Dog Paddling Adventures - canoe with your dog.

DOG PADDLING ADVENTURES

Dog Paddling Adventures provides fun for you and your dog all year long. We have designed our first newsletter to help dog lovers find new and exciting ways to spend time with their dogs. Our mission is to find activities and adventures that are both invigorating and challenging while also being tons of fun for your dog and for you. Our company started out by taking people and their pups on canoe trips but we quickly realized through our own desire to enjoy more activity with Jessie that there is a world of fun out there all year long and why not expand our horizons to include adventures for the four seasons. We are going to share with you some wonderful adventures that you can explore and what seasons they best fit.

HIKING

Ever since people and dogs began their mutual relationships thousands of years ago, it has been widely accepted that dogs need exercise. A dog that is full of energy without an outlet is usually a dog about to get himself into trouble! Walking the family dog is often seen as bit of a chore since Spot seems to pull on the leash the whole time, or maybe you are just plain tired of seeing the same city block over and over. The best way to remedy this situation for both dog and human is to take them out on a hike. There is an endless supply of trails and conservation areas within easy driving distance of Toronto to make a weekly journey fun for everyone involved!

All dogs love to run off leash, and, more importantly, most dogs are more than capable of being let off leash to run freely in a forested setting. The benefits of this are too many to list! First, your little friend gets to run about ten times further than you walk as he goes back and forth up the trail, and we all agree that a tired dog is a happy dog. You enjoy your walk much more because you are smelling the fresh air and listening to the birds chirp. Aiming for a destination, whether it is a pond, fresh water spring, or beautiful lookout point will make your hike that much more rewarding for both you and spot.
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However, taking the first step towards a hiking habit can sometimes be a bit challenging to achieve on your own. Here are some handy tips to help you on your way! In a small daypack, always make sure to bring essentials, such as a good size water bottle, treats and snacks and a poop bag. Nylon is a good choice for a leash and collar, as it will dry much quicker than leather in the event that water and dog should 'accidentally' meet. We have seen the benefits of hiking in a group for both humans and their dogs. A first time dog off leash will be much more inclined to stay within range of a larger pack

of people and dogs together, and the camaraderie that occurs between hikers is always enjoyable. Our dog lovers' hiking club and one day adventures allow the new and more experienced hikers to enjoy the adventure of hiking together in both spring and fall seasons, while introducing their dogs to the various provincial parks throughout central Ontario.

PADDLING
Ontario is considered to be one of the very best canoeing locations in the world. Western Canada has mountains, eastern Canada has the wonderful coast, and Ontario has lakes. Thousands and thousands of lakes connected to one another just waiting to be strung together by canoe. Whether this summer will be your very first canoeing experience, or you are an avid paddler, bringing your dog along for the journey will open up an exciting new world for you both.

People are often worried about the idea of taking Rover into their canoe. While each dog is different, we can tell you that there are some simple ways to make every trip fun and safe. Just like people, dogs need some time to get familiar with new things, and paddling is no different. We would recommend that you take it slowly at first, and make sure that you are in no great rush for the first afternoon of paddling. Staying close to shore is another great idea until you and Rover become comfortable with what is going on. Also, a canoe that is loaded up with a few packs is usually quite sturdy on the water, and be prepared for your new canoeing partner to want to explore the boat a little bit until he finds a cozy spot to get comfortable.

However, all of Ontario's lakes are not perfectly suited to canoeing, as many of the larger lakes are full of motorboats and jet skiis. Selecting your destination wisely is an important aspect of planning a successful canoeing adventure with your dog. Island campsites make for an ideal setting since Rover cannot follow his nose too far, and the chances of him finding a skunk to play with are quite slim out on an island. Smaller lakes are generally less windy and wavy, making it easier to quickly pull over to let Rover out for a swim or a shade break. Our one-day paw and paddle is the perfect introduction to sharing a canoe with your pup. The combination of instruction and fun will allow you to feel more at ease with venturing out on a canoe trip. Our weekend and longer trips will teach you just the right amount of paddling skills, tons of fun and bonding time with other dog lovers while providing all the necessary gear to make that perfect trip easy and attainable.
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The other day I saw two dogs walk over to a parking meter. One of them says to the other, "How do you like that? Pay toilets!"
--Dave Starr--

Skijoring and Kick Sledding

Most people love spending time outside in the summer. Evening walks, cottage weekends and watching beautiful sunsets keep our spirits alive during the warm summer months. Come winter, though, and most people tend to hibernate. The amount of time they spend outside with their dog dwindles down to the bare minimum. But winter adventuring with your dog is the best way to beat the winter blues away, and learning to skijor or kicksled is the most fun you can have outside in the winter. Any dog that is about thirty pounds or more and enjoys going for walks will love these two easy to learn winter activities.

Skijoring is a very simple concept… to go cross-country skiing with your dog helping to pull you along. It is inexpensive, easy to learn, and totally invigorating. The only thing your dog needs for gear is a harness, and once she learns what the harness means, she will likely jump into it once she sees it in your hand. You will need (or we will provide) a hip belt and towing cable with a quick release in case Spot sees a rabbit run along the trail! Throw on a pair of cross-country skiis and you are ready for a great afternoon whether you have ever skied or not, this is a fun and exciting challenge for both of you to try, and can quickly lead to a lifetime of fun winter activities together.

