Outbound Hound - Travel Unleashed

The movie Bull Durham has given me some of my favorite quotes, and this one seemed to fit our recent weekend in Shenandoah National Park: “This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains.”

Yup, sometimes it rains and did it ever!

The OBH crew arrived Friday night to the Big Meadows campground and thankfully Katina snagged the last walk-up spot since all the reservation sites were booked. She and Cannon had time for a beautiful walk in the Big Meadow before Karma and I, with new puppy Indie, pulled into the grounds.

The next morning it was a yummy breakfast followed by the Lewis Falls hike we had done before. We laughed as we struggled – as usual – to find the obvious trailhead, but it was smooth sailing from there as Indie completed her inaugural 3+ mile hike like a big girl.

The afternoon was lovely and then the rain came …

It started just before dinner and luckily I had packed a giant (seriously, GIANT) umbrella meant to create shade at the beach but also stave off the light rain shower. Well it was a good thing because all five of us huddled under it and made dinner during a brief “intermission.”

We finally gave up and went to our tents early as we were sitting in the rain, in the dark and Cannon had long since retired. It poured all night. Pounding, glad-I-have-a-good-tent kind of rain. And in the morning, when it was still raining at 8 a.m., we surrendered and packed up, shoving our tents in garbage bags. So much for a morning hike in the Big Meadow!

So it got me thinking about rain gear. Sooner or later it happens to everyone, so what do you pack for these moments?

For me, I was happy to be loading up wearing rain pants and my rain jacket with a hood but I was bummed that a baseball hat and/or rain hat was at home. It didn’t bother me that my feet were wet (only because it was already 80 degrees), but rain boots would be nice in cooler weather. I was grateful for large (yard sized) garbage bags, several towels and the fact that I have a seat/cargo cover for wet dogs. The giant umbrella was a bonus because otherwise we would have been forced to retire to our separate tent hours earlier. We are fair weather hikers but I will probably toss a garbage bag in my day pack just in case I need to keep something dry.

“… Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains.”

It’s my favorite (not!) topic that never goes away! And it seems the problem gets worse every year. Even my puppy had a tick on her at just 13 weeks! So what’s a girl to do?

Lately I have been comparing notes with my friends on this exact subject. I would be curious to hear back from our fans to learn what is – and is not – working for them.

I am especially desperate for a few reasons: 1) I have really hairy dogs! And the odds of finding one on them in time are not in my favor. 2) I have decided I don’t want to apply any more pesticides on my dog (like the liquids applied to their skin monthly – not mentioning brand names). My breed just has too many health issues and I don’t want to add to them. 3) Ticks gross me out. Period.

On our recent camping trip I put a natural/herbal collar on both dogs and sprayed them each morning with a natural flea/tick/mosquito deterrent. Then when I brought them home I gave them a flea and tick bath deciding the harshness to their skin was outweighed by the nastiness of the ticks. I didn’t find any on them, but …

Since then, I have heard a few other tips that I may try:

• Spray a Deet insect repellent on a bandana and tie around their neck.
• Spray them with rose geranium essential oil diluted in water.
• Spray then with garlic oil diluted in water. (Will they smell like pasta?)
• Feed them garlic oil. (watch the amounts per their size!)
• Add brewer’s yeast with garlic to their food.

What are you doing to combat the beasts from hell?

Oh the excitement! This weekend we will pack up the cars and head to the mountains for our first camping adventure of the season. Overdue, perhaps, but don’t judge! We’ve been busy girls!

Times like this kindle my already flaming desire to shop! Surely I must need something, right? Well, realistically, probably not as over the years I have amassed quite the camping war chest.

So today we revisit a well-stocked “kitchen.” As you know, we OBH girls don’t eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or spaghetti when we are in the woods. No way! We love to try new recipes on the grill and see just how far we can push camp cooking. My only consistent request: S’mores. Yum!

We have created the attached checklist for you to get started building your “kitchen bin.” My bin stays packed year-round and I just pull it from its place in storage and into the car without worrying I have forgotten something. My bin is air-tight/water-tight so I don’t worry about anything getting dirty during transport or sitting around a dusty campsite.

If we forgot something, please let us know! I will run out and buy it immediately!

I have always had a thing for a great firework display. The whole sitting on a blanket staring up at a summer sky or writing my name in the air with a sparkler just makes me smile. But there are a great many dogs who do not share that enthusiasm and can take up a lot of insane behaviors when scared.

Lucky for me, Karma could care less. However, my previous dog, Dugan, was terrified. I remember the exact day it started, too. It was July 3 and a neighbor was shooting off fireworks for his son’s birthday. Unfortunately they were practically in the backyard so the noises were up close.

This is when Dugan would sit on my head. Yup. Since fireworks work best in the dark, we were already tucked in for the night and he decided the safest place was by my head. Poor baby literally didn’t know what to do.

