That's Fit

When you head out on a hike, it's important to bring the essentials: Water, healthy snacks, sunscreen, warm layers and those 'just in case' safety items. But all that extra stuff can weigh you down after too long. Here's a handy item I read about on Fitsugar: Kelty Chuck Wagon Dog Pack. It is what it sounds like: A backpack for dogs. So instead of carrying everything yourself, let your lovable mutt do some of the lifting.

The dog packs are available in small ($45), medium ($50) and large ($55) and they're bright red so you won't lose site of your pooch in the outdoors. The packs are lightweight and durable, and while your dog won't be able to carry everything you need to bring along on you hike, she'll be able to take at least a bit of the load off of you.

(Via Fitsugar)

I know that people who don't have pets or who aren't big animal lovers can't understand how those of us with furry friends can possibly think of dogs and cats and friends, family members and even children. I suppose these people think it's ridiculous to shell out perfectly good money on specialty treats for pets. To an extent I can see where they're coming from -- fancy clothing for cats and dogs is a bit extreme in my opinion -- but I will happily spend hard-earned cash on fun stuff for my dog.

I know that I'm not the only one. Most major, dog-friendly cities (Vancouver being the first that comes to my mind) have got fancy dog salons and boutiques in pretty much every trendy neighborhood. While I usually stick with funny squeaky toys and the occasional cute new collar, other dog owners out there will open their wallets for specialized grooming products, accessories, clothing, bedding and more.

Have you ever heard the old adage, "If your dog is fat, you're not getting enough exercise"? Well, that apparently isn't getting through to plenty of pet parents because in addition to new doggie diet drugs entering the market, we now have low-calorie snack options for our furry friends.

Pup-Peroni is now offering 50 calorie snack packs so we can monitor how many snacks our pooches should get. They're portable, so you no longer need to worry about how to stuff all those treats in your pockets without making your jeans smell like meat for days. Just what I needed.