HOW TO RAISE AN AD V EN T U RE P U P
RICH CYR ALPHA PACK LEAD Fearless leader outside and definitely alpha inside the home. Favorite adventures include white water rafting, lead climbing, mountaineering, and doing laundry... well... maybe...
ALETHEIA CYR JUNIOR ALPHA Forever puppy playmate, fitness enthusiast, and health nut. Favorite adventures include trail running, mountain biking, climbing, and cooking... especially over a fire!
SHILOH CYR ADVENTURE PUP Two-year-old golden retriever pup who LOVES people and LOVES outside time. Favorite adventures include searching for Rich and “Leaf,” finding “BIRDS,” and greeting new friends with all the love!
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CONTENTS 1
INTRODUCTION
2
ADOPTING A PUP
3
8 WEEKS TO 2 YEARS OLD
4
BUILDING TRUST & LOYALTY
5
SOCIAL SKILLS
6
OBEDIENCE COMMANDS
7
SEARCH & RESCUE BASICS
8
NUTRITION, FITNESS , AND HEALTH
9
ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES
10
TRAIL PRECAUTIONS
All photography taken by Richard and Aletheia Cyr
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I N TRO D U CT I O N
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“DOGS ARE DYING TO BE TRAINED” - Ian Dunbar
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A LIT TLE BIT ABOUT OUR JOURNEY I don't consider myself (or Rich) to be expert dog trainers by any means. In fact, most dog trainers probably look at Shiloh and think... boy, that dog could use some work! But here is the thing for us....
We adopted Shiloh in January of 2017
shortly after moving across country. We received good advice, bad advice, and navigated our way through puppy training and ultimately raising adventure pups. We made mistakes that we were able to later correct... and unfortunately, there are a few mistakes we are still working to correct! Point is, everyone's on their own journey and no two journeys look alike. So, here is what worked for us but take it all in with a grain of salt! Some of my advice comes from the perspective of what actually worked really well for us! Whether we stumbled across it or researched it. Some of my advice comes from a perspective of what I wish we had done differently. Through the entire eBook, just know that we come from a place of transparency, honesty, and authenticity. Richard and I are both outdoor enthusiasts! We really love to maximize the time outside and minimize the time inside. So naturally, when we adopted Shiloh there was no question in our minds as to IF she was coming on our adventures or not... we just needed to figure out how! 6
I remember the first time we took Shiloh mountain biking. I was hyper-observant to her capacity and not wanting to injure her. Boy did she fool me... 6 miles into the ride and all she wanted was more! Then, on the way home we passed the dog park and she went berserk wanting to play with her friends! I thought well, I'll just let her play for 5 minutes, as I'm sure she's worn out. She played for another HOUR before I finally just brought her home. Her endless energy, love for being outside, and enthusiasm to play just seemed to grow and grow as she got older. To be honest, I'm thankful for Shiloh's adventurous spirit! Yeah, there are some days where I wish she'd chill out a little more, but I've recognized what it looks like to steward and raise a dog well. It's not always about having a yard or not... sometimes it's just about playing with your pup and integrating them into your lifestyle. I hope you find this eBook helpful in figuring out tips and tricks for what works with you, your pup, your family, and your stage of life.  
D I SCLAIME RS:
1. We primarily follow Ian Dunbar's method for dog training. It works for us!
However, your basic training philosophy may differ and that's okay. This eBook is meant to be a springboard for further research. I don't outline all the details of how to achieve certain aspects of training, like puppy impulse training. But, hopefully it gives you enough of a framework to do the rest of the research on your own.
2. Shiloh is a golden retriever. The way we approach training her is VERY different
than training a working dog or other breeds. Keep in mind that often I reference the breed, Golden's, throughout the eBook. There are still universal principles to all breeds but moral of the story is every dog is different and every breed is different! What worked for us may or may not work for you.
3. We skipped a lot of the vanity commands. They do serve a purpose and there is a place for teaching your dog to shake, roll over, etc. but don't be surprised if you don't see a guide for that in this eBook.
4. The first two years of Shiloh's life we did not have children. We lived in an
apartment and both had full-time jobs. Training Shiloh took up MOST of our evenings after work for at least the first year. We invested a LOT of time to get her to where she is at today. The time investment is no joke, but I do believe it's doable in various stages of life.
5. We like to have fun, but our version of fun is really pushing our limits. We also
like to make the most of our time. You'll rarely catch us watching TV or lounging around. There is a place for rest and relaxation for sure! But I (Aletheia) really like to pack a lot into a day.
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AD OP T I N G A P U P
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“EVERYTHING I KNOW I LEARNED FROM DOGS.” - Nora Roberts
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WHEN WE ADOPTED SHILOH... So... a little bit of a hilarious story. Rich and I were 2 years into our marriage and planning to move from California to Atlanta. I had been wanting a puppy for months and Rich still wasn't too sure.
A s we were preparing to move, I began
researching different golden breeders in the Atlanta area. Even calling and submitting questions as a potential buyer, knowing that Rich wasn't on board yet. Well, I found a great breeder at a great price in the Atlanta area! I just wanted to SEE the puppies; we didn't have to adopt one, right?! Well, one problem, most breeders require you to put a deposit down before you can even visit to see the puppies. Somehow I convinced Rich that we should put a deposit down because it was refundable. That way, after we moved to Georgia I could get my puppy fix but we didn’t have to adopt one yet! To me, Rich still seemed pretty hesitant about adopting the puppy. The day came to go see the puppies two weeks after we had moved across country. Little did I know that Rich had secretly already talked to the breeder and told them that we planned to take one home that day! I got there and Rich told me to pick one out. I was 10
thinking that maybe he was playing the part as to not act too suspicious to the breeder so I went along with it. Until Rich was literally paying the breeder the rest of the money and said we were taking one home!!! I couldn't believe it! Best surprise ever!! The funny thing is Shiloh was the calmest puppy in her whole litter so Rich thought she was going to be a calm dog. Boy were we ever duped. We've had lots of friends tell us they have never seen a more energetic dog!  
A D O P TI NG YO UR PUP - F E W THIN GS TO CON SIDE R
1. What is your "why" for adopting a pup? I believe strongly that there is a place
in our hearts and homes for rescue dogs and small breeds. If you're looking for an adventure companion to scale moutains with you, genes, the breed, your dog's stamina are all important things to consider! Some dogs may be wonderful companions but find it difficult to keep up with your lifestyle on the mountain. That's okay! It's just something to think through.
2. If you want a dog that can run with you, bike with you, summit mountains with
you then check into their lineage. Hips and elbow joints are especially important to talk to your breeder or shelter about with goldens.
3. Don't bring a puppy home before 8 weeks. There are lot of breeders that will let you, but just don't do it. That 8-week time period is not only important for puppy to bond with their mom, but also to learn social habits from their siblings. Even if they are weaned they need time with their litter.