Ah, but Dugan was really smart – in this case, too smart. He transferred his fear of fireworks to thunder. And then figured out that lightening preceded thunder so he became afraid of that as well, even if there was no clap to follow. The ultimate transference happened when we moved to San Francisco right outside a (electric) bus stop. If you’ve ever been to SanFran you know that the busses “zap” and create mini “lightening.” Now I had a dog afraid of electric busses.

Today I would do what I do best and throw money at the problem. My friends at AgileDogs Rock!! sell a great new product called “Thundershirts” that the dog wears like a type of dog coat. It works by gently applying pressure and creating a “squeezing” effect which is scientifically proven to calm animals and people. (Think Temple Grandin and her squeeze shoots)

Other ways to help

• Keep you dog physically away from the fireworks or thunder as much as possible. A quiet place in the house, a safe corner, a favorite bed in just the perfect spot can all help to reduce anxiety.
• Turn on the lights, turn up some soothing music and create other distractions. Try playing games or doing other activities the dog enjoys.
• Incorporate Bach Flower Remedies which have formulas for specific situations like this.
• Be sure your pet is wearing ID in case he decides to make a run for it.

What about Dugan? Well since he was such a smarty-pants, he eventually figured out that “bus lightening” didn’t mean that thunder would follow. As a matter of fact, that micro-climate rarely has thunderstorms so he came to decouple the lightening from the thunder. Once that happened, he sort of just let the thunder go. Of course, he was 12 at the time!

If you’ve been following us on Facebook then you know that our very own Julie got a shout out on the Browns Automotive Group Blog. We love getting mentions in the blogosphere and Julie earned hers due to the car trouble she ran into on a recent trip from Michigan back to Virginia. I ran into my own car trouble just the weekend prior on a trip from Upstate New York south to Virginia, so now I think we might be the leading experts in juggling car care and dog care enroute.

About half way through my 500 mile drive I watched the various warning indicators illuminate one by one on my dash – battery light, ABS, airbag, on and on. About that same time my air conditioning quit, which was a huge concern since I’m very vigilant about keeping Cannon cool on any summer ride. As I was looking for an exit that indicated any type of civilization my car started lurching bit as it struggled to accelerate up a small hill. I called my hubby so someone knew just where I was and so I could talk through a plan of attack.

Just minutes later I was off the interstate, sitting in a restaurant parking lot and thinking about a tow cause my car was now not starting. My very first concern through all of this was how to keep Cannon safe and comfortable. I got him out of the hot car and into the shade. I pulled out his travel bowl and filled it with water. We hung out in the shade, called Geico for that tow which I made sure would accommodate me and an 80lb dog. We worked through which auto shop was nearby and open on a Sunday afternoon and even what hotels were close which would accommodate dogs, because who knows how long this adventure could last.

A new alternator and four hours later I was grateful for the kindness of strangers (especially the PepBoys that let Cannon and I hang out inside their shop for all that time) and for being prepared for those road side troubles you just can’t foresee. Check out the following list to keep you and your pup just a little safer if you have troubles on the road this summer.

• Keep your cellphone charged. Your car charger won’t help you if your car has no juice.
• Know who call in the case of an emergency and know their number. You may not always be close to home – does your auto insurance company provide roadside assistance?
• Carry a basic emergency kit in your vehicle. Include a flashlight for night time breakdowns.
• Pack enough water for both you and your dog to keep you hydrated for several hours. Include travel bowl for your pup… it’s funny but frustrating to get him to drink out of the bottle : )
• Travel with a leash at all times.
• Add an extra scoop or two in your dog’s travel bag. You never know when you’ll need an extra day of travel.
• Have a power bar or two in your own travel bag to keep yourself going on the road.
• Store a blanket in the car. It’s good for keeping warm on a cold day or creating shade on a hot one.

Also, we highly recommend checking out that blog post by Browns Automotive Group, it could save you and your pup a lot of stress during vacation season.

In this month’s issue of Backpacker Magazine they listed their “10 Essentials: Update your survival kit for 2010.” There were some great ideas from First aid kits to GPS units. It got me thinking, what updates or new gear do I want on my personal top ten items to shop list for this spring?

1. Gaiters | Until Julie and I break the curse of precipitation when we go hiking looks like this one’s a must. I typically exclusively hike in trail running shoes, so the Mountain Hardwear Seta Strapless Running Gaiters are my favorites at the moment.

 

2. Absorbent Dog Towel | Stop laughing. I know I’m way behind on this purchase but since I’ve got plenty of towels still left over from college (no… seriously) they’re fine for drying the dog. After the soggy trip to Savage River Lodge I got a wakeup call that regular towels just aren’t good enough.

