The Dog Hikers

Happy 2012!

2012-01-17T12:08:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe it has been July 2011 since I last blogged. Oops ....

2011 was a good and busy year. We implemented positive changes to our business structure and it was a success. Not only did we increase the attendance rate to 95% but we also simplified our billing system and ensured that spots would be filled at all times. We merged two hiking services to one and now have a regular 6 dog attendance with a possible addition of 2 more dogs per hike if needed. We also decreased our service area to ensure we stay within a 15 mile radius. As every business owner we were wary of implementing the changes especially towards existing clients but the changes were accepted without a problem. We love our clients for that!!!!

We are looking forward to 2012. 366 days of dog fun ahead of us! Miles of trails to cover and new ones to explore. Our philosophy: "We love what we do and do what we love" couldn't be more fitting. We are engaging in new business ventures but we won't spoil the secret until it is official. Just stay tuned.

Be pawsitive! Be happy! Wishing you a great 2012!

Happy Hiking! Your Dog Hikers Team

The Heat is ON

2011-07-03T19:18:00.000-07:00

One of our biggest challenges is hiking in the heat. Dogs just don't do well when the heat is on! Although dogs have sweat glands like humans, they do not use them to cool their bodies off. Dogs cool their body off by panting.

Dogs do not do well in the heat! I cannot say it often enough. During the summer we like to get our hikes in before 11 am and we don't hike when the temperature exceeds 90 degrees. Being a Trail Patrol Volunteer for the Open Space District I have encountered numerous dogs with symptoms of heat stroke on the trails. When talking to the owners most never go hiking and often decide to take their 10 year old dog on a hot day for a little stroll. Believe me, I have seen and heard it all.

What happens with your dog when he is having a heat stroke?

When heat gain exceeds the body's ability to break down the heat. The high temperatures cause chemical reactions in the dog's body that break down body cells which eventually lead to dehydration and blood thickening. The strain on your dog's heart is extreme and it causes blood clotting that may result in death.

A dog's body temperature is usually between 101 - 102 F. If your dog receives a body temperature higher than that the risk of heat stroke is ineviditable. Some dogs recover from heat stroke but may have permanent damage of vital body organs.

What are the symptoms of heat stroke?

Rapid and frantic panting, wide eyes, thick saliva, bright red tongue, vomiting, staggering and diarrhea. I've seen some dogs shake from the heat!

What do you need to do when your dog is suffering from a heat stroke?

Cool your dog off! Rinse your dog off with cool (not cold!) water to gradually reduce the heat in the body. If you have airco close by put your dog in the cool area! Place wet towels on the following areas: head, neck, belly and between the dog's legs. These are the most effective areas to help cool down a dog. Cooling to fast and/or too much can cause more problems.

Dog breeds with shorter snouts like boxers due much worse in the heat. I have noticed that these breeds have a much harder time cooling their bodies off.

What to do with your dog on a hot day?

Adjust the activity level of your dog! If your dog needs exercise keep it in the shade, include water, a doggie pool anything that is fun but keeps their body temperature down.

Dog Hiker Position

2011-06-05T11:06:00.000-07:00

This could be your office view!

Dog Hiker Position

BeyondCompanions is an established dog hiking service doing business as The Dog Hikers (TheDogHikers.com) in the South Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. We are currently looking for a part time dog hiker to support our team by providing dog hiking services in the following areas: Cupertino, Saratoga, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Campbell and parts of West San Jose. We are currently looking for a dog hiker to provide services Wednesday through Friday.

The Dog Hiker job:

We are specialized in group dog walks and depending on the group and the location of pick up/drop off, you may hike 3 to 6 dogs at one time. The hikes last one to two hours depending on the weather and trail conditions. In the job you can combine your love of the outdoors with the love of dogs. The job is physical but provides you the opportunity to enjoy what California has to offer in nature. The job includes pick up of client dogs, a hike and drop off. All of our adventures are on-leash and take place rain or shine.

Requirements:

· You must have dog handling experience either as a group dog walker or in a dog day care surrounding. Knowing about and understanding dog body language is a necessity. Being a graduate of DogTec Dog Walking Academy, SFSPCA or Marin Humane Society graduate is a big plus.

· You are pet first aid certified or willing to complete certification upon hire.

· Availability: Wednesday-Friday, 10am – 4pm

· You are physically fit and have the possibility to hike two one hour or one two hour hikes per day.

· You must be comfortable of handling dogs of all sizes and breeds and lift up to 120 lbs.

· You are able to hike dogs rain or shine and have professional gear to suit the job.

· You are able to wipe down the dogs and provide a brush down if necessary.

· You have a cell phone and daily internet access

· You must have a reliable van, truck with camper shell or SUV that enables you to transport up to 6 dogs safely.

· You must have proof of health insurance.

· You must be at least 18 years old, hold a valid CA Driver’s license and show proof of insurance with a good driving record.

· You must be able to pass a criminal background check.

· You live in or near our service area.

· You are responsible, reliable and honest. You must be friendly and be able to provide customer service on a very high level.