4. Ask your breeder to see photos (if not meet in person) of the mom and dad
and whelping area. It's important to know your pup's parents and see where he/ she was raised! Ideally, you want to find a breeder that has spent time socializing the puppies and boosting their confidence from a very young age. Avoid the typical "money making breeder," meaning, the breeder who raises the pups in a large kennel for 8 weeks with limited socialization and training.
5. Join some facebook groups for the breed you are interested in and ask
questions! I'm in several golden Facebook groups and as hilarious as 80% of the posts are, it's really nice to ask fellow goldens questions. Especially in what to expect for bringing home a puppy and how to prepare. 11
BRINGING YOUR PUP HOME The purpose of this book isn't to give you a complete guide to puppy training. There are lots of good resources for that! But, I would like to emphasize a few points that I believed were especially helpful in those f irst few weeks.
B eing consistent and getting on the same
page is so important from the get-go. Puppies need structure and crave to be trained. Being wishy-washy or going back and forth with what you're going to allow your dog to do in the beginning doesn't help. So, decide: Where is your dog going to sleep for LIFE? A lot of people bring their puppy home thinking they will sleep in their own bed. The poor puppy cries in the night so they bring the pup to their own bed. I get it. It's hard. But being on the same page with Rich that Shiloh would sleep in her own bed was huge. We got her on a rhythm and within a week she was completely potty trained throughout the entire night and sleeping without crying in the night. What are the commands? Write down a list for those basic commands like "squat" or "poop squat" or "go chill out." Decide how you want to communicate with your dog and get everyone on the same page in the house. Personally, we prefer to communicate with Shiloh in actual sentences instead of caveman speech. Ha! 12
Play with your pup and be prepared for lots of puppy biting! Don't get frustrated by it but divert their attention elsewhere. The puppy stage is going to be a test on your patience. Don't get angry with your pup. They are a direct reflection of your communication, structure, and training. Try not to sweat about all the things you need to train them but just enjoy them, build trust, and have lots of fun!  
Q UEST I ON S TO CON SIDE R
1. Where will your puppy sleep? 2. What are the commands you want to use to communicate with your pup? 3. What's your puppy's purpose/job? Start shaping them towards that as soon as
you get them. Some examples are hunting, agility, therapy, trail running, and search and rescue. All dogs need an outlet. If you don't give them one they will find a great outlet called, destroy the couch and chew up your house!
4. What is your plan for discipline and positive training methods? Ideally, everyone in your house should be on the same page when it comes to discipline and training methods. Being predictable and consistent with your pup is key!
5. What is your health plan? Vaccines, food, medicine. etc. 6. What's our emergency bill cap? Meaning, if something happens to your pup,
what amount are you able to and willing to put down to save your pup? It's important to talk through this with family members before something happens and emotions run their course. It's also important to communicate this amount to anyone who dog-sits or waches your pup in the future. In case of an emergency 13
8 WEEKS TO 2 YE A RS O L D
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“PUT A PUPPY IN YOUR PICTURE AND IT WILL MAKE IT 20 TIMES BETTER” - Lucky Blue Smith 15
THOSE FIRST TWO YEARS OF LIFE ... Everyone always says, "Just wait until they are two and then they'll calm down." I say, take advantage of those f irst two years because it shapes the rest of your golden's life! You can make it or break it... here is what we learned:
Unfortunately when we first brought
Shiloh home as a puppy we received some training advice from a dog trainer who had primarily worked with "working dogs" such as shepherds. Goldens need a completely different training approach than a working dog. She recommended we begin immediately leash training by using a choke collar and even disciplining Shiloh with stick to the rump if she didn't behave. I didn't feel comfortable at all about this approach so I researched my own training philosophy. Rich followed the trainer’s suggestions for those first two months and to this day Shiloh is much more loyal to me than Rich. EVEN though Rich worked HARD to make up for the lost trust and is a WONDERFUL dog owner those simple actions had major repercussions. I don't blame the dog trainer, I don't blame Rich... we all learn and we move on. Thankfully, it was nothing detrimental and Shiloh still loves and protects Rich. Training your pup is a very long-term project and it's important to keep that in mind. It's also important to remember that your dog's behavior is an exact mirror your behavior to 16
your dog. If they don't listen, you're probably not training consistently enough. If they're wild, you are probably not giving them enough structure and exercise. That's just the way it goes. Sometimes it sure seems like they are just little sinners out to despise everything you say... but be patient, focus on the long-term goals, and most importantly be consistent! One of the most life-changing videos I watched on dog training was Ian Dunbar's TED talk. If you haven't watched it go Google just that. Watch it once a week if you need to! I met a man who trained aggressive dogs at a dog park when Shiloh was a puppy, he pointed me to Ian Dunbar and I haven't looked back since. Here is an overview of what to focus on for those first two years of life. It's a loose timeline but hopefully it helps!  
8 WEE KS - 3 MON THS I cannot stress this enough, focus on building trust and a relationship with your pup at this time. Don't focus on discipline at all as a matter of fact. You'll probably run into potty training, puppy biting, and puppy impulse control during this time. Get the potty training down! We had Shiloh potty trained within days after we got her. Partly because our breeder gave her a head start, partly because we crate trained her, and partly because she's just smart! DON'T rub her nose in her potty if she pees in the house; instead reward her for going outside. Positive reinforcement at this phase of life really helps your pup to build trust and build loyalty with you. Same goes for puppy biting. This is probably the worst part of the puppy phase because it hurts! It's hard to not get frustrated, but again, refocus your puppy’s attentions on toys and "yelp" if you need to. Remember, it's only a phase and they'll grow out of it. You can also start teaching your pup basic commands like sit, down, etc. It's not a bad idea to take them to a puppy socialization class!
3 MO NTHS - 6 MON THS THE most important command during this phase is "come." Man, if you don't teach your dog anything else, but they come to you off leash no matter where you are, consider yourself accomplished. The way Rich and I taught Shiloh this is we took her to a big field and stood about 10 yards apart and called her back and forth to each other. Of course, rewarding her with lots of treats! Over time we grew the distance between us until we were well over 75 yards apart. It was a great way to tire Shiloh out and teach her an off-leash come. It's her strongest command still and she thinks it's the best game! After she has this down, take her to a dog park and practice it within the dog park (after she has had some play time of course). You'll also want to start introducing the leash and leash training at this time. We used a gentle leader, lots of treats, and very focused leash training time. Keep reinforcing the basic commands and puppy impulse training. 17
6 MON THS - 1 YE AR Consult your vet about appropriate exercise for your pup, and within those boundaries start introducing your pup to all the sports you want him to tag along with you on! We started taking Shiloh on short mountain bike rides, shorter runs, camping trips, getting her used to chilling in a hammock with us, being okay in long car rides/road trips. Here is where it all counts! One thing we didn't do when she was a puppy was get her used to a kayak. To this day she's still skittish about getting in one... Use commands so that your pup understands what adventures he's going to go on and what you expect of him. On hikes practice telling your pup, "Get out of the way," for when other hikers or dogs approach. This means, get off the trail and let others pass. Or, when your pup is way out in front of you they should be able to "WAIT" on command. This is super important in case you're coming across a road crossing on a run or bike ride and your pup is off leash. Don't expect your pup to be perfect at this phase, but just be consistent.
