Time: 60-90 minutes
Length: 4.7 miles
Gear: Water & Leash
Difficulty Level: 1 Paw
Scenery: 2 Paws
Pack: You and Your Dog
I’d like to think the Rolling Stones were referring to my hike this past weekend when they sang “you can’t always get what you want… but if you try sometimes you get what you need.” What do I want? Warm weather, green grass, and the rustle of leaves! What do I need? Some time out of the house, out on a trail somewhere with Cannon.
On Saturday I found myself really burned out on my usual walk around the neighborhood with Cannon and just couldn’t fane excitement to roam the Manassas Battlefield, which is a summer staple of mine. It was time to try something new, so I took my husband’s advice and headed to Burke Lake Park with Cannon – a hike they’d done together in the fall. Since it was my first time I decided to fire up the laptop to read some park facts, look at the trail map and get directions. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the Park was named one of the 10 best fitness trails in the nation by the American Hiking Society. It also features a unique list of features.
- Campgrounds
- Ice Cream Parlor
- Marina
- Mini-Golf
- 18 hole, par 3 Golf Course
- Rides (carousel and train)
The park wasn’t very tricky to find. It’s located off of 123 (Ox Road) in Fairfax Station, Virginia. During the off-season months you can drive in past the park office without stopping. The fee for non-Fairfax residents during Spring through Fall is $8. You will find there are a few parking lots around the park that will give you access to the trail that loops the lake (4.7mile loop). We pulled in near the amphitheater and with the ground still snow covered followed the footprints down to what I hoped was that trail.
I didn’t know what to expect since the snow in my yard had mostly melted. I was in for was a mix of snow, ice, standing water, dirt and pavement. It would have been a great day to throw on some snowshoes and explore the off trail, untouched snow. Not having this equipment I simply stuck to the trail that was packed for me. It was a great 90 minute trip around the lake. The ice and snow made for some slippery hiking. This didn’t seem to bother the dozens of other people I encountered on the trail, including mountain bikers. I met a local, named Lenn, who took the tour with me and told me all about best features of the park.
- Launching canoes & kayaks from the marina
- Watching the Great Blue Herons fly above the lake and nest in an island.
- Hiking the trail
- Seeing the kids line up for the train during Halloween
He pointed out nature trails that branch off from the main loop and a great spot on the shore where you can sit on a bench and watch the scenery.
All in all it was a great hike. Cannon enjoyed being able to splash through the puddles and even ran into the lake to retrieve a stick (a great feat for him I assure you). I enjoyed getting to talk to some new people (this is a heavily traveled trail) and getting some fresh air. I’ll make sure to make it back in the spring or summer to give some more detail on the quality of the trail once I can see it out from under all that snow and ice.
With spring little less than a month away I’m already planning my first hikes and camping trips of 2010. Still, warm weather can’t be here soon enough! This is why I recommend pulling your tent out and setting it up indoors. Sound crazy?
A few weeks ago I did just this. Setup was pretty easy since my Marmot Limelight 3 tent has a rainfly and footprint that can setup without the tent. This is meant to be used in warm weather camping and in Virginia it doesn’t get any warmer in winter than indoors at 72 degrees. Cannon got really excited when he saw me pull the tent polls out. And I gotta admit that having only used my tent a couple times, I got excited when I got a whiff of that new tent smell! The moment I go the ten setup my 80lb Ridgey was wandering around inside, waiting for me to get the sleeping bag laid down.
I made a couple small modification to this camping trip. I set the tent up over the rug in my living room to give me some extra cushion. I unzipped my sleeping bag and laid it out across the entire sleeping pad and then stacked a couple down comforters on top. We camped right in front of the tv and watched the olymipcs… it was fantastic!!!
For some extra ambiance to the night I made indoor smores. Graham crackers, Hershey’s chocolate bar and fluff – just put it in the microwave for 7 to 12 seconds and you’re all set.
Now, I’ve been thinking – for those of you who haven’t done any tent camping with your dog, this would be a fantastic way to give it a test run. You can get your pup used to sleeping in the tent and see if he’s gonna try to sneak in your sleeping bag with you. Tip – sometimes dogs can pace around the tent a lot the first time they’re all zipped up in there with you. Don’t be alarmed, this is typical. Just relax and give him some time to get used to it. If you relax then he should relax and be curled up next to you in no time.
