Many dog owners make the mistake of putting a dog backpack on their dog for the very first time only minutes before a hike, loading it up with stuff, and then expecting the dog to be happy and comfortable. The more you practice with either dog back, the happier your dog will probably be on the hike. So practice makes ideal.

The essential factor to remember when using dog backpack for the first time is that your dog will most likely not want to wear it. This is natural. So, some patience is required here. Give your dog at least a couple of days of practice initial. Check these out:

On the first day, put the pack on your dog with out the tightening the straps too much. They ought to be tight enough that your pet cannot get it off, but not as tight as it would need to be if had to bear weight. It will certainly help to praise your dog for wearing it. Plenty of loving attention assists. Leave it on for a couple of hours and then take it off.

Repeat it at the second day, but put the little dog backpack on a little tighter this time. Keep the straps loose enough for three fingers to slide under the straps effortlessly. Nevertheless, you need to have the ability to pull down on the pockets just a little without the backpack sliding around too much.

The third day should be a repeat of the second day, except this time, the dog backpack will have some weight in it. Try a couple of half filled water bottles or some kibble (in a zip-lock bag).

The fourth day should be the same as the third day, but this day will probably be a full weight day. The dog backpack should be left on for about an hour this time. This would be to get your pet accustomed to the weight.

Now your best friend ought to be prepared for a hike with a full pack. If you believe that a fifth day is essential, really feel totally free to leave the full pack on longer on that day.

Retno Kuswantoro has been writing articles online for nearly 3 years now. Check out the interesting article about Benefits to Have a Dog Backpack. Visit http://mydogbackpack.com for getting more info and tips.

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Has it ever been debated on who are the most influential hikers of all time (Top 5 )? With the creation of the A.T. Museum, I know there was discussion about the most influential Appalachian Trail backpackers of all time (ie. Earl Shaffer), but what about in general?

I’d argue that Earl Shaffer makes that cut for pioneering the first “official” thru-hike, but what about someone like “Flyin’ Brian” Robinson who became the first hiker to conquer hiking’s Triple Crown in a calendar year? He definitely took thru-hiking to an entirely new level? Curious to get your thoughts on this….

It’s very important that you feed your dog properly when you are camping. When it’s cold your dog is going to need a lot of extra calories to help him stay warmer. So you will need to make sure that the meals you give him are larger than if you were feeding him at home and also make sure to supplement his camping diet with a lot of extra snacks that are high in proteins.

You need to make sure that he gets plenty of water. Water can be hard to find when you are camping during the colder months and this dry and cold weather more than likely will make your dog very thirsty so take a lot of extra water along with you especially for your dog. However; if you are camping in snow, you can take the snow and melt it over a campfire for both you and your dog. Just make sure that it is clean snow and hasn’t been disturbed by you or other animals in the forest.

Make sure that you let your dog sleep with you in your tent if he is an inside dog and bring him his own blanket as well as some sort of cushion or pillow for him to sleep on. You want to keep his body up off the cold ground. If your dog is a dog that is use to being outside then you should bring some hay with you and make a bed for him on the ground with this. Hay is a wonderful form of insulation, make sure you have plenty of it to make a good sized bed for him.

Make sure that during your camping trip that you play with your dog a lot and they the two of you take plenty of walks together. This is going to help both of you stay warm and will help keep your dog nice and limber. So go out and have a great time exploring.

When camping in the cold and taking your dog on a walk with his leash, make sure that you don’t use the kind of leash you would normally use when walking him in town. These are usually shorter and they will limit your his mobility and you don’t want to do that in the cold. Instead you should use a much longer leash when you go out for walks in the cold. He needs to be able to move around freely in cold weather in order to be able to keep himself warm.

One final and important note. You need to make sure that your dog has the ability to withstand cold weather before you even consider going camping in the cold winter months. If you have a large dog like a husky, they are perfect for winter camping but most of the smaller dog breeds should never be taken out on winter camp outs.

For more free Dog & Puppy Information download Charles’ Free Dog & Puppy Information Series at http://www.free-canine-info.com and join thousands of other people enjoying their canine friends!

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I just returned from a trip to the Grand Canyon, and if you haven’t seen it – the winter is a great time to go.  There are fewer people, there’s no summer 100+ heat, and it’s fairly easy to book a room at the last minute – even on a weekend.

