I was never the home-gym type. I wasn’t even the away-gym type. If there was an option to exercise outside, I took it.

In winter, I flew down ski trails, wore spikes on the local trails, and walked the dog down the road after dark. In summer, I rose early for mountain bike rides or trail runs. I hauled out the canoe, paddle boarded, or swam.

My dog got plenty of exercise, and aside from a few dull weeks in winter, I did, too.

But toward the end of 2020, my appetite for outdoor exercise began to wane. All at once, I became intolerant to the cold. My fingers turned white and my toes blistered. I developed a Pavlovian shiver at the thought of exercising outside. I tried going to a gym, but felt uncomfortable breathing en masse.

In January 2021, my husband tore his ACL. Despite my misgivings about home gyms, by the time my husband bought a set of weights, a treadmill off Craigslist, and the pinnacle of modern home-gym equipment—a Peloton—I was there to help him haul the mattress out of the guest room.

Peloton bike sales spiked in unison with COVID cases. In April 2020, when a record-breaking 23,000 people attended a single live class, the death count in the U.S. reached the same record number.

Hiking with Fernie, the family dog (left). // Photo: Shallan Knowles; Angie runs with her dog, Honey, in Spokane’s Garland neighborhood (right). // Photo courtesy Angie Dierdorf.

I took my first Peloton class from an instructor who winked at the camera and told me to dig deep. I tried not to fall for the false sense of community, the culture, the pretense of belonging to something that didn’t belong to me.

But I grew to love the predictability of it, the metrics, the certain outcomes. I could choose my own instructors, music preferences, and classes that fit my time budget. I could be in and out of the guest room in 30 minutes—no coat or hat, no drive, no pleasantries at the door.

In an age of uncertainty and anxiety, the home gym became my refuge of control. But for the dog.

Through it all, he followed me to and from the home gym with long, deep sighs. When I tied my shoes, his tail wagged. Then stopped as I entered the guest room.

My dog’s sad brown eyes lifted when I whipped my cadence into the 100s. His bodily needs became his final bargaining tool, the only way he could get me outside through the dark months of winter.

Eventually, I came to appreciate the effort he made to cheer me on. He celebrated each of my reluctant outdoor steps with twists and leaps. Whenever I decided to take the long route, he rewarded me with exuberant wind sprints. With admirable impatience, he showed me the world I’d forgotten.

In January, we found a bull moose in the woods. In February, we tracked the moon as it arced across the sky in all its phases. By March, I found myself enjoying our walks together; the unpredictability of the weather, the lack of guidance, the uncertain outcomes.

The home gym kept me fit in the winter, but I might have forgotten how great, how messy, how terrifying and glorious the world is, but for the dog.

List of Spokane-Coeur d’Alene metro area businesses offering indoor cycling classes.

Published in the March-April 2022 print issue in the Health & Fitness department.

Read Health & Fitness articles or stories about biking from the OTO archives.

The post Peloton vs. Dog: Pros & Cons of Exercising Indoors appeared first on Out There Venture.

My agnosticism towards leashing up man’s best friend abruptly shifted, however, when I experienced first-hand what inevitably happens when dog owners flagrantly disregard leash laws in more crowded public settings. The first incident happened a few years back when I was pinned down by a growling pit bull as I was walking through my own front yard in North Kendall Yards (aka West Central Spokane). Oh, how I wish I had a can of bear spray with me that day.

A year or two more passed, and one day while I was out on a run by the river, I was charged by a sizeable, seemingly free-roaming cur that stopped inches from my leg. I froze and that mut did too, until the apparent owner emerged from the river brush calling happily for their pet. Shaken and fuming, less than five minutes down the trail another off-leash, four-legged menace ran ahead of its owner and lunged in my direction.

I like to think of myself as kind of a pacificist, but by then I was longing for elaborate, pain-inflicting weaponry. Tasers, cross-bows, nunchucks, anything. Meanwhile, the owner casually called in my direction: “He’s friendly!”