1 YEA R - 1 1/ 2 YE ARS
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At this phase of life you may wonder, did my dog forget everything I've taught him? Literally, if goldens have terrible twos this is it. Shiloh turned into a rebellious monster at this phase. She developed a small aggressive streak that we had to nip in the bud! Our form of discipline was to bite her on the ear and turn her over on her back to show her we were still alpha. Sometimes she would run from me and hide under a chair showing her teeth at me. Now, let me just say this is type of aggression is VERY uncommon in goldens. BUT, it is common for them to go through this regression. Focus on reinforcing what you've taught your pup, expanding their exercise level, continuing to build trust, and demonstrating you are the alpha! I still discourage any type of spanking or physical discipline other than biting your dog’s ear (this is appropriate as it's how Mama-dog would have disciplined). You can't communicate with them like you can a human so they don't understand your intentions and actions. Typically, a can filled with rocks and a little shake is enough to discipline for your golden. They have such tender hearts.
1 1/2 Y E ARS - 2 YE ARS Your golden should be at their prime fitness level and in need of LOTS of exercise! By this point in Shiloh's life she was hitting 20 miles running beside us while we mountain biked, swimming across lakes, trail running miles with me, and running up Mount Hood. Enjoy your fit adventure pup and continue working up their exercise level! Who needs an exercise accountability partner when you have a golden? We never had issues with Shiloh tearing up anything in our house, stealing food, or having accidents. Occasionally she'll get into the trash and shred it on our floor and that's usually her sign of "give me more exercise." You can also focus on more advanced training in this phase of life as well. Whether you're looking to get your pup into Search and Rescue or Therapy making sure that they can follow the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) standards is a great benchmark for this phase. Don't be discouraged if your pup is still too full of energy to totally pass the CGC test, but use the requirements as a training tool.
2 YEA RS AND BE YOND They say your golden starts calming down at 2 years old... that may be true for some and that may be the complete opposite of truth for others. We love that Shiloh still likes to play and is energetic and almost 3. Just remember, keep training your pup even as they get older, keep giving them structure, new commands, new fun games that are mentally stimulating, Your pup LOVES to learn and LOVES to please you. If you're at a loss for what to do with your pup look into agility. Goldens are wonderful at that and really enjoy working with their human on a common goal. Ultimately, by 2 years and beyond the goal is that your pup is participating in all your outdoor pursuit activities. No need to leave pup behind! I will say, the only exception to this for us is still long Mountain Biking on back to back days. Two 20+ mile days in a row is hard on Shiloh especially if it's unfamiliar terrain and lots of downhill. We also avoid taking Shiloh on long trips in volcanic terrain.
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B U I L D I N G T RU S T & LO Y A L T Y
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“WHEN I AM TRAINING A DOG I DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT DOG. HE IS MY BUDDY AND I WANT TO MAKE TRAINING FUN ” - Ian Dunbar 21
BUILDING TRUST & LOYALTY... Invest time and energy into your pup when they are young, and they will pay you back tenfold for years and years to come. Shiloh is my little loyal shadow and I wouldn't have it any other way...
I was at Petco holding my Shiloh puppy
and a lady came up to me who was also a golden retriever owner. She said that when her golden was a puppy she just carried him around in a baby sling while she cooked and did chores around the house until he was about 6 months old! Now he was 5 years old and the most loyal obedient dog ever. We didn't quite follow that same style for Shiloh but that's not a bad idea if that works for you! I already mentioned the importance of building trust and loyalty in my previous chapter. So, I want to dive a little deeper into the "how to" and the "what not to do" during this phase. The ultimate goal is that your pup chooses to obey you, as they are older over all the other distractions they are facing. You can train a dog to obey you out of fear, but when you're out on the trail and they are 100 yards in front of you, what's going to make them immediately come back into a heel on your command if another dog is coming? Remember, this is no short-term task. I worked on building trust and loyalty with 22
Shiloh diligently for the first two years of her life. The first year for hours every day. It has certainly paid off! Now, I have no problem letting her off leash on a trail. As a matter of fact, I could leave her outside without a leash and she would just wait patiently by the door. Sometimes I do just that! At the Mount Hood Timberline Lodge, I'll let her play in the back in the snow while I go inside for a cup of hot cocoa. As soon as I'm out of sight, she waits at the door she last saw me at until I return back outside. Doesn't matter if other people or dogs come by, her gaze remains fixed on that door. I've secretly watched her from a window to see what she does while I'm gone. I love this about Shiloh and you can achieve this same trust and loyalty with your golden too!  
WHAT TO DO...
W HAT NOT TO DO...
1. Lots of puppy cuddle time and pets!
1. Don't isolate or ignore your pup.
2. Positive reinforcement with treats and
2. Never demonstrate physical
3. Talk normally to your pup using
3. There's no point in repeating the
4. Demonstrate you are alpha
4. Don't use the crate as a form of
higher pitched voice (this doesn't mean squealing). Puppies understand your voice pitch before they even understand your commands.
intelligent commands. As in, say "sit" once. Not, "sit.. sit... sit... SIT... SIT."
appropriately. When they are a puppy this may be by turning them on their belly and holding them there for a few seconds.
5. Train your puppy using fun mentally
stimulating games! Commit at least 3 ten minute sessions of dedicated training daily.
aggression or aggravation towards your pup. If they are getting under your skin give yourself a breather and maybe it's "nap time" for puppy.
command over and over to your pup. If they aren't obeying your voice, grab a treat and try a different approach.
discipline. If you need a breather from your pup because they are puppy biting or playing too much, train them to "go chill out" with lots of treats in the crate. Positive reinforcement!
5. If they aren't obeying your voice,
don't physically force them to obey your command. You can guide them physically but remember, USE A TREAT and the goal is to control them with your voice. 23
S OC IA L S K I L L S
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“MONEY CAN BUY YOU A LOT OF THINGS... BUT IT DOESN'T WIGGLE ITS BUTT EVERYTIME YOU COME IN THE DOOR” - Unknown...
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GOLDENS ... THE OVERLY FRIENDLY PUPS . .. I'll be honest, we really missed on this piece of Shiloh's training. She LOVES people a little too much and most of the time it's okay. Unless someone comes over who isn't a huge fan of an overly hyper dog trying to say hello...
