Six Dog-Friendly Ski Destinations for Winter-Loving Canines

Dog Friendly Nordic Trails Across America

Is there any display of joy more pure than a dog bounding through white powdery snow on a mid-winter's ski or snow shoe?

Dogs have long shown us their desire, endurance and ability to race through the snowy forests on their four legs far exceeds our own, and more mountain resorts and ski destinations are catering to this new furry customer, leading to a growing number of dog-friendly ski destinations--both downhill and cross-country.

From the far-West to the far-East, there are a variety of dog-friendly snow destinations that provide a variety of canine comforts--from dog waste stations to freshly-laundered dog beds. These are six of our favorites.

Six Dog-Friendly Ski Slopes and Mountain Destinations

Lake Tahoe, California. Dog-owning snowshoers and Nordic skiers alike will find good reason to visit Lake Tahoe. Not only does Lake Tahoe offer dog-friendly cross-country ski trails at both the Hope Valley Outdoors Cross Country Ski Center and Tahoe XC, the Northstar resort also offers dog-friendly moonlight snowshoe hikes on the mountain (dogs must remain on-leash, however...gee wouldn't it be great if there was a leash for that?).


Jackson hole, Wyoming. In Jackson Hole, at Snow King Resort, not only is there an entire dog-friendly first floor, there are miles of dog-friendly snowshoe and Nordic ski trails.

Wanoga Sno Park outside of Bend, Oregon

Bend, Oregon. Often-acclaimed for being one of the most dog-friendly destinations in the United States and once named "Dog Town USA," Bend's ski areas are no exception. Though the downhill ski resort of Mt. Bachelor is off-limits to dogs, there is a groomed snow park play area complete with toys in the West Village parking lot of Mt. Bachelor. Just a few miles from the mountain, there are dog-friendly cross country skiing and snowshoe trails at Wanoga Sno-Park, which are groomed and maintained by Bend's local dog-advacacy group, the DogPAC.

Lake Placid, New York. The Lake Placid Resort--the "jewel of Adirondack Mountains"--provides dog-friendly lodging and five miles of canine-friendly play. Close by, Fido can enjoy 2,000 miles of hiking and Nordic ski trails as part of the largest mark trail in the United States. The topper? Upon check-in at Lake Placid Resort, your canine will be greeted with laundered dog beds and bowls of fresh water.

Chittenden, Vermont. Your four-legger will not miss out on any adventuring in Chittenden, where they are welcomed in rustic cabins at the Mountain Top Inn & Resort with a dog bed, bowl, and welcome treat. For the more active canines, there are a variety of hiking and XC ski trails which allow leashed canines.

Our top pick...
Telluride, Colorado. This is an active dog-owners paradise. Not only are four-legged companions welcome in certain dog-friendly cabins year-round on the 13-minute gondola ride to and from Mountain Village (for when Fido wants to hit the slopes), but the ride is FREE for pooches and pedestrians. That's not the only dog-friendly transportation in town: Telluride's shuttle bus, The Galloping Goose, also allows leashed pups along for the ride, which is convenient when hitting up one of Telluride's many pet specialty shops.

While in the Town Park, poop-bag stations are handy and there is an area for off-leash play. For more active adventuring, dog owners can enjoy three pet-friendly trails right from the center of town.

If you are trying to find a winter vacation destinations that combines all things you love--your dog, the outdoors, snow, and skiing--any one of these dog-friendly ski destinations is sure make the list. It's beautiful, powdery, snow-bounding fun for the whole family!

Free Shipping Day PLUS 10% Off TODAY ONLY

We didn't get where we are by just doing the minimum, and we know our Rad Pack doesn't think that way either.

So, that's why on Free Shipping Day, December 18th, we are not only going to offer free US shipping, but we are also going to throw in an additional 10% off your entire Rad Dog order. Just use the Free Shipping Plus 10 Percent Off Code of 10UNLEASHED at check out on www.myraddog.com.

That means you can get our popular Release 'N Run collar-and-retractable-leash-in-one shipped and to your door BY CHRISTMAS for about $35.

