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?
