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!
Just because your dog can swim doesn’t mean he or she doesn’t need a float coat to keep safe.
Most dogs who love the water just don’t know when to stop so they can get tired and need a little assistance. Or maybe, like Karma, your dog loves the water but isn’t the best swimmer. Or perhaps you are a boating family and you want to ensure your dog is safe if she jumps out (or falls out) of the boat.
It’s probably no surprise that we would suggest Ruff Wear’s float coats. Their products are durable and reliable and they can help you choose the right vest for your dog’s needs.
Why not give a little piece of summer this winter?
During the holidays, no doubt you will have an extra cookie or two and you may even let your pooch cheat on his “diet” as well. It happens.
So while you are making promises to clean up your act in ’10, make a promise to take a look at your dog’s diet too.
Suggesting a diet for someone else’s dog is about as inflammatory as bringing up religion at a cocktail party so I won’t even try!! What I will do instead is offer a site I have found helpful in learning how to better read labels and get educated – Dogma!
I will also suggest researching your specific breed requirements as well. When I first got Karma I learned that his breed has much different protein requirements than my Labrador did and that was helpful.
If you can’t stick to your new year’s resolution diet, for sure your dog can!
OK, so a trip to the vet is probably not what your dog would request. But it could save your relationship.
I’m talking about micro-chipping your dog. The vet inserts a rice-sized microchip in the area around your dog’s shoulder blades and then the number on the chip is registered to you. Karma has a “Home Again” chip but there are other brands as well. I can update my information in my online account in case I move.
Of course, no one likes to think about something bad happening – especially at the holidays! So I’m not trying to be a downer. But there are lots of ways you could become separated (I won’t list them here) and you should make sure that the odds of getting your best pal back are tipped in your favor!
You also could spring for the micro-chipping of a friend’s dog (or new puppy?) as a thoughtful gift – great stocking stuffer!
In all actuality, what your dog really wants for the holidays is more time with you doing fun things and we couldn’t agree more! Be sure that when you are choosing toys, you are choosing things that require interaction because the real goal of toys is to build a better relationship with your dog, not just have your dog keep busy in the corner! In simpler terms, you=play!
One of the best way (according to experts, of course) is to play tug with your dog and I just love the fleece tug toys at Genuine Dog Gear. Their toys are as soft as they are durable which makes tugging for you and your pup more enjoyable.
Playing tug is not only fun for the dog but reinforces what we all know: you control the universe and all the fun in it! Tug toys shouldn’t be left laying about the house, rather they should be a special toy that comes out for interactive fun time! Karma will “steal” tug toys from their hiding spot and bring them to me when he wants to play, demonstrating that he does in fact know I am our home’s “Julie, the cruise director.”
There is no doubt I have enjoyed getting into agility with Karma. While at first glance he is an unlikely breed to be hurling himself over obstacles, he is actually quite athletic and fast – proof that you can’t judge athleticism by the breed!
If you are interested in giving your dog another challenge, agility could be a fun way to go. If you have a puppy or a dog who isn’t full grown, please check with your vet before asking your dog to jump, climb or weave since stress on growing bones can be damaging.
Also, I strongly encourage enrolling in a class or two to learn the basics about introducing your dog to obstacles. Of course I am partial to Karma’s “school,” A Click Above, but there are many who are qualified to give you the basics. Who knows, you may get bitten by the agility bug as we have been and work towards trialing.
For gear, there are LOTS of choices! I have chosen to include just a few including a basics starter kit that may be just right for your backyard. As with anything, you can spend as much as you want and quality will vary so be sure to get the right gear for your purpose!
Clean Run – This is such a go-to for serious enthusiasts!
J&J Dog Supplies – Great for all types of supplies!
Doctors Fosters & Smith – Lower-end agility products, but a great all-around site!
If you do a lot of traveling with your four-legged friend then gifting yourself and your dog some travel accessories might be the way for you to go this holiday season. There are a lot of products out there to make sure you pet stays safe while you’re on the road.
Check out drsfostersmith.com for a longer list of items. Following is a sampling of these.
- Travel crate
- Pet barrier
- Rear-seat hammock
- Cargo liner
As many of you may already know, I’m the owner of an 80 pound Rhodesian Ridgeback – but that wasn’t always the case. I also was a proud mama to an 11 pound toy poodle, Champ. Having bred small dogs and been the caretaker for Champ for 16 years, I know how important it can be to get them buttoned up in sweaters during the winter. I also know how hard it is to find something that cute and classy.
I wish I’d found the Ralph Lauren pup sweater collection back then. I recently stumbled across this site and instantly recognized it as some top notch doggy gear. If you don’t have a dog that needs to be dressed (yes need, dogs closer to the ground need more protection from the elements) then I still recommend checking out the page, if just for the cute pics.
As our dogs age they need some TLC and require a little extra help. I’m going to break the rules for this post and give you a few ideas for the graying pup in your life.
Companion Steps or Ramps – This is a great gift for the dog who loves to snuggle on the couch or in bed with you but is having trouble jumping up. There are several styles out there, so make sure to do a little research. Here are some sites that I found to get you started: In The Company of Dogs, Amazon.
Theraputic Memory Foam Dog Bed – I found this one on Orvis.com. These beds are great as they will help with joint discomfort, such as hip problems. If your dog has the occasional “accident” you can even order a waterproof bed liner, to protect what can’t go in the laundry.
Hip Assist Harness – I also found this on Orvis.com. This two-piece harness will help you get your dog up the stairs or into the car without stressing those achy joints.
When Cannon first became part of our family, Julie bought us a great gift that we use all the time – tote from LL Bean. These are great for day trips or for packing your dog’s gear for that trip to Grandma’s for Xmas. Just this weekend I packed Cannon’s tote with his leash, pickup bags, his bowl and food for an overnight stay at a friend’s. All his belongings were kept together, which means I got them all back.
LL Bean’s kept the same classic styling but is offering great new prints. There are argyle, polka dot and rugby striped versions that come in various colors. Don’t forget to personalize it with your monogram or your dog’s name
