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Camp Canine: Essential Gear and Advice for Camping with Your Furry Companion
Camp Canine: Essential Gear and Advice for Camping with Your Furry Companion By Fionna Galliard Photo by Patrick Hendry from Unsplash Camping with your dog transforms an ordinary trip into an unforgettable adventure. Imagine the joy of exploring trails, stargazing by the fire, and waking up to your dog's wagging tail. With a bit of preparation, you and your furry companion can enjoy the great outdoors safely and comfortably. Let's dive into creating the perfect camping experience for you both! Choosing the Right Breed for Camping While any dog can enjoy camping with the right preparation, some breeds are particularly well-suited for outdoor adventures. Breeds like the Labrador Retriever, Australian Shepherd, and Border Collie are known for their high energy levels and love for nature, making them dogs perfect for hiking and camping. These breeds thrive in outdoor environments, showing great endurance and enthusiasm for activities like hiking, swimming, and exploring new trails. Picking the Right Campsite Look for dog-friendly campsites that welcome pets and have amenities like waste stations and dog-friendly trails. When selecting a spot, consider the safety of the terrain and the presence of wildlife. Campsites near water sources are excellent, as many dogs love to splash and swim. Make sure the campsite provides shade and a flat area for setting up your tent, ensuring your dog can rest comfortably. Essential Gear for Your Dog If you’re planning a dog-friendly road trip, ensure everything you need is within easy reach. Here’s a look at the essentials: Collar and Leash: Choose sturdy, reflective gear for safety and visibility, especially in low-light conditions. Identification Tags and Microchip: Ensure your dog can be easily identified if they get lost in unfamiliar surroundings. Portable Dog Bed or Sleeping Pad: Provide a comfortable place for your dog to rest after a day of adventure. Dog-Specific First Aid Kit: Include essentials like bandages, antiseptic wipes, tweezers, and any necessary medications. Food and Water Bowls: Opt for lightweight, collapsible options that are easy to pack and carry. Dog Jacket or Sweater: Protect your dog against sudden weather changes, keeping them warm and dry. Booties: Safeguard your dog's paws from rough terrain, hot surfaces, and potential injuries. Safety Tips and Considerations There are plenty of fun activities with dogs, including outdoor adventures. But this should not be an excuse to focus only on the fun part and ignore safety. Here are some crucial tips to keep in mind: Hydration and Nutrition: Keep your dog well-fed and hydrated. Always bring enough food and fresh water, and avoid letting your dog drink from unknown water sources. Tick and Flea Prevention: Apply tick and flea preventatives before your trip to protect your dog from parasites. Wildlife Awareness: Train your dog to avoid wildlife encounters. Keep your dog on a leash or under control to prevent dangerous interactions with wild animals. Campfire Safety: Ensure your dog stays at a safe distance from the campfire to avoid burns and accidents. Supervise them around the fire at all times. Temperature Regulation: Be mindful of the weather. Provide shade and a cool place for your dog in hot conditions, and warmth in cooler temperatures. Emergency Plan: Have an emergency plan in place. Know the location of the nearest vet and have a list of emergency contacts handy. Wrapping Up A well-prepared camping trip with your dog promises unforgettable experiences and the joy of exploring nature together. With the right gear and safety measures, your adventure will be both fun and safe. Cherish the moments, enjoy the journey, and make the most of your time in the great outdoors. Happy camping! About The Author Fionna Galliard, a passionate dog lover, is currently expanding her pet family by adopting a cat. By day, she works diligently as a paralegal, navigating legal complexities. Beyond her main job, she delves into sideline writing gigs, leveraging her creativity and versatility to explore diverse topics and narratives.