 

3. Sleeping Bag | I have one already but after last year’s camping trips I learned that it just doesn’t hold up against the cold temps in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I’m doing research now to find the perfect women’s, long, down filled bag. Since I’ve got an orange tent I’m hoping I can get it in green… love this color combo!

 

4. Canister Stove | I’ve been dreaming of getting one ever since my brother, Keith, and I took a killer 15 mile hike on the Appalachian Trail (AT) in fall of ’08. It was October and there was already frost on top of the mountain. After 8 miles we needed a lunch break (cup of noodles) and hot cocoa. Keith pulled a canister stove out of his backpack and whipped up a fast and hot lunch for us both. I burned my tongue but it was worth it. I’m kinda hot (harhar) on the Jetboil Flash Cooking System.

 

5. Lip Protector | A couple weeks ago Julie asked me “if you were stranded on an island, what one item would you want with you?” My answer – “chapstick.” May sound kinda lame but after kayaking Costa Brava in Spain last summer without lip protection I learned my lesson when it comes to the stuff. The next morning it looked like I’d had an overzealous Dr inject me with collagan… and it was painful. I picked up Cover Your Mouth by Origins. Best lip protection I’ve ever used and it makes your lips look so moist and healthy. I swear by it.

 

6. Sports Bras | Don’t know about you but it’s really important for me to keep “the girls” locked and loaded when I’m hiking. This usually doesn’t provide many options for cute underwear. Everything that looks half way decent is usually built for low impact activities. I’ve found the Drishti Bra at Lululemon and I want to give it go. After all, who says you can’t feel sexy when you’re out hiking?

 

7. Rain Pants | Again, after Savage River Lodge I learned the importance of rain pants. Julie had them, I did not. Cold and wet is a bad combo. Jules seems to like her Marmot’s so that’s likely what I’ll aim to get. Tried and true in long please.

 

8. Dog Bed | If you’ve seen our photo albums then you’ve likely seen shots of Cannon on a dog bed in the campsite, possibly even under a blanket. Listen, he likes to be snuggly and warm. That’s why I’ve been shopping around for new beds. Ruffwear’s got this Mt. Bachelor Pad that not only has a great name but it can also go from the car to the campsite.

 

9. Camera Upgrade | This one might actually be on the “seriously Katina, you’re dreaming” list. But I’d love to get a new camera for shots out on the trail. I love my current Canon Powershot but would love to get a Canon Digital SLR. Everyone’s gotta have a dream.

 

10. Car | My current ride is worn and not suitable for travel for me let alone my pup. Cross-over, wagon… what’s a girl to do? Better start saving!

Got a wish list of your own? We’d love to hear what’s in your catalog of wants & needs!

Not to insult anyone, but I want to first make sure everyone knows what a “Way Station” is. For me, it is that general store of sorts in a park that seems to always have exactly what you forgot to bring on your camping adventure. Marshmallows, check. Matches, check. Baked beans, check. Some even have postcards, ice cream  and deli counters and various souvenirs.

It is also usually staffed with some really helpful people who can direct you, teach you and give you great information about the park. Maps, phones and firewood are usually staples at the Way Station.

So today we launch our Way Station page and intend for it to evolve into that same type of invaluable resource. We are preparing checklists, compiling favorite links, providing directions and more. This home page will still be the first place for new content, but before you head out on a hike or camping trip, be sure to click to the Way Station to make sure you have everything.

As always, if you have something to add or need a resource not listed, we want to hear about it!

This past weekend Karma received some new gear to make his life even better! Both came from our friends at AgileDogs Rock!! who travel to agility trials with all the best goodies stuffed in their truck. If you need, want or desire anything for your active pup, find them on Facebook!

That yellow thing in the photo is called an eGGe and it’s even better than a soccer ball! Karma can’t “cheat” by picking it up because it’s made of hard plastic. And when he pounces on it, the eGGe sort of “squirts” away because of its irregular shape and the game is on! We originally tried it out in snow and the eGGe travels even faster on the white stuff! The downside is it doesn’t kick quite the same way as a soccer ball – ha! – unless you have some seriously hard-toed shoes. Oh, and when you throw it, make sure you don’t accidentally hit your boy in the face (not that I would ever do that!).

His new fashion accessory with the red trim is a K9 Kool Coat. As you know from previous posts, Karma’s generous coat makes him melt in the heat. When I say heat, I mean anything over 75 degrees! Ha! The coat is made of a mesh fabric that breathes while it reflects the sun. The added bonus is you can wet the coat and it increases the cooling properties. I like it much better than RuffWear’s Swamp Cooler as this one doesn’t trap the moisture and thus heat up. It worked really well after Karma played fetch with the Border Collies and got overheated – he cooled down faster in his new duds! I’m sold!

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?

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!

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.

 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.

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!