Stories

A curated collection of stories to inspire you and your dog to get out there.

  • Singletrack to Sea: An adventure to the edge of Canada

    I’ve known for a long time that spending time in wild places, with friends and dogs, is where I feel most alive. In a year where the world turned on its head, exploring outside with Arnie was the one constant when every other part of life seemed so uncertain. 

    Bronwyn and Arnie running on beach at sunset
  • Packs and Trails with Amara the Shepherd

    If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a dog parent, it’s that having a pup allows you to experience life and everyday adventures in a whole new way. For Noami and me, hiking is our favorite pastime. So when Amara joined our pack, there was no doubt we would bring her along on all our adventures.

    Noami and Amara in backpacks by a waterfall.
  • Meet the 2021 Ambassador Pack

    Have you met Ruffwear’s Ambassadors yet? These 38 dogs and 31 humans are explorers that inspires us. They get outside and live out our shared beliefs that dogs make us whole and shape us through the adventures we share.

    Ambassador Chris gets a handshake from her dog Sammy in an overcoat utility jacket in front of the Chilkat mountain range.
  • Play More, Shower Less, and Other Things We Learned From Our Dogs In 2020

    Turns out our canine sidekicks have been moonlighting as furry philosophers this year. Ruffwear Ambassadors and employees took a moment to reflect on what their dog has taught them in a year that's seen its share of obstacles and challenges. 

    Dog in climate changer pullover trail runs along river in front of human.
  • Holiday Like The Pros: Ambassador Picks

    Ruffwear Ambassadors share our belief that dogs make us whole and our relationship with our dogs is shaped by the adventures we share. So who better to turn to for some holiday inspiration than our very own Ambassador Pack? Read on for their top gear picks and other ways they make the holidays with their canine companions an extra special time of year. 

    Becca in puffy jacket in snow gets kisses from Tala the husky in Quinzee insulated jacket.
  • Max the Miracle Dog

    His name is Max, and he’s called the Miracle Dog. Hearing just some of his amazing story, it’s not hard to see why. If you're looking for a story about the special bond that exists between man and dog, read on.

    Ambassador Kerry with his three dogs in ruffwear harnesses outdoors.
  • Finding Purpose on the Road with a Three-Legged Dog

    Living through the highs and lows of life on the road while witnessing the joys and heartbreak of helping others through amputation recovery and cancer care isn’t easy. Along the way, Jim and Rene do their best to stay resilient by doing what comes naturally to any dog: focusing on the here and now.

    Rene and Jim stand with dog Jerry wearing dog backpack.
  • How a Pandemic Can Help You Socialize Your Adventure Puppy

    Simply being around other people, dogs, bikers, and wildlife, and learning to not engage, is an awesome skill to encourage at a young age. And the absolute beauty of this time of COVID-19 we’re living in, with its six-foot social distancing requirement, is that it’s perfect for socializing a puppy. 

    Maria and puppy Willow in float coat sit on paddleboard looking at ducks.
  • The Year of Chimmy

    While 2020 is not at all how I scripted it, I know down the road I will look back at this summer and be filled with fond memories of sleeping under the stars, splashing in the river, and spending more time than ever with my furry companion. And for that, I am grateful.

    Chimmy and Linsey sit in opposite ends of a fishing boat on the river.
  • Ambassador Field Notes: A Two Week Road Trip With Dogs

    It brings me so much joy to see how our dogs, Tanner and Ranger, respond when one of us asks, “Who wants to go for a car ride?” Last fall, as we do every fall, we headed out for a two-week road trip to some places we’d never been but always wanted to go. 

    Woman writing in journal next to map with hydroflask, while dog sleeps at her side.
  • Learning to Adapt

    Adapting has to occur because change is inevitable. Only now, this change isn’t felt in a small community or a family unit or a single person, but through our entire world. If there's anything constant with our world right now, it's the companionship we have with dogs – and that dogs will continue to teach us how to be better humans.

    Noodle in a dog wheelchair runs ahead of human bree and sibling Shamus while on a hike.
  • Go Small or Stay Home: Shifting our Focus in the Time of COVID-19

    At a time of year when we would often be loading up for our first adventure of the spring, we are being asked to scrap plans, stay home, and limit all non-essential travel. As adventurers, being told to stay put can feel stifling, but there are still so many ways we can get out with our dogs!

    Man walks along road with two dogs on waist-worn Ruffwear leashes.
  • My Dog is My Co-Pilot: Tips for Van Life with Furry Friends

    Whether road-tripping or van-living, Ruffwear Ambassador Laura Patton shares her best tips for life on the road with dogs.

    Laura, her partner and dogs sit on a dock looking out a snowy lake and mountains.
  • Bonding with a Broken Heart

    This is the story of how three lives came together at just the right and wrong time – a girl who’d wound herself so tight around my heart I could not have believed it, a baby boy who’d fill the space she left behind, and me, heartbroken me.

    Maria and Kona sit on a paddleboard howling in to the air.
  • Teaching Tala To Love The Water

    Our dog wasn’t exposed to a lot of moving water in her first year and a half of life. As with all new activities, we started slow – throwing her favorite toys for her in calm, shallow water. She loves playing ‘ball,’ so it was good motivation to work her way up to short easy swims. 

    Cade rows raft while Tala sleeps in float coat at his side.
  • In This Together

    Krissy has spent the better part of her adult life running ultra trail races and filling her passport with world explorations. She is a running coach, author, race director, and public speaker. Sharing the trails and life with her dog adds a whole new spin on her passion for this life of adventure.

    Krissy & PD in Wind Sprinter Jacket run up grassy slope above clouds in the hills.
  • SUP Manatees: Maria, Kona & Riley Explore Florida’s Fresh Water

    Paddling with manatees and my dogs is a combination that’s been on my SUP bucket list for years. The dogs were as curious about the manatees as the manatees were of them! Riley and Kona inquisitively peered over the rails to watch the manatees play, swim, and splash around our board. 

    Overhead shot of Maria and her two dogs paddleboarding
  • My 115-Mile Tidal Potomac Expedition

    This past spring, I set an ambitious goal: my Australian Shepherd Kona and I were going to stand-up paddle the entire length of the tidal Potomac River. Starting in Washington, D.C., the tidal Potomac winds between the Maryland and Virginia borders for 115 miles before emptying into the Chesapeake Bay.

    Maria and dog in Float Coats on stand up paddleboard.
  • Top 10 Tips for Standup Paddleboarding With Your Dog

    Ruffwear Ambassador and author of How To SUP With Your PUP, Maria Christina Schultz, offers up her top ten tips for standup paddling with your dog.

    Person paddleboarding with dog at sunset