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Road Trippin’ With Your Dog
Road Trippin’ With Your Dog By Dorothy Wills-Raftery Now that the holidays have passed, are you looking for something to do with your furry best friend until the longer lighter days of spring and summer come? How about some road trippin’ adventures? Any time of the year is a good time for a drive, and I think dogs love car rides even more than us humans! But before you load up your dogs, here’s some tips to make that trip a successful one: 1. Are Your Dogs Travel Ready? First up, be sure your dogs are healthy and fit to travel. Also be sure your dogs’ vaccines, microchips, and tags are all up to date. A call to your vet and/or having a vet checkup is advised before heading out and hitting the road. 2. Where to? Is it Dog-Friendly? Pre-trip planning includes reviewing the location you want to visit. While there, where is it you’d like to go? Whether you are planning on hitting the hiking trails, visiting eateries, going shopping, or just hiding out in a zen B&B or hotel/motel room, always do your research and be sure the places welcome dogs. A few great online sites to check out for dog-friendly travel destinations are: BringFido ➜ Big Dog Travel Vlog ➜ DogsLuvUsAndWeLuvThem ➜ Doggone Destinations ➜ Go Pet-Friendly ➜ Year of the Monkey Pet Travel Guide ➜ 3. Safety Check: Is Your Vehicle Dog-Ready to Go? After giving your vehicle a pre-trip inspection, also be sure it is dog ready. Do you have a travel bed? A safety crate and/or seat belt harness? How about a car seat cover? If your dog is new to car travel, do a practice run to be sure there are no issues, such as anxiety or car sickness, and if so, address it with your vet beforehand. Another great idea is to create Pet ID Cards that include their photo, address, your cell phone number, vet contact info, and any distinguishing marks, special needs, and medications and keep the ID Cards in the glovebox along with your car papers. 4. Put a Pin in That Map! When you are ready to go, check your map for routes along the way to your destination to see where the nearest top-rated veterinarian and ER facilities, as well as dog-friendly hotels/motels, restaurants, and rest stops so they can stretch their legs and have potty breaks. 5. Go Ahead and Pack That Suitcase! Be sure to pack a bag for your dog! Key items to include are a Pet First Aid kit (and any medications and supplements they need), your dog’s medical/vaccine records, dog food, treats, portable dishes, water*, favorite toys and puzzles, bed, poop bags, leash, and harness. If you use a traditional camera, don’t forget to bring it. And don’t forget your smart phone charger so it is always at the ready in case of an emergency and for some great pictures if that’s what you use for photos and videos! *Depending on where you are going, sometimes a change in water can cause GI upset. Best to bring water from home or pack bottled water. Keep in mind to keep your car on the cool side for your dog, and please, never leave your dog in a warm car, even for “just a few minutes.” Cars heat up fast and can cause a serious health issue and can be fatal for your beloved dog. For that trip, check out a great choice of seat belts, safety harnesses, crate mats & travel beds, seat covers, and dog beds, check out some great 4Knines items! Now that you and your dog are all ready for that road trip, have fun! There’s nothing more joyful than spending some quality adventure time with your dog. And, remember, your special times spent today will be your precious memories tomorrow. Dorothy Wills-Raftery is an award-winning photojournalist and author. Her canine books include EPIC Dog Tales: Heartfelt Stories About Amazing Dogs Living & Loving Life With Canine Epilepsy; the FiveSibes™ Tales children’s books: What’s Wrong With Gibson? Learning About K-9 Epilepsy and Getting Healthy With Harley; and Buddy, the Christmas Husky~Based On A True Holiday Miracle (ArcticHouse Publishing). Her internationally top blogsite is FiveSibes™ , based on her five Siberian Huskies, and includes an online encyclopedia for the Siberian Husky breed. Her work has also appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul & Rosie the Riveter book series, Woman’s World Magazine, AmericanPet Magazine, American Dog Media, Ruff Drafts, The Sled Dogger, and Hudson Valley Paw Print Magazine. Dorothy has been awarded the prestigious Maxwell Medallion by the Dog Writers of America Association for “Excellence” for her writing, photography, and fiction. Her book EPIc Dog Tales: Heartfelt Stories About Amazing Dogs Living & Loving Life With Canine Epilepsy received the Independent Press Award for “Excellence” in the Reference Book category and the NYC Big Book Award for “Excellence” in the Animal/Pet book category. She was named “Best Author” by Hudson Valley Magazine and all four of her books were named “Best in Print” by AmericanPet Magazine. An official International Purple Day® for (K9) Epilepsy Ambassador since 2012 and a volunteer case manager for The Wally Foundation-Canine Epilepsy, Dorothy partnered with the nonprofit Purple Day® Every Day presented by The Anita Kaufmann Foundation for her #Paws4Purple initiative, and she created the #FiveSibes #LiveGibStrong K9 Epilepsy Online Resource Library—all inspired by her epileptic Siberian Husky, Gibson, in order to help other Epi-dog families find accurate information to help their Epi-dogs. You can follow Dorothy and her FiveSibes stories on the FiveSibes™ blog and on Facebook at FiveSibes: Siberian Husky K9 News & Reviews, and on Twitter and Instagram (@FiveSibesMom).
