After a year long hiatus to do some redesigning and ensure top safety for your hound, Ruffwear’s Headwater Collar is back on the shelves! Featuring the same great features as the first release, the Headwater is a perfect collar for anyone living in a damp environment, or anyone who’s dog spends a fair amount of time in the water!
Ruffwear Headwater Collar
TPU/Silicone coated webbing repels water. Also keeps oils from your dog’s skin from soaking into the material.
Reflective screen print makes it easy to see your hound in low-light conditions.
Unlike other waterproof collars, Ruff Wear’s Headwater Collar is super flexible and comfortable on your dog’s neck.
Redesigned collar includes newly designed leash clip, making it easier to attach a leash to the collar.
Winter is in full swing up here, which means that both Alpine and Nordic ski season are jamming. For me and my dog Baker, this means more opportunities to practice skijoring using our Ruffwear Omnijore Joring Harness System. What is Joring? Joring is any sport where your dog essentially pulls you while you are moving as well. While skijoring is certainly the most common, with the release of the Ruffwear Omnijore Joring Harness system, Ruffwear has opened the doors to all sorts of joring activities. Mountain Bike-joring, skijoring, mountain board-joring, skatejoring… Whatever you want do do, Ruffwear makes it so that your dog can come along, and pull you along the way.
Ruffwear Omnijore Harness System Details
System consists of 3 parts- dog harness, towline and human harness
Dog harness is adjustable at multiple points and available in 3 sizes
Human harness has a water bottle holder, snack pouch and removable leg loops to keep the harness in place.
Towline has color coded attachment ends, and an internal core of shock absorbing material keeps the bouncing to a minimum
MSRP: $149.95
Ruffwear Omnijore Harness System Review
Baker and I have been practicing our skijoring for about a month now, and while Baker still needs some work, the Omnijore harness has been great! For many years, the only way you could get a skijoring harness was to order a specifically sized harness for your dog, much like a sled-dog harness. If you wanted a harness for any other sort of joring, your options were limited to modifying a skijoring harness to meet your needs. The Omnijore is a huge leap forward in technology- Ruffwear has taken its great harness design and made it into a functioning joring harness that is adjustable, making the sport much more accessible to the general population.
The system breaks down into three separate parts, and Greg with Ruffwear gives you the full low down on how to attach, adjust and fit each piece here in this YouTube video.
Overall, I found it very easy to use and to adjust for my dog and I. The harness slips easily on and off Baker, and the under-belly strap clips on very easily. I had to adjust the harness for the first time that we were using it, and after that, it was all ready to go. All of the webbing that surrounds your dog has a sleeve over it, so as to avoid chafing and discomfort. Of course, the Omnijore harness still come with the same great features we’ve come to expect from Ruffwear’s regular dog harnesses- a burly handle, in case you need to help your 4 legged friend up into the car or unexpectedly have a need to pick them up, a light loop, to attach a Ruffwear Beacon or other safety light to, in case you’re joring in darker conditions, and easily adjustable straps.
The human harness is great as well- I love that it comes with a built in water bottle holder and snack pouch. While I’ve been using it, I’ve left the leg loops on. If you and your dog are new to joring, I would recommend using them for a while! As Baker and I start and stop moving, the motions are not always the most fluid, and the leg loops help to keep the harness from riding too far up or down. My only complaint with the human harness is that it might not go small enough for all users. Ruffwear’s website says that it fits waists from 27 inches to 48 inches. At 5’4″ and 120 lbs, I have to cinch down the waist belt to the max to get it to stay on, and I know I’m not the smallest woman out there on Nordic skis! Layering helps, but keep the waist belt size in mind if you’re looking to purchase the Omnijore and you’re on the smaller size of life.
The towline, the third and final piece of the Omnijore, mimics the construction of Ruffwear’s Roamer leash, with a few modifications. The internal bungee core allows for some shock absorption, which is nice while you and your hound are still learning to jore. The end of the towline attaches to the dog harness with Ruffwear’s Talon Clip, which is easy to operate even with gloves on, and is color coded so you remember which end goes to the human and which end goes to the dog. The end attaching to the human harness allows for full range of motion from side to side, so you won’t get pulled off the trail immediately if Fido decides to veer slightly to the left!
