admin

Dogging: Jogging with Your Dog

March 6, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

If you have ever wanted to go dogging–jogging with your dog–but have been unsure how well your dog would adapt, have no fear: Dogging is a very simple exercise for Fido. However, there are a few guidelines to follow. Let’s take a look.
Pick the Right Dog
The first, maybe obvious, thing is to pick the right breed to jog with you. Chihuahuas: A no go for Dogging. Dachshunds: Forget about it. You should find a medium-sized to large-sized dog to accompany you on your runs.
This, however, does not mean that the largest breed is going to be your best jogger. Great Danes, for example, need to be gradually introduced to dogging: Their hips may not be genetically strong enough to withstand the jogging impact.
Medium-sized dogs, on the other hand, are more often well-suited for jogging. Labradors, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Greyhounds and Vizslas are a few great jogging breeds, but many other breeds are suited for jogging.
Check with your vet or breed specifications to see what type of dog best suits your needs for jogging and personality. It would be horrible to get a great jogging dog whose other breed traits do not fit your life or your family life, so check up on typically breed traits like energy level and sociability before choosing the breed.
Dogging Tips
Once you have your perfect jogging breed, the task of jogging is more simple than you would think. As long as your dog can walk on a leash, jogging is a cinch. Simply begin jogging, and your dog will join.
Always keep your pet’s health in mind as well when you jog. Fido can’t shed his fur coat for a jog, so watch for signs of overheating (red skin, heavy panting or lagging steps), and never jog if it is too hot.

Filed Under: Trail Riding Tagged With: Dog, Dog breed, Golden Retriever

Don’t Forget the pet at Halloween

March 4, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Pets are part of the family and they should be part of the celebration at holidays. At Halloween, dress up the family pet for trick or treating. The dog doesn’t want to be left behind when everyone else goes out for trick or treating, so get them a costume and be on your way.

There are over one hundred different pet costumes for sale online for Halloween and other holidays. Pet costumes come in all shapes and sizes to fit the large variety of breeds in America. The most popular costumes are ones that turn the pets into a different type of animal or dress them up like a human. How would your pet look as a sailor or police officer or hippie? There are costumes for sale in a variety of sizes in each outfit to dress your pet. The hippie costume is perfect for a black lab and will draw a lot of laughs because of the Afro headpiece that comes with it.

Shopping online is the perfect way to pick up pet costumes. You can find all the different types at one place and check out the images to determine which one will look best on your pet. Instead of running around from store to store to find the right costume and size, it will be delivered right to your door. Another big benefit is that you can plan ahead for Halloween and order the costume well in advance; you do not have to wait for the stores to bring out their Halloween merchandise.

When you do your shopping online, you can find complimentary costumes that match each other. For instance, if you have two dogs and want to make them a bride and groom, you can find both costumes at a single location. It can also be fun to get costumes that match for the kids and the pets. Send your son out as Luke Skywalker and the dog as Yoda.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Costume, Halloween, Luke Skywalker

Fishing- Employment For Some And Recreation For Others

February 23, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Fishing refers to an activity in which a person makes an effort to catch fish and other similar aquatic animals. A lot of people feel that fishing is related only to fishes but it is not so. Though, usually people catch fishes but catching of many marine animals such as cephalopods, echinoderms and the likes also comes under the umbrella of fishing only.

Fishing is one of those activities which is an occupation for some of the people and others indulge in it as a recreational activity. In the coastal areas, fishing is one of the primary occupation of a number of people, thus, this activity provides employment to a lot of people. On the other hand, some people take up this activity as a recreational activity because they enjoy fishing and indulge in it to while away their time.

People who take it up as an occupation catch fishes in order to make money out of it and others do it because it pleases them and works as a good break from their monotonous and hectic schedule. Due to the popularity of this recreational activity, fishing competitions are held from time to time from time to time. Thus, some people fish for competition as well.

