Stories

Designing from a Dog's Perspective

Our dogs are our constant companions. With the right gear, they can join us comfortably in our outdoor pursuits, allowing us to go farther and share more experiences together. This belief has been Ruffwear’s path of inspiration, discovery, and innovation from the beginning.

How To Hike With Your Dog

Dogs are happy to tag along on any hike. With a bit of preparation, the right gear, and a bit of that eagerness to explore that comes so naturally to our furry trail buddies, you’ll be en route to a good time hiking together.

The Road Less Traveled

Before Trevor DeHaas met his dog, Kahlúa, he was working a corporate job, living in the city, and ignoring his kidney disease. When Kahlúa came into his life, he quit his job, began exploring the outdoors, and started to take better care of his health. He is now an adventure photographer, living his best life. 

How To Trail Run With Your Dog

Hey guys, Emmett here. I'm a good friend of a human that works at Ruffwear, and I'm kinda new to town. Between all the new smells, funny looking animals on the farm I live on, and my really cool new family, I’m stoked on life. My friend thought it might be fun to try channeling some of that energy into trail running together.

Teaching Tala To Love The Water

Our dog wasn’t exposed to a lot of moving water in her first year and a half of life. As with all new activities, we started slow – throwing her favorite toys for her in calm, shallow water. She loves playing ‘ball,’ so it was good motivation to work her way up to short easy swims. 

5 Things Your Dog Wants To Do With You This Summer

Trying an activity that's new for your pup or new for you is both a rich and deeply rewarding experience. You'll forge a stronger bond and create memories that'll make you smile long after they happen. You'll laugh a lot, splash a lot, and possibly even pick up a new hobby you'll love a lot.  

Riding with Emma

In the gray light of early morning, Kristen pushes her bike out of the garage, steps on, and begins pedaling. Emma (her tail-wagging sidekick) runs alongside as they exit the alleyway onto the road. Then, Kristen says, “Trailer!” and Emma hops in for the ride to work. Read on to learn about Kristen's off-road cargo trailer with suspension that allows her to bring Emma along on her bike rides. 

Nancy & Abbie

Blind from birth, Nancy started using a cane at the age of 6 and taking buses at the age of 10. Now, Nancy has had a total of 4 guide dogs. They’ve guided her on some grand excursions: summiting 14-ers in Colorado, hiking the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim, exploring countless miles of trails, and paddling alpine lakes.

Richard & Klinger

Richard Hunter is a blind endurance athlete who has made it his life’s work to encourage blind athletes to participate in sports and other activities that push the limits of their comfort zone. His guide dog, Klinger, was the first graduate of Guiding Eyes for the Blind's Running Guides Program.

Pam & Maida

If anyone is born a runner, it’s Pam McGonigle. She was also born with visual impairment, but that never slowed her down. She was hooked on the sport after winning her first race in 6th grade and went on to compete at the Paralympics, winning gold. In 2008, Pam got her first dog from Guiding Eyes for the Blind.   

Forward Together

The Guiding Eyes for the Blind Running Guides program graduated its first team, Klinger and Richard, in 2015. These specially trained dogs enable people who are blind and visually impaired to run with only their guide’s support. For the first time, runners with vision loss don’t have to rely on human guides.

Dog Paw Anatomy

This month, we're covering all things paws and boots, so to "kick off" the month, we thought we'd start with the basic anatomy of a dog paw.

Exploring Public Lands

At Ruffwear, public lands are part of who we are. We are fortunate to have national forest right out our office door. We believe that the first step to protecting public lands is to get out there and enjoy them. We hope that our video will inspire you to do just that – with your best furry pal, of course.

A Serendipitous Meeting

I was driving near the Warm Springs Reservation on Highway 26 and I noticed a skinny black dog standing on the shoulder in the opposite lane. I drove for a couple hundred feet and thought to myself, “That’s the saddest looking dog I’ve ever seen." I turned around my 26-foot delivery truck and went back.

More Valuable Than Gold

With gold mining proposals poised to change the Paradise Valley, Darcie is part of the effort that is seeking solutions — ones that recognize that the area’s natural values are a tremendous asset. Darcie wants to ensure that future generations and their canine companions can also experience the magic she feels there with her dogs, Ruby and Balto. 

In This Together

Krissy has spent the better part of her adult life running ultra trail races and filling her passport with world explorations. She is a running coach, author, race director, and public speaker. Sharing the trails and life with her dog adds a whole new spin on her passion for this life of adventure.

Camping with Dogs on Public Lands

Bring your dogs on your next adventure—many areas of our public lands welcome canine companions. All it takes is a little planning.