Bottom Line
A well though out, well designed harness system for you and your hound. If only the Omnijore also guaranteed good joring skills out of my dog!
Looking for a new activity to try to get both you and your dog some exercise? How about Joring? Joring is any sport where your dog essentially pulls you while you are moving as well. While Skijoring is certainly the most common, with the release of the Ruffwear Omnijore Joring Harness system, Ruffwear has opened the doors to all sorts of joring activities. Mountain Bike-joring, skijoring, mountain board-joring, skatejoring… Whatever you want do do, Ruffwear makes it so that your dog can come along, and pull you along the way.
While joring of any sort does require some training for both you and your dog, the Ruffwear Omnijore System is a breakthrough in the general joring arena. For many years, the only way you could get a skijoring harness was to order a specifically sized harness for your dog, much like a sled-dog harness. If you wanted a harness for any other sort of joring, your options were limited to modifying a skijoring harness to meet your needs. The Omnijore is a huge leap forward in technology- Ruffwear has taken its great harness design and made it into a functioning joring harness that is adjustable, making the sport much more accessible to the general population.
For now, I’m saving my harness for the winter to skijore with my black lab, Baker. While we’ve attempted bikejoring a couple of times, the cross country ski trails around my house are a perfect training ground for skijoring. Look for a full review after I’ve had a chance to use it skijoring. For now, check out the details and the Ruffwear website for more information and some great photos.
Ruffwear Omnijore Harness System Details
System consists of 3 parts- dog harness, towline and human harness
Dog harness is adjustable at multiple points and available in 3 sizes
Human harness has a waterbottle holder, snack pouch and removable leg loops to keep the harness in place.
Towline has color coded attachment ends, and an internal core of shock absorbing material keeps the bouncing to a minimum
This coming fall, Ruff Wear will be releasing a newly redesigned version of their Beacon Safety Light, a small LED light that clips to your dog’s collar. The Beacon is a daily staple for wintertime in Alaska, since the sun doesn’t come out til after 10am and is gone by 3pm and we live in a town with zero street lights. To let my dog out in the mornings and the evenings, I had been putting a headlamp around his neck so that I could be sure to find him amidst the snowbanks and trees. Then, along came the Ruff Wear Beacon Safety Light.
When I first found Ruff Wear’s Beacon Safety Light I was thrilled- a flashing LED light with multiple flash settings (if you’ve got 3 dogs, there are 3 different flash settings. Bubba can be solid red, Fido flashing red, and the third a strobe setting. You’ll know exactly who is where without actually seeing the hound). Baker, my black lab, never went outside without it on in the early morning and late night hours. However, I ran through several original Beacon lights due to the high-profile nature of the light. The top covering got stuck on branches, in trees or in other dogs mouths, and popped right off. For Fall 2011, Ruff Wear has redesigned the Beacon and has addressed this issue! The newer Beacon is a much lower-profile light, but still features the multiple strobe settings and easy-on clip. The newly redesigned Beacon also features an easy-to-push “on” button and brighter LED lights.
The newly redesigned Beacon Safety Light will be available September 30th, 2011, with an MSRP of $16.95. Be sure to check it out at Ruffwear.com or through any of our retailers.
Looking for a way to protect your hound’s paws from the elements? Cold temps, scree slopes and long distances are no match for the Ruffwear Grip Trex Bark’n Boots.
