Camping/Great Outdoors Month
Hi! Ang here!
It’s camping month AND great outdoors month, and I want to encourage you to get out in nature! A little background, I grew up loving being outside as much as possible. I was the kid always climbing trees and digging in the dirt. However, it wasn’t until I had Grady in my life that I really started getting intentional about outside activities. And with Grady as my right hand, I’m regularly out hiking, kayaking, and camping whenever the weather allows. That said, I wanted to share some tips and tricks to make outdoor activities fun for everyone.
Ang & Grady on a hike
Hiking
Tip #1: Have fun (both you and your dog)! Asking your dog to heel or sit or look at you constantly may not be fun for you and isn't fun for your dog. If you’re out hiking, you likely want to enjoy nature. Well, so does your dog! But sometimes we have to help them learn to stop and smell the roses. Encourage them to slow down and sniff. Let them pounce in the tall grass or dip their paws in the creek. (Pro tip: I’ve found keeping a quick dry towel in the car for a quick wipe down of water and mud before Grady jumps back into the car to be quite beneficial.)
Tip #2: Get a longer leash. A 4-6' leash out in nature is really only worthwhile if you’re somewhere super busy like Devil’s Lake on a summer weekend. In general, when you’re out hiking you aren’t constantly around crowds, so do yourself and your dog a favor and add a few feet to their leash (for me and Grady the sweet spot is 8-10' but that may vary for you and your dog). Those extra few feet allow for a bit more sniffing room while still being short enough for you to easily gather them in close to you when you encounter other trail users. (And please be respectful and gather them in when you encounter others, not everyone wants to greet your dog!)
Tip #3: Teach your dog to drink water. I know that sounds ridiculous, but I’m serious! Make sure your dog drinks water when out hiking. Sometimes the excitement is too much, and they will refuse water even when you know they must be thirsty. If your dog will eat snacks, dropping a couple snacks in their water can encourage drinking. You can also bring moisture rich snacks like fruits to help keep them hydrated. You may also find that you need to hang out somewhere for a few minutes until your dog has settled enough to want water
Bonus Tip: Get yourself a smell proof bag to carry poop. My least favorite thing is having to carry a full poop bag. Grady’s favorite thing is waiting until we are just far enough from the car to make it not worth returning and emptying his bowels.... Every. Single. Time. My smell proof bag is honestly my favorite hiking accessory in the entire world. Cannot recommend enough. You will thank yourself every time you need to use it.
Grady napping
Camping
Tip #1: Do your research when picking a campsite. In my case, I have a dog that loves adventure but doesn’t love crowds of any kind. Making a list of what I love in a campsite and what Grady needs to feel comfortable was super helpful in looking for a spot to camp. In fact, I still use it every time I plan a camping trip. I consider the campsites' location within the campground, the privacy, proximity to bathrooms and water, etc. I look over campground maps, site pictures, and many campgrounds have a drive through YouTube. It may seem tedious, but it will help you feel more prepared going into your trip.
Tip #2: Give your dog a space where THEY want to relax. Grady is very much an 85lb lap dog. He wants to be snuggled up next to me. So, when I initially brought his outdoor bed and expected him to settle there, I quickly learned I was foolish. He’ll hang out there, sure. But when he’s tired and wants to relax, he would sit in front of me and whine because he wanted to snuggle. After a year of bringing a picnic blanket to relax on together, I got tired of sitting on the ground, found a double camp chair, and both me and Grady are now the happiest campers.
Tip #3: Bring hang out toys. If you have a dog that will gladly just hang out whenever you’re relaxing, congratulations, you’re in the minority. Many dogs want to do stuff the second you get up in the morning or before you crawl into the tent at night. Having things like chew bones, a frozen Toppl, or their favorite squeaky toy can help them entertain themselves while you wake up or wind down for the day.
Grady with goggles
Kayaking
Tip #1: Trying out a rental is a perfect way to test out different types of kayaks and figuring out what works, what doesn’t, and what skills you may need to work on with your dog. For me, I learned Grady feels much more comfortable being in front of me and prefers laying down to sitting. I also learned the main things we needed to work on were reapproaching the shore and staying calm when wildlife was in the water.
Tip #2: Traction is undervalued. Making sure your dog has some sort of traction can help them settle much faster. This traction can be as simple as a yoga mat or as complex as some traction tape on the floor of your kayak.
Tip #3: Don’t forget water! Just like us, when our dogs are on the water, they get hot quickly and dehydration sets in much faster. If your dog is not drinking water, be sure to take some breaks on shore so they are not overheating, and it may even help them settle enough to drink some water!
And remember, if at first you don’t succeed, don’t give up. One bad outing does not define you and it does not define your dog. Analyze it, learn from it, and adjust! Nothing is ever going to be perfect, and you’ll likely accumulate your fair share of frustrating at the time but laughable later moments. At the end of the day, just slow down, smile, and enjoy these outings with your dog and if there are outings where you know your dog will need lots of management, it’s okay to decide you don’t want to put in that work and have your dog opt out of those outings.
As a final note, know that no two dogs are ever the same. What’s easy for one may be extremely difficult for another. Some dogs will be a complete natural, some dogs will need a lot of support to learn how to be an adventure buddy. Everyone will have a unique journey and that’s the beauty of it!