Friendly wasn’t the “F” word that growled out of my mouth. And my ire shifted from the apparently affable pup to the delusional, self-absorbed owner who I wanted to punch in the face. Instead I trotted by with fire in my eyes, a racing heart, and a stronger opinion when it comes to leashing dogs.

Since those first close calls with aggressive animals, all within a few blocks of the heavily trafficked Centennial Trail, my family joined the hordes of outdoor enthusiasts in bringing a dog into the family during COVID. She is friendly—95 percent of the time—and her favorite thing in the world is to jump up on any unsuspecting human to express her elation at meeting somebody new, which scares the crap out of anyone with a bit of fear of dogs.

Our dog also either loves other dogs or will randomly attack them for reasons she keeps to herself. So, of course we keep her on a tight leash, even as we frequently encounter other dogs out on popular trails running wild and free with oblivious owners who are in varying degrees of verbal control over their animals.

There really shouldn’t be a dog leash debate in a place like Spokane where there are a ton of people and their pets out walking and biking on public lands, trails, and roads. If you insist on letting your dog run free, make sure it’s out in the boonies away from other people and your buddy stays right by your side.

If doing the right thing isn’t enough of a reason for you to leash up your best friend in urban public places, beware that one day your dog may run up against a much bigger and less-friendly canine rival like that pit bull in my yard, or worse, a more heavily armed and less forgiving human than me.

Derrick Knowles is co-publisher and editor-in-chief.

Find more stories about dogs in the OTO archives.

The post Editorial: To Leash or Not to Leash Your Dog? appeared first on Out There Venture.

Fall is an amazing season for hiking on state and national forest backcountry trails, but it’s also a time of year that hikers and mountain bikers share the woods with hunters.

While hunting accidents that involve hikers are relatively rare, it’s smart to play it safe by wearing bright colored clothing and backpacks or even a hunters’ orange vest, jacket, and hat, especially during modern rifle seasons (check the state department of wildlife sites for hunting season info). Talking loudly or making human sounding noises, especially if you’re hiking on brushy trails or cross-country, can help keep you from being mistaken for a wild animal.

With wolf hunting and trapping now allowed in many places in Idaho, hiking with dogs also poses potential risks for you and your pet.

Originally published as “Play It Safe When Hiking During Hunting Season” in the October 2014 print issue of “Out There.”

Chic Burge‘s uncle taught him how to downhill ski when he was five and XC ski when he was 9, and he’s been addicted to the outdoors ever since (his uncle also gave him his first camera on that XC ski trip). He started climbing in the 60s, and in 1984 he joined the Spokane Mountaineers to learn new climbing techniques (he is currently the club’s Historian). Chic lives to ski, but also fills his time biking, kayaking, taking beautiful photos and hiking between ski seasons.

Read about other safety and hiking tips in the OTO archives.

The post Safety Tips for Hiking During Hunting Season appeared first on Out There Venture.

Eckenroth recommends Ziwi Peak dog food out of New Zealand as a good treat for active dogs. It’s too expensive for most people to feed their pets as a regular meal, but it can serve as a complete and balanced snack made from 90% organ meat. Steve’s Real Food is a made-in-the-Pacific-Northwest option. This company’s freeze dried raw foods are lightweight and nutrient dense, and they don’t attract the same attention from bees and wasps as wet food.

Nutrition is an extra-important consideration when dogs are out with you for high mileage or long hours. Eckenroth suggests adding distance to your hikes or trail runs at small increments. “If you go too far with a growing puppy or senior, it can make for a difficult for recovery,” she says. To aid in recovery, she recommends Glacier Peaks Holistics offers Inflapotion, a 100 percent organic herbal remedy that relieves aches, pains, and inflammation.

For people who want to get better at hiking with their four-legged friends, Prairie Dog Pet Mercantile’s Amy Barker offers classes that teach owners and dogs better trail manners so they can enjoy their time together and be safer in the great outdoors. The class is hosted at four different trails over four weeks. Call 509-443-9663 for more information.  //

The post Feeding Your Dog During and After a Hike appeared first on Out There Venture.