Irrespective of the fact whether it is an occupation or a recreational activity, there are a number of techniques that people follow in order to succeed in the attempt of catching some aquatic animals. Majority of people use net for fishing and it is one of the most popular and easiest ways of fishing. However, there are other techniques of fishing too. Spearing the fish in order to catch fish is also a great talent. Catching fish requires great amount of skill and you need to be sure about the requirements. Make sure you have them before jumping.

Filed Under: Canoeing, Fishing Tagged With: Outdoors, Recreation, Recreational fishing

5 Things to Pack in Your Tackle Box

February 12, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Before you head out on your next fishing trip you want to make sure your tackle box is properly stocked. Five things you’ll want to have are an assortment of hooks and sinkers, lures, pliers and cutters, extra monofilament, and a first aid kit.

Hooks and Sinkers

Keeping an assortment of hooks and weights seems pretty obvious, right? The thing is you don’t always know where you’re going to be fishing or what you’ll need to have with you. When you pack and assortment of hooks and sinkers you’ll be prepared no matter what the fishing conditions are and what the fish are biting.

Lures

When the fish aren’t responding to bait, you may as well pack up and go home unless you’ve also got some lures in your arsenal. These can be anything from irons to spinners to plastics, but you want to be sure to have at least a little of everything.

Pliers and Cutters

Cutters are important because you’ll want a quick and simple way of cutting line if you need to . Pick up a pair of fishing pliers, and chances are they’ll have cutters on them, too. You’ll want the pliers for manipulating wire in hard to reach spots.

Extra Monofilament

You can use extra monofilament for a variety of things, including making leaders and respooling your reel. Using monofilament o make your own leaders will save you time in the long run, because all you’ll have to do to change hooks or lures is to snap off the leader you’re using and attach another one. The stuff is incredibly handing, and you should keep a few small spools of various sizes in your tackle box.

First Aid Kit

Accidents happen when you’re fishing, and you want to be able to treat them when they do. Fish bite, hooks are sharp, and the last thing you want is an open wound when you’re dealing with fish and bait. Your first aid kit should include alcohol wipes, bandages, and aspirin for pain.

Filed Under: Canoeing, Fishing Tagged With: Fish, Fishing sinker, Fishing tackle

Planning a Trip to the Park with the Whole Family

February 10, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Spending the day at the park is a great way to have fun together as a family, and since many cities have dog facilities at the park you really can bring the whole family. All you need to do is a little bit of planning. Check out the park before you go, pack a lunch for the family, and don’t forget a leash and a toy for the dog.

Check Out The Park Beforehand

Before you pack the family into the car and drive down to the park, do some research. You can either do this by going online to your city’s website or by driving by the park a few days before. You want to check out the playground and the picnic area, and see what the dog area of the park looks like. Check to see if the big and small dogs separated or are they all together. Are the picnic tables shaded or do you need ot bring a beach umbrella? If you’re planning on using the grill, see how clean they are and what you’ll need to bring to clean them. Is the playground safe and is it one size fits all or are there areas for smaller kids, too?

Pack a Lunch for the Family

Parks usually have grills and a little picnic area set up. If you’re going to grill, be sure to bring along a grill brush, charcoal and matches. When you’re packing your cooler, make sure your raw meat is properly wrapped up so it won’t leak and contaminate the other food. You can save space in your cooler by freezing water bottles instead of packing ice; then you can drink the water as it melts and you won’t have to worry about a big slushy mess.

Don’t Forget the Dog Toys

You’ll need to bring a leash for when you’re walking your dog from the car to the dog area in the park. Don’t forget to bring a frisbee or a ball for playing, and make sure to have snacks and water so your dog can stay hydrated after playing.

Filed Under: Canoeing, Parks Tagged With: Family, Park, Picnic table

Tips for Packing a Lunch on the Water

February 8, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Having lunch when you’re out on the water is a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon, but you need to be careful when you’re planning. You have to think about where you’ll be eating, if it’s on the shore or actually in your canoe, and what the weather and lake conditions are going to be like.

