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A gift guide for adventure dogs, by an adventure dog

October 31, 2019

Found in Gear

Hi there, friends! Allen The Dog here. I’d like to bark about a few great picks for your pups during the holiday season.

As a self-identified #adventuredog, I’ve been fortunate to spend the majority of my five years on this planet enjoying the outdoors. Whether I’m frolicking in the forest or fetching flying discs at the park, my exuberance for being outside means I’ve been able to test a lot of dog gear (you’ll see me modelling some of it in the hiking with dogs guide).

When it comes to stocking stuffers for convivial canines, it’s always good to have options. Here are a few of my favourites:

1. A frisbee that floats

West Paw Dash Frisbee

For your furry friends who love to fetch. The soft, durable West Paw Dash Frisbee has a hole in the middle to make it easy for you to pick up and for your human to toss really fast. Plus, it floats! So it’s an especially great gift for all the water-lovers out there (not me).

Dog chewing on blue toy

2. A nice-looking leash

Canadian Canine Trapper Leash

Until we get more dogs in office to start making strides on leash reform, we’ll have to abide by the rules of society. I always say, “If I’ve gotta be on-leash, I’m going to be comfortable and look good doing it.” The Canadian Canine Trapper Leash checks those boxes.

3. A way to take care of business

Pack-a-poo dog bag dispenser, close-up view and showing it hanging from dog's leash

No one wants to be the dog who buries their business haphazardly then trots off. Poop bags are a must have for any conscientious canine. This bag dispenser clips onto your leash or attaches to a stroller with a loop and carabiner.

4. My own hiking pack

Ruffwear Approach Pack

Help out your humans with this awesome Canadian Canine Traverse Backpack. A snug and comfy fit with even load distribution and easy access pockets for frequently used items (like treats).

5. A quick-drying towel

Blue PackTowl

We get it humans: you don’t like the smell of wet dog. To be totally honest, we’re not crazy about it either. I won’t bore you with the science of why we smell so bad when we’re wet (rest assured, it’s not our fault), but I’d like to help you minimize the impact and prevent the unpleasant odour. This PackTowl absorbs four times its weight in water to dry us off as quickly as possible, and is machine washable.

6. Portable water bowl

Ruffwear Bivy Bowl

A quick, simple solution for hydration on hikes and road trips. The Ruffwear Bivy Bowl collapses down to fit in a human’s backpack (or a dog’s backpack), and it holds up to 1.5L for quenching thirsty adventures.

7. Boots to protect my paws

Ruffwear Grip Trex Boots

Going for a long walk over terrain that’s not paw-friendly? Check out the Ruffwear Grip Trex Boots. They’ve got grippy Vibram soles – it’s like a pair of hiking boots for dogs.

Person holding dog's paw, and dog is wearing Ruffwear boots

10. Bright bandana

United by Blue bandana

Bandanas are the perfect accessory for the dapper dog (case in point: me, below). For every United By Blue bandana sold, they remove one pound of trash from the world’s oceans and waterways.

9. A puffer jacket for dogs

Canadian Canine Bonfire Jacket

For my short-haired friends who aren’t built to handle our rugged Canadian winters. This puffy winter dog jacket features a responsibly sourced down vest with a knit collar and sleeves for maximum coverage and warmth.

Big dog and little dog wearing puffy jackets

10. A light-up necklace

Friendly golden retriever wearing a green safety LED necklace

Dogs can see a lot better than humans in the dark, yet you’re the ones who drive cars at night – explain that one to me. Make sure everyone can spot your dog at night with this glow-in-the-dark safety necklace. It’s water-resistant and lasts for 60 hours (with replaceable batteries), so it’ll be good for many late-night walks.

11. My own sleeping bag

Ruffwear sleeping bag

I nap as hard as I play, and when the time comes to rest my weary puppy-dog eyes on a camping trip, a cushy dog sleeping bag sounds like a pretty great idea. It also means my human gets to keep their own sleeping bag all to themselves. Machine washable because, well, I’m a dog.

Happy dog in sleeping bag

12. A comfy harness

Ruffwear harness

I’m not ashamed to say that I’ve been known to pull on lead from time to time. The strong webbing and clips on the Front Range Harness are comfortable and supportive, so my human maintains perfect control when I enthusiastically go in for a close-up sniff of the neighbour’s cat. Bonus points for the four adjustment points that provide a custom fit to keep my tail wagging.

13. Kikkerland Dog Bottle Opener

Kikkerland dog bottle opener

Alright humans, here’s one for you. Keeping up with us four-legged beasts is sure to work up quite a thirst. Pop open a bottle of your favourite bevvie with this attractive dog bottle opener. Scooby brew to the rescue!

Along with all the items in this guide, other fantastic gift ideas for adventure dogs include: a promise of 10x more ear scritches, a tub of their favourite dog treats, and giving them a hug even when they need a bath.

A big, furry thank you to Inca and Louis for being our dog models (and to their human, MEC staffer Jaime, for bringing them in). That frisbee looks pretty fun.

Gift of long walks, guaranteed

Everything you buy from MEC is covered by our Rocksolid Guarantee (it’s kind of legendary). And if you see a better deal anywhere in Canada – we’ll price match it.


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