The post Gear Review: AR Base Shield Protective Snow Bib for Dogs appeared first on Out There Venture.

For years the most energetic, eager being in our household was our dog, Emmy. But over time I’ve taken her along on fewer and fewer of my runs. She’s 12 now—a very healthy 12, knock on wood—but her energy has more limits than it used to, and after a couple of blocks she’ll make it clear, through ample sniff breaks and the slowing of her pace, that it’s time for us to go back home.

When my husband and I got Emmy as a puppy, I dreamed that she would be my everyday companion, giving a sense of protection on any pre-sunrise or post-sunset run and every secluded trail. This dog of ours, though, ran away whenever we got out the leash, not because she didn’t want to go out, but because it was more fun to be chased. Early on she made it clear that her preference is either a very casual walk or a short-lived, all-out sprint. The slow and steady run I like to do is not quite right for her.

Even so, we’ve run together for years and years, me often bringing Emmy along for a mile or so, then dropping her off at the house for a scoop of food, a congratulatory pat, and a long rest as I go on my way out the door again.

The passing of time, of course, has brought many changes. She’s seen me through long workdays and grad school, pregnancy, and the birth of one child, then another. She’s run alongside a single stroller and then a double and then a balance bike, standing by as I’ve untangled her leash from the wheel when it gets run over, pausing while I pick up a book happily tossed out onto the street by a chubby toddler hand. She’s run early in the morning, in the evening, and around finicky nap and school pick-up schedules. She’s panted next to me at the park drinking fountain as I clumsily fashion a makeshift water bowl out of a plastic bag. As my life has gotten more full, she’s traded nearly all of her sprints through the park for runs at my pace, on my schedule. I’ve had a lot of understanding, faithful running partners over the years, but no one has been more lovingly generous than my dog.

One of the things we do now is the evening walk. On a cool summer night after the kids are tucked in bed I’ll leave my husband home with his beloved, oft-heartbreaking Mariners and take Emmy for a long, unhurried stroll. We pass gardeners and friends chatting by their yard waste bins, smelling that distinctly summer scent of sprinkler water hitting sidewalks still warm from a day of baking in the sun. Often, someone will praise my beautiful, quirky old dog.

“What kind is she?” they’ll ask. If they’re adults they’ll wonder if she’s part terrier. If they’re kids they’ll say, “She looks like a wolf!” I’ll explain that we don’t know; my husband and I adopted her from the shelter, SpokAnimal, when she was a fuzzy stray puppy. We think she’s part terrier and part something that loves the snow and stays impeccably clean, like a Shiba Inu. Zero parts wolf, though they’re right; she does look like one.

The next morning I’ll get up early, when Emmy is the only other soul awake. I feed her and let her out, drink half a cup of coffee, and toss her a bite of my pre-run granola bar. She watches as I do a couple of stretches and pull on my shoes. She doesn’t stand expectantly next to me while I do this like she used to. She knows I’m running. She knows it’s no longer her thing.

But running was never her thing. She would always rather have sprinted across a field of summer grass or powdery new snow, would always have rather walked—nose up, ears perked—on a cool, quiet evening. And many times she did. But most often, she ran with me. However ill-matched we’ve sometimes been, running was for many years our thing, one way of seeing the world, side by side. //

Sarah Hauge lives in Spokane with her husband and two daughters and will be running the Happy Girls Half Marathon in September.

[Feature photo: Sarah Hauge]

The post Run Wild: Why Dogs Are The Ultimate Running Partner appeared first on Out There Venture.

Before Hank, a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy, could go on a backpacking trip with his owner, Jennifer Hall, she needed a way to carry him. Avoiding overexertion, joint injury, and ingestion of wild mushrooms were her major concerns. Because he weighed less than 20 pounds at the time, she decided to strap Hank to her chest, using a baby-carrier borrowed from a friend.

“He didn’t seem to mind, but he definitely wanted to see where we were going…twist around and face the front, versus facing me. And logistically, that didn’t work with his legs and everything else. But he got cozy, and I could hike with him for a couple hours,” she says. “People assumed that I was carrying a baby, but then if they closely looked, they realized it was a puppy.”

