Monday, June 3, 2019
Monday, May 13, 2019
Cool Gear for Hot Weather
Cool Gear for Hot Weather
Heat waves and sweltering summer days are upon us! We believe a happy dog is a dog outside, and no one wants to forego an adventure because it’s too hot. Check out some of our top gear for hot weather.
Staying Cool: Evaporative Cooling 101
The Swamp Cooler
, Jet Stream, and Core Cooler use evaporative cooling to keep dogs cool even as the mercury climbs.
How does evaporative cooling work? When you step out of a lake, you may notice a cool feeling when your skin first hits the air. This is evaporative cooling!
Ruffwear cooling gear creates the same effect by combining a wicking outer layer that facilitates evaporation, a middle layer that holds water for evaporation, and a comfortable inner layer that keeps your dog dry and pulls surface heat away from the dog. All you have to do is get the cooling gear wet, and evaporative cooling takes care of the rest!
See it in Action
With the help of Ruffwear dog Ellie and FLIR thermal imaging technology, we put our cooling gear to the test.
Before: Ellie’s external temperature before adding the Swamp Cooler Vest was 106° F / 41 C.
After: Ellie’s external temperature after adding the Swamp Cooler vest was 74.3° F / 23.5 C.
So, what’s the difference between the Swamp Cooler, Jet Stream, and Core Cooler? All three products use the same evaporative cooling technology, but they’re designed for different activities. The Swamp Cooler works great for hiking, walking, camping, and more casual activities. It has a leash portal, so it can be worn over top of the Front Range® Harness or Web Master Harness.
The Jet Stream is designed for fast and light endeavors like trail running or mountain biking. It has a performance fit with a side-zip closure, and it fits well underneath a harness or pack. The light and sleek Jet Stream uses shade-providing spandex over the back, while a three-layer evaporative cooling chest panel disperses heat from the dog’s core.
Both the Swamp Cooler and the Jet Stream have a UPF rating of 50+, meaning that they’ll protect light colored, short-haired dogs from getting sunburned.
The Core Cooler is an add-on that cools dogs, adds additional support when lifting and assisting, and further stabilizes packs and harnesses. This three-layer chest panel uses evaporative cooling to efficiently pull heat from the dog’s core during warm temperatures and high intensity activities. The Core Cooler is compatible with these harnesses and packs:
Protecting Paws
Hot weather means hot pavement, which can be harmful to paws. We recommend using the Grip Trex boots to protect paws while walking on hot surfaces. The Grip Trex are built with a Vibram rubber outsole that provides great traction on any terrain and a breathable mesh upper that provides ventilation and keeps dirt and debris out. The Grip Trex are a great boot option for summer!
Seeking Refreshment
As temperatures peak, sometimes the best option is to head for water. The Ruffwear Float Coat is a fully-featured canine life jacket with strategically-placed closed cell foam panels to support a dog’s natural swimming position. The strong handle is optimally positioned for assisting dogs in and out of the water, whether onto a boat, kayak, SUP, or dock. To top off the fun, check out our floating toys — the Lunker and the Hydro Plane.
What’s on your summer gear list? Let us know in the comments. If you have any questions or feedback about any Ruffwear gear, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Want to share your summer adventures? Tag us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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Friday, May 3, 2019
How to Camp with Your Dog
How to Camp with Your Dog
Tips and Gear Recommendations
There’s camping – and then there’s camping with your dog by your side. Their presence alone elevates every little moment. Their curiosity is contagious, their zeal inspiring.
Hiking and camping together is an opportunity to see wilderness through their eyes. Lakes become more than just part of the landscape – they’re primo places to splash and swim. And pinecones are no longer just pinecones – they’re the most incredible toy any dog has ever seen since the beginning time, and it must be thrown a minimum of 127 times before retiring to the cozy comfort of a tent set up just right for the two of you to enjoy the next morning’s sunrise together before embarking on a new Best Day Ever.
Dogs are happy to join any journey. With a bit of preparation, the right gear, and a bit of that eagerness to explore that comes so naturally to our furry trail buddies, you’ll be en route to a good time.
Tips for Camping with Dogs:
1. Know the Rules
Before you start loading gear into the car, have a plan: know where you’re going, where you’ll sleep, and the specific rules about dogs in the area you’ll be exploring. Different types of public lands have different sets of rules — many allow dogs, but a few don’t, and some have restrictions.
Here’s a helpful guide to get you started. If you’re unsure about the rules for your destination, you can find them online or by calling the agency that manages the public lands you’re planning to visit.
2. Pack the Essentials
When it comes to sleeping on the ground and eating meals outside, luxuries can be simple and easy to provide with a little planning. Our dogs’ basic needs are not too different than our own: food, water, warmth, a place to rest, and first aid supplies.
Before heading out, check the weather and temperature range so that your pup can be as well prepared as you are. Pack extra water if it will be hot, layers if it will be wet or chilly, and plenty of food and treats – and more of it if you’ll be covering strenuous miles. Know what your trail companion is capable of, and have a contingency plan if things go awry.
Much like you’d break in your boots and work up to hiking longer distances for your first backpacking trip, it’s a good idea to get your pup used to wearing a pack or boots well before you plan to use them on the trail, and work your way up to longer mileage.
