#hiking with your dog

[doggozila]

(via HIKING WITH YOUR DOG: OUTDOOR ADVENTURES)

[abirddogmoment]

I saw a reel yesterday that was like "top 10 hikes in Canada" and they were, as predicted, 100% mountain hikes in Banff and Jasper National Parks (and not even hidden gems! The ones on tourist brochures!). Someone made a comment like "you need to see more of Canada" and the 🌟influencer🌟 replied that the rest of Canada wasn't worth visiting when there are views like that in Banff.

Anyway here's a phone photo from a hike I drove four hours round trip to do in a part of Canada that "isn't worth visiting" 😂

[valoale]

Welcome home, baby boy 🥹🫶🏻

Today I became a dad of two again and I’m filled with so much joy I can’t believe this became a reality 😭

Fantti is a 4,5 year old German shepherd who was matched to me by my dear friend. Fantti needed a home and I have both that and all the love in the world to give him ❤️

The best part is that both me and Aino have known Fantti for some time now, so bringing him home was super easy; it was like we come home together every day, so familiar and mundane. He’s such a good and well behaved boy I’m so proud of him and I’m also very proud of Aino for being such a good sport and accepting him to her home right away. 🥹

I can’t wait for all the adventures we’ll share together— you came into my life just the right time and this feels like it was meant to be. Life has been extremely rough and depressing for a long time, but now I feel like we three are gonna be alright ❤️

[stellerssong]

IMPORTANT QUESTION.

[theadventurek9]

Ryker has shown some aversion to water, including puddles and creeks and what not. Which doesn't fit our outdoorsy lifestyle.

If he never likes swimming he will never have to do dock diving or swimming for fun, but for the sake of safety and being able to follow us on hikes and backpacking trips he has to be willing to cross creeks and confidently swim if he ever falls into water.

So today we did some fun splashing around and some not so fun creek crossings. Luckily he gained confidence fast and started stepping into the water on his own after a bit.

Only needed one learning moment of 'yes you have to cross the creek' at a creek crossing that had some deeper moving water. Let him take his time thinking about it but encouraged him that he had to eventually choose to join me and Aayla on the other side.

[fjordfolk]

here's a pet peeve of mine: editing gear and leashes out of a dog portrait etc or w/e is great and valid and all but i also think showing dogs with appropriate equipment is i-would-go-as-far-as-to-say important. especially re: blog/instagram/slice of life style content. imo it endorses responsible ownership.

i think maybe especially now that more people (in norway at least) are getting dogs or getting into dogs without prior experience. normalizing and showing properly and responsibly managed dogs living enriched, fulfilling lives etc etc. stop skewing the perception of how normal/common it is for dogs to be safely/appropriately off leash in open access areas.

[fayeandknight]

Hey Agility Folks

Question - how do you keep your pants up when running?

I wear workout leggings of various quality but find they inevitably start sliding down when I run. This even happens with ones that have a draw string waist. At this point I am seriously considering suspenders.

Would love thoughts from others.

[laomelettedufromage]

When Xiao Fei is trying to save Seven towards the end of season one and is making those sad little noises….ough

[darkwood-sleddog]

tbh i do feel like a lot of sport dog or general dog people's confusion regarding why certain gear not made for specific sports does not work for that said sport comes from a general lack of people who do not have a lot of personal experience wearing sport equipment or doing sports themselves.

Obviously people not having that experience is not a bad thing, we all learn and grow and it's great imo that people want to do active things with their dogs (any little bit you do is positive in my eyes). But it's just a fact to me that when you, personally, have experience with how YOU feel in different type of sports equipment, that knowledge certainly transfers to animal sports as well.

[dbraures]

basim's growing headaches

[sleepingfancies]

kind of just sounds like you hate dogs. leash laws don't apply to beaches either btw

Not getting into the dregs of this argument again for real but

A) i love dogs they are very cute and funny and sweet creatures. i don't love when their owners think it's a Me problem when i don't want their 100 pound hunting dog jumping on me on sight.

B) you're right, leash laws don't apply to beaches! Because (in the USA at least) most beaches have laws banning pets from being brought entirely. So your dog shouldn't even be there let alone unleashed

[coloursofaparadox]

>:[

[batplushies]

a sprained ankle is the worst for me both because I love a good walk and hate laying down and had plans to go hiking this week but alsooo because dog grooming requires way more pressure on your ankles than youd expect

[theadventurek9]

The bestest girl. With a new pup in the house Aayla has been learning to share me and my time. There is a pit in my stomach of guilt that she doesn't get the same amount of one on one attention but she doesn't seem to be stressed or worried about it except for some FOMO when I'm training Ryker.

I still make sure she gets her individual training and attention. I do take time to put Ryker away so she can have her time. Yet still there is something of sadness when the only dog, my heart dog has to learn to share as I shape the new one into a respectable member of society.

She is everything to me still and mostly a fantastic role model. (Stop teaching the puppy to chase the cat...)

[fjordfolk]

Hello, I was just wondering if you could share more about the kind of training and preparation you did with your girls at home/on shorter walks to get them ready for long hikes. And out of curiosity, what were the traits you looked for in potential breeds/puppies to suit long hikes? 💜

Oof, I wish I had a good and technical system to present here, but the truth is that we live in a rural part of Norway where nothing is flat unless it was dug out and the asphalt cracks so fast the main roads count as mild terrain, so a lot of it just comes with the territory.

From early on I've pretty much just tried to let them learn and grow as naturally as possible and to not limit them too much, and all of our puppies have been active and come on short hikes since they were ~3 months old. Not like heavy, static, structured activity - but little off-trail mountain or forest treks focused on play and exploration. Shaping the dog I want from the start, basically.

Our activity levels fluctuate with the season and weather, so we only do really long hikes in the summer and early autumn. But it's not unusual to spend 3-4hrs going mostly uphill on a regular walk, so doubling that for a hike isn't that big of an ask as long as they're healthy and in good base condition. And once hiking season starts rolling around in June after eight months of snow/sleet/rain, I'm usually in worse shape than my dogs anyway lol. I know my dogs well and we start the season with a few warmup hikes, to see where we're all at.

As far as breeds go, idk. I just tend to like a relatively neutral, balanced build. I'm not personally into very large or heavy dogs. I appreciate a little athleticism. I want less prey drive and more handler orientation. The ideal dog for me is one that maybe doesn't Have To, but Can and Wants To. Over the years I've also learned that I like a little moderation in body and angulation, and I prefer a slightly careful dog over an overconfident one.

[yonderlyporcupine]

it will never not drive me absolutely mad how anti-dog the outdoor community is. And no I will not be elaborating on this take, if you’re left feeling that I am somehow a irresponsible recreator than so fucking be it