Back in Spokane, she continued carrying Hank for longer walks, after he exercised, until he became too big.

Hank isn’t alone. Phoebe, a 9-year-old Pomeranian mix who weighs 13 pounds, is carried on trails by Glen Copus. “Phoebe has a tendon problem with both of her hind legs and can only walk a short distance before it becomes too painful. If we try to leave the house with our other dog, Reggie, she has a fit,” he says.

Copus adjusted a front-wearing dog carrier so it could be worn on his back. “Phoebe enjoys riding in it, and was very relaxed after a few minutes the first time out. She occasionally falls asleep in there,” he says.

Carrying Phoebe is “not much different than wearing a backpack with a picnic and beverages in it. I do need to remember to squat down when I’m adjusting my boots or snowshoes, rather than just leaning forward, as that tends to invert the dog. It is also helpful to have a table or a tailgate or something I can back up to when slipping the pack off my shoulders.”

Pet gear companies are finally catching up to demand. K9 Sport Sack offers both forward and back-carrying adjustable packs for dogs, designed for dogs to rest in their natural “begging” position. They recommend giving dogs a 15-minute rest break outside the pack for every 45 continuous minutes they’re in it. Other brands creating wearable dog-carriers include Outward Hound, Ruffit, and Pawaboo.

And how about hiking with a cat? “Leon the Adventure Cat”—as he’s known on Instagram—is an orange tabby with a “laid-back, brave, and trusting personality” who loves being carried by his Spokane owner, Megan Ferney.

“I started putting a harness on him the second day I had him…on our adventures, he ‘hikes’ about a third of the way and I carry him the rest,” she says. “I just use a regular backpack and put a fleece blanket in it. He has his harness and leash on at all times, so if he jumps out it’s okay.”

Hiking with a cat: Leon loves being carried. // Photos courtesy Megan Ferney.

Amy McCaffree is digital editor and Out There Kids columnist. When she was kid, she carried her pet Chihuahua on longer walks, , when needed, holding it like a chicken. Now she hikes with her Siberian husky, Kenai.

[Feature photo courtesy of Megan Ferney.]

Find more stories about dogs in the OTO archives.

The post Hiking with Dogs and Family Pets appeared first on Out There Venture.

Reality, as always, was a bit different from the daydream. Emmy is built for short sprints; I like to run (relatively) long and slow. I run outside year round; Emmy loves snow but wilts in the summer and avoids water – raindrops, sprinklers, lakes, even puddles – at all costs.

Some days Emmy perks her head when I change clothes, eagerly hoping I’m putting on my running gear; on other days we’re barely to the end of the block before she’s hot or tired, lagging behind like a dawdling toddler as I cling to the leash, my arm outstretched behind my back.

We’ve had some great runs (A+) and a few terrible ones (D), but most I’d rate somewhere in the middle (solid B). Over the years my dog knowledge has grown, largely imparted by people much smarter about this stuff than I am. If you’re thinking about running with your dog, the following tips might help.

Basic Training

Invest in basic obedience training, either on your own or through a dog school. Your runs will be infinitely better once you’ve taught your dog to listen to your voice, to heel, and to walk (and then run) on one side of your body (versus crossing back and forth at will). When we run, Emmy knows she should be on my right side.

Know Your Pup

Is your dog capable of running? Consult your vet first. Generally, it’s best to wait until a young dog’s bone growth plates are closed before they begin vigorous activity, which can take eight months to two years.

Getting in shape takes time, for dogs as well as people. Build endurance gradually. Remember that it also takes time to toughen up a dog’s sensitive paw pads. Even when your dog is physically fit, you may still have to tailor your run for them. Some dogs can run, tirelessly, for hours. For others (like mine), a short run is plenty. Generally, I take Emmy with me for a mile or two before dropping her off at home and continuing on my way.

Think About Supplies

A good 4-6 foot leash (not a retractable leash) and collar may be all you need. You might also prefer a hands-free leash. The number one best piece of equipment I have is a harness that pulls out from Emmy’s chest, which curbs her impulse to pull ahead. (For more dog gear ideas, see outthereoutdoors.com/a-ruff-guide-to-outdoor-dog-gear.)