We focused so much on Shiloh's off leash
training and trail training that we missed a piece of her at home training. Whenever we have guests over—worst-case scenario—she tunnels through their legs when they first come inside for about 5 to 10 minutes until she wears herself out and then just wants to cuddle at their feet. It's not terrible as long as our guests are over 2 feet tall and aren't afraid of dogs. What I WISH we had done (and we are still working on today) is practicing how to handle a knock at the door and inviting friends into our home. A knock should signal an immediate "go chill out" on her bed or in her crate, and wait until we let her know, "Say hello." It's the same way when she's on a leash and someone comes over to pet her, she gets REALLY excited to see a friendly face. The funny thing is, when she's off leash and on a trail she behaves beautifully. She doesn't approach anyone unless they hold their hand out to her. When they do, she gently sniffs and gives them a little lick then continues on the trail. It's because we created 26 a trail structure for her and she GETS it. Trail
running, mountain biking, hiking, those are all her "jobs" and she's on a mission. At home? It's a free for all. Another important aspect of socialization is with other dogs. Shiloh behaves beautifully on the trail with other dogs. Quick butt sniff and half circle and usually both dogs are on their way. However, Shiloh does have an alpha complex with small dogs. She won't actually bite the small dog, but if they get too annoying she lets them know who is boss. In my opinion, this is important for a dog to understand bite inhibition. Can they control their anger and communicate to another dog to back off without aggression? The only problem is if Shiloh were to behave like this with a bigger dog who IS aggressive it may start a small fight. To avoid this, I've trained Shiloh to "be gentle" when another dog is sniffing her. I can sense when she's getting annoyed and if I'm nervous about the other dog, I'll just throw a ball to distract them both and tell Shiloh to "be gentle." She's never had an issue with her alpha complex on my "be gentle" command.
T I PS FO R SOCIALIZ ATION
1. Your pup needs to be very comfortable with other dogs. They are going to run
into lots of them on the trail! We started taking Shiloh to a safe dog park as soon as our vet cleared her. If a dog park isn't your jam find some friends with dogs and start socializing immediately. Don't hover or overprotect. Let your pup get slammed a few times and let your pup learn how to interact with other pups. Shiloh used to play with our neighbor's HUGE husky as a pup. I remember several times she super manned across the pavement... and she lived!
2. If friends are coming over ask them to if it's okay to spend 5 minutes at the
start of their visit helping you train your pup. Maybe that means they knock a few times to teach your pup the proper way to respond. Once they come in teach your pup to "say hello" on your command.
3. Regularly pester your pup while they have a bone or are eating. I stick my hands in Shiloh's food bowl, pump her tail, or try my best to mimic a child's behavior. If you have kids, have your kids help you do this as well! If you give your pup a bone, they should also be willing to give it back on command. This helps eliminate any food aggression potential.
4. Eliminate toy aggression by inviting another puppy friend over and letting them play together with your dog’s toys. Teach sharing and how to properly play tug-awar. Sometimes this looks like an older mentor dog, too.
5. On walks teach your pup how to properly greet a passerby and keep lots of treats handy! Remember, positive reinforcement is key!
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O B EDI EN C E C O M M A N D S
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“NO ONE APPRECIATES THE VERY SPECIAL GENIUS OF YOUR CONVERSATION AS MUCH AS YOUR DOG DOES” - Christopher Morley 29
SIT... DOWN... STAY... STAY... You've probably heard it a million times before, an owner barking at their dog in some caveman like speak. "Sit, sit, sit, Brutus, sit... dowwnnnn‌ stayyyy‌" us. I'm not sure how it even happens! When t's rather hilarious isn't it? But why in the she needs water she paws at her bowl and world have we normalized talking to our dogs it makes a little bell sound. If we aren't fast in this caveman speech? enough in refilling her bowl the pawing gets a little more frantic. Ding ding.... DING.... DING At first, I thought it would be hilarious to have DING! odd commands for Shiloh. For example, when we say, "Sit," she bows and puts her butt in As funny as it is to think about our dogs the air. Ha! But, I realized the commands training us, that's ultimately the goal! It's a we teach Shiloh do need to be somewhat win-win scenario. They start to catch on, hey, universal. So we used a mixture of normal if I sit before my owner opens the door, my commands and also sentence commands. owner will give me a treat. Or, if I go straight By sentence commands I mean, if I were to to my bed when my owners are eating dinner, communicate this in a full sentence what I get a treat! It's a cause equals a direct effect would I say? Some people say "pillow" which relationship with your pup. means go chill out on your bed. Instead, we chose to say, "Go chill out." I can actually On the pages to follow I've included the speak to Shiloh in a somewhat normal obedience commands we have taught Shiloh. sentence and a normal voice, "Shiloh, please I've also included a few that we are still go chill out," and she goes straight to her little working on or would LIKE to teach her. cot.
I
Here is another example, when I'm ready to play with Shiloh I can say, "Shiloh, go get your ball!" She finds it, brings it back, and I say, "Thank you," which means to drop it. It's SO much nicer saying "thank you" to Shiloh rather than barking, "Drop it! Drop it! Drop it!" 30
Shiloh has also done her fair share of training
T HE BA S I C S
A LITTLE LE SS BASIC
1. "Sit Down" -I prefer to teach Shiloh
6. "Go chill out" - this means to go lay
2. "Lay Down" - this means in a
7. "Put it on" - we tell Shiloh this when
commands in sentence form. That way, the entire sentence is, "Shiloh, sit down please." The keywords that she learns during training are "sit down."
complete laying down position with the head on the ground.
3. "Stay" - to stay in one place until we let her know it's okay to move.
4. "Come" - easily the most important
command in my opinion. This is one of the first we taught her. When she was 8 to 10 weeks old we took her to a local park where my husband and I stood 10 feet apart calling her back and forth. Gradually we increased our distance until we were about 100 yards. BONUS, it wore her out really well too! Now, she knows this command like the back of her hand.
5. "Squat" - to potty on command. :)
Comes in way handier then you think!
down on her designated bed. It's helpful for dinnertime or when company comes over. OR, when we are rock climbing we bring her camp pad to "chill out" on.
we put on her harness. It means for Shiloh to put her head through while we hold it. It also comes in handy when we are putting her backpacking pack on. Otherwise, putting that thing on would be much more difficult because she would refuse it.
8. "Wait" - this means to immediately
halt. This is crucial for trail running or hiking when she is out ahead of me and I need her to stop immediately.
9. "Say hello" - we failed to teach Shiloh this. She still gets overly excited when she meets new people. Ideally, this command would be her cue to sit and wait patiently to be petted by her new friends.  
