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1. A dog with a diet that consists mostly of dry food requires more water than a dog whose diet is comprised of wet or raw food.
2. Dogs prefer cold water.
3. Snow is not a suitable supplement to water. Ditto for salt water.
4. A healthy (but not overzealous) appetite for water can be an indicator of health, as it is directly related to kidney wellness.
5. Dogs drink out of the toilet because: the porcelain naturally cools the water, the flushing keeps water “fresh” (so to speak) and oxygenated, and the water’s relatively clean. Note: We do not recommend this. The toilet can be filled with both bacteria and toxins from cleaning solutions.
Q: Will the Swamp Cooler work in humid environments?
A: Yes, although it works more efficiently where there’s more evaporation (i.e. drier climates).
Q: Will the Swamp Cooler work if it’s not wet?
A: The Swamp Cooler will provide SPF protection and sun reflection even when not wet, which will help keep your dog’s temperature down (like wearing white instead of black on a hot day), but for the evaporative cooling to occur, it needs to be wetted down, preferably with cool water.
Q: Should I put my Swamp Cooler in the freezer?
When the weather heats up, we often get asked, “Will the Swamp Cooler™ really keep my dog cool?”
It’s hard to believe that putting something extra on your dog may actually cool them down. But the principle is simple: evaporative cooling.
What is evaporative cooling?
When you first step out of the shower or a swimming pool, you may notice a cool feeling when your skin hits the air. This is evaporative cooling. In fact, every human being performs the function of evaporative cooling each day… through perspiration. When sweat evaporates, we cool down. If we move around, the air flow cools us down even quicker.
What is a swamp cooler?
Let’s apply the same idea of evaporation to other technologies; for example, a swamp cooler system in a house. A fan pulls hot, dry air through water soaked pads. The cooler air is then circulated through the house, reducing temperatures anywhere from 20 to 30 degrees.
Two days, four canines, 18 humans, three canoes, four paddleboards, and 14 tents. What does that equal? A two-day company retreat filled with adventure! Here’s a diary of our recent Ruff Wear Summer Retreat.
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.
Buddy, the Surfdog Extraordinaire
job title: Lord of Dogtown
breed: Jack Russell Terrier
responsibilities: entertaining the Ventura Beach locals with his surf act. Buddy rides tandem and solo; on short boards, long boards, boogie boards, and skim boards—if it floats, he can ride it!
achievements: this surf-riding canine has appeared on several pages of “The Dog’s Guide to Surfing” and has made appearances in Sports Illustrated for Kids, The New York Times, The London Sun, and the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
favorite ruff wear gear: Buddy “hangs ten” (or 20) in his Ruff Wear Big Eddy Float Coat™.
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June was all about breaking out the (dog) paddles and enjoying the water with your canine. We thought we’d wrap up the month with a summary of the Top Five Things Ruff Wear Learned About Dogs and the Water this month.
1. Not all dogs can swim…at least, until they are taught. So, if you are itching to teach your dog the doggy paddle, start by choosing calm, shallow water in a quiet location.
2. Canine PFD’s are not yet rated by the Coast Guard, however, similar principles of pounds of flotation and body mass were considered during the research and design of Ruff Wear’s Float Coats. Movement, buoyancy, natural swimability, and easy lifting were all considerations that were inspired by the true-life adventures of Otis, and Patrick (Ruff Wear’s Founder).
3. There is a difference between waterproof and water-resistant. Waterproof means no water in, no water out; while water-resistant refers to fabric treated with a coating that is impervious to water.
4. The “land seal” to “sand crab” ratio of Ruff Wear customers is 9:13. The most surprising “land seal”? A Mini Pinscher. Most surprising sand crab? A black Labrador.
5. We have some pretty funny water dogs in our Ruff Wear community, including a dog who refused to swim in clean water, and another that can blow bubbles in the water. Check out more funny water dog stories here, or tell us your own!
