My name is Monica Callahan, and I completed my first official marathon on March 5, 2022 with the help of my dog, Orio. I am a professional dog trainer (Family Fido LLC) in the Myrtle Beach, SC area. I’m the owner of five dogs, mother of two children, wife, and part-time employee at Fleet Feet Myrtle Beach. I began running in 2015 when my son was a little over a year old.
If taking one dog on adventures is joyous, taking two (or more) must be better… right? Like so many things in life, it depends. As the proud human of two border collies, a frequent dog sitter, and a (sometimes) doggie foster mom, I have had a lot of experience taking multiple dogs on outdoor adventures.
When we walked into the shelter, a hundred hopeful faces turned our way. Each dog eager to please, to be loved, to find a home. Each kennel holding an adoptable dog. We rounded the corner and found the one who’s online photo had brought us there in the first place — Trigger, the German Shorthair Pointer mix who’s mug shots had made us burst out laughing and jump in the car within minutes to make the hour drive to Salt Lake City.
Bear, Kashi, and I have been traveling the country full time for about three months now. Our journey to get here was not easy, but the puzzle pieces kept falling into place making it possible for us. We try to spend as much time as we can exploring, but we weren’t always the adventurous family.
Arguably the most important piece of gear any hiker or backpacker can purchase is a good pair of hiking boots. But what about your four-legged companion? Do dogs need shoes for hiking?
In general, most dogs do not need shoes (or dog booties) for hiking.
I absolutely love backpacking with my border collie, Barley. There are few greater joys than watching his white-tipped tail flagging through the Minnesota underbrush, witnessing his discovery of an icy Colorado mountain stream, curling up with him in the cold of a Utah desert night.
“It’s going to be a long night,” I said to my husband, as the dog whined at his bedside for what seemed like the thousandth time. She had a ball in her mouth and a crazed look in her eye. She wanted to play. She was not sleepy. It was 2 a.m.
If you do a lot of outdoor adventuring, you’ve probably had a minor injury or two yourself. Whether it’s a scraped knee or a twisted ankle (or worse), the outdoors keeps us humble with minor injuries. The same goes for our dogs – but how do you know if your dog is injured after an outdoor adventure?
If you plan on spending any time in the backcountry or just outside adventuring with your pup, you will soon realize it is a good idea to have a first aid kit. This can range from very basic to very stocked depending on what types of activities you are doing.
We expect a lot out of our adventure dogs and their bodies. We hike, fish, trail run, and mountain bike with our canine companions at our sides.
The next episode of our Mitkof Island adventure series begins at the base of a majestic peak known as Crystal Mountain. The unmarked trail to Crystal Lake begins at the hydro electric plant next to the Blind Slough Salmon Hatchery.
Just like adventurous people, adventurous dogs need next-level fuel. Whether your dog is joining you for a mountain biking trip, a fly fishing weekend, or an all-day hike, it’s smart to really think about his nutrition for the day.
