I've often said that you don't need anything special to get outside and go hiking. A nice pair of hiking boots or shoes is helpful, but otherwise you really don't have to spend much on gear.
And I still think that's mostly true as long as you're just doing short day-hikes.
But sometimes, some good gear can really make your life a whole lot better.
When I hike with other dog owners, they all tend to comment on how they should get a waist-leash like I use with Charlie.
Honestly, I don't know what I would do without my Ruffwear Roamer Leash. It's a must-have for hiking in my opinion. I love having my hands free to take photos or get things out of my pack without worrying about letting go of Charlie's leash.
And it's also nice to have the Ruffwear Webmaster Harness to go with it so the leash stays on top of the dog and doesn't get tangled in her legs.
Also, when I'm kayaking with Charlie, I absolutely have to have the Ruffwear Float Coat because it has the super-duper heavy-duty handle on top that helps me lift her into the kayak after she jumps out (repeatedly) to chase sticks (or leaves or bubbles) that float by. VIDEO (Charlie and the Kayak):
And now that I'm thinking about doing longer mileage hikes, I'm wondering if I need a better backpack. I currently use a cheapie little backpack without padding or frills of any kind, and after a long day of hiking, the straps are digging into my armpits and there just aren't enough special storage areas for all the stuff I need to bring along.
My tiny pink backpack.
So I'm wondering... what do you use for backpacks? What do you like about your backpack? Any suggestions on a good backpack for day trips up to 15 miles long? What do you bring in your pack for that length of a hike?
Temps have been sub-zero for the past week and we've been severely limiting our time outside. Charlie runs out to do her potty business in the backyard and runs right back in. I haven't been taking her on car rides to run errands either because it's just too cold to even leave her in the car for very long.
It's been so cold that it literally hurts to be outside.
So today, it finally warmed up to a balmy zero degrees and I saw it as an opportunity to try and get some hiking in. Even if only for a short while.
So we headed to Dells of the Eau Claire County Park and spent about 45 minutes hiking at a very brisk pace. Charlie wore her Pawz Dog Boots to protect her feet.
I absolutely love these boots for cold winter walking. I don't have to worry about them falling off like her Ruffwear Boots and even though they're "disposable," you can get quite a few uses out of them before they need to be thrown out. Plus, they really do help keep her feet warm and protected in these extremely cold temps even though they are just a thin piece of rubber. They are truly unbelievable, and I'm so glad I decided to try them! I always have them on hand - both for winter weather and in the first aid kit in the summer in case she gets a foot injury that needs to stay clean until we get off the trail.
I never thought in a million years that I'd put boots on my dog.
Like Real.Boots.
But with the unrelenting cold temperatures we've had this winter, I finally gave in and ordered Charlie a pair of Ruffwear Summit Trex boots. My hope is that these boots will allow me to give Charlie her much-needed outside time even when the temperatures are dangerously cold.
I had read all the reviews on Ruffwear's website and was convinced that the reason most people have difficulty keeping the boots on their dogs' feet was due to not fitting them properly. I was sure that I wouldn't have the same problem since I have experience using Ruffwear's gear.
First, the positive points:
1. These boots are very well-made and sturdy. There is no concern that they will wear out.
2. The boots are super cute and tough at the same time. I am not embarrassed by the look of them on Charlie's paws.
3. They do a great job protecting her paws from the elements, which was the intended purpose.
Now, my concerns:
1. I'm constantly paranoid that they will fall off. And admittedly, if you're not diligent about putting them on tightly, they WILL fall off. I experienced that during my first outing with Charlie in an empty field where I could observe how well they worked. During that initial trial, she lost three different boots at three separate times. Even though she was racing around at full speed and plowing through deep snow, the pictures on Ruffwear's website depict the same exact thing, so I'm pretty sure they are supposed to stand up to that kind of use. Even with my diligence and experience, I have a feeling that the lost boots had something to do with me putting them on in the backseat of the car and not getting them on tightly enough.
