her Skills

12:00pm – Lunch and games.  Team A utilizes Team B’s progress to win.  But the object wasn’t to win??  Darn!

2:00pm – Back at Ruff Wear Headquarters!  Thanks everyone for making this such a fun event!

Patrick Packs Up the Whip 'Till Next Year

Camp Terms Defined (via camping-tips.com):

Camp spot: the most likely place for wind velocities to exceed fifty miles per hour, five minutes after you have spent 2 hours setting up your camp.

Lantern: a device for singeing the eye brows and eye lashes off anyone closer that 5 feet when it is lit.

Tent: A portable outdoor home used to protect one from the elements unless it rains, snows, the wind blows, it’s cold or hot. It is usually setup with poles. It also has entertainment value doubling as a puzzle. Usually setup after dark using a flashlight with dead or nearly dead batteries.

Camp fire: A device used to heat bacon grease to a temperature hot enough such that it can be combined with cold water, producing entertainment for the kids and a team-building experience for adults as they try to maximize the entertainment. Lighting the campfire itself sometimes serves as good entertainment as well. Also serves as the camp recycle container and television set, and is very useful for choking the camp cook out of the kitchen. Occasionally, you’ll find the odd person actually using it’s heating abilities to get warm as if they were on a rotisserie.

Pre-dawn Alarm Clock: Daddy, I have to go to the bathroom. Did you hear that growling noise? Is something burning? Where’s Gabie?

Sleeping bag: An easy to setup camping bed that has the amazing ability to make warm things hot and cold things colder, especially feet. It doubles as a sponge for soaking up water from leaks in your tent.

Marshmallow: A soft pure white substance that has spontaneous combustion properties. It is also believed by some to have been one of the early prototypes of gorilla glue as it can fuse the fingers of children together.

Ruff Wear’s Definitions:

Camp spot: The exact spot the dog lays as you’re trying to set up.

Lantern: The device that is supposed to prevent you from tripping over the dog in the dark.

Tent: A portable outdoor home, of which the dog takes up the first 50 percent of the space, and tracks debris through the remaining 50 percent.

Camp fire: The device used to roast a perfect hot dog, which is inevitably snagged by dog as soon as it’s hot.

Pre-dawn Alarm Clock: “[Whine, howl, bark]”—in other words, “time to let the dog out to go to the bathroom.”  Then the dog runs after a squirrel and a good 15 minutes is spent calling them back.

Sleeping bag: A.K.A. portable dog bed.

Marshmallow: Sticky-natured substance with properties especially attracted to dog hair.

So next time your sitting ‘round the campfire with your favorite canine, why not serenade them with one of these dog-inspired classic country tunes.

Every Dog Has It’s Day – Toby Keith

Chorus:

See every dog has it’s day dog, when the big dog throws him a bone
One moment in the sunshine when your ducks line up in a row
Lucky dog gets a big ol’ bed, stray dog gets the porch
Every dog has it’s day dog, but today dog just ain’t yours

Howl at the Moon – Cheryl Wheeler

Lyrics:

If I were maybe a wolf or a dog
I wouldn’t have to speak
Wouldn’t have to talk
Just eat my dinner and go for a walk
And howl at the moon.

I love my dog – Cat Stevens

Chorus:

I love my dog
As much as I love you,
But you may fade
My dog will always come through

Move It On Over – Hank Williams Sr

Lyrics:

This dog house here is mighty small
But it’s better than no house at all
So ease it on over (move it on over)
Drag it on over (move it on over)
Move over old dog cause a new dogs moving in

Pull my Chain – Toby Keith

Chorus:

I used to howl at the moon, yeah I’ve been known to roam
Then I caught her trail one day, followed this girl home
I ain’t the same, she knows how to pull my chain

Your turn! Bark at us: What’s your favorite dog-inspired tune?

Packed In...

...Packed Out

1. Dog Pack

Why Bring It: You’ve got a full load carrying your own gear, so why not have your dog carry their gear?

Tips: A dog can pack up 25 – 30 percent of its body weight in a pack, so that’s a lot less sweat off your back.

Weight: 2 lbs, 4 oz (Palisades Pack™, Size Medium)

2.  First Aid Kit

Why Bring It: Remember that what you pack in, you pack out.  This includes a long, heavy hike back with your dog on your shoulders if they can’t walk.

Tips: We pack along the Ruff Wear First Aid Kit (available through select online retailers).

Weight: 13 oz

3.  Food

Why Bring It: Don’t forget energy snacks for Fido.  How much dog food to bring along depends on your dog’s eating habits. Keep in mind that your dog is likely to expend more energy than normal on a backcountry adventure, so you should consider packing a bit extra.

Tips: Sealing your dog food in a Ziploc bag will help keep moisture and critters out.

Weight: 1 lb / bag

4.  Leash

Why Bring It: Even though you may be headed for a canine leash-free haven, you never know when you will need to restrain your dog from distractions such as squirrels, other dogs, people, or unfamiliar sounds.

Tips: Choosing a leash such as the Flat Out™ will allow you to convert the handle to a tie-out if needed.

Weight: 5.3 oz

5.  Poop Bags

Why Bring It: What you pack in, you pack out…yes, even dog poop.  Some places allow dog waste to be buried, in which case a trowel is very handy.

Tips: Try double-bagging to reduce stink.  We recommend biodegradable dog waste bags.

Weight: .3 oz

6.  Dog Boots

Why Bring Them: Boots protect paws and keep dogs going farther, longer. Boots also provide traction and comfort.  Recommended when going long distances; in areas where cheatgrass and other paw irritants exist; or on hot, cold, or jagged terrain.

Tips: Bring along the storage bag (included with Ruff Wear dog boots) and store boots inside the bag when not in use.  This will keep dirt and debris in the bag, and not in the pack.

Weight: 7 oz (Grip Trex™, Size Medium)

7.  Water

Why Bring It: Some dogs hesitate to drink water in a new environment because it tastes different.  Even if they love the taste of the water from that river, lake, pond, or puddle, the potential exists for that water to be contaminated, so bringing along your own water is the best option.

Tips: For tips on how much water to bring, click here.

Weight: Water (2.2 lbs / liter); Bladder (3.2 oz / bladder)

8. Collapsible Bowl

Why Bring It: Though you can train your dog to drink water out of the bladder, that can add up to wasted water on the ground.

Tips: The Bivy Bowl™ is not only lightweight, but is single-walled, making cleanup a snap.  Just rinse, and shake out; no drips or crumbs to left behind. Check out this video on choosing a backpacking bowl.

Weight: 2 oz

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Weight Totals:

Palisades Pack™: 2.25 lbs (36 oz)

Ruff Wear First Aid Kit: 13 oz

2 Ziploc Bags of Food: 2 lb (32 oz)

Flat Out™ Leash:  5.3 oz

Poop Bags:  .3 oz

GripTrex™ Dog Boots: 7 oz

2 Liters of Water (plus bladders): 4.8 lbs (76.8 oz)

Bivy Bowl™: 2 oz

Total Weight of Pack (with suggested gear list): 10 lbs, 12.4 oz