How To SUP With Your PUP: Getting Your PUP Back On The SUP

One of the most important topics covered in this edition is a step-by-step guide for safely getting your dog back on the board from the water. This is the single most important skill every dog-loving paddler should know. Riley, Kona, and I want everyone to be safe out there!

Running Rituals: The Inspiration for the Trail Runner System

“In my mind, a dog is the ultimate running companion,” Timothy says. “They’re always game, no matter the weather. They’re always happy. I’ve spent 25 years — more than half my life — running with a dog.”

Love and Water

SUP Manatees: Maria, Kona & Riley Explore Florida’s Fresh Water

Paddling with manatees and my dogs is a combination that’s been on my SUP bucket list for years. The dogs were as curious about the manatees as the manatees were of them! Riley and Kona inquisitively peered over the rails to watch the manatees play, swim, and splash around our board. 

5 Tips for Crag Dogs

I'm Riggins, a Ruffwear office dog, trail runner, skier, and crag dog based in Bend, Oregon. When I'm not hanging out at the Ruffwear office, playing in the snow, or chasing pine cones down the trail, you're likely to find me at Smith Rock State Park. Both of my humans love to climb at Smith, and I love to join. 

Be In The Mile

It's not about the pace, time, or average heart rate. It's not about miles covered or vertical gain... Allow your mind to wander. Allow it to dwell, spin, rinse, and release. Be with the moment. It’s adventure. Breathe deeply. It’s love. Follow your nose.

Love Dogs

One day a small and very strange looking puppy ended up in my driveway—she had been picked up off the Navajo res starving, miles from anywhere, by a guy working on electrical poles. She was a bedraggled black, grey and brown. Her ears flopped. She looked like a tiny hyena having a bad hair day.

Connections Built to Last

Climbing is part of Ruffwear’s heritage. For more than 23 years, many Ruffwear employees have spent their evenings and weekends shedding layers of skin on boulders, rock walls, big walls, and alpine granite. Our office dogs are also our crag dogs.

From Shelter To Science

Imagine being a dog. Not just any dog, mind. A dog with boundless energy and so much drive, you struggle to fit into normal family life. Unfortunately, this means you might spend your whole life in a shelter. Wait, there’s good news! Your intense focus and insatiable urge to play make you a great fit for the Conservation Canines, an organization that rescues dogs from shelters and pairs them with human handlers.

Reeling In A Water Hound: Fishing With Midge

Some might say I am a fishing addict. I am lucky to live in a town that has endless recreation possibilities and lots of water. My husband and I are pretty predictable, so when April rolls around we are feet-first in the river and don’t come out until the snow falls and ice hangs off of our fishing guides.

Worked Like a Dog: In the Field with Conservation Canines

 We sent Alli, our resident ultra runner and ski mountaineer, to California to spend a few days in the field with the Conservation Canines. Her mission was to get to know our CK9 partners a little better and gain first-hand experience with the work they do. She was also collecting feedback on our products and their performance in the field.

My 115-Mile Tidal Potomac Expedition

This past spring, I set an ambitious goal: my Australian Shepherd Kona and I were going to stand-up paddle the entire length of the tidal Potomac River. Starting in Washington, D.C., the tidal Potomac winds between the Maryland and Virginia borders for 115 miles before emptying into the Chesapeake Bay.

A Golden Boy With A Magical Nose

Hello, my name is Chester. It has been 8 years since I have chased a chicken. That's because I am fully employed as a Conservation Canine, and I have been part of this program for 8 beautiful years. In my long career, I have studied bears in the Pyrenees, cougars in Washington, wolves in Alberta and bobcats in Wisconsin. I'd like to tell you my story. 

Top 10 Tips for Standup Paddleboarding With Your Dog

Ruffwear Ambassador and author of How To SUP With Your PUP, Maria Christina Schultz, offers up her top ten tips for standup paddling with your dog.

Skiing with Your Best Friend

If you’ve had the opportunity to go skiing with your dog, you know that there are few activities that are more fun! Our friends Laura, Star, and Titan (of Silas the Sprinter) have been getting out quite a bit and are here to help.

An Interview With Conservation Canines' Lead Dog Trainer

Ruffwear has been working with the Conservation Canines since 2008. The more we get to know both the people and dogs who make up the organization, the more we are proud to call them a partner and ambassador. We recently got a chance to catch up with Heath in between trips to the field to ask him a few questions about the program, the dogs involved, and the work they are doing.

Preventing Snowballs – The Ruffwear Way

As snow lovers, we often find ourselves running joyfully through endless hills of white powder without a worry in the world…until…it happens. The inevitable cosmic reaction to fluffy snow when it makes contact with fluffy fur – “Snowballs.”