*Canine Camping Tips

Greetings fellow Canine Angelenos!


Summer is in full swing and one my pack’s favorite things to do this time of year is to go camping! And why not? Los Angeles is close to some of the most amazing natural wonders on the planet...

Is there a better way to escape the heat of the city than to spend some quiet time in the Eastern Sierras or rolling around in the cool, wet sand at Big Sur? I doubt it.

To make sure you have a safe and enjoyable adventure, here are some things to consider before camping with your you canine companions:

*** BEFORE YOU LEAVE ***

- Make sure our rabies vaccinations are up to date. There are critters in the woods that might be rabid and getting bit by one of them is bad enough... getting rabies from them would really ruin the trip.

I know the shots are necessary but that doesn't mean I have to like them.

- Apply your preferred flea medicine or get us a flea collar. Make sure that whichever method you choose also works on those nasty ticks. And don't forget to pack a brush so you can find the little buggers and a tick spoon to remove them. (Check out my blog about how to deal with ticks and other common outdoor hazards we canines might have to deal with.)


- Make sure we have some sort of ID on us like a tag or a collar with your cell number on it in case we become separated from the pack.


- Don't forget to bring any medications we are currently using.


- Find the address and phone number of the nearest animal hospital to your campsite.


- Research for activities that the whole pack can participate in - know your dog's capabilities and limitations and plan accordingly.

(Hint: National Forests are usually the most dog friendly places to camp, have the same features as many National Parks, and are usually much less crowded).

*** IN THE CAR ***

- To get to your campsite often involves a long ride in the car. To make life easier on all of us, make sure the dog has a comfortable space where they can lie down and nothing will fall on top of them if you have to hit the brakes.


- Water, a dish, and a snack or two are absolutely essential.


- Have some easily accessible poop bags for the inevitable pit stop.

That was a long ride. Let me know when you guys are done setting up camp...

*** AT THE CAMPSITE ***

- A weather-proof, outdoor bed is always a good thing to have. Of course most of us canines will just lie in the dirtiest spot we can find under a shady tree, but its nice to have a comfortable place to rest after a long day of outdoor fun.

You shall not pass...

- Bring your dog's regular food that they eat at home so they don't get an upset stomach; and of course dishes for that food and water. Its very important that you don't leave any uneaten food around as it will attract unwanted visitors (I've heard bears love dog food).

Sure I'd rather have one of your cheeseburgers, but its best for me to eat my regular food.

- Take a couple of our favorite toys along to keep us occupied while you're lounging around the campsite.


 - A shade canopy is a great addition to your camping gear. It gives all of us a shady spot whenever the sun is beating down on the campsite and keeps leaves, pine needles, etc. from falling onto the food while we eat.

Everything seems to be in order here.

- A long tie/lead if your dog tends to roam into other people's campsites.


- A bed for inside the tent, unless you want us to share your air mattress with you. (Full disclosure: I have a bed in the tent but I sleep in pack leader's bed anyway...its nice and warm there.)

*** ON THE GO ***

- Hiking is one of the best parts of any camping trip. See my previous blog for details about what you need for a fun and safe hiking adventure.


- If you plan to go boating or even just swimming a lot, a life jacket is essential. Many models come with a handle on the back so you humans can just pick us up like a brief case and carry us to shore (or help us back into the boat).

I'm queen of the world!

*** MISC ***

- Towels...lots of towels. Every dog's mission on a camping trip is to get as dirty and wet as we possibly can; that's the most fun part of the trip as far as most of us are concerned. Unless you want a dirty wet dog in your tent, on your mattress, in your car, etc..... bringing plenty of towels is a must. And don't forget some rope to make a clothesline at your campsite so you can dry those towels.

I'm not quite completely covered in mud and dirt, but I'm working on it...

- If camping is a regular activity in your pack, start introducing a new puppy early. It can be a stressful situation for an inexperienced dog. I went on my first camping trip at 6 months old and now I'm an expert...its my favorite thing to do in the whole world.

My first trip was to the Sequoia Nat'l. Forest. Surrounded by the world's biggest trees and all I wanted was this little stick.

I hope you found my short checklist of camping tips useful. These things will make a good time with the whole pack even better. 

If you have any questions or are looking for suggestions on places to go, visit my website (www.CanineAngeleno.com) and use the contact page to ask your question or just say hello.


See you at the campground!

Chloe Canine-Angeleno








All photographs were taken by my pack leader, Jim Gross

Everything else was discovered by getting my paws dirty and the extensive use of my nose.