Recommended Gear: Bivy Bowl, Quencher Cinch Top Bowl, Approach Pack, Highlands Sleeping Bag, Highlands Sleeping Pad, Grip Trex Boots
3. Good Camp & Trail Manners
Good recall, basic obedience, and manners like “leave it” will help keep your canine companion (and wildlife) safe. They’ll also go a long way toward making friends with other users on the trail.
Know the etiquette for the trail you’re hiking or backpacking, and be mindful of other users on the trail. Trails that allow horses typically require hikers and mountain bikers to yield to horseback riders.
At camp, keep your four-legged friend on leash and within your control. Trying to keep an eye on a roaming dog while setting up camp, building a campfire, or eating dinner can be tricky – and it’s the very inspiration for our Knot-a-Hitch.
If your camping buddy has a lot to say or loves to let out a good howl at the moon, consider camping at a more secluded backcountry location. What’s music to our ears might be less than ideal for others’ wilderness experience. When in doubt, err on the side of courtesy.
Recommended Gear: Knot-a-Hitch, Slackline Leash, The Beacon Safety Light
4. Leave No Trace
Pack-it-in, pack-it-out! It’s a good idea for anyone playing and exploring in the outdoors to observe the seven Leave No Trace principles for minimizing impact and preserving a pristine experience for others. This includes picking up your dog’s waste and disposing of it in a proper receptacle.
Other dog-specific considerations include respecting wildlife by giving other animals and critters space (and not chase), being considerate of other users (through good manners and etiquette), and monitoring and cleaning up food crumbs, spilled kibble, or toys.
Recommended Gear: Bivy Bowl, Kibble Kaddie, Stash Bag, Slackline Leash
5. Trust Your Gut
The fact is, you know your dog better than anyone else and are in the best position to make judgments for their well-being. When it comes to medical concerns and wilderness hazards, we recommend talking to your vet. If you’ve got gear questions, we’d love to help! Contact our team of experts, and let us know how we can help prepare you for your next camping trip.
6. Have Fun!
Taking your dog camping for the first time is exciting, but it might feel a little daunting. Do your best to prepare ahead of time and have a back-up plan, and be respectful and considerate of other outdoor users. Beyond that, a little patience and sense of humor will help. Not all dogs take to sleeping in a tent (or going in and out of tent doors) right away, but with practice, they will get the hang of it.
Part of what makes camping so fun is that things rarely go exactly as planned. That’s just part of the adventure. As long as everyone is safe, you’re making memories together and building your bond — and that’s undeniably fun!
Recommended Gear: A sense of humor, a smile, lots of pictures
Ruffwear gear is built from a dog’s perspective and is rigorously field tested to ensure that it will enhance and enable our outdoor adventures with our dogs. Shop our entire camping collection and share your adventures with us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. If you have any questions, feedback, or ideas, please don’t hesitate to bark.
from Ruffwear Blog | News, Events & Adventures http://bit.ly/2PJlqB7
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Wednesday, April 24, 2019
Thursday, April 18, 2019
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
Wednesday, April 3, 2019
Tuesday, April 2, 2019
Thursday, March 21, 2019
Monday, March 18, 2019
Monday, March 11, 2019
Monday, February 18, 2019
Monday, February 4, 2019
Friday, February 1, 2019
Forward Together
Forward Together
The Inspiration Behind the Spring 2019 Season
In some ways, this season is different than any that has come before it. Venturing into unchartered territory, we pursued an idea of what might be possible. We pivoted from the familiarity of outdoor gear for dogs and blazed a new trail. This season, we focused solely on the needs of working dogs and their handlers.
Like many great adventures, this one began years ago, on a road trip. Ruffwear visited a guide dog school in Oregon. Ideas sparked and began to simmer on the back burner. Meanwhile, a guide dog school in New York began tinkering with a Ruffwear harness. They were developing a running program for guide dogs and searching for a solution that would offer comfort and performance.
[image of Timothy, Tom, and Ben, sewing at Ruffwear HQ]
Simmering ideas began to take shape, in the form of a guide dog harness unlike any other. One that would fit comfortably all day long. One that would incorporate modern outdoor technology and materials. One that would perform in daily life as well as outdoor activities. Acquaintances became partners. We were inspired by the people we met and the stories they shared. We poured their experiences into the design details. And, we stirred in our own experiences — 24 years developing gear from a dog’s perspective.
[image?]
As ideas became iterations, and iterations were tested and developed, we moved the guide dog harness from the back burner to the front burner. In fact, we cleared the kitchen and committed ourselves to both this product and our partners.
In many ways, this season is different. Unchartered territory. Yet, this season is also like going home. We tapped into the core of what drives us: curiosity, collaboration, learning by doing. Innovating. Failing faster. Cultivating relationships. Offering solutions to dogs and their human companions that will enhance their lives.
We learned that having a vision doesn’t mean being able to see with your eyes. It means working together, collaborating and sharing, and taking steps according to what feels right. Sometimes, setting out on a journey means more than knowing what the destination will be. We’re excited to share our journey with you, along with stories about the people and dogs involved, and the products that came about as a result.
Monday, January 28, 2019
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
TRY FOR YOUR DOGS