Also, always (ALWAYS) bring a plastic bag (or more than one!). Take it from me: the day you are sure you don’t need one is the day your dog will do their business in your neighbor’s yard while they watch from the window.

Check in with Your Dog

Your dog is your dependent, and you are responsible for their well-being. Keep your dog safe by checking for things like hot pavement, broken glass, or ice. If your dog limps or licks their paws, stop and examine them right away. Watch out for signs of distress, like foaming at the mouth, glazed eyes, slowing, or heavy panting.

Stay Hydrated

Remember to refuel your dog, not just yourself. On warm days or longer runs, Emmy and I will stop by a park, and I’ll fashion a bowl out of a plastic bag, which I fill with water from a drinking fountain. Remember that some puddle water (tempting to a thirsty dog) can be contaminated. (There are also portable, compact water bowls for dogs.)

Enjoy It for What It Is

There are some dogs and runners who – thanks to a lot of work or just lucky compatibility – run as the perfectly matched pair I once dreamed my dog and I would be. For the rest of us, running with a four-legged pal is as much about compromise as anything else.

But it’s worth it. No matter how good or bad the run is, when we get home, Emmy comes over for a pat. She stands in front of me with her tired, happy face, challenges forgotten, silently thanking me for another adventure together.

Gear Review: Run with Your Dog Hands-Free with the EzyDog Road Runner Leash

I run and walk regularly with my dog Emmy, and I normally use a nondescript leash attached to a harness that pulls out from her chest (which curbs her tendency to pull). When Sandpoint-based company EzyDog offered to send a sample of their hands-free Road Runner Leash, I was eager to try it.

The Road Runner Leash is designed to be worn around the waist (or shoulder or hand) and incorporates “Zero Shock Technology,” designed to make running and walking easier on both the dog and the owner.

Overall, I really liked the leash, which I used for walks and runs (with and without my jogging stroller and kids in tow). It’s easy to attach to the dog’s collar (or, in my case, her harness, which I used in concert with the leash). Snapping the leash around my waist was quick and easy. (One tip: make sure it’s right side up; it will fit regardless, but there’s a clip that bounced and made an annoying clicking sound when upside down).

It was nice to have less to hold onto, and feeling Emmy’s occasional sprints, turns, and stops pull against my waist rather than my more sensitive fingers or wrist was a nice change. I’m sure the shock absorbers also helped reduce the tugging, but I can’t say to what degree.

Other great leash features: it’s reflective, it’s easy to unclip from your waist and attach to a tree or pole if you need to tether your dog (rather than removing the leash entirely and fashioning a slip knot, as I usually do), and there’s a D-ring clip for key rings or other items.

The leash is seven feet, and my one complaint is that it’s a bit long for me (at 5 foot 4 inches with a small build). The only way to decrease length is to increase the amount of leash that loops around your waist, which would have made the fit too loose. (EzyDog makes other leashes of different lengths, just not this particular one).

The Road Runner Leash costs $40 and is available, alongside a host of leashes and other pet products, on the EzyDog website: Ezydog.com.

Gear review originally published in the September 2014 print edition of Out There Monthly.

For more stories about outdoor recreation with animals, see “Hiking with Dogs and Family Pets” and the OTO archives.

The post 6 Tips for Running with Dogs appeared first on Out There Venture.

My family recently took our dogs on their first overnight backpack. While they’re used to running trails, this was a new adventure for them, and unsurprisingly they loved being out there with all the interesting sights and smells. We were jazzed they did so well, as we weren’t sure how they would handle the slow and controlled pace instead of their typical sprint-return-sprint-return routine.

So this got us thinking about next trips, and I thought it’d be interesting to share a bit of what we’ve learned. It’s also important to do your homework ahead of time before heading out with your dog. Here are 5 foundational issues to consider and know before you take your dog backpacking.

Public Lands: Where Are Dogs Allowed?

