Doggone Good Gear: Get Your Dog Equipped for Outdoor Adventure
Dogs and the outdoors go together like PB&J. This season, make sure Fido is as well-equipped as you.
Why outdoorsy folks love dogs? It’s their enthusiasm! As much as you love to hike, chances are your dog loves it even more. Tongue out, ears flapping, muddy paws—dogs love to play hard in the forest, mountains and beaches.
But is your dog equipped? Are you equipped to responsibly trek with your pup? Read on for six of our favourite items of doggone good gear:
Ruffwear Knot-a-Hitch
Car-camping in a park? The Knot-a-Hitch beats holding onto a leash all day or tying your poor pup to a picnic table. It tethers between trees, and, via swivelling carabiner and a sliding leash, keeps your pup legal while offering campsite-wide freedom. (Also pictured at top, in-use.)
Kurgo K9 Excursion Running Belt
($40; kurgo.com)
Of all the jogging belts we’ve seen, this one stands above the rest—it’s simple and lightweight (250 grams), with dual-side sliding-clips, a 350-millilitre waterbottle and a pouch for poop bags. It’s reflective, unobtrusive and has enough stretch to absorb the pulliest pups. Compatible with most leashes.
Hurtta Weekend Warrior Eco-Leash
($27; hurrtta.com)
We love the stylish products from this Finnish company— like the Weekend Warrior Eco-Leash. This 3M reflective tether is made from 100 per cent recycled polyester. It’s available in three sizes, each tested to six-times the tensile strength required for the recommended breeds.
Wilderdog Sleeping Bag
($68; wilderdog.com)
Made of ripstop fabric with synthetic insulation, this 800-gram sleeper spoils your mutt. Unzip for a cozy mat, or clam it up and let Fido burrow. The bag measures 90 centimetres by 70 centimetres zipped and stuffs into an included sack. Plus, the company donates a pound of dog food to a shelter when you buy.
Yeti Boomer 8 Dog Bowl
($65: yeti.com)
Arguably the most ostentatious item on the list, this branded-beast is burly (18/8 stainless steel; 900 grams), has a no-slip bottom, is dishwasher safe and resists rust. Ours lives full-time in the back of our SUV for drive-home drinks and camping comfort.
PetKit Eversweet Travel
($30: amazon.ca)
A must for hot walks and long hikes—this plastic/ABS water bottle pours into a drinkable bowl, and whatever Rover doesn’t lap up can be trickled back inside, the H2O running through a charcoal filter to sieve out drool and debris.
When you purchase something via the links in our articles, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Read more about our policy.
