Explored

Sustainability Update: Launching Our Climate Action Plan

In the last two years, we’ve taken our sustainability efforts up a notch. We’ve made some bold goals, and we’re working hard to reach them. Here’s what we’ve done so far, what we’re doing now, and where we’re headed in the pursuit of sustainability with our carbon footprint.  

Our Carbon Pawprints

Something I’ve been curious about for a while is to what extent having a dog in my life impacts the planet. Finn is now 12 years old, and our lives revolve around him. He eats every day, has toys, travels, and has clothes and adventure gear the same as me. Let's look at Finn's carbon pawprint by focusing on the impacts of his food and apparel.   

Leave No Trace: Dog Edition

Our epic camping and hiking excursions have an impact on the environment and wildlife. We’ve got you covered – there are ways to keep the stoke high while minimizing our impact. To scale those peaks responsibly, let’s take a look at Leave No Trace’s 7 Principles. Plus, read to the end to see our bonus tip to leave the trail better than you found it. 

Honouring Our One-in-a-Maximillian

He touched the lives of so many people and was the ‘lifesaver’ and constant companion of his beloved owner, Kerry Irving. Our one-in-a-million Max the Miracle Dog, also known as Max Out in The Lake District, sadly gained his Angel wings on Wednesday 6 April.

Barkpacking 101: How to Backpack with Your Dog

Looking to share your love of backpacking with your dog, or maybe even establish a new love for it together? Welcome to Barkpacking 101.

Ruffwear in Mexico: Meet Bernardo & His Four Shop Dogs

With a presence in over 45 countries, Ruffwear's gear enables outdoor adventures across the globe. Today, we want to introduce you to Bernardo – the owner of Outdog who lives in Mexico – and his four shop dogs, Frida, Chelsee, Cesarin, and Leika.

New Gear for Spring 2022

This season, we’re highlighting waypoints – the places along life’s journey that hold significance. With our tail-wagging pals by our sides, we return to these spots time and again. Leaving new foot and paw prints. Collecting memories. Ready to kick off spring by retracing or discovering your waypoints? We’ve got you covered with our new spring gear from two of our top collections: Camp & Hike and Backpacking. 

Waypoints: Max Tepfer & Billy

Part of the Waypoints Series. Why Max Tepfer and his sidekick Billy keep returning to a special climbing area in Oregon.

Waypoints: Abby Chan, Kona & Mochi

Part of the Waypoints Series. Hear from Abby Chan about her dogs Kona and Mochi – and why they have a connection to this spot in Sedona.

Waypoints: Hailey Hagerty, Sky & Ripley

Part of the Waypoints Series. Meet Hailey Hagerty and her dogs Sky and Ripley. Here's what she had to say about their connection to the location we joined them at for their photoshoot.

Waypoints: Noël Russell, Sue & Fin

Waypoints celebrate the places our dogs take us and the joy of returning to them together, time and time again. Read on to follow Noël Russell's journey of creating, re-visiting, and learning from the Waypoints she's discovered with her dogs over the years.

Stories From the Trail: Backpacking with Nathan & Turkey

Nathan and his canine sidekick, Turkey, share their stories from backpacking the alpine peaks of California, Montana, and Washington. They carry their packs and camp along the way as they summit beautiful mountain ranges, such as the North Cascades. Read on to see what they discovered on their journey.

Forever Changed: A Day with Guide Dogs for the Blind

In 2015, Ruffwear's Service Dog Channel Manager, Greg, visited the Guide Dogs for the Blind campus for the first time. This is the story of his immersive experience on their campus and how it jump-started his passion for supporting the guide dog community with Ruffwear products.

2 Years In: The Joys & Challenges of Working From Home with Dogs

Now that many of us at Ruffwear have been working remotely for over two years, we are celebrating how working from home with our dogs has brought us closer to them. Read on to hear a few of our team members' takeaways from this wild two-year journey. 

A City Dog’s Guide to Adventure

No one understands the city dog life better than Ruffwear Ambassadors Cory, Rafa, and their pup Bondi. Here, we’ve got the scoop on their top tips to kickstart city adventures with your dog.

Gear Up Your New Dog: The Essentials

We’ve rounded up our top 7 picks for the essential gear you’ll need when getting a new dog – think of it as your starter kit. One of our Pack Support experts, Kerry, shares how this gear will start you off on the right paw. 