*Fleas and Ticks and Snakes...Oh My!

Greetings my fellow Canine Angelenos!

Spring is in full bloom and Summertime is right around the corner; its time to get outside and enjoy all the wonderful places available to us Angelenos...canine and human.

But we have to be careful while we're having our fun...some common hazards exist that can spoil a great day for any dog and its pack.

Here are my top 5 hazards to watch for and some suggestions on how to deal with them:



FLEAS

Fleas, the bane of dog-kind the world over. No matter how much we scratch or bite at the little buggers its just soooooo itchy! Drives us nuts! Besides being annoying, fleas can also carry diseases that affect dogs and people alike.

• Make sure your dog uses some sort of flea prevention. Collars, topical drops and pills are all effective but some seem to work better than others depending on the dog. Experiment as necessary to find out what works best for your pack.

• If your dog get fleas, remember that getting them "de-flead" usually isn't enough. Fleas have up to a 6 month life cycle and will likely be all over your home, not just on the dog. Maintain flea prevention measures and use one of the great variety of home insecticides available on the market. Those little stinkers will be living in your carpet, your furniture, the cat.....

• Don't forget to wash the dog's bed, blankets and fuzzy toys too. Fleas will hide anywhere.

TICKS

These insidious, disease carrying parasites embed themselves into your skin and don't let go until they've gorged themselves on your blood. They'll go after a human as quickly as they will a dog too. The list of diseases they carry is extensive, with Lyme's disease being the most well known.

• When choosing a flea prevention product such as a collar, check if it also works on ticks. Many are for fleas only so read the label carefully.

• Closely examine the dog's skin and fur when you're done playing outside in tick prone areas. Do this for a few days because ticks can be very small and elusive. They'll be easier to detect as the fatten up on your dog's blood...yuck.

• Buy yourself a "tick-spoon". They're inexpensive and they make removing ticks much easier. You'll need to burn the tick with a match or flush them down the toilet because ticks are very hard to kill. I've also heard that some people put them in the microwave!

RATTLESNAKES

Rattlesnakes don't like to run into people or dogs anymore than we like to run into them. They just want to be left alone and I'm happy to oblige them; and unlike other poisonous snakes, they usually will give us a clear warning when we get too close. Once you've heard that rattle, you'll never forget the sound.

• If you see or hear a rattlesnake, don't panic. Figure out where it is and give it plenty of space. Often they'll just be 'catching some rays' and won't do anything as you pass. Other times they're looking for a meal and will move out of your way as quickly as they can. Either way just keep the dog from getting too nosy.

• If your dog is just too curious for its own good, there are rattlesnake avoidance classes they can take with professional trainers that will make them think twice before messing around with a snake.

• Another option is a rattlesnake venom vaccine. They supposedly reduce the toxic effect experienced by your dog, but many vets question their effectiveness - check with yours.

FOXTAILS

Foxtails are hard little clusters of plant material that help disperse the seeds of certain types of grasses. They have a hard tip on one side that has tiny barbs on it that lets them lodge into things and makes it difficult to remove them. They often get stuck in our paws, nose and ears. If undetected, they can move into the body and get infected, causing great discomfort and some dogs have died from it.

• At the end of your adventure, check our paws, nose and ears carefully whenever we've walked in areas that might have foxtails present. Its much easier to get them out before they've had some time to work their way into the body.

• Brush your long-haired dogs to see if any foxtails have hidden themselves in their fur.

• If the foxtail has caused any lesions, clean them up with an antiseptic and keep an eye on it. If you think one has entered the body, visit your vet and they'll probably prescribe antibiotics.

THE HEAT

Just like humans, extreme heat can leave dogs dehydrated, sunburned and susceptible to heat stroke.

• Go on your adventure early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid being out during the hottest part of the day.

• Make sure you take plenty of water for the whole pack and don't forget a dish for the dog  - unless you don't mind us drinking from your bottle. We don't mind but I don't want to speak for the humans.

• Check the surface of the ground you're walking on. Pavement and sandy trails can get very hot when exposed to direct sunlight and scorch our paws. Put your hands on the ground and ask yourself if you would want to walk on this in your bare feet. If the answer is no, your dog doesn't want to either.

The most important thing to remember is that some basic precautions and a little doggy maintenance will ensure that you'll have a hazard free adventure. I hope you find these tips useful and don't forget to visit my website for suggestions on fun things to do in our great city.


See you on the trail!

Chloe Canine-Angeleno