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Traveling With Your German Shepherd
TRAVELING WITH YOUR GERMAN SHEPHERD BY RALF WEBER Traveling with your German Shepherd is a wonderful experience. Most dog owners would love to bring their dogs everywhere, but we usually can't, so when we get a chance to take our buddy on a road trip, it's special. This article will cover some important considerations when traveling with your German Shepherd. Essentials Bring enough water and food on your trip. German Shepherds must have consistent access to water, especially as it gets warmer. Your buddy will want to drink more than in the winter months. Several products on the market make that easy. Water bottles with attached drinking bowls are available in outdoor stores and online. It makes it easier to give your German Shepherd a quick sip here and there, without having to set up a water bowl each time. These work great wherever you go, let it be hiking, on the beach, or in the car. You can have up to 16 fluid ounces available for easy access while keeping the rest of your water in your car or backpack.In terms of food, kibble is easiest to manage while on the road. If you're feeding raw, an alternative during a trip can be freeze-dried raw food, which is available commercially. However, if you're considering using alternative food during your trip, make sure to have tested that food at home way ahead of time so you know your dog likes it and it doesn't give them the runs. First Aid Prepare and bring a good first aid kit for your dog and yourself. Things can happen when you travel and it's good to be prepared. As German Shepherds have long fur, make sure the bandages you bring will stick to your dog's body. Here are some other things that are important to have in your first aid kit: saline solution to wash wounds and eyes, vetericyn wound spray to disinfect injuries, paw cream, a tick removal tool, two or three tourniquets, Benadryl as first aid for snake bites and some pill pockets to feed them to your German Shepherd, noni bio bandage to keep wounds clean, 70% rubbing alcohol in case you need to bring down a fever. We also recommend taking a good first aid course for dogs to learn how to use all equipment correctly. In the Car Lots of things can happen in cars, dogs can get excited about things they see and pee a little or they could get carsick. It is a good idea to invest in a great back seat dog cover or cargo cover for the space your dog is riding in. 4Knines has a whole range of high-quality products and it is the only dog car seat cover brand we use. They protect your car from dirty paws, nail scratches and provide extra comfort and safety for your pet. Air Travel Please avoid traveling with your German Shepherd on an airplane unless it is unavoidable. The pressure differential and entire stress of the experience is not going to be a good experience for your dog. I personally would never put my German Shepherd in the cargo space on an airplane; too many dogs have died this way. This is somewhat different with a service dog traveling with you in the cabin, but it is still very stressful regardless. Other Considerations Think about what you do with your dog every day and what you need to do it. All those things should be in your German Shepherd's travel bag. You should be brushing your buddy every day and FURminators are the best brushes for the thick undercoat of your dog. Canine cleaning wipes are a good thing to bring, you don't know what your German Shepherd gets into on the road. You may have to do a little cleaning session before he comes back into the car. Also pack an additional collar, additional leash, maybe a long line, and possibly a tie-out if you're going to a camping ground. Don't forget your doggie’s vitamin supplements and possibly medications he needs every day. Make sure you have current licensing, vaccination, and health records including negative fecal test results before you go on your trip. Many hotels and boarding places require that kind of paperwork to let your German Shepherd come in. Also, make sure there aren't any breed restrictions excluding German Shepherds at any of the stops during your trip. We German Shepherd lovers cannot imagine why someone wouldn't embrace our wonderful dog with open arms, but many people are afraid of German Shepherds, and more and more breed restrictions have been observed in a variety of places. As sad and disappointing as that is, make sure you are aware of it before you go so you can patronize places that welcome you and your German Shepherd with open arms. AUTHOR BIO Ralf Weber Ralf Weber is a certified dog trainer and behaviorist. A professional member of the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP), an AKC evaluator for Puppy S.T.A.R., Canine Good Citizen and Community Canine certifications, author of the dog behavioral book: "If Your Dog Could Talk" and owner of the dog training company Happy Dog Training. Ralf works with clients in Southern California and can be contacted through his website at HappyDogTraining.info.
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Keeping Your Dogs Happy When You Are Away from Home
One of the most successful ways to keep your dog happy and busy whilst you are out from the family home is to introduce some environmental enrichment. Essentially you are giving your dog lots of fun things to think about and do whilst you are away at work for the day, it also helps them keep up their natural behaviors of sniffing out items, being inquisitive and perhaps jumping up, digging and reaching for objects. Some examples that are easy to make, cheap and the kids will also have fun being involved! These include objects that make the dog … Continue reading →
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9 Common Reasons Your Dog is a Poor Traveller
All sorts of issues can contribute towards your dog being a less than happy passenger in the car, but if you can work out what these are, then it will be easier for you to determine the best course of action to take. The underlying cause may be something relatively simple and obvious or might be more obscure, requiring you to turn detective. Below is a list of common causes of our dogs being poor travellers. Health Issues Certain health issues such as vestibular disease and middle or inner ear infections may cause difficulty in balancing and predispose to … Continue reading →
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How to Prepare for Air Travel With Your Dog
New year, new adventures! Are you planning a big trip in 2017? And are you thinking about bringing your dog along for the ride (or flight)? Besides working out where to stay and what to eat, there are many things to consider when flying with a pet. Here is how you can prepare yourself, and your dog, for air travel. As soon as you have decided on a destination, it is crucial to start planning your trip at least a month ahead of time. There is a lot to do! 1. Plan Your Trip You will have to decide whether … Continue reading →
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How to Stop Your Dog From Being Scared of Traveling in a Car
Most of the time, dogs who have a fear of going in a car have had some sort of traumatic memory in the past. This doesn’t have to be anything that we, as humans, would call traumatic, however. Indeed, it may seem as if from one day to the next, your dog simply decides to be scared of vehicles.
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