If you’ve got any tips on how to make a bigger better indoor camping experience then we’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment here and share your tips and/or stories!
We’ve all been affected by this long stretch of cold snowy weather. Even those of us with winter loving dogs have hit roadblocks with unpaved roads, snowdrifts, deep snow and well… ice cold noses (for both dogs & their owners). It’s time we stopped fighting Mother Nature, take the hint and head indoors.
For me the perfect cure for cabin fever is a little shopping. If you can relate then I’d suggest grab’n the leash, your pup and heading to Lucketts, VA to the The Old Lucketts Store. This pet friendly shop touts a “vintage hip” style, which definitely delivers. Both the Store and its neighboring Design House allow our four legged friends. So, if you’ve got a critter that’s good around others then I recommend taking him out for a little shopping. It’s good mental exercise for him and a bit of retail therapy for you.
Warning – enthusiastic tail waggers beware!
Dental health is often overlooked when evaluating the overall health of your dog. In fact, “doggie breath” is not normal and it can be an early warning sign of something more serious, just like bad breath in humans is an indicator of something more.
So maybe you have scoffed at doggie toothbrushes and peanut butter-flavored toothpaste. But scoff not. Or maybe you have just accepted the fact that every two years or so you leave your pooch at the vet for a day to be put under while tough plaque is removed. Not acceptable! Sure, you may have the small percentage of healthy dogs who have been dealt a bummer set of choppers, but most likely you can regain control.
Regular – meaning weekly or more often – brushing can go a long way towards ensuring health. Use it as a bonding excuse rather than a chore and build trust between you and your dog. You may have to start slowly by letting them get used to the flavor of the toothpaste or just having your finger rubbing against his teeth. Start slow and build trust.
Once you have the hang of it, add a toothbrush to the mix. There are even some that fit over your finger for more control so you don’t accidentally jam your dog’s gum with a hunk of plastic (I mean, not that I’ve ever done such a thing!).
My personal preference is to make sure Karma has lots of different surfaces on which to chew. Crunchy treats, edible, organic bones and even store-bought dental treats ensure his teeth are getting the same workout they would in the wild. Karma is on a raw diet so that means every once in a while he gets something totally disgusting like a turkey neck (I say, “ick!,” he says, “Nom!”).
I can honestly say that by changing his diet and being conscious of his choppers, Karma’s plaque has decreased and his doggie smile is even brighter.
By now, if you read regularly, you might think I am the most paranoid person on the planet when it comes to my dog as I am often writing about safety, safety, safety. In truth I just prefer being prepared and my mom might rat me out by saying these are all just excuses to buy more stuff!
I prefer the label “prepared,” but Mom is probably right, too.
In any case, I certainly can’t convince you that I’m really not so paranoid today, because I have found an entire online store devoted to safety! Wag’n Pet Safety Gear offers first aid kits, pet passports and even evacuation kits!
Of course reading about the evacuation kit made me realize that I really don’t (or didn’t!) have an evacuation plan for Karma in case we need to (godforbid!) make a run for it. The majority of their products are for dogs, but they do have your cat and even your ferret in mind as well.
So how do you think Karma will feel about fire drills?
Great Falls Park
Time: Totally up to you
Length: Variable
Gear: daypack – water – leash – map (optional)
Difficulty Level: 1 paws
Scenery: 4 paws
Pack: You and your dog
My friend, Judy K and her herd, reminded me of what a nice, reliable, beautiful hike Great Falls is. The park is well visited and can be busy, especially on a summer afternoon, but this time of year or in the mornings it is peaceful and scenic.
If you have never been, you are missing some amazing views of the Potomac River. The Falls live up to their reputation but be careful with your pooch near the edges! No kidding, people die every year there thinking they can tame the rapids and falls. Not!
Great Falls connects to Riverbend which I have talked about previously. Riverbend is fantastic in it’s own way and is much less busy. Just bring a map because you will have many less-traveled options for your hike.
Last week when the temperature crept over the 50 mark, it made me dream of spring and hikes in the mountains! Ahhhh. And that was the perfect reminder – am I in shape for the first hike of the season? More importantly, is my dog?