· You must be able to make a minimum commitment of 1 year after a two month probation/training time.

· You are able to continue your training by attending seminars and trainings throughout the year.

Compensation:
This is an independent contractor position. There are also opportunities for boarding and dog training (if dog trainer requirements are met). Payment is based on experience.

We have built an excellent reputation by offering exceptional service to our clients and their dogs. We have a high standard of ethics and we expect the same from anyone that works with us. We are a professional business and we have distinguished ourselves from those who are not. Professionalism including discretion is a must.

How to Apply:
If you are interested and feel qualified for the job please send us a cover letter and resume to info at beyondcompanions dot com. You must provide us with at least three references and provide us with the type of vehicle you are currently driving. Please no phone calls. Thank you!

Another 5 star review - Thank you!

2011-02-19T17:49:00.000-08:00

This is what Jamie's mom had to say. Credit goes to Tammy, Rottie expert and prior owner, who has been enjoying Jamie's participatio in our hiking pack.

"I have a puppy Rottweiler and she is very active. I had been taking her to a dog day care a couple of times a week and thought she was happy but when I found the k-9 hiking group, I thought it would a good adventure for her... I signed up mid January and have to say on the days of the hikes, when I return from work my puppy is very happy and mellow.

I have stopped taking her to the day care because I feel like this service is awesome for her and she seems much more settled.

Thank you Beyond Companions!!! ~ Jamie's mom"

Thank you! We've had a blast with Jamie. Goofball extraordinaire and fun to have in our pack!

What a dog needs ...

2010-11-08T17:50:00.000-08:00

The Dog Hikers developed a method called Exercise, Socialization and Training (EST). Why has our method been such a successful formula for many South Bay Area dogs? Dogs with excessive energy need to release that energy. If not released appropriately the outcome of their release will have negative consequences for us. Destructive chewing, digging, excessive barking, excessive licking, self-mutilation, hyperactivity or any other number of behavioral problems are common in under-exercised dogs.

Hiking with us means you will get a different dog back home. The exercise provides an excellent outlet for your dogs' excessive energy. The outdoor exposure to people, other dogs, horses, wildlife and the socialization within our hiking group will provide the mental stimulation your dog so desperately
needs and our training will help remind your dog of its manners.

The Dog Hikers is a unique business established in the South Bay to provide services in the South Bay area and beyond.

Gear up - The rain is coming

2010-10-21T10:50:00.000-07:00

The weather is changing. The fall is here. What do we need to do to gear up for the colder and wetter weather? Factors such as temperature, wind and the amount of rain are important in the consideration for the right clothing and foot wear.

The Dog Hikers gear up in layers:

• Base layer: long underwear such as dry fit

• Mid layer: insulation and warmth: fleece or sweatshirt and head cover

• Outer layer: protection from the elements like wind and rain we have rain jackets and pants. Poncho is good too but handing multiple dogs at the same time a jacket works much better.

Footwear:

When rain has soaked the trails our light low hiking shoes are replaced by high gore-tex hikers, to ensure our feet stay dry and warm. Good socks are also essential because hiking in the rain the trails become a bigger challenge not only on the legs but on the feet as well.

Odd enough the rain will keep most people away from hiking. The parks and preserves are usually at their best. Especially after the rain the deer enjoy eating the fresh and wet grass and the coyotes seek that one warm spot in the sun. Once in awhile you’ll find that mountain lion track that just crossed the trail before you came. The dog’s mind is stimulated by new and strong smells of wildlife and the cool temperatures are welcomed by all living things.

As for your dog you have to look at the breed. Most dogs do well in the rain. Their coat is their protections. Some breeds may need a coat to protect them from the cold. Paw protectors are usually not necessary unless you are hiking in a rocky area.

The most important tip is to ensure the trails are safe. One some days the rain causes the trails to be incredibly muddy that slipping could be an issue. If too windy stay home as well. Falling branches and/or trees may make your trip a living nightmare and not to forget mudslides that wash away whole trails.

The Dog Hikers love the rain especially after a long, warm and sometimes too hot summer it is a welcoming change. If you should see people dancing in the middle of a Park in the rain and dogs jumping in joy with them …yep, that would be us.

Kipper, Boe and Domino hiking in the rain

Which food is right for my dog?

2010-09-22T14:10:00.000-07:00

A question we get asked a lot by our clients. Well, which dog food is right for my dog? Most dog food reviews are sponsored by the very same corporations that produce the food. It may not be surprising that their food always comes out as the best.

We only have a few dog food producers. Did you know that Mars owns brands like Pedigree, Nutro, Cesar and Royal Canin? Why the different brands? It is all about Marketing! Pedigree is an average priced dog food. At about $22 for 40 lbs accessible to the average consumer. Consumers that have a bit more to spend go to Nutro or Royal Canin. Cesar targets the small breed market. Spread out they get a lot of shelf space at the local pet store and that is exactly what they want.