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A D VAN CE D...ISH
10. "Heel" - walking beside you on
15. "Close your mouth" - we didn't
11. "Go behind us" - Shiloh is still
16. "Speak" - If you're going to teach to
a loose leash is extremely important. Especially if you want your pup to be off-leashed trained for trail running. Start off with a basic heel walking around and slowly progressive to an off leash heel, and then to a running off leash heel.
working on this. We use this when we are biking and she's off leash. A lot of time she wants to run ahead, which is a bit annoying on a bike. This is her cue to run behind instead of in front.
12. "Be Gentle" - tthis is a reminder when Shiloh is meeting new dogs or people to behave nice and politely.
13. "Out of the way" - when you're off
leash hiking this should be your dogs cue to step off the trail and sit down while others pass.
14. "Up" - this is her invitation to either come on the couch or hop in the truck. Because, who wants to lift a scared 50 pounder into their truck? 32
want to train Shiloh to NEVER bark. Sometimes her protective bark is welcome when it's just her and me on the trail. Other times we need her to be quiet and this is her command to do so.
be quiet on command you first have to teach to bark on command.
17. "Search" - the purpose of this
command is to instil focus and a drive to find in your pup. Typically, we are just hiding toys and asking her to "search" for them. It's a good indoor rainy day activity too.
18. "Go find [family members name]" - I'll talk more about this in the SAR chapter.
19. "Hold this" - to keep an object in their mouth until told to release.
20. "Thank You" - this means drop
it. We like to say thank you instead of barking, "drop it, drop it, drop it." :)
SO... HOW DO I TRAIN MY DOG? The most important piece is consistency. Decide what you want to name your commands and which ones you want to work on each week.
R emember, this is not necessarily a
complete step-by-step guide on how to train your puppy. It's simply an outline or springboard to help guide you in raising an adventure puppy. For specifics on how to train each of these commands you can either YouTube, or take your pup to an obedience school. We trained Shiloh mostly from YouTube and a few books. I think you'll find that your pup will already perform a lot of these tasks day to day without a command. For example, "up" every time your puppy jumps into your truck or your car, say the command and give a reward. Repetition and consistency is key!
both of you to take a break. It's also important to train in smaller chunks of time - unless you've hit the golden ticket and training has become a game. For example, Shiloh's FAVORITE game is to "search" and "go find Rich!" She'll play this for HOURS without tiring. New tricks and some of the harder tricks like staying in one position need to be balanced with the pup’s mental capacity to focus. I'd say no longer than 20 minutes. Lastly, look up the Canine Good Citizen standard. That is a GREAT certification to work towards for you and your pup!
You also don't need to have all these commands down in the first year. Shiloh is 2 1/2 and we are still working on a lot of training! There is nothing more your golden wants than to please you! Training is a winwin situation for both you and your golden. Teaching and training your pup should be a fun activity! If you find yourself getting irritated or frustrated, if your pup is getting irritated or frustrated because they can't figure out what you want, maybe it's time for
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S EAR C H & RE S CU E BA S I CS
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“ YO U ' R E B R AVE R THAN YOU BELIEVE AND STRONGER AND SMARTER THAN YOU THINK.” - Winnie the Pooh 35
S EARCH & RESCUE IN THE EVERYDAY You're probably thinking search and rescue means avalanche rescue on some scary alp and that you're never going to utilize it. Well, it does in a sense, but we've learned some helpful SAR techniques that apply everyday!
E ver since we adopted Shiloh I always
wanted her to have a job. Although goldens aren't a working breed they still love to have their purpose. I attended a few meetings for our local SAR team and learned A LOT. Although Shiloh isn't technically certified for SAR, she has the drive and hunt for it and my goal is to sharpen her skills daily. I see it as being useful even for our own family. "Shiloh, GO FIND _______" is literally her favorite game! Now, I can speak to her in full sentences like, "Shiloh, do you need to go outside? Go find Rich to take you outside." That means Rich gets to take her on a walk! I think it will also come in handy when we have kids and we are all out adventuring. She won't stop searching until she finds what she's looking for! Plus she's pretty quick at finding us. Ultimately, I would still love for her to become SAR certified for air scent. I'll talk about the different branches of SAR in a little bit. This would mean that if an elderly 36
person wandered off from their nursing home Shiloh and I may get dispatched to track them down. It's not always crazy avalanche rescue missions. Sometimes it's just a local operation or even a household operation. Either way, giving your dog a drive and a job is so helpful. Usually the local organizations (ours is called NOSAR) are free to attend and a great place to network and learn from others. If your dog is getting bored at home, lazy, sleeps a lot, or is losing energy than maybe he/she is losing his/her drive and purpose. Here's a great way to give it back to them!
T HE T H RE E TYP E S OF SAR
1. AIR SCENT: locating humans in general and being able to track them down. Air
scent is also used to detect drugs or other scents in airports and public places. Essentially, you train your dog to pick up and track specific scents even if they aren't given an article of clothing with that scent on it. A common application might be an earthquake or avalanche. These dogs need to find people even if they don't know what that specific person smells like.
2. HUMAN REMAINS DETECTION: exactly how the name sounds. Dogs are trained to locate human remains. Once they find the remains, they sit or lie down calmly next to the location and wait for their handler to come. It may seem strange to have a SAR branch that specifically deals with dead people, but it's important for families to have closure and to know what happened to their loved one. It's also important to know that the dog's behavior is much different for this technique.
3. TRAILING: similar to air scent except that you give your dog an article of
clothing or a specific smell to track. A common scenario may be locating an elderly person from a nursing home. Your dog isn't looking for humans in general; they are looking for a very specific human. It's important to note that the tracking dog is attached to a 20-30 foot lead with the handler trailing behind.
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"GO FI ND. . . "
"SE ARCH"
One of Shiloh's all time favorite games is "GO FIND RICH" or "GO FIND LEATH" or "GO FIND..." you name it! Honestly, not only is it good SAR training but it's a great mentally stimulating game for your pup. Especially for inside rainy day activities.
Not only is this a great mentally stimulating game to play with your pup, but it's also a good way to determine their drive to search! Some dogs get easily distracted or give up before finding their goal. If this is the case, you can work on their hunting drive with this game! If it's still not their thing then SAR might not be the right fit for your pup. Try agility or dock diving!
Here is how we taught Shiloh GO FIND. Initially, we took her to the field and called her back and forth to us by just using the command, "Shiloh, come!" Slowly we spread our distance further and further until she was running the length of a full football field between the two of us. After she had "come" down and was understanding the way the game worked, instead of Rich calling her to come, I would say, "Go find Rich" and THEN Rich would say, "Come." He would do the same for when Shiloh came back to me. Repetition and consistency is the name of the game here. We then started making it a little tricky by hiding behind trees or rocks. Now, we go to the woods and hide as we tell her, "Go find." We've also taught her to go find other family members and plan to do so with each of our children's names. 38
The way this game works is we tell Shiloh to sit, wait, and let her sniff one of her toys. Then, we hide the toy in a tricky spot come back and tell her, "Search!" She takes off and scours the place until she finds her toy! You can play this inside or outside. Be sure and give her lots of praise and even a tug-a-war game when she returns the toy to you! To teach your pup this you start out easy. Make sure they have the sit and wait command down. First, hide the toy in eyesight. You can even add a treat to the toy. Help guide your pup to the toy until they start getting the hang of it. It's all about lots of praise and consistency!