Still don't know what to get for that dog owner in your life? We have gift-wrapped Rad Dog gift packages for dog owners that will be shipped to their door by Christmas for under $30 after discount (Double Up Gift Box)! Choose from these gift box combinations:

Great Gifts for Dog Lovers

Double Up Gift Pack features:


• One Double Duty Leash
• 50 Custom Orange BioHybrid Dog Waste Bags
• 1 Himalayan Dog Chew
• Gift wrapping and message.

On the Go Gift Pack features:


• 50 Custom Orange BioHybrid Dog Waste Bags
• 1 Pocket Bowl
• 1 Amphipod Insulated Running Bottle with Pouch for the Pocket Bowl
• 1 Himalayan Dog Chew
• Gift wrapping and message.

Living Unleashed Gift Pack features:


• 1 Red Release N Run
• 50 Custom Orange BioHybrid Dog Waste Bags
• 1 Pocket Bowl
• 1 Amphipod Insulated Running Bottle with Pouch for the Pocket Bowl
• 1 Himalayan Dog Chew
• Gift wrapping and message.

Happy Free Shipping Day, Rad Dogs! Enjoy an extra 10% off from us! Feliz Navi Dog! 

Let's Play...Holiday Hide and Seek!

Because the "12 Days of Giveaways" is soooo 2014...

This Christmas season, we wanted to give something back to our customers and those who interact with us online. But, because the "12 Days of Christmas Giveaways" theme is a little over-used, we put on our Santa hats and started thinking of ways we could give away free stuff this December, but in a slightly more creative way. And that's when we came up with:

Rad Dog Holiday Hide and Seek

Here's how to play:

1. "Like" us on Facebook and "Follow" us on Instagram so you receive contest updates. 
2. Look for contest details between December 7th - 12th. There will be a new chance to win every day.
3. Have some fun with our game of Hide and Seek! Each day, our followers will be asked to decode a picture, answer a trivia question, or find a hidden piece in a picture. The first one to respond with the correct answer will win a prize such as a $40 e-gift card to www.myraddog.com

Don't miss this chance to shower you pup with free gifts this holiday season! 

No Need To Get Up Early...Our Black Friday Sale is All Weekend Long!

Happy Black Friday! Don't worry about getting up early for this one! We want you to be able to enjoy the few extra days off with your family outside. That's why you can join us online anytime between now and midnight on Cyber Monday and still get an incredible 20% off our entire online store at www.myraddog.com!

You can #optoutside and still get 20% off outdoor gear for you and your dog. Just simply use the promo code Cyber2015 on our website and take 20% off your entire Rad Dog order...that means you can get a killer deal on our Release 'N Run collar and retractable leash in one for under $32!

Spoil yourself with an enjoyable walk, run or hike with your dog this holiday weekend, and still get great deals on the gear to help you enjoy those outings all year round!

A THANK YOU to our Military Men, Women, and Service Dogs

This month, as a thank you for all the service men, women, and dogs, we have two exciting promotions to announce.

ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY - 20% OFF EVERYDAY!

First, we would like to announce that Rad Dog is now providing a 20% military discount to ALL ACTIVE DUTY military, good towards your entire order at Rad Dog Pet Gear with no expiration, no black out dates, and very few limitations.

To get the military discount, you will need to set up a military account with Rad Dog by emailing us at myraddog@myraddog.com from your military email address to prove your military status. We can then set you up as a military account that automatically reduces the price of the items in your cart by 20 percent.

CAMO COLLARS FOR WOUNDED WARRIORS

Limited Edition "Camo" Release 'N Run will donate $5 of proceeds to Wounded Warriors

Also happening this month, we will be selling limited-edition Camo-print Release 'N Run collar and leashes in one with $5 per sale going to Wounded Warriors. There is a limited supply of these collars, so be sure to act fast! Order your Camo Collar here!


Again, we want thank all of our past, present, and future military veterans--two and four legged--for their service and sacrifice! Happy Veterans Day!

10 Tips for Photographing Dogs in Live Action Outdoor Landscapes

It was a day filled with jumping paws, frolicking canines, and fur-flying fun. We anxiously awaited to view the fabulous shots of excitable RAD pups modeling the newest of our fantastic gear, only to find blurry, chaotic shots that looked like a muddy, unfocused mess of fur.
We believe this photo shoot to be sort of an initiation to the big "dogs"--going from the organized, still studio sessions to live action shots of dogs modeling our gear. But we didn't expect such an enormous learning curve!