Ruffwear Grip Trex Bark’n Boots Details
Non-marking Vibram® outsole with a new, multi-directional, flexible lug design
Adjustable closure strap
A one-piece mud guard enhances the fit and long-term durability of the boot
3M™ reflective details provide low-light visibility from multiple angles
Tightly woven air mesh keeps dirt and debris out while providing superior ventilation
I will be the first person to admit that I am skeptical of the idea of dogs wearing boots. I love the idea behind keeping a dog comfortable, but Baker, my black lab/cattle dog cross, is oblivious to pain. He will hike for hours, unfazed by fatigue, varied terrain, snow, or anything else that comes along. The idea of putting boots on him almost seemed silly. And, it certainly looked stilly. Then, last summer, when we were living on the beach, Baker was running along some rocks and snagged his toenail, ripping the majority of it off. After some intense first aid, Baker was officially on activity restriction, meaning “no getting his foot wet” for 3 weeks. The idea of keeping him away from the beach for 3 whole weeks was crushing, and I began to wish that I owned a set of dog booties so that he could keep his paw dry and still have a good time. However, I lost track of that idea and forgot to pick up a set. Then, winter set in up in AK, and we had a month of single digit high temps, with lows well below -25. Baker’s cut off point seems to be about -10. He’s fine to head outside until it’s below -10, but after that he starts pulling the “flamingo” maneuver, where he runs outside, discovers how cold it is, and then pulls one leg up away from the ice, attempting to warm it.
The following spring, Ruffwear redesigned their Grip Trex Bark’n Boots and I decided to give them a try. The newly designed boots have added traction and a new design to help them stay on better, which seems to work. I did have a few incidents of loosing a boot, but fortunately, it was in the middle of the trail and I snagged it before we biked/skied/walked past it. Overall, a great design and idea. However, there’s a fine line between keeping your dog comfortable and looking just plain ridiculous. If you live in the city, and take your dog on short walks on mellow terrain, you run the risk of looking like a total bafoon if you put booties on your dog (at least in my book). Extreme cold temps, long hikes over rocky terrain, sure, that makes sense. Older dogs who need traction on hardwood floors to help them stand up? Go for it. Just to look stylish and match the sweater you just purchased for your pooch? Please don’t. Just keep that in mind as you toss shoes on your hound.
The Good
Protects your pooches paws in a variety of terrain
Improved fit helps boots to stay on your dogs legs, instead of on the trail
Ruffwear realizes that you’ll have a “break-in” period with your dog and the boots. They’ve posted a great blog posting about how to deal with “The Break-In Dance,” be sure to check it out here!
Ruffwear also sells single boots. Rejoice, those of us who frequently lose things!
The Bad
Boots can still slip off occasionally. New design helps them stay on better, but they still wiggle their way off on occasion.
Bottom Line
The fit of the newly redesigned Bark’n Boots is better, and the idea behind them is great. Will I toss the boots on every single time I head on a hike with my dog? Probably not. Will I be super stoked that I own a pair come next January when we have 4 consecutive weeks of temps that don’t get above zero? Absolutely.
As the summer starts and I pack up for my bike trip, I’m also getting together all the things the dog will need for his multi-week vacation with the “grandparents,” down in Idaho. On my list of things to pack for Baker, my 70 lb black lab/cattle dog mix is his new Ruffwear Hoopie Collar and Flat Out Leash.
Hoopie Collar Details
4 New Pacific Northwest inspired designs for Summer 2011
Separate ID tag attachment point + included tag silencer = a quiet collar, even with tags on it
Constructed of tubular webbing- soft yet strong
Aluminum D-ring attachment point for leash
MSRP: $14.95
Flat Out Leash Details
4 New Pacific Northwest inspired designs for Summer 2011
Side buckle handle allows for 3 different leashes within 1.
Traffic Handle- perfect for those situations when you need a bit more control. Just grab the doubled section close to the end of the leash, and you’ve got a 1 foot leash instead of a 6 foot.
Talon Clip allows for easy, one handed clipping to collar
6 foot length
MSRP: $29.95
Ruffwear Hoopie Collar and Flat Out Leash Review
The Hoopie Collar has long been a staple of the Ruffwear Collar line. Made of tubular webbing, it is strong enough to do the job yet still lightweight for your hound. This year, the Hoopie features a new D-ring attachment for a a leash, which integrates well with the Talon Clip of the Flat Out Leash. It also features a silicon tag silencer, which is nice if you don’t want the noise. I live in Alaska, where the bears and moose almost outnumber the people, so I’ve taken off the tag silencer and added an extra bell: up here, we’re happy when the dog makes some noise and alerts the wildlife, as opposed to startling them! However, the tag silencer is a nice feature if the jingling drives you crazy when your pooch is wandering the house at 5am, wondering when breakfast will be served.
