Making the most of the time we have with our dogs is so important to us and we just know how much they love being outside🥹
But bringing your dogs to as many places as possible does come with it's own set of challenges, including things to think about and prepare to keep them safe and happy❤️
And over the past five years travelling with our dogs all over Europe, finding things that make everything go that little bit smoother has been a priority.
Because there is no better feeling than spending time with your dogs outdoors.
Use the discount code *WILDER10* for 10% all Ruffwear products ❤️
Tested by two very crazy spaniels who like mud, a lot. Henry & Wally both wear Size Small in all Ruffwear gear 🐶
We are now grateful to call ourselves Ruffwear ambassadors but we bought a lot of our Ruffwear products years before partnering with them and that's why we fully stand behind all these recommendations 😊
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Every Day Essentials
Our favourite every day items that make daily life with dogs a breeze, out on adventures and at home 🐶
Dry Robes for Dogs
If we had to choose one dog product we couldn't live without it would be these Dog Towel Coats 💦
It's basically a dry robe for dogs and there is no better solution to a soggy spaniel than these. We use them post hike, post bath, post swim and we've started bringing them with us wild camping too because they are just so good at drying them off super quickly and not letting everything get covered in wet dog in the process 😂
Harnesses
Our go-to hardness for years has been the FLAGLINE from Ruffwear!
It's super lightweight for everyday use and has so many adjustment points to fit all sizes. But our favourite feature is definitely the handle, which is just so useful for so many situations from hiking and scrambling, lifting them over obstacles like gates or helping them into the car.
There is also the more minimal Hi & Light version without a handle which is great for short walks or running 😊
Leads & Collars
When owning a dog, there's nothing you rely on more than these two things in everyday life so for us a good lead and collar is essential.
We've tried a lot of leads over the years but after recently discovering the Hitch Hiker™ Lead we have to say that it stands out as one of the best! The length is fully adjustable up to 12ft with a handy little waist belt and bag that can also be made into a hand held lead too. If we had to choose one lead it would be this one! But if you want something stretchy for running or scrambling then the Trail Runner™ Dog Lead is another great option!
Also if we're walking or running as one person with two dogs this lead splitter really is a game changer!
Our favourite collar has always been this rope collar as we love how simple & lightweight it is. We always attach them with a harness on walks so a minimalistic collar just for their tags is perfect for us! We also love these as they don't matt or affect the fur around their necks too🥰
Use the code WILDER10 for 10% off 😊❤️
Camping & Hiking ⛺️
The tent might be a little bit more muddy at the end of an adventure but we wouldn't change it for the world! Bringing our dogs camping is the best thing we ever decided to do 🥹
Dog Sleeping Bag
One of our favourite things about this sleeping bag is that they actually recognise it as theirs now and dive straight into it when we get it out for them. Which is so great if we want to relax in the evenings at camp because they know their cosy sleeping bag means it's time to chill out and rest 🥹
For summer backpacking trips they share one but we do have two for them in winter if it's extra cold and we can bundle them up ❤️
We have gotten so much use out of it so far and it still looks brand new too!
Jackets
In colder weather, which can really be all seasons in the mountains, we have a few different jackets we opt for depending on how cold and windy it will be.
For super cold temperatures and snowy adventures we love the Furness jacket as it's ultra-warm and we know it will keep them cosy! The boys have worn it on so many winter adventures here in Scotland and we can't fault it! But if it's a little milder and rain is more likely like spring and autumn, the Cloud Chaser is perfect!
We've recently also been testing the new ultralight and packable Quinzee Jacket for camping trips where we think they might need an extra layer at night or on the summit of the mountain, but won't have it on for the whole adventure so the packability is such a bonus!
Lightweight Bowls
Making sure our boys stay hydrated on hikes is essential, especially in hot summer weather, and having these little bowls make it super easy to provide fresh water for them anytime we stop for a drink or snack ourselves 💦
But a good tip which we've also used (if we've ever misplaced our bowls or forgot them) is that you can also use a doggy poo bag as a water bowl in a pinch!!
Food Storage
Where to store dog food on a road trip is something we never thought we need to think too much about until we went on our first road trip, brought along the bag the kibble came in (which turned out not to be air tight) and the entire car had a faint kibble smell for two weeks😂 I'm sure the dogs didn't mind but smelling like dog food is something we'd rather avoid so discovering this kibble storage bag was a win for us!
Safety ⛑
As dog parents, is there anything that matters more than making sure you're doing everything you can to keep your dogs safe. For us, these items make us feel that extra bit more comfortable taking our boys with us on our adventures.
Emergency Carrier
This is something we hope we'll never need to use but would always rather be prepared for a scenario where we might need to carry our dogs out from a trail, if they hurt their leg for example. It's always been something in the back of our minds so when we saw this new Emergency Carrier from Ruffwear we knew it had to be part of our essential hiking gear ❤️
Life Jackets
Dogs can tire out super quickly when swimming, and even healthy dogs can suffer from cramps or accidents in the water so a good Dog Life Jacket is essential for any water based activities. We pair it with a Floating Toy for the perfect day at the lake or beach 🐳
Lights for in the Dark
We've found having little lights like these to clip onto our dogs harnesses is so useful when hiking in the dark or in low light. We love heading out to catch the sunset or sunrise but that often means some of our walks are spent in low light conditions and the Beacon light makes them SO easy to spot running around. It would be useful for night time walks in the city too 🚨
First Aid
It's always better to try and be prepared like we mentioned above with the Emergency Carrier to carry your dog out of a situation if they need. But certain things can definitely be dealt with on the trail like removing ticks with a Tick Remover Tool - we have multiple ones on our car keys, in hiking bags etc. and also separate ones for dogs and humans 🐜
And it's also handy to have a first aid kit available like this Dog First Aid Kit as you might be able to treat small cuts and scrapes yourself or if you can't get to a vet right away ❤️🩹
