Surviving the NW Winter – Outdoor Gear
Fall, Winter and Spring in the Pacific Northwest present a number of challenges for dog owners. I received an email from a friend not long ago that simply read “it’s dark when i leave for work, it’s dark when i get home and my dog is driving me insane.” We’ve all thought this at least once as a dog without proper body and mind exercise is an excellent way to end up with a destroyed house/furniture/car/crate… When it’s constantly dark, many people loose the urge to leave the couch, let alone go out side in the rain and play ball. Not that i’m that person at all. 
I can only guess that i’m not the only person who has dealt with this. So here are a few tools that I use on my property to let them run about without making myself miserable. We’ll divide them into Stuff for the Dog & Stuff for Me!
Stuff for the Dog
The Beacon by RuffWear - This is my favorite new thing. When you own a little black dog you learn that you’ll find it easiest in the moon light as it is a shadow that moves. With NW cloudcover, we’re seeing less moonlight and there is more ‘OMG Where is Molly?? Oh, standing next to me. Sorry about tripping over you like that.’ The description for the product will tell you that it’s visible for up to a 1/2 mile and it’s an LED light so no bulbs and the batteries last forever and it can either clip or be attached to the collar using a ring and blah blah blah Here’s the real scoop: you can see the light through a long coat. If you’ve tried other light up collar products you know what i’m saying. With other products I could only see her when she was running away from me, which is obviously a problem. Well worth the $13.00 and i’ll be asking Santa for second one.
Bells - Popular with people who hunt with dogs, typically flushing dogs, a bell can be a great tool. There’s no battery, and if you hear better than you see, then this is great. In addition, a light can be hard to see during the day. Obvious, i know but if you have a lot of brush this really is a great $4 investment.
20′ Lead - This link is to one that i’m sure is wonderful, but it’s not the one i have. So a link instead a full pic. But a 20′ lead is a great multipurpose tool it you have a large dark yard, small creatures, forgot the umbrella and someone *has* to potty. The one i have a adore as it’s parachute cord. So it’s been chewed yet has retained it’s strength and has served as both a drag line on stock and a walking leash. I purchased mine at EarthPet.
Coats - Not having dogs that require coats, i don’t know a lot about dog coats. However, i do know a little about outdoor fabric. So when purchasing a dog coat, be sure to look at the material. If it’s marked a rain coat and has a super fuzzy collar, run away. It’s a rain coat for people who are ok with replacing it after 5 uses. I thought these were adorable, and appropriately marked.
Towels - More than a few boutiquie pet stores have started selling ShamWow’s claiming they are superior for removing water from dogs. This may be true for shorthaired breeds, but it’s been my experience that they are worthless if your dog is of medium or long coat. Sorry to disappoint. A cheap cotton towel from Target or a blowdrier will work just fine. If you attend the ASC of WA April trial, we give out embroidered towels as prizes because the person who puts the trial together is obsessed with functionality.
Beds - There are a lot of options when it comes to beds. You can pick up a bed at Costco for about $20-$30, though if your dog isn’t dried off upon reentry it will only be good for a few months. There are some new beds that are water resistant and come in a variety of styles. For instance some look like Ikea couches and some are water resistant and then use metal zippers. hum. I’ve been making some water proof dog bed covers to encourage people to keep their existing beds longs. No matter what you buy, it’s important to buy a bed that you’re comfortable with, and won’t mold just as your family shows up for Christmas. Ew.
So just a few things to get your started, i’m working on Indoor things. Part of lowering the frustration level is having the right tool. Happy Thanksgiving!!!
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