I would like to introduce Mac, our 10 week old Pit Bull puppy. Mac was born on July 10th, 2020. My fiancé, Lyndsy, and I had been wanting a dog for some time and we were looking to get a puppy or rescue a dog near the end of summer. To our luck Lyndsy’s Aunt’s dogs (dad was full breed pit bull and mother was mostly pit with a little bit of lab) had a litter and we were the first people she asked to see if we wanted a puppy. We immediately said yes and she sent us pictures of the litter so we can pick one out. This little grey ball of joy stuck out to us and we knew he would be perfect for our family. We would get updates from Lyndsy’s aunt on how he was doing and she even started calling him Mac for us around 3 weeks old. We picked him up on August 21st and he has forever changed our lives. Mac can be a handful but is usually very well mannered for a puppy. We are making sure he is crate trained at night where one of us will take him out to potty in the middle of the night, he rarely whines about being in his crate anymore. One nice purchase that we have made is the Fresh Patch, which is a patch of grass (4ft by 2ft) used for dogs to help them train and get them comfortable with the transition to going to the bathroom outside. We are enrolling Mac into some puppy training classes that Lyndsy and I will attend. I cannot wait for this little guy to grow up and be the great dog I know he will be. As of right now he weighs 20 pounds and we are expecting him to be about 90 pounds when he turns a year old.
I know, I know. Pitbulls are the best. What? Did you think I was going to tell you they’re the worst? See below: so vicious, so mean. Meanest nap time you ever saw!
A post shared by Punky & Leon 🐾 (@punkywoofster_and_leon) on
But here’s the thing: being a pit bull owner comes with the responsibility of being a good breed ambassador. There is too much breed-specific legislation, prohibitive insurance policies, and negative press out there. Every dog is a good dog, and deserves a loving, stable home where they can thrive.
Think a little outside of peak season when camping.
I’m personally a fan of mid-May and September.
Two Medicine, Glacier National Park in September
Consider backpacking. Yes, it is a bit more work but it is also 100% worth it.
Waking up to a backcountry sunrise is an unbeatable feeling.
I would highly recommend the Grand Tetons in August, especially if you’re a fan of wildflowers. It is still chilly so pack your warm gear!
Get your backcountry permit early! It is surprising how quickly these go and there are limited sites. If you’re unlucky and don’t get a permit you might be forced to find a different hike or abandon your backcountry plans altogether.
Check out apps like AllTrails
We went backpacking in the Mission Mountain Wilderness on the 4th of July and it was one of the best ideas we’ve had. There weren’t many people, the weather was perfect, and we were away from the National Park chaos.
Holidays like Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day are major camping holidays. Opt-out of the beer and think whiskey and backpacking. Look for trails that are more under the radar. There might be some like-minded people like you on the trail but far less then if you were to try to claim your stake on Seeley Lake or Flathead.
Be flexible! If a site seems too busy, don’t be afraid to look for a different one. Some of my favorite camping sites have been found after leaving a less exciting one behind.
Checking a map for a water source is a good way of finding a good site. Chances are that if it’s near a river or lake that it’ll come with a view as well.
Avoid geotagging on social media. If you like a site because there weren’t many people there, don’t expose it.
This might be controversial but I really do believe every little bit helps in preserving the things we love. It’s one thing to tell a few friends but if you have 1,000 followers on Instagram, you could possibly be telling around 1,000 people about this newfound gem. Mum’s the word
Don’t worry, he wasn’t caught. Just an expert fence climber!
I also think part of the joy of camping comes from discovering new spots on your own. It has become too easy to look everything up, it’ll mean more to you if you find it yourself.
Dogs
are very selfless animals that love their owners more than they love
themselves. Unfortunately we can’t share everything with them even though we
wish we could. There are many dangerous human foods that can cause minor and
major issues with your dog. I myself have two dogs that I treat like family and
know how fun it is to share my food with them. Even though I do my best to be
careful about what I give them, there have been a few instances where they have
gotten into something they cant have. I have researched the top 5 foods that
create harm to your favorite furry friend. Many of these foods cause a dog’s
body to change certain substances within the food to a toxin after its
metabolized. These toxins can then trigger cardiac arrest, low blood sugar and
organs to start shutting down. The severity of these issues is based on weight,
type of dog, and amount consumed so always contact your vet if you think your
dog has consumed any of these foods.
1. Raisins/ Grapes
Even
a small amount of Raisins or grapes can cause the kidneys to start shutting
down. Raisins are more poisonous
than grapes since the drying process creates an increase in the level of the
toxic substance. When consumed, this substance, once metabolized, attacks the
kidneys in rapidly. Unfortunately I have had a terrifying situation with my
dogs eating raisins. They both got into a half eaten granola bar that included
raisins. At first I didn’t think
much about it until I started researching toxic food for dogs. Raisins were
always high on the list, which made me panic. I ended up calling the local
emergency pet hospital for advice. I didn’t know which of the dogs or if both
had gotten some of the granola bar. I have one medium dog (Buddy) and one small
dog Bella so it’s possible that the large dog didn’t share any of the granola
bar. Either way I was advised to induce vomiting to look for the raisins and
even after that to call our vet the next day to get a blood test done. To
induce vomiting hydrogen peroxide is used based on the dog’s body weight. Even
if symptoms are noticeable, kidney damage could already be taking place. With
the help of a vet this damage can somewhat be reversed so that the kidneys
don’t completely shut down. Thankfully
neither of my dogs had harmful levels of the substance in their system. This
was a huge relief but now I know how dangerous raisins can be.
2. Snacks with Xylitol
Many snacks and dental products include this dangerous substance called Xylitol. The most commonly known product with this ingredient is chewing gum. Others include cereals, sugar-free candy, peanut butter, and fruit snacks. Some people may be wondering about peanut butter being on that list but it’s true. Many manufacturers use this toxic ingredient to sweeten their peanut butter flavor. Make sure you check the labels because there are many options that are in fact a healthy and tasty treat for dogs. Xylitol can cause low blood sugar and liver damage. I know this blog is about dogs but this substance, in particular, is more dangerous to our feline friends so be careful with all pets.
3. Macadamia Nuts
Many nuts are ok for dogs to have but this one specifically is very dangerous. A substance in the macadamia causes damage to a dog’s nervous system, which could be permanent. This one, unlike the others, seems to be less researched since we don’t know exactly what happens and why this nut causes so much damage. This is a very good reason to simply keep this snack far away from dogs and other fur friends.
4. Onions
There
is a substance in onions and onion powder that when consumed by a dog causes a
decreased ability for the red blood cells to carry oxygen. This triggers a
process of red blood cells breaking down which could cause anemia. If anemia
becomes acute a blood transfusion may be needed to help replace the bad blood
cells. Being a dog owner I know that they are little vacuums so make sure when
cutting onions that bits and pieces don’t end up on the floor for your dog to
get.
5. Chocolate
This
one seems obvious but I feel it’s worth mentioning. The darker the chocolate
the more toxic it is to dogs. It creates a toxic substance that raises heart
rate and can even lead to cardiac arrest. Very small amounts may give your dog
an upset stomach and diarrhea. Even though milk chocolate is diluted of this
substance, dogs shouldn’t have any type of chocolate regardless of its type.
I
didn’t mention the symptoms that come along with eating these foods but many of
them include vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, seizures and lethargy. If your dog
ever seems out of the ordinary always consult you veterinarian to make sure
things are ok. If left untreated many of these toxic foods can cause permanent
damage and even death.