If you’re having lunch on the shore you don’t need to plan as much. You can take a big cooler, fill it with food and drinks, bring a long a blanket and call it a day.

Eating in your canoe can be a bit trickier.

First, space is limited. You won’t be able to move around at all, and you won’t be able to carry as much. Therefore you need to prioritize your food and drinks. You’ll also need to think about a storage container and how many people you’ll be feeding, if it’s just you or if you’re meeting a group on the water.

Second, think about the food itself. Stay away from sandwiches. While they seem appealing because of their portability, they have bread which gets really soggy really quick when splashed with water. You also want to stay away from anything that requires a fork, like pasta salad or chicken and rice. But you could get away with soup if you put in a thermos and drank it.

Lastly, food spoils and you’ll want to keep it from doing so. The easiest way is to keep it cold. You can either do that by purchasing dry ice and wrapping it up really well so you don’t hurt yourself, or freezing a few bottles of water and packing those. The good thing about freezing water bottles is that you can drink the water as it melts, giving it two uses.

So what food do you pack? Here are some of my favorites:

Carrot and celery sticks
Sliced apples and pears
Sandwich wraps in foil (less likely to get wet and can easily be wrapped)
Frozen bottled water instead of soda cans
Pretzels (more durable than chips)
Hot soup in a thermos

Filed Under: Canoeing, General Tagged With: Bottled water, Food, Water

Taking a Dog on Vacation Can Make for a Fun Trip

February 4, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

One of the great things about a vacation is spending time with the people you love. Of course, a lot of families (and individuals) also love their pets, and they want to take them along on their vacations, too. There’s good news for these people, because there are a lot more dog-friendly establishments than there used to be. These include hotels, restaurants, and other businesses, and they welcome dogs that are well behaved and that have owners who are conscientious, watch their pets, and take good care of them. If your dog isn’t controlled properly, though, you could be asked to leave, so make sure your pet knows basic commands and isn’t aggressive or likely to bite someone.

Canada is one of the best places to take your dog if you want to explore nature. There are hiking and biking trails that you can have fun with, and there are plenty of streams to fish in or just play in or around. Depending on the size of your dog, its age and its activity level, you’ll want to plan your trip with fun and adventure in mind. Of course, you’ll also need to know where you can find an emergency vet and where you can get pet food and/or medical supplies in case of an emergency. That’s where Canada 411 comes in handy, so you can get great information fast and easily.

When you go out into nature with your dog, be sure that you take food and water for both of you. Even if you don’t leave the trail and don’t get lost, you can still be gone longer than you expected to, which means that you might get hungry and dehydrated. Your four-legged friend can have the same kinds of problems, so be sure that both you and your dog have what you need to enjoy your trip.

Filed Under: Canoeing, Parks Tagged With: Canada, Dog, Pet

Items You Don’t Want to Forget When You’re on the Water

February 3, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Spending the day on the water can be great fun. But what happens if you drop your paddle, get soaked, get lost, cut yourself, and realize you’re hungry because you forgot your lunch at home? A fun day could easily turn bad if disaster strikes and you’re not prepared. Here are some things you don’t want to leave at home.

PFD

A PDF, or personal floatation device, is a must for safety. In fact, most states have laws requiring boaters to have PFDs either being actively worn or aboard the vessel. When you go to buy one, make sure it’s tailored to your body type and what activity you’ll be doing. There are a variety of PFDs available, and you don’t want to get the wrong one; that could be dangerous, and you could end up with a ticket. Try it on in the store before you buy to make sure it’s comfortable.

