Take Your Dog Beyond Your Front Yard

One of the most enjoyable aspects of dog ownership is taking your canine friend with you on your adventures. One of the most frustrating aspects is knowing the where you're allowed to take your pup. Most National Parks do now allow dogs outside of the "frontcountry" camping areas and paved roads, but there are plenty of places that you can go with your dog.

Always take a look at the city parks in and around Atlanta, there are plenty of tucked away parks with a few miles of trails here and there. Dogs are usually allowed here on leash.

Take a look at State Parks as well, most of Georgia's State Parks allow dogs on leash. Kennesaw is a good spot, as is Sweetwater State Park and Fort Yargo. If a park doesn't allow dogs, see if there's an area similar nearby that does. For example, Stone Mountain doesn't allow dogs on it's granite mound, but Arabia Mountain, just south, does.

Remember that National Forests are pretty lenient wild areas, and most of North Georgia is part of the Chattahoochee National Forest. Just make sure where you're headed isn't also under a stricter jurisdiction that restricts dog access.

The Chattahoochee National Recreation Area is a wonderful asset to us Atlantans. Check out Gold Branch and the Palisades for good, out of the way trails for you and your friend.

If you want more, start by looking for mountain biking and trail running areas, as these are often out-of-the-way areas open to multiple forms of outdoor enjoyment, including dogs!

Have a favorite place to visit with your pooch? Leave it in the comments. See you out there or in the shop!

Ruff Wear Go Between Bowl Review

Recently I purchased two dog bowls from Ruff Wear. I got the Go Between size, one with a cinch top for food, and the other without for water. With some use under my belt, I thought I'd share some thoughts on them.

To get my pup used to the new bowls, I used them at home for a little bit before heading outdoors. The food bowl was easy, she'll eat out of anything. I was more worried about the water bowl, as my dog is quite finicky with water. I filled it with water and placed it next to her regular water bowl for a few days. She ended up drinking out of the Ruff Wear bowl more than her regular bowl, so score!

Using the bowls outside of the house (which is the intention) worked well. The food bowl is perfect. It holds the right amount of food for a meal and stays closed. The water bowl is good, but a little big. My dog prefers to drink out of a full bowl and at her leisure, so a good bit of water gets wasted at stops. I'll probably end up just filling a little at short stops, and full for longer, more leisurely stops. The Go Between holds a surprising amount of water.

All in all, I love the bowls. They pack well, are durable, and seem to be close to the right size. Knowing what I know now, I might downsize the water bowl, but other than that, I couldn't be happier with them.

So don't be afraid to take your dog out with you, these bowls can help.