It’s easy to forget that while you may be hitting the treadmill in the winter, your dog relies completely on you for exercise. I don’t know about you, but when the weather is yucky I have been known to shorten a walk or opt for the backyard potty to avoid the elements or the dark.
Which is fine, of course, but it means that your dog will need to get back into shape before you do a three-miler with a grade change of 600 feet! Karma and I participate in other doggie activities year round but even agility runs aren’t the same as a few hours in Shenandoah National Park.
So what’s a team to do?
- Take advantage of the rare warm(er) days and double the time of your walk.
- Look for even slight inclines and small hills in your neighborhood and walk up and down them to work different muscle groups.
- Build both stamina and strength in your dogs – sometimes walks can be about duration, sometimes strength.
- Use a doggy backpack to make your dog think about what he’s doing and to build strength. A dog should be able to carry 1/3 of his weight but not right away! Start with a small bottle of water on each side of the pack (if you have a small dog, don’t fill the bottles all the way).
- Vary your dog’s pace to build cardio strength – chasing balls, fast walks, etc.
- Look at the calendar and work backwards. If you were to sign up to run a 10k in say, June, you would start training accordingly. Treat your dog the same way!
But wait, there’s more!
The temperatures are still bone chilling and you can never be too careful with your best friend!
So here are a few more tips for taking care of your pup.
- You may not have antifreeze in your garage, but it can collect on roads and driveways. It tastes and smells good to dogs, but it is highly lethal.
- Watch out for anything your dog picks up on a walk – or better yet, don’t let him! Karma is surprisingly fast when it comes to picking up something during a walk and at the end of an extension leash he’s harder to control. But a good friend lost her dog to something they never knew the dog ate while walking so be careful!
- Rock salt or other ice-melting products is all over sidewalks, driveways and roadways this time of year. These various products may be harmful to your dog’s paws so be sure to clean them off. Also, buy “paw-friendly” products for your own home.
- Be careful of supplemental heat sources like fireplaces and portable heaters. Your dog can easily burn himself.
- Like us two-legged creatures, dogs are also susceptible to illnesses in the winter so be sure to visit the vet if you see any symptoms.
- Do NOT use over-the-counter medications on your dog without consulting your vet. I’m talking about both the ones meant for humans and those meant for dogs.
OK, so here I am again with more health and welfare tips! This time some reminders as the thermometers display cold temperatures and we are layered-up for walks.
As I may have mentioned (like a hundred times), my dog LOVES the cold but in some ways, that can almost make it harder to notice early signs that even my snow dog has to come in from the cold. Once Karma played so long in the snow that his paws were bright red that night and painful the next morning. So even if your dog loves this weather, please read on. These tips were taken from information on AKC.org.
- Don’t leave your dog outside in the cold for long periods of time or certainly without monitoring. Windchill affects them just as much so pay attention.
- Adequate shelter is a necessity! Even inside, make sure your dog is protected from drafts and too-cold floors. Provide options for them – from beds to towels to bare floors – so they can mange their needs.
- Watch out when walking near bodies of water that may look frozen as looks can be deceiving and weak spots occur.
- Keep you dog well groomed in order for his natural insulation to function properly. You may also need to clip hair in some places if it is holding onto snow – like the bottoms of feet.
- If your dog needs a coat, get him a coat! We like the Foggy Mountain coats but there are literally thousands to choose from. (also check out our previous post!)
- You may need to feed additional calories if your dog is spending a lot of time outdoors. It takes more energy in the winter to regulate body temperature. Just don’t go overboard!
- Be sure to thoroughly dry you dog after he comes in from the rain or snow and check the condition of his feet.
- Don’t leave your dog in a car as it can get cold in there fast. And running the engine doesn’t help, as the carbon monoxide fumes can be dangerous.
Cross Country Trail: Colvin Run Mill to Potomac River
Time: 1.5+ hours (or more depending on your route)
Length: Out and back – up to you
Gear: water – leash – map
Difficulty Level: 1 paw
Scenery: 3 paws
Pack: You and your dog
Recently Karma and I revisited one of my go-to trails near my home – CCT. It was before all the snow fell but after some drenching rain, so the right shoes were still a must for this trail. Remember, you will walk through some water.
This time we walked a bit further as the summer heat was long gone and Karma was enjoying the cold temperatures. The inset photo shows where we turned back, just before the trail crosses the stream. It’s a great crossing, but I started to over-analyze – what if Karma slipped and fell in? What if I did? That water is darn cold! – so I decided that in the warmer months we would cross.