First Aid Kit and a Compass

Make sure to pack a first aid kit. Get a dry bag or a waterproof utility box from a fishing and boating retailer, and pack it with items you’d normally find in a first aid kit. You’ll want to include bandages, alcohol wipes, antibiotic ointment, and ibuprofen. If you need ideas, check out the first aid kit at work or ask the guys at the boating store. You also want to bring along a compass (much more reliable than a battery powered GPS unit), and a VHF radio and a cell phone in case you need to contact someone when you’re out on the water.

Spare Paddle and Extra Clothes

Don’t get caught up the creek without a paddle. You can buy inexpensive breakaway paddles that can be broken down and stored under your seat. This way, if your paddle does get lost or dropped into the water you’ll have a spare. Be sure to pack a change of dry clothes in case you fall out of your canoe. You can buy a large dry bag and store extra clothes under the seat, next to the spare paddle.

Filed Under: Canoeing, General Tagged With: First aid kit, Sport, Water

Tips for Making a First Aid Kit for Your Tackle Box

February 1, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

When you’re going on a fishing trip, the last thing you want to think about is cutting yourself on monofilament, getting jabbed by a hook, or slicing your finger on the sharp teeth of a fish while you’re trying to dehook him. But these things do happen, and you need to be prepared. It doesn’t matter if you’re on the water or shorefishing, you should always have a small first aid kit packed and ready to go in your tackle box before you leave your home.

It’s a good idea to keep your first aid kit dry, so look for either a dry bag with individual sections or a waterproof utility box. You can find either of these at a large fishing supply store or at a dive shop. When you begin to assemble your first aid kit, think about what items you’re likely to need. Here’s a list of items you should consider packing:

A small bottle of water to rinse cuts and hook punctures..
Alcohol wipes to help clean cuts, punctures, or bite marks.
An antibiotic ointment for cuts or punctures.
Adhesive bandages if you’re bleeding.
Latex gloves or latex finger sleeves to place over your bandages. These will help keep the water out of your wound.
Fingernail clippers for cutting or clipping.
Ibuprofen or aspirin for pain and to reduce swelling. You can carry a bottle or buy the individually wrapped packets.
Saline eye drops for rinsing your eyes.
Elastic cloth bandage for wrapping a wrist of ankle in case of a sprain.
Gauze and first aid tape in case of a more serious injury.
A small snack, such as a stick of jerky or a protein bar.
Extra medication for any health condition you might have.

Other safety items you should carry when you’re out fishing are a compass, a water resistant VHF radio if you’re on the water, a cell phone in a dry bag, a PFD (personal floatation device) if you’re on the water, a jacket, and a dry change of clothes in case you get wet.

Filed Under: Canoeing, General Tagged With: First aid, First aid kit, Fishing

Camping Without the RV

January 30, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

I always marveled why so many people go and buy these expensive RV’s to do something as primitive as camping. Sort of takes the intention of “man and nature” out of the equation. I mean don’t get me wrong, RV’s are fun and have food, storage, bathroom facilities, cooking area and all the comforts of home just about. It kind of loses its luster however when little “Jimmy” can hook up his PS3 and dad is watching the ball game at any given time while someone takes over the driving duties.

I found that renting or time-sharing a cabin space is a nice alternative to RV-styled camping. Now, of course the car or truck will be packed to the hilt more or less but it all depends if you are time-sharing with friends or you own it yourself and how often you go. Obviously, if you own it or time-share with close friends, the cabin would more than likely be fully stocked every time you go, omitting the need for a packed vehicle.

All the comforts of home are at most cabins with electricity (usually run by generators), running water or at least a well to get water from and some sort of bathroom facilities. I don’t mean the outhouse types with the crescent moon carved on the door either! Either way, you’re in the middle of the woods in a remote area and have the option to do things outside, at night with campfires or go inside in case of inclement weather. I will say the sleeping arrangements in cabins are much better than an RV to be honest. If you have a family of 5 or 6, you’d need an RV the size of the space shuttle to accommodate. There’s pros and cons on both sides but you may want to look at which one would be best suited for your family.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Camping, Space Shuttle