There are so many aspects to photographing live models well, let alone capturing these shots on models whose fur covers our products and whose excitable attitudes leave few distinguishable and focused shots!

 So, we thought we'd gather up all we learned from our Rad Dog photo shoot and share with you our...

Ten Tips for Photographing Dogs in Live Action Shots

1. Photographing dogs is a game of patience. Don't try to make the shot happen, rather, wait for the shot to happen. Dogs aren't humans; they don't take instruction. The best way to guarantee a nice shot is to put a dog in its natural setting and wait to capture them in action.

2. Less is more. Getting a good shot of one dog is hard enough. Two dogs--nearly impossible! This goes for human companions as well. The fewer people around--and the fewer the distractions--the more likely the dog is to cooperate.

3. No camera if fast enough for a hyper pup. No matter what the shutter speed of your camera, it is not contest against a spastic, crazy dog. So, if you are working with a high-energy pup, it's a good idea to take them for a quick jog or walk prior to the photo shoot to help them calm down come picture time.

4. Try different angles. Even a seemingly boring pose is much more interesting from an unusual angle. Simply taking a picture with the camera looking down on the dog can be dull...that's how we view them all the time. Try to get down to their level and capture their spirit by seeing things the way they see them, on all fours!

5. Play with filters and color correctors. Because dogs were made to blend in with natural landscapes, it can be difficult to see them in their full beauty when competing with an outdoor landscape. Think of a white Shepherd in a snowy field, or a brown Aussie in a pile of leaves; a little color correction can turn this shot from boring to magnificent. Most pet photographers who photograph pets outside, up the saturation and sharpen the image to enhance the photo.

6. Sunny day not ok. For the reasons listed above, an overcast or cloudy day can actually be your friend. That's because the sun can sometimes wash out a dog in a natural setting, and a slightly overcast sky can give the photographer opportunity to play with color.  

7. Have a plan. Deciding ahead of time what sorts of poses, activities and scenery you desire can help bring a calmness to the chaos of a dog photography shoot. Dogs usually take our lead, so if we are relaxed and prepared, they are more likely to follow suit.

8. Bait your dog. Depending on the type of incentives your dog likes best--treats, attention, games--use those as incentive to get your dog to follow instruction. Just use treats sparingly so you don't end up with a roll of pictures of your dog sniffing your pockets.

9. Slow down the action. While action shots are great, it can be difficult to get one where the dog's attention is forward, upright and the dog is in a good position. Not to mention it can leave you out of breath. So, try to mix it up and take some still shots as well, with the dog using props to show action; for example, carrying a large stick or frisbee. Or, opt to snap the photos as the dog comes to a halt, rather than when the dog takes off.

10. Shoot tight. Yes, the doggy breath may be off-putting, but a close shot and close crop leaves less to adjust later and truly captures the personality of the dog--without furiously wagging tails to compete with!

WIN Rad Dog Gear and a Nuu-Muu Dress on Instagram!

Rad Dog Pet Products is partnering with Nuu-Muu exercise dresses on Instagram to bring you a prize that will outfit both you AND your dog in the latest outdoor lifestyle gear!

We want to see how YOU and YOUR DOG "live unleashed" while "having fun doing it." Winners will receive a gift card valued at $85 each to BOTH www.nuu-muu.com and www.myraddog.com.

To Enter Win a $85 Nuu-Muu Dress and $85 Rad Dog Gift Card on Instagram:

1.    Follow @nuu_muu + @myraddog.com
2.    Upload an original photo of dogs & people showcasing the mottos: “live unleashed" and "having fun along the way." You must own and have the rights to this photo and permission to use the people in it.

3.   Tag the photo with the hashtag #liveunleashed

By submitting a photo, you agree to allow Rad Dog and Nuu-Muu to use the submitted photo in social media promotions, websites, and future promotions/communications.

This promotion is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Instagram. Open to US and Canada Shipping only.

Related articles

• Pet-Centric New Years Resolutions for Dog Owners
• Outdoor-Inspired Gifts for Dogs and Dog Owners
• Earth Day Tips for Earth-Friend Dog Owners