"H O LD T HI S "
MULTIP LE COMMAN DS
This is another valuable command in the SAR field. Having your pup hold on tight to an object can be important in several aspects, especially for water rescue! You can imagine, if a pup is swimming out to save a struggling person in water you need your pup to hold the life-saving ring in their mouth so the human can grab hold and swim back. They also make specific dog harnesses for this as well. If you are looking into water rescue professionally I recommend the dog harness. However, for us, I simply want Shiloh to know this command in case of rescue for our own children, family, or friends. In these instances, you don't have time to put on a harness. You need to give your dog the ring to hold, give the command, and let your dog take off within seconds.
With just these three commands your dog can be a tremendous help in the home! Not only can they start cleaning up their own toys, (“Shiloh hold this and go chill out,� meaning take your toy to your crate) but you can trust your dog to keep a sharp eye for all your family members and to use their senses to even save someone's life! I read countless stories as a child of dog rescue, and they certainly have an innate sense and ability to warn us about danger and act at a moment’s notice.
I've found this command to be one of the hardest to teach Shiloh, mainly because golden's are known for their gentle mouth. You can start by teaching your pup during playtime. When they pick up a toy say the command and praise them. They will start getting the hang of it and you can slowly start to elongate their hold. :)
You can also write a note to be delivered! For example, write to your kids, "Dinner is ready" and let your dog know, "Hold this and go find_____." Once you start piecing these commands together and talking to your dog in sentences it's amazing to see the results! Your dog WANTS a job whether around the house or in the field. Put them to good use! It makes them happy. :) I've seen videos of dogs unloading groceries from the car, all the way to helping find an elderly person who has wandered away. Help your dog tap into their potential and harness their energy for good. :)
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NU TR IT I O N , F I T N E S S & HEALTH
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“IF YOU CAN LOOK AT A PUPPY AND NOT FEEL LOVE AND AFFECTION YOU MUST BE A CAT ” - Author Unknown
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KEEPING YOUR PUP HEALTHY & WELL ... First off, I have to say that Richard and I are not the rush to the vet type of dog owners. As a matter of fact, aside from her typical puppy check ups and then breeding her we seldom have taken her to a vet.
I have always been more holistic and
naturally minded in our home and health routine. When we got Shiloh it was a whole new world for me trying to navigate the conventional vet world and balance it with holistic care. I've learned you absolutely need both! There are great vets and shady vets out there and we've had our experiences with both. A great vet is definitely an invaluable resource though! I've also joined several groups on Facebook for holistic healing and other health/nutrition for dogs focused groups. These groups are seriously helpful and have been where I've learned a lot of the information I am going to include in this eBook. As well as from my mom who has done loads of research and has great success stories with our 14-year-old, thriving golden retriever. We've had to navigate some concerns with Shiloh's stomach, a limp while she was growing, and of course the entire breeding process. I have been very pleased with how well she responds to the natural treatments and how well they work! She's never had 42
fleas, and although she does get a tick every now and then on the trail she has never contracted a disease from it. She has very healthy hips and joints and the most she's run is 25 miles (we were on Mountain Bikes). Like humans you do have to condition your dog and get them in shape gradually and slowly. This is much easier to do with a 1-year-old dog than an older dog; however not impossible. My one word of caution with fitness is that unlike humans, animals do not have a barrier between endurance and death. Meaning, as humans we come far short of ever running ourselves to death. Our brain kicks in and stops out long before that outcome. With dogs, and other animals, they do not have that same barrier in their brain. YOU have to be their judge. So on long trail days or especially hot days be sure to use an extra dose of caution and judgment for your 4-legged companion. We have mainly adventured with Shiloh in the Pacific Northwest where we aren't battling as much heat and humidity.
N UTRITION
1. Everyday meals: This is a hot and controversial topic. Many advocate the
80/10/10 raw diet and others feed their dog strictly kibble. I've known dogs to live 14 years on a cheap kibble diet and I’ve known dogs to pass from cancer at a young age and were strictly on a raw diet. Honestly, this is completely up to you as a dog owner. Do your research, allocate your time, and figure out what is best for your family and your pup!
2. Additional daily supplements: Whichever route you end up taking, kibble or raw,
there are some additional supplements you can add into your dogs diet to make their fur soft, their gut strong, and immune system rock solid! Probiotics is HUGE! We add goat’s milk kefir to Shiloh's food daily. She loves it and the probiotics are so good for her! We also add high grade wild caught salmon oil to help her coat and give her healthy fats she needs for burning all that extra adventure energy.
3. Treats: They say that feeding a dog 1 potato chip is equivalent to a human
eating 10 hamburgers! Dogs were not created to handle human processed food. As tempting as it is to give your dog a puppaccino or table food, my personal opinion is don't. Especially if you want to keep your dog a lean mean active machine! We do give Shiloh fruits and veggies (aside from grapes) and carefully observe what agrees with her and what doesn't. Her personal favorites are apples and tomatoes. We also use raw meats as high-value treats for training purposes. The Nuke's brand treats are easy store bought treats that we incorporate as well. Lastly, if you can get your hands on beef liver treats that is a win-win. Healthy for your dog and they LOVE it. 43
F ITNE SS
1. Precautoins: As I mentioned in the intro to this section you do need to be
cautious about overexerting your dog. However, this is not typically a problem for most dog owners. The more common problem is that dogs are not getting enough exercise! The other precaution is your puppy’s age. A puppy under 1 year old may have growing pains and join sensitivities. You can ask your vet for their exercise allotment recommendation and then keep an eye out for any limps or ailments your pup may be experiencing.hen keep an eye out for any limps or ailments your pup may be experiencing.
2. Daily fitness routine: Many dog owners justify a yard as exercise for their dog.
However, depending on your breed a dog may not even exercise in the yard! Unless they have another playmate or a human throwing a ball they just sleep or sit out in the yard. I know it's unreasonable to take your dog on 10-mile hikes everyday, but figure out a way to exercise your dog daily in a way that's fun for both you and your pup! Shiloh loves to play frisbee on her non-running days. We walk to the park and I throw the frisbee for about 30 minutes to an hour and it wears her out. We also play "search" and "go find" to help wear her out. A lot of people ask me how to keep their dog from destroying things inside the home. My answer, simply exercise your dog more! Shiloh rarely chewed or destroyed things as a puppy, and when she did, it was usually an outlash from not exercising enough over a period of several days in a row.