I made my first trip to the Canyon in 1996 during a three month cross-country roadtrip that put 17,000 miles on my car and had us touch all four corners of the Lower 48.  We arrived on the North Rim in mid-summer with 104 degree heat and mobs of people in every direction.  I’m embarrased to say that we didn’t hike a single mile on that trip.

When I returned to the Grand Canyon a few weeks ago, snow lingered once again along the 7300′ rim at Shoshone Point.  And the canyon looked much as it did ten years earlier -massive, tranquil, and even dangerous as you stand on the unguarded rim.

Dogs are not allowed on backcountry trails, so plan on staying close to the rim and make sure you bring a leash.  Not only is it mandatory in Grand Canyon National Park, but is for your dog’s safety as well.  If you haven’t seen the Canyon – you owe it to yourself in this life.  It’s one of those fascinating places that (despite its great age) just never gets old.

History: The Harrier is believed to have been bred down in size, from the English foxhounds, but the exact origins are not clear. This breed is larger than the beagle. The Harrier was bred for hunting hares, and this is where it gained its name. This dog is popular in England, as it is slower, so it's good for the hunter on foot. This may be a slower dog, but its stamina in the field is brilliant. This dog has an excellent nose and is often worked in packs, in England. This dog is rare in the USA and was recognized by the AKC in 1885.

Temperament: This is a playful and outgoing dog, very similar to the foxhound. This breed has a sweet temperament and is tolerant and excellent with children. This is a good dog to have as a pack dog, or it can work on its own. This breed is not to be trusted with non canine pets. This dog explores and love sniffing and trailing and is an active dog. This breed requires patience and firm training, and the owner needs to be a good pack leader, providing mental and physical exercises, including good long daily walks. This breed can become destructive and highly strung, if not given enough exercise. The temperament of this dog, both the field and show lines vary widely, and it is down to how the owner treats the dog and the type of exercise they provide that will be a contributing factor to the temperament. The Harrier requires brisk walking. So the dog is best in the company of someone who enjoys jogging. This breed is best enjoyed by active people who enjoy hikes or hunting as this dog has a tendency to roam and track instinctively.

Health issues: The Harrier is of good general health, and occasionally has been known to have epilepsy and hip dysplasia.

Grooming: Harriers are easy to keep clean and tidy, only occasionally needing brushing or combing out the dead hair.

Living conditions: This breed is not recommended for apartment life. But if the owner was exceptionally active and able to incorporate the dogs daily needs it could work. A Harrier will enjoy acreage, and at least a large garden.

An animal with these unique traits will be difficult to control at times. They have the instinct to run around (or away) and a tendency to be very stubborn. Therefore it isn’t a good idea you get this breed if you’re a first time owner. Having experience won’t be much help anyway; again training this dog is different from the normal way of doing it. An important thing to remember is to establish a good relationship with this pet. Teaching it is a lifelong process. It can and most likely will need at least 12 months of bonding with its owner.

If you know you’re going to die anytime soon, this isn’t the dog for you – the last efforts you exert on it’ll be in vain. Another thing to expect is it will not want to be with you for the first few months. You should try taking it with you during daily activities like walking or going somewhere. Keep it on a leash though; it does have the tendency to wander off. Keep in mind that it is a pack dog – therefore it learns better from its companions and how the owner handles them as a whole. Here it develops good behavior and loyalty.

That’s why it would be hard to train it as an individual. The Alaskan Husky belongs to a family with a very active lifestyle. It isn’t suited for an owner that is too busy with work or spends most of his time watching television. This pooch has tremendous amounts of energy waiting to be burned. It’ll love to go on long jogs, preferably running. Take it on hikes or have it tag along as you bike. Don’t underestimate its capabilities – you’ll be tired long before it warms up. This breed was meant to stay in the cold; so if you’re living in an area with warm climate, it will be very hard on it.

It has a double coat that keeps it warm; very warm. Cutting its fur might seem to be a good idea, but it won’t work. As a matter of fact it will mess up this pets ability to regulate its body temperature, which will then later lead to other problems. It’s recommended that you keep an Alaskan Husky if you are living in cold climate, preferably similar to that of Alaska, and have the patience and time to have it undergo a lot of exercises. If you get one of this breed, you might as well get others to serve as its companions.

Doing so makes things easier for you and your pet.