If you read my blog or follow my YouTube Channel, you know I love hiking with my dogs. We live in Arizona and hiking in the Sonoran Desert means we could come across rattlesnakes anytime of the year, although summer encounters are more likely. Knowing basic rattlesnake bite safety could end up saving my pet’s life. In this article, I want to share with you what I  learned about helping a dog after being bitten.

A rattlesnake bite is frightening and can be one of the most dangerous situations you may face with your pet. Not only do you need to know what to do in the moments after a bite, but you also need to act fast to save your pet’s life. Being prepared ahead of time, may ensure that you act in a way that helps your pet in this emergency.

The list contains the main things veterinarians suggest you do immediately after the bite occurred and also lists some DON'Ts - things that are widely believed to be useful, but that veterinarians do not recommend.

We just got some snow in the high country of Arizona and many valley residents are eager to take a day trip to go for a winter hike in the snow. If you like us, this will mean bringing your dogs.

I thought this may be a good time to offer up a few winter travel tips for dog owners. These are mostly related to taking your dogs out during cold winter weather and are meant to help those who will travel into areas with snow and ice.

Just in time for Black Friday Deals, here are our top picks for gift ideas for 2020. These items are sure to bring joy to those in your  family, or friends, who love traveling or adventuring with their dogs.

Over the years I have found there are certain items that are must-haves when hiking with dogs. In this post I want to share 5 items I feel are essential to have with me when I go hiking with my pets.

I believe the most important travel preparation you can make is to ensure your dog is comfortable in unfamiliar places and feels safe wherever you take him, because he has learned to trust you. 
Here are a few exercises you should do with your dog, prior to taking him on vacation. These training exercises expose your dog to some unfamiliar places and in the process teach him to rely on you for guidance and safety.

It's no secret, we love to travel with our dogs. However, traveling with a pet isn’t always easy. Frequent potty stops, transporting pets, food and water, finding dog-friendly restaurants or overnight accommodations and coping with nervous pets can sometimes make it all a discouraging ordeal. Over the years. we have found some ways to take the stress out of traveling with dogs and  make our dogs comfortable with the travel experience.

So before you decide to leave your pet at home, take a look at these nifty travel accessories! They make vacationing with pets anything but difficult, leaving you and your pet with more time to focus on having fun.

 Right now is the best time in the Valley to experience the beauty of the Sonoran Desert. I love all the wonderful hiking trails we have in the area. I find that a lot of people feel that many of our trails are too challenging. Desert trails are rocky and hard to maneuver.  I set out to find some easier trails in the area, that would be perfect for anyone. I still wanted them to be in the desert, so my family could experience the beauty of the Sonoran Desert, but without all the rocky trails and steep inclines.

In this article I would like to share some of my favorite trails to experience the Sonoran Desert. I selected  trails almost anyone can walk and enjoy. Several of these trails are barrier free, which makes them wheelchair accessible, and therefore also perfect for young families with children in strollers.

Every day I see Facebook posts on lost pets - and it breaks my heart. Thank goodness many dog owners now have their pets micro-chipped and most pets wear a collar with their owner's cellphone number on it. These two things can make sure that someone can contact the owner when a pet is lost, found and hopefully gets back home safely.

Few people know that you can teach your dog two very important lessons that most likely will prevent the dog from getting lost in the first place. The first lesson is: “Open doors don't mean run through it”, the second: “the safest place is with your owner”. In this blog article, I want to cover the first lesson in more depth with you. 

Many dog owners dream about taking their dogs on day trips or vacations. This article shares our top things your dog needs to know before you take him on adventures

Summer is here in Arizona and it's time to prepare for the hot days. So how do you keep your pooches entertained in the hot summer weather? In this article, I want to share my favorite summer items with you. They make the hot days fun and help exercise your dog, so he doesn't develop any unwanted behaviors.  We take our dogs out to the lakes or on creek hikes.

Guest Blog by Jackie Lambert

Hi, we are ‘that couple with four dogs,’ otherwise known as Jackie and Mark. We took early retirement to travel when we were made redundant in our early 50s. Once we were no longer slaves to long hours, we decided to get a dog, but ended up with four; our cuddly Cavapoos Kai, Rosie, Ruby and Lani.Our pooches are our constant companions and since one of our passions is skiing, we take our pups on piste; that is, they accompany us for our snowy seasons in Monte Rosa, a hidden gem in the Italian Alps.

We love our dogs and take them with us wherever we go, whenever possible. I am always looking for more dog-friendly adventures, so you can imagine my excitement, when I saw some pictures of Melissa  rock-climbing with her dog, Hero. I just had to find out more about them!

Melissa embodies the term "if I can't bring my dog, I'm not going." She has found dog-friendly activities that are not only unique but also challenging. Melissa horseback rides, paddle boards and rock-climbs with her dog and both participate in dog events like dog survivals and canicross.

Read more about these unique activities........

When we first got our new puppy Apollo he did not like car rides. He would sit there scared, whining and drooling, and after a few minutes he would start chucking up his food. Does your dog love the car? Or is he restless like Apollo? Is he unsettled and whines or drools? Does he get car sick? If your dog does not do well during car rides, the underlying issue is fear. This article will give you a few ways to help your dog get comfortable with the car, help you eliminate his fears, and get him to love traveling by car.
 

Take your dog with you on bicycle rides, it's a lot of fun and can be a great way to provide exercise for both of you.

When people ask me about skills that I deem important for traveling dogs, I always start with “Potty on Command.” Many people look at me in disbelieve. Really? Why would teaching your dog to do his business on command be such a big deal? But I insist, teaching your dog to potty on command is one of the most needed skills if you like to take your dog with you on day-trips or vacations. Here are my 3 reasons why you should teach your dog to potty on command.

You leave your house and your dog is barking and howling and won’t stop all day. You come home after work and your dog has destroyed the blinds on your living room windows or chewed up your furniture. You put your dog in his crate and he digs at the gate, frantically trying to get out. These are some canine behaviors signaling your dog may suffer from stress and behavior problems when left alone.
Sadly, such behavior problems are one of the most common reasons why owners get rid of their dogs. This is unfortunate because these kind of behavior problems can be treated by implementing a few simple strategies.