2. The whole time we were walking, I was watching for signs that they were on maybe too tightly. Again, I obsessively watched her feet during the entire walk. Halfway through our walk I ended up removing one of the boots because she appeared to be limping on that foot. I was afraid if I loosened the velcro strap too much, the boot would fall off, but I also couldn't be certain that she was actually limping or if she was just walking funny while getting used to wearing them for a prolonged period of time (30 minutes).
3. They are a big investment (starting around $55). For some people this will seem like a small price to pay for the comfort of their dog, for others (like me) it's a big investment. While these boots will surely last a long time and be worth the investment, the fear of losing a boot is always on my mind, which kind of detracts from the joy of walking with my dog; instead of enjoying the scenery, I'm too focused on her paws.
VIDEO:
Overall, I think the boots are great and hopefully with a little time to get them "broken in" and figuring out how tight is tight enough when putting them on, they'll be a great addition to Charlie's walking/hiking gear.
However, I think you really have to consider how much effort and time you're willing to put in to the learning and adjustment period before making the investment. I have a feeling most people are looking for a "quick fix" and these definitely are not that. In my experience, it will take time and patience to make them work for you and your dog, especially since it is not natural for dogs to wear boots.
On our second trial, a neighborhood walk on flat sidewalks while leashed and with the boots fitted in the living room where I had ample space to see what I was doing, they stayed on perfectly and didn't seem to bother Charlie as much. She still stands like a statue once they are on, with one paw up in the air for dramatic effect, but once we get outside and start walking, she hardly notices them.
Drama Queen.
Foot raised for dramatic effect!
Bottom line: I'd recommend these boots to people who have a very active dog willing to put the time in to figure out how to use them properly and diligent enough to continue doing so. Otherwise, you might be better off with the previously reviewed Pawz Boots, which are great for leisurely, short-term use.
Even though wind chills were ridiculously cold yesterday, I bundled Charlie up in her jacket and Pawz Boots for a walk around the neighborhood. She was not thrilled with the "bundling up" process but was happy to be out walking again.
Unfortunately the freezing wind was gusting up to 45 mph and way too cold for me so we cut our walk short. I opted to play frisbee in the backyard with Charlie instead since the yard is fairly sheltered from wind.
She was having so much fun but all the racing around and digging in the snowbanks had shredded her Pawz Boots, which I ended up taking off because they weren't doing much good anymore. Within a few minutes she was doing the 3-legged-walk when her feet became too cold.
I tried coaxing her in with some treats, but she was not falling for it; she wanted to be outside. I went inside and waited by the back door to see if she would give in. When she failed to give her usual "bark" to come in, I opened the door and started laughing: she had removed her jacket like a two-year-old having a tantrum and was just sitting there obstinately.
She finally relented and came in. But later on I found her snuggled on her dog bed with her leash again... definitely not happy about being inside.
Because the Pawz Boots are better suited for "light use" during neighborhood walks or quick potty breaks in the backyard, I decided to upgrade and order her a pair of Ruffwear Summit Trex boots which should hopefully arrive next week.
I have a feeling we're going to need them the way this winter is behaving. I know they will take some getting used to, but I think it will be worth the trade-off to be outside more often.
The Hiking With Heather logo is finished! I had a lot of fun creating this logo to capture the essence of my "outdoor adventures with dog" tag line. Up next... Wilderness First Aid training at Camp Manitowish and then finishing up the website (which is still under construction).
Also, I want to thank "Cookie" at the Wausau Gander Mountain store for helping me pick out the most perfect hiking boots and for introducing me to "smartwool" socks... they are unbelievably soft!
Charlie and I headed up to Rib Mountain State Park twice this holiday weekend to break in the new hiking boots (which wasn't actually necessary because they are SO comfortable!). I made a quick video review of the Ruffwear Roamer leash while we were there and I'll be getting that out on YouTube this week along with some photos of our hike. Stay tuned...