Dear Bella: A Love Letter

Kami York-Feirn, Ruffwear's Social Media Coordinator, writes a love letter to her Bernese Mountain Dog, Bella – her ride or die and best friend. Whether they're enjoying peanut butter pancakes, supporting each other through life's ups and downs, or hiking a 14,000 ft peak at 4 a.m., these two are inseparable.

Inspiring a Diverse Outdoors with Ambassador Alexis Martin

For the month of February, we teamed up with photographer Tommy Corey on a project that highlights individuals who exude Black Excellence and leadership in the outdoor spaces. Ruffwear ambassador Alexis Martin is not only a trailblazer and nature photographer but also a leader within her community. Alexis is making her voice heard by speaking on important topics such as diversity and inclusion in outdoor spaces. 

A Texas Dog's First Snow

Ruffwear Content Creator, Erin Swanson, shares the first time she introduced her dog to snow. Read on to hear what she learned and glean tips for how to make snow a rewarding experience for your dog. 

Meet Ruddy: Mt. Bachelor's Newest Avalanche Dog

Ruffwear’s Content Creator, Erin Swanson, recently made the trek to Mt. Bachelor with our Videographer, Photographer, and Community Manager. Their mission? Learn about (and play with) Mt. Bachelor’s newest avalanche puppy in-training, Ruddy.

Busting Cabin Fever with Chris and Sammy

For those winter days when cabin fever seems to be setting in, Ruffwear Ambassadors Chris Hill and Sammy (the one with the paws) share their tips for keeping the stoke high.

Winter Paw Protection: Polar Trex™ Dog Boots

Winter conditions can leave paws cracking, scraped, bleeding, or packed with uncomfortable snowballs, cutting the snow day short. What do you do when the bounding stops and the paw licking starts? The Polar Trex™ Boots can give your dog freedom to keep exploring through the winter months.

Graham & Pebble's Quest for Rest

Graham is an award-winning alpinist who explores the mountains, trails, and crags of Central Oregon with his fun-loving canine sidekick, Pebble the doodle. In this article, this Ruffwear Ambassador duo share how they hit pause on playing hard to rest and recharge.

2022: The Year For Possibility & Spaghetti

This upcoming season, we’ve shifted from survival mode, we’ve unpacked the baggage of the last (nearly) two years, we’ve started building habits for a better future—we’re ready for the season of thriving. I’m hopeful for us all to return to ourselves, to take our lessons learned, and to put them into practice as we begin a season of light again.

Give, Shop, and Wag Like a Local

Nate and Dani Wyeth live in Bend, Oregon with their golden retriever, Ranger. They offer tips for holiday-ing like the locals here in Bend. You can make these tips work for doing the same in your neck of the woods, too.

How Kerry Irving & His Dogs Raised £41,000 for Charity

On November 12, Kerry Irving set out on a 16-mile walk with his dogs, Harry and Paddy, to raise funds for Scotty’s Little Soldiers, a charity that supports children & young people who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces. 

We're Pawing It Forward ... And You Can, Too!

At Ruffwear, we’re purpose driven – we believe in using our business for good. Cultivating a world where all dogs and their human companions thrive in the outdoors is part of our DNA. Looking for ways to give back this Giving Tuesday? Here are some of our favorite organizations we’ve given back to recently. 

Go Guides

New Gear for Winter 2021

As fall transitions to winter, we bring you new colors for a few of our winter favorites. With these fresh pops of color, your dog will stand out in the blankets of powder. Brighten up your canine sidekick’s winter attire with new colors like Fired Brick, Campfire Orange, and Aurora Teal. 

How Rogue Detection Dogs Inspired the High-Vis Web Master™

Rogue Detection Dog Bounders (handlers) Heath and Jennifer had some great words and pictures to share with us about their history with the Web Master, and how their work and partnership contributed to the development of the High-Vis Web Master.

Trick or Treat Trader™: Dog Treat Recipes, Games, and Ideas

This spooky season, we’ve got you covered with dog treat ideas and recipes from our Ruffwear team. And keep that tail wagging – check out our treat-inspired ways to play and connect with your dog. 

PRIDE Weekend Adventure with Cory, Rafa, and Bondi

In this story, Cory, Rafa, and Bondi (she’s the one with the four paws and tail) share their adventure to Portland to celebrate PRIDE Weekend. They explore this dog-friendly city as they celebrate an important life experience.

4 Things to Consider Before Backcountry Skiing with Your Dog

Riding in the backcountry can be one of the most fun activities you do with your dog. With proper planning and practice, you can share powder turns with your best friend! Here are four things to consider before enjoying the backcountry safely with your tail-wagging sidekick.