Small and independent dog food producers get bought by the bigger corporations and with that the ingredients often change. There is no good or bad answer concerning dog food. It is what you want and what your dog likes to eat. I combine dry and wet food. My dogs get glucosamine and fish oil as an extra every single day. Tammy swears by the raw chicken and turkey diet. Her dogs are high performance agility dogs and they work well with their diet.

We have a website that gives a good overview of dog food that is currently available: http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/. Check it out and see for yourself what the experts thought of your dog food. Ready to switch? Think twice and check the price! $60 per 40 lbs is twice as much and sometimes you may not get more.

Supplements for your dog

2010-08-23T11:45:00.000-07:00

Are you giving your dog a supplement? If yes, which one.

We give our dogs glucosamine & chondroitin and fish oil. Read about fish oil: http://www.fishoilfordogs.org/. My vet and good friend Dani Olsen even suggest I feed my cat fish oil as it would help reduce the flakes on her coat. Since cats aren't good pill eaters we just opened the pill and put the oil on her food. Our dogs will devour their pill like a treat as most dogs would. I personally don't like the aftertaste of the fish oil. Freeze the pills and you will eliminate the aftertaste!

Our dog Chewie was born without hips. Tissue is all that is holding his back body together. How long he will be able to get up and walk we don't know. We have been providing him with clucosamine & chondroitin for a long time and he appears to be a strong dog. We do keep him lean and exercised but we do give him that little bit extra in the hope it will help to keep him walking. Read about glucoasamine & chondroitin: Glucosamine.

Love what you do. Do what you love.

2010-08-10T21:27:00.000-07:00

Do not forget to follow our other blogs. It has been sometime since I have been able to update our blogs BUT I promise once my back is better I'll be updating with tons of stories.

Follow our business blog: http://beyondcompanions.blogspot.com/. Not only updates on pets but updates on business practices and more.

Happy Pet Day!

Our Belle

2010-05-17T10:53:00.000-07:00

For almost a year Belle has been with us. She is a sweet dog in need of a good home. We had many wonderful applications for her but we do want to make sure that she goes to a home where she can stay and therefore we have been very strict in finding the right home. She is fine where she is with us. She is a happy dog that gets a lot of exercise and loving. We have been working intensely with her. She obeys the basic commands like sit, stay, down, etc. She is simply a wonderful dog.

Why hasn't she found the right home? Well, there is the family with the little kids. Although she does well with kids now she is still a rough player. Kids could get hurt and we believe she would do better with older kids. Then there is the family with cats. Loved them too but with her high prey drive and as first time dog owners we thought that it would not be a good match. Her restrictions narrow down the list of potential adopters but we do not want her to go to a home where they find out that she is not a match just to be returned. We have had that happen with some of our other foster dogs and believe us, they do not do well with the constant change of homes.

Belle looks beautiful but you are adopting more than just her looks. There is a lot of Lady to deal with.

For more info on Belle please check out our website:

http://www.beyondcompanions.com/Belle

http://www.SouthCountyPets.com

A Disaster Guide for Pet Owners

2010-03-24T23:47:00.000-07:00

We want to thank the SPCA Rockingham/Harrisonburg for this great guide:

Disaster Guide.

Read. Enjoy. Prepare!

Belle on TV!

2010-03-21T18:02:00.000-07:00

Our very own foster dog Belle was on GavTV. Brigid Wasson, Santa Clara County Supervisor was being interviewed. Here a snapshot of her during the show. Belle is still up for adoption. We would really like to find a good home for her. Due to her breed and prior life she doesn't make a good match with every home and therefore we have been very selective in finding the right match for her. Interested? Contact us or the shelter for more info!

Got poop?

2010-03-16T17:53:00.000-07:00

After every hiking adventure we let our clients know what the poop looked like if the dog eliminated during our hike. Funny? Yes, we had some good comments about it. However, most of our clients had not realized how much information poop provides! When my kids were babies and they couldn't talk and let me know what was going on their poop was often the first indicator what could be wrong. Teething, cramps, not liking certain new food was reflected in their stool. Why should it be any different with dogs? It is not!

On our adventure logs provide information about their dog's poop. We have found "lost" toys, a rope, a key, a nail and much more in the poop of our client dogs.

Not impressed yet? Read this great article about PooP.

Facebook Fan Page

2010-03-11T18:19:00.000-08:00

We have a Facebook Fan Page:

The Dog Hikers

where you can find up to date pictures of our adventures.

Every dog hiker posts pictures of their hiking, beach and off leash adventures on a weekly basis.

You can find a good update on what we do, who we are and what you can expect of us. What our clients think of us: We wish we were our dog!

Hike on!

Catahoula reunion

2010-03-01T14:07:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we had a Catahoula Reunion. We always foster for various Bay Area organizations and last summer we fostered a pregnant Catahoula mom. She bore 9 puppies and we had a big reunion yesterday. 7 of the 9 puppies made it. It was fantastic!

Chewie, Koda and Bruno

Bruno

Mission Peak

7 Catahoulas, One Catahoula mix and a Golden