3. Fitness tips - here are a few tips that have helped us with Shiloh! For mountain
biking over rough terrain or for snowy conditions we have a pair of dog booties we keep on hand. For hiking and running, we've taught Shiloh to sit and drink out of our water bladder that we squirt into her mouth. This helps keep her hydrated without having to carry extra weight! Lastly, you'll be amazed at what your dog is capable of if you truly work up their fitness level! It will make you and your dog a happy team! 44
HE ALTH Here is a list of health related supplements and herbs I keep on hand for keeping Shiloh well!
1. Diatomaceous Earth - food grade
- this is a white powder we sprinkle on Shiloh's food. It's a flea and tick prevention. When we are camping I'll also sprinkle it on her fur and bed. It can also be used for de-worming.
2. Organic canned pumpkin- this is a
natural binder and can help with loose stools.
3. Psyllium husk powder- this is a
stronger binder than canned pumpkin for more severe diarrhea.
4. Slippery Elm- this is another herb
I keep on hand for both diarrhea and constipation. It is a soothing herb that immediately aids the gut.
5. Colloidal Silver - this is like a swim
army knife for ailments. It helps with general colds, skin issues, gut issues, and low immune systems.
5. Bone broth - homemade bone broth
6. Coconut oil - again, this can be used for several ailments. General health and well being, tummy issues, oral hygiene, and gut aid.
7. Turmeric - this is great for anti-
inflammatory purposes. Not as strong as CBD oil but still very helpful. We gave this to Shiloh when we noticed her limping due to growth spurts. I also give it to her when we are on high-active days back to back.
8. Vitamin E oil - if I notice a skin rash
or redness on Shiloh I will use vitamin E oil mixed with pet safe Young Living essential oils such as lavender or tea tree oil.
9. CBD oil- typically, this is more helpful
for an older dog who is experiencing a lot of pain in their joints.
10. Milk thistle - this herb supports your dog's liver and is especially helpful if you need to help your dog detox from toxins.
is great for your dog's joints, anti-aging, and also their tummies.
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OU TDOOR A CT I V I T I E S
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“ THEY MOTIVATE US TO PLAY, BE AFFECTIONATE, SEEK ADVENTURE, AND BE LOYAL” - Tom Hayden
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ADVENTURE IS OUT THERE!!! Being able to take Shiloh with us on our family activities is one of the most rewarding aspects of having a dog! I love seeing other adventure dogs out there living their best life. It's amazing to see your dog's happiness out on the trail...
S hiloh really thrives on outside adventures. It's almost as if she was made to be outside and exploring. Being outside brings out a whole new side of her where she is happy, joyful, carefree, and surprisingly more obedient!
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When we first started expanding her exercise level to include our regular activities like hiking, biking swimming, camping, running, and so many more I was nervous about Shiloh's ability to keep up. However, with each new adventure and activity she NEVER ceased to amaze me with her untapped potential! The first time we took her backpacking she wore her own pack and carried all her own water, food, bedding, and a few other items. I was worried it would be too heavy for her or make her too hot (I'm always the empathetic one and Rich is the realistic one). Rich kept reassuring me she was fine! We were hiking in the Wallowa Mountains in eastern Oregon. We rounded a bend and I saw Shiloh dart off trail down a steep cliff bank, all that was left was a cloud of dust! I thought she had fallen and tumbled down into the river. When I ran up
and looked down she was happily enjoying a cool swim along the river bank about 30 feet down the cliff bank. She looked up at me with the happiest face! Then I thought, how in the world is she going to get out and back on the trail with the heavy pack on her back and so far below? Well, as soon as I whistled she darted back up like a little mountain goat with no problem! On that same trip we were crossing a river over a log. The log was pretty high and the river was moving fast below. Shiloh ran across the log to the other side as if it was no problem. As I was crossing about halfway over, she came running back onto the log and we were facing each other. One of us would need to turn around. Shiloh promptly turned around on the log, a little unsteady, but again, with hardly any problem, and ran back across! It really is amazing to see a dog's primitive nature come out and unlock their potential to enjoy the outdoors together with you and your family! We've had a fair share of scary experiences as well, but trust your dog, help them out when they need it, and give them the opportunity to explore!
T R A I L RUN N ING/ HIKIN G This is probably the easiest activity to do with your dog from a young age. Shiloh typically runs trails or hikes off leash with us. As long as they are under voice control this works out great! However, I will say you want to make sure your dog knows how to socialize with other dogs on the trail. This comes with time as your dog gets older and has more exposure to other dogs. Your dog should know how to greet another dog without being overly excited or obnoxious and then keep moving. Trail time is not playtime, but it's a mission! Your dog should also know the command "come" and "wait" like the back of their hand. Start by taking your dog on short hikes on-leash, as you both gain more mutual trust, extend the hikes and give them off leash time. At any point in time, if your dog runs into the woods and does not respond to your command, you need to start over and get back to the basics. Your dog should also know how to greet other people on the trail properly. A quick hello is ideal and then keep moving.
MO UNTAIN BIKIN G Mountain biking is one of Shiloh's favorite activities! She loves to SPRINT after us and get down right muddy on the trails. This one can be a little tricky because some dogs are afraid of the bike. As a first step to this activity you need to get your dog used to the bike. Bring it inside the garage so your dog can build confidence around the bike in a familiar place. The commands your dog needs to know for biking are of course come and wait. I would also add the command heel to the list. At any point in time you need to let your dog know they need to be right beside you on the trail. Also teaching them "get off the trail" is beneficial for when another biker is passing you. We started Shiloh out on 3 mile or less mountain bike rides. It was easier to do with both Rich and me, as she followed me and Rich trailed behind to make sure she was keeping up. It's also important to pack plenty of water for your dog, as mountain biking will drum up quite a thirst! There have been a few trails we've opted out of for bringing Shiloh, typically due to terrain or length. 49
BA C K COUN TRY SN OW The backcountry winter will not only wear your dog out for a few days, but also give them a whole new world of snow to explore. If Shiloh sees snow from a mile away she darts off to rub her face in it and roll around. We've frequently taken her half way up Mount Hood and she runs behind us as we snowboard down. Booties are really essential for this activity! Also, if your dog doesn't have an actual fur coat (if they are any sort of doodle breed) you'll need to get your pup a coat for extra warmth. Because of the risk of avalanche in the back country, or frozen lake (Shiloh has fallen through a frozen lake before), you need to either keep your dog on a long leash or verbally under control at all times. The principles and commands for bringing them in the backcountry are similar to mountain biking and hiking. The snow is a great place to also practice "search" and "go find" with family members and friends. Make sure your dog stays plenty hydrated even though it's not as hot outside.