Now, on to the Flat Out Leash. You’d think there wouldn’t be that many details that would go into a dog leash- which is why I’ve never owned one. I’ve always grabbed an old piece of climbing rope and a carabiner, and just used that. It made lots of sense when my dog was a puppy; this way if he chewed his leash to shreds, I could toss a new section of climbing rope onto the carabiner, and, voile, new leash. So, for years, I’ve never actually owned a dog leash. Then, I got the Flat Out Leash and saw all the things I was missing out on.
First, the leash is significantly lighter than my rope/’biner combo. Second, the Flat Out Leash has some pretty sweet features, from the Talon Clip (which you really can attach with one hand, no trouble) to the “traffic handle,” to my favorite, the side buckle handle. The side buckle effectively makes the Flat Out Leash function as 3 different leashes. Wear it around your waist for hands free fun with Fido, use the leash as a hand-held leash for a regular walk, or buckle the leash to a tree or post and use it as a fixed leash as you run inside to grab a cup of coffee or drop off the mail. Last sweet feature? You can coordinate the colors with the Hoopie collar and your 4 legged friend will look all sorts of steezy.
Recently, I moved into a 1978 Toyota RV for the summer and headed to the Oregon coast to spend my summer surfing. Of course, accompanying me is Baker, my black lab/cattle dog mix. Every day, I head to the beach to surf, and Baker heads down with me, wearing his RuffWear Headwater Collar and bringing along his RuffWear Hydro Plane Frisbee.
The RuffWear Hydro Plane Frisbee was designed specifically for those dogs who love to frisbee in the water. First, its huge! Way bigger in circumference than most other frisbee’s I’ve seen. The outer ring is made of foam, so the frisbee acts as a pontoon when you toss it out onto the lake/ocean/river. The inner portion of the frisbee is hollowed out, so there’s added flotation there as well.
RuffWear Hydro Plane Frisbee Features
Huge! Oversized feature makes it easy to toss, easy for pup to pick up, and adds flotation
Outer foam ring- easy on the dog’s teeth, and returns to its original shape every time. Beware though, if you’ve got a chewer- they’ll shred through that ring pretty fast if they’re not supervised.
Bright colors- comes in red and yellow, so it’s super easy for your dog to spot no matter where it lands.
Overall, Baker loves his Hydro Plane. Here’s a sweet picture sequence of Baker catching the Hydro Plane on the beach in Oregon!
Bottom Line
A great frisbee for water loving dogs. Best use is definitely at a lake, but it works great for a beach frisbee as well!
Check It Out!
Looks like our vendors aren’t yet carrying the RuffWear Hydro Plane Frisbee, but you can check it out on the Ruffwear Website.
As I am packing for my upcoming Washington/Oregon surf trip, I am experiencing a new type of packing. What to bring for the dog, who will also be coming along in the truck for the 2 week trip? Baker will be sleeping in the truck with us, hanging on the beach with us, and will be an active participant in the whole trip! I’ve never brought a dog on a road trip before, so as I started laying out my kitchen box, sleeping bags and other items, it dawned on me that the dog would also need all of these things! I decided the first thing I would tackle would be a portable bed for the guy- everyone likes a place to sleep. I’m bringing along a RuffWear FlopHouse Foam Pad for Baker on this trip.
The FlopHouse Foam Pad seems ideal for our surfing/beach adventure for a few reasons:
It’s foldable, and can get pretty small, so when we’re not using it, it won’t take up too much space.
Integrated drain holes in the pad will let water drain out the bottom, instead of pooling and making a soggy bed. This will be great for naps after long days on the beach!
Inner foam is removable, so it can’t be hosed off and dried out quickly.
Comes in 3 sizes, which align perfectly with Small/Medium/Large crate sizing and the size of the back of most cars. The Large size fits perfectly in the back of a Subaru Forrester, or in the back seat of a Toyota Tacoma Xtra Cab (where Baker Dog will be staying as we drive cross-country).
Look for a full report when I return! For now, I’m off to finish packing the dog’s bin full of toys/beds/bowls/food/etc. Baker’s new Gourdo and Sqwash toys will also be coming with us!