Van Life: Coast Road Trip with Bree & Noodle

In this story, Ruffwear Ambassador Bree shares how her van road trip along the PNW coast offered her dogs a chance to grow in a new environment. One of her dogs, Noodle, navigated trotting along the shores and splashing in the ocean with her scooter – leaving her mark of sandy paw prints and scooter tracks behind.

Running in the Rain: Tips from Krissy & PD

As autumn starts to work its way into our weather forecasts, these tips from as seasoned of a running duo as ambassadors Krissy & PD have us eager to lace up and get out with our ever-eager canine sidekicks – rain or shine.

What My Rescue Dog Taught Me About Growth

In this story, blog contributor Erin Swanson shares how her rescue dog, Odin, has grown, adapted, transformed... and how he's inspired her to do the same.

New Gear for Fall 2021

This season, we’re tapping into the inner explorer within us all and following the curiosity to seek new experiences – to grow, adapt, transform, and become. As summer transitions to fall, our new gear is designed to help you and your pup shift gears and keep the dog days going.

Passing on Legacies

In “Passing On Legacies,” Ruffwear’s Dove Gibson explores her own journey of becoming that has been marked by the bounty of lessons she’s learned from a lifetime of rivers, her partner, Clell, and her two dogs, Midge and River.

Talking Carbon & Sharks with Our New Sustainability Manager

Ruffwear recently welcomed David Bennett (and his dog, Ginger) to the Pack as our Senior Sustainability Manager. We caught up recently to learn more about him and the work the team is doing to support Ruffwear's sustainability journey.

Van Life: Our Golden Doodle Cheat Code

Ask any vanlifer what some of their favorite things about the lifestyle are, and it’s definitely better than 50/50 odds that they will mention the people they get to meet on the road. When it comes to meeting people on our road-travels, our pup Astro is what we call "a cheat code."

SUP Pup 101: How to Paddleboard with Your Dog

How do you and your dog start paddleboarding without any experience? Ruffwear employees – and first-time SUP-ers – Brad & Umi and Julie & Beau volunteered to find out. With help from SUP instructor and dog trainer Maria Schulz, they learn all the basics and tackle their first day on the water.

A Statue for Max the Miracle Dog

There’s a new addition to Hope Park in Keswick, England – a bronze statue with four legs, a tail, and “Max the Miracle Dog” inscribed on the bench it sits on. This tribute to a very special dog was revealed July 2, 2021 with Ruffwear Ambassadors Max and his human Kerry (and about 2,000 fans) in attendance.

5 Tips for Mountain Biking With Your Dog

Ruffwear Ambassador Laura Patton and her dogs Star and Colt are big fans of hiking, biking, and skiing through the endless terrain of their Pacific Northwest home. Here are Laura's top 5 tips for getting started when mountain biking with your dog.

5 Ways to Keep Your Dog Cool This Summer

With a solid hot-weather strategy, you and your dog can keep exploring, even amidst the sweltering days of summer. We’re here to help with our top gear and essential tips for keeping your dog cool.

How To Camp With Your Dog

There’s camping – and then there’s camping with your dog by your side. Their presence alone elevates every little moment. Their curiosity is contagious, their zeal inspiring. With a bit of preparation and the right gear, you’ll be en route to a good time camping with your dog.

From Canines to Kids: Pregnancy Brings Adventure Dog-Training to Bear

I wasn’t one of those girls who dreamed of her wedding day, having a family, and decorating a home. I dreamed of adventures and exploring the world with dogs – lots of dogs – all with a handsome guy by my side, of course! But it seems Mother Nature had her own ideas. 

New River. New Park. New Inspiration.

When it comes to product design and color choice, Ruffwear’s Product Design & Development team looks to nature—to the wild places and landscapes that inspire and connect us. The New River provided the inspiration for one of our newest leash and collar patterns.

The Value of a River

Jilkaat Heeni, the Tlingit name for a river that others know as the Chilkat River, means “Storage Container for Salmon.” The Tlingit people have stewarded the Chilkat Valley since time immemorial. Its watershed offers sustenance and habitat for both wildlife and people living in the nearby Klukwan and Haines communities.

Ruffwear Ambassadors: Get to Know Theresa and Cassie

Cascade (Cassie) and her human, Theresa Silveyra, are among the newest additions to the Ruffwear ambassador team. Read this interview to learn more about the opportunities Theresa's creating for women of color in the outdoors and how she and Cassie enjoy the outdoors together.