WA T ER ACTIVITIE S Training your dog to be a water dog when they don't naturally love water can be challenging. It's easiest to introduce them to water when they are younger in a gradual and encouraging manner. Shiloh surprisingly didn't take to water at first. We took her to calm sections of rivers or lakes and we went in with her! Going in together is important! Slowly, with lots of treats she began to enjoy the water and understand it better. Soon, she was swimming the length of full lakes with us! For water activities like paddle boarding or kayaking it's important to introduce them to the equipment in a familiar place first. Bring the board inside and teach them to sit on it in a familiar place. From there, bring it outside and do the same. Finally, you'll put it in the water and teach the dog to jump in, jump out, and all the other tricks. There is a whole competition called dock diving for dogs. We've never pursued it for Shiloh but it's a great hobby for any dog that absolutely loves water! Whatever you do, don't just throw your dog in the water when they are resisting. 50
BACKP ACKING On the trail, backpacking is the same as hiking/trail running. I'll focus this section on what we pack for Shiloh's backpacking. • •Thermarest (accordion-style) sleeping pad cut in half • •Ruffwear travel bowl • •Ruffwear dog pack • •Ziploc bag of food • •Extra nutrient dense treats • •Frisbee If the weather is extra cold we bring an old sleeping bag or dog specific sleeping bag. Typically, Shiloh sleeps right under our hammocks or if we are in a tent she'll sometimes sleep in the tent with us.
R O CK CLIMBIN G Rock climbing is really hard for Shiloh because it's an activity that she is not actually participating in. However, the last thing you want at the crag is a barking disobedient dog. We've been out on rock before in the middle of tense climbs with a yappy dog in the party next to us... and let me tell you, there is nothing worse! However, on the other hand, dogs are EXCELLENT hand warmers in cold winter climbing days once you come off the rock. When we climb with Shiloh we typically start out by throwing the frisbee in an open area to get some of her energy out. When we get to our route, we bring her thermarest and she knows to "chill out" on that mat the entire time. Occasionally she'll bark out of excitement and if she needs to be instantly silenced we use the command, "Shiloh, close your mouth." If we are multi-pitching or using a top belay we will go ahead and tie her leash down. She gets anxious when we are both on the rock and wants to follow us. An extra bone is a nice reward for great behavior! Or, if you're in a pinch. 51
TR AI L PRE CA U T I O N S
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“LIVE AS PUPPIES DO: LIKE EVERYTHING IS AN ADVENTURE” - Author Unknown 53
OUT ON THE TRAIL ... A lot of these trail precautions are common sense. However, there are a few I’ve learned by mistake over the years. Hopefully, they help you be more prepared and more conf ident!
The day Shiloh fell through the lake I
seriously thought my heart stopped. After a long day of backpacking Rich and I were sunbathing laying in the snow (ironically) and Shiloh was exploring the surroundings. Not another soul was in sight. I sat up and looked around me, "Hey, where's Shiloh?" Rich looked and saw the hole in the lake and her head appear. I immediately ran without even thinking twice about falling through the lake myself. I grabbed her by the fur of her neck, and pulled her out. Thankfully, I stayed above the ice and I'm not sure if it was adrenaline or if Shiloh helped me out, but she was easy to pull out. Thankfully the experience did not traumatize Shiloh. As a matter of fact, she didn't even learn her lesson as she kept wanting to chase birds over the lake. It was early spring and the sun was out and hot so drying her off and getting her warm wasn't a problem. A lot of things could have gone wrong and thankfully everything post-ice-fall went right.
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I've had friends who have encountered wildlife on the trail and their dogs have even been attacked by a mountain lion. Thankfully, I have not. However, there is always a very
real possibility that we may encounter wildlife and it's important to have a plan and to be prepared. The saddest experience we've had with Shiloh out on the trail was mountain biking on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge. We ascended for 6 miles and up about 3,000 feet of elevation. Shiloh did great! However, on the descent I noticed Shiloh lagging (which she NEVER does) and even stopped to rest. I got off my bike and sat down. She immediately climbed into my lap and I noticed her paws were bleeding. I felt terrible! The rough terrain had split her two front paws and her paw pads were shredded. We still had about 3 miles and 2,000 feet of descent left. Rich ended up carrying Shiloh over his shoulders and I biked my bike down, ran back up, and biked his bike down. Shiloh's paws healed just fine over the next few days, but it took me a while to recover from the trauma!
PRECAUTIONS Here are a few things to watch out for when taking your dog into the wild....
1. Poison oak/ivy - even if the poison
oak or ivy doesn't affect your dog's skin, it's an oil that will stay on your dog's fur. Meaning, if you pet your dog after you get home from your hike, you'll be exposed to the oil. After any hike where you've noticed poison oak or ivy, go ahead and bathe your dog with dawn dish soap.
2. Wildlife - keep your dog verbally
under control and be prepared with the appropriate resources (bear spray). Keep your dog up to date on their rabies shots.
3. Reptiles - we've encountered quite a
few close calls with snakes. Always keep a sharp look out on the ground and never let your dog close. Rattlesnake train your dog if you live in an area where they are prevalent.
4. Frozen lakes - - watch your dog
closely around frozen lakes and help them to be aware.
5. Giardia - - I keep a bottle of
Safeguard on hand for anytime I think Shiloh may have picked up a parasite, especially puddle water or mud in the PNW is a risk factor. I use diatomaceous earth-food grade for preventative measures.
6. Agressive dogs - although we have
seldom run into this issue, it's important to be aware and to ask an owner, "Is your dog friendly?" when appropriate.
7. Rough terrain -as I mentioned in
my story in the intro of this section, it's important to just keep a pair of dog booties on hand at all times, even if you think there is no risk.
8. Tick/insects - Shiloh has frequently
gotten ticks after time in the trails, especially in the spring. Check your dog thoroughly after a hike (under the neck and behind the ears). I use oregano oil directly on the tick and then tweezers to pull the tick out. 55
IN CONCLUSION... I know this is not a comprehensive guide or a complete how to on raising your adventure pup... In a way I feel as though this has only scratched the surface of thousands of book topics! With each of these topics so many more topics could be written. I hope this is at least helpful and inspiring for you in raising your dog. Ultimately, the goal is that this eBook provides you with a springboard for your imagination in exploring new adventures and training up your dog! I hope that we stay in touch and that I get to see all the adventures you take YOUR dog on! If you've found this eBook helpful, inspiring, and influential in you and your dog's life, you can use the hashtag on your dog adventures, #rcaadventuredogs.
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I've also included my social media handles on the following page. As you learn and grow in your own adventures please contribute your knowledge to the world! It's so important for us to get out of the standard American lifestyle and get outside! The more time we all spend outside the better, in my humble opinion.
Thank you SO much for reading and following along on our journey!
To follow Shiloh's adventures on Instagram: @AletheiaCyr #Shilohpupgram To follow the adventures of Shiloh's 11 puppies on Instagram: #goldenvoyagerpups All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or modified in any form, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher
Š Aletheia Cyr 2018
THIS EBOOK IS SPONSORED BY
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