Kicksledding is the best way to live out your dreams of being a dog sledding champion, with your own best friend as the lead mushing dog! A harness is placed on your dog, and you begin to get your sled moving by kicking it into gear as you would kick a skateboard. However, these sleds are made for the snow, and have handle grips, plastic runners, and all wood construction for an authentic feel and style. One of the advantages of kicksledding is that there is room on the front of the sled for you to put a small daypack instead of carrying it on your back. Also, you have a fairly stable platform to spend your day on if skiis are not your cup of tea.

Dogs love to skijor and kicksled. They live for the exercise, meeting new dogs, and outdoor scents and of course the companionship with their owners. From your dogs point of view skijoring and sledding are as much fun as a walk ten times! If you are still unsure, we can provide you with an easy and fun opportunity to give one or both of these activities a try with a winter activity day or weekend. We would usually spend no more than a few hours outside before heading inside to warm up and to take a short rest before heading out to master these winter skills.
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PAWS FOR THOUGHT- DID YOU KNOW…

A survey of 1225 pet owners throughout the United States and Canada participated in the 2001 survey by the American Animal Hospital Association, here are some fun stats…

52 per cent believe their pet listens to them best
63 per cent of respondents say, "I love you" at least daily to their pets.
78 per cent talk to their pets in a different voice
59 per cent celebrate their pet's birthday
90 per cent would not consider dating someone who was not fond of their pet
26 per cent use a pet car seat, safety harness or carrier in their vehicle
36 per cent have named someone as the future guardian of their pet
5 per cent carried pet health insurance
68 per cent travel with their pet

"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion"
-- Unknown --

Doggy Tails

This section is devoted to great dog stories submitted to us from dog lovers around the world. Our first story was submitted by Kim Trevathan Author of "Paddling the Tennessee River: A Voyage on Easy Water". Hope you enjoy his and Jaspers' story…

When we started out in late August of 1998 on a canoe trip down the 652-mile
Tennessee River, Jasper eagerly jumped into the boat and rode with his paws on
the gunnels. For all he knew it was a day trip. He had no idea what he was in for: five weeks away from the couch; five weeks of heat, rainstorms, and chilly winds; of trashy campsites and cranky blue herons that exploded from the banks and startled him; and finally, nine dams to lock through.

I wrote "Paddling the Tennessee River: A Voyage on Easy Water" to describe the river as it exists now-a series of reservoirs with steam and nuclear plants, barges, jet skiers, and canoe-eating cabin cruisers-and to evoke the old, free-flowing river that the Cherokee mastered in dugout canoes, an ornery serpent with whirlpools, jagged rocks, and treacherous shoals.

Jasper's interests were more immediate. For example, he had a fetish for boat wakes. When they crashed against the shore, he whined and pranced until I let him out to chase them up and down the shoreline. Also he loved swimming more than canoeing yet without Jasper, I know that I could not have completed the trip. He was the perfect companion, with that hint of fierceness in his black muzzle and the charisma to make friends with people willing to share food, drink, and stories.

If you would like to read his published story you can find more information on Kims site at http://web.ntown.net/~kimtrevathan/.

Exciting Dog Paddling Events..Pawsworthy News

Dog Lover's Hiking Club
New for 2002 is our Dog Lover's Hiking Club. Our hikes will take place starting in April each weekend alternating between Saturday and Sunday. There will be eight possible weekends with four different destinations for you to choose from. All of the destinations will be in Provincial Parks within a 1-hour drive from the GTA. You can book each hike separately or all of them (the more you book the more you save). Check out the website for more details on these exciting hikes.

March Trade Show
We will be attending our second trade show for the year, The All About Pet Show that is taking place on March 29-31, 2002 at the International Centre Building 5 in Missisauaga. Come visit our booth Jessie will have a little treat for all our visitors and don't forget to fill out the ballot for a chance to win a trip for you and your pup.

Jessie's Tailbits
While Jessie was pawing through Sympatico’s Netlife Magazine from the Jan/Feb 2002 issue she discovered the following fact: Sympatico.ca Top 10 list display the people, places and things which are most on the public mind as reflected by Sympatico.ca user searches over the past week, two-week and five week periods. In this issue Jessie howled with amazement upon reading that “DOGS” was the #1 search for that week...and who says it isn’t a dog’s world?

May 24 Long Weekend River Trip
Have you always wanted to participate in a white water river trip, maybe you have never canoed before but always wanted to try or perhaps you are an avid paddler but never taken your dog along. May 24 is the perfect weekend to kick off the summer of 2002 season. Dog paddling Adventures will be offering a White Water Trip to the Madadawaska River a world-renowned river in Ontario just 3 hours north of Toronto. If you and your dog are interested in joining us we promise you it will be a trip of a lifetime. For more details visit our site.

Book Trips Now and Save
Summer is right around the corner, why not start planning for your summer trips now. Beat the rush book by May 1st 2002 and receive our early booking special, a 5% discount at the time of booking.

Life Lessons Learned from my Dog

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride.
Never leave the house without ID
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Take naps and stretch before rising.
When you leave your yard, make it an adventure.

For more info, email jessie@dogpaddlingadventures.com or call us at 416-992-2216

Dog Paddling Adventures
177 Idema Road
Markham, Ontario., Canada, L3R 1A9
jessie@dogpaddlingadventures.com
Tel: 416-992-2216

"An experience with so many pawsibilities"