I will let you in on a secret. Karma was mostly off leash! I cannot endorse such a thing, of course, as it is always safer to have your dog in full control in case of a deer, other wildlife, passers-by and other dogs. That is my official statement. But unofficially, we started early and basically had the trail to ourselves until we were almost back to the car when we did pass a jogger and two separate people with unfriendly dogs. Karma is definitely growing up as his recalls were great and he was a perfect gentleman around these distractions.
It’s interesting, you MUST have solid recalls but often it’s hard to practice them – especially with distractions – unless you can be off leash in those areas. Hmmm. But a reliable recall can save your dog’s life so find environments where you can practice and always have rewards on hand! I have said this before (and Karma and I continue to work this) you must be THE best thing in your dog’s life! The source of all fun and rewards and of course, great hikes!
It’s the final day of gift ideas and unless you’re going to brave the crazy shopping traffic then I’m guessing you’re not going out to get that doggy gift you had earlier wanted to purchase. Not to worry! Like I mentioned in an earlier post about volunteering, when it comes to your pup… simply spending time with him may be the best gift of all.
Christmas day for me will include Cannon unwrapping (okay… he shreds the paper) his gifts, an Orvis plush bunny and a bag of organic treats. That will be an exciting for him for all of 2 minutes. His favorite part will be what comes next. We’ll both get our coats on and head out for a good run in the cold air. Not our usual trails, we’ll be in upstate New York. There will be lots to see and to smell. We’ll do an extra long trek, after all there’s treats and xmas dinner waiting for us.
When the family all gathers there will be lots of kisses and belly rubs for Cannon. There will be crumbs to clean off the carpet from what the kids drop. There will be doorbells ringing, announcing new people to greet. He’ll have more attention than he knows what to do with. Wrapped gifts or not… just like for the rest of us, this will be the best part of all.
When we first got Cannon from the breeder he came home with a simple grey string around his neck. A simple collar to help differentiate him from his brothers and sisters. Now that he’s all grown up we’ve upgraded from this to an Around the Hounds custom collar, which we’re always getting compliments on.
His collar is a 1 ½ inch wide band of blue and white. The white strip is reflective. This helps with nighttime walks off leash in the backyard and roadside walks after dusk, keeping him clearly visible. Cannon’s got a very durable style collar but you can also find holiday inspired and other beautifully decorative styles.
If your dog’s like mine then he plays hard! Cannon’s frequently running through mud, splashing through water, pushing through tall grass or rolling in goose poo. This makes getting him clean, on a regular basis, an important task for me. This turned on the lightbulb for today’s gift idea – bath time products.
There are a lot of shampoos that you’ll find at your local pet supply store. My brand of choice is Earthbath. It’s an all natural shampoo, which means no harsh ingredients that could hurt your dog or the environment. They sell products for dogs, cats and horses. They also sell several wipes and spritzes, besides the old standard, shampoo.
For those of you who’ve waited until the last minute have I got the perfect gift – a donation to your local shelter! Time or money they can use it. These organizations rely on donations to buy food, blankets, supplies and pay regular staff in order to care for animals that have been rescued or surrendered. There are some great local, no-kill shelters that feeling the pain of the recession too… and it’s the animals that pay the price.
If you’re feeling totally broke after tackling all your holiday gift purchasing then I recommend donating what is worth more than money – your time. On any typical day shelters find it hard to give each and every dog a decent walk, if they get one at all. Now think about how many volunteers show up on a cold day or snowy weekend – not many. If you can just spend one afternoon helping walk some homeless pups you’ll put a wag in their tail and earn your spot on the “nice list.”
Alright, even I am beginning to think I am a little paranoid by suggesting all these “safety” products for holiday gifts. But here’s the thing, you and your dog-adoring friends need this stuff and as we all know, sometimes the non-toy gifts end up at the bottom of the list.
So today’s canine holiday gift idea is a first aid kit from Ruff Wear. I have written about this before, but it occurs to me that it makes a great stocking stuffer for anyone who loves their dog – which is all of us, right? I am probably going to buy a second one so I can have one for our hiking gear and one for our trial travels – can’t be too safe!