Look into whether or not dogs are even allowed where you’re going. In general, they’re allowed on U.S. National Forest trails, not on National Park trails (but okay wherever cars are permitted), and never in Wilderness areas.

In Washington State, they’re allowed on trails “but must be under physical control at all times on a leash no more than eight feet long.” Does your destination have any site-specific guidelines and/or restrictions?

Expectations: How Far Can My Dog Hike?

Don’t take your dog on a forced march without having him get some training under his collar. Some breeds will just go and go until they drop without warning (never a good thing). Dogs are like kids in many ways—they’re active in bursts, but on the move for hours isn’t necessarily their forte.

An all-day hike, while slow of pace, is long on time, and the mental and physical strain can be intense. So work up to your/his planned foray into the backcountry. This is especially important if you’re going to have him carry his own weight by packing his own gear and chow.

Supplies: What about food and water?

Yes, both are good ideas, and you won’t be surprised to learn that like you, your dog is going to need more calories and fluids than normal, maybe up to 100 percent, depending on the duration and intensity of your hike.

There are some high-energy kibble formulas worth looking into ahead of time, as the runs aren’t much fun for you or for her. These will allow you to pack more energy in less food.

Yes, dogs can get Giardia, so provide her with the same water you’re drinking. If you’re thirsty, she is too, and dogs will often drink smaller volumes more frequently if given the opportunity.

Dogs of all sizes and breeds enjoy hiking with their owners: Jennifer Hall hiking with her dog when he was a puppy (left). // Photo courtesy of Jennifer Hall; Hiking at Slavin Conservation Area (middle). // Photo: Amy McCaffree; Glen Copus with his little hiking partner (right). // Photo courtesy of Glen Copus.

Dog Gear: What else?

Foldable water/food bowls are lightweight essentials. We carry an extra water bottle that Niki and Harley have learned to drink out of. If your dog’s up to backpacking, she’s probably up to carrying a pack with her own food and other essentials, and if she’s in shape, could carry up to a third of her weight if needed.

Like your own backpack, make sure it fits her snuggly but comfortably, and start light with the packing—food (and water), bowls, long lead for camp, towel and brush, poop bags (yes, you should pack it out) and a first-aid kit.

In regards to safety and health care, make sure your canine is current with all necessary immunizations and is in good overall shape. With respect to supplies, consider carrying, at a minimum, a bandage, antiseptic (dilute your iodine to just turn the water a little brown) and antibiotic ointment, tweezers (for ticks and wound debris), and—my favorite—crazy glue for paw lacerations (of course, all of this should be in your own personal kit as well, and sharing is good).

Dog Leash: Always necessary?

The most contentious issue: to leash or not to leash? If you do a quick search, you’ll find a good number of discussions around the pros and cons of keeping your dog on a lead. Yes, dogs love to run amok, but while it may be fun for them, it can also lead to a host of problems.

Even the best-behaved dogs can go native and end up heading off-trail into who knows what. You’re then left with either calling for them until you’re hoarse or doing likewise, neither of which are good options.

There’s nothing worse than finding yourself scrambling down scree after a wounded hound that saw a chipmunk that looked like a lot of fun to play with, not to mention the chippy that’s got better things to worry about than a possessed predator it’s not familiar with. So do the right thing – leash up.

Remember that heading into the backcountry with your dog isn’t much different than going out yourself—training, the right gear, and preparation are the keys to a fun and safe trip. Backpacking can be a great way of extending the bond you have with your best canine-training buddy, and lead to lots of great adventures out there for both of you.

Originally published as “Backpacking with Dogs: Keeping Them Healthy and Happy” in the September 2011 issue of “Out There Monthly”–the precursor to “Out There Venture.”

Hiking and Backpacking with Dogs: Hiking in Spokane. // Photo: Shallan Knowles; Snowshoe backpacking with a husky (middle), and hiking in the eastern Washington Scablands (right). // Photos: Holly Weiler.

Find more stories about dogs in the OTO archives.

The post What To Know Before Backpacking With Your Dog appeared first on Out There Venture.