Welcome fellow dog lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. You have entered Dottie's Corner.
Kick off your boots and stay a while!
Dottie is a 13 yr old black lab mix. As one of the founding members of the Canine Hiking Club of AZ she has logged many trail miles with me, her momma. Since she is getting on in years I thought it a fitting tribute to her to give her an everlasting place on the CHCoA website. Hiking with her all these years has inspired me to continually educate myself on ways to safely share the outdoors with my little companion. If your traildog has motivated you in simular ways, you're in the right place. Dottie's Corner is full of helpful resources and I hope you find what you are looking for. If not, email me, Jamie at jdeben@hotmail.com,
I'll see what I can do.
What's in Dottie's Corner?
**Much of the information below is still being added to the website. Please bear with me as I
make the time to get it compiled and uploaded in the proper place.**Education and Training Providers in Arizona
Medical Training / Land Navigation / Obedience Training
Outdoor Education and Survival Skills / Snake AvoidanceHuman and Canine Gear Lists
The 10 Essentials / Jamie D.'s Day Hiking List
Mark W.'s Backpacking List / Jamie D.'s Backpacking ListDay Hiking
Camping
Backpacking
(Dottie shares her insight on how to get started and safely enjoy the backcountry with our fur-friends.)Statewide Emergency
Veterinarian List
(Don't wait until you need this info., get it NOW and take it with you on your hike)Okay, we're stuck in the wilderness, now what?
(Survival Tips for Adults and Children)Flora and Fauna of Arizona
(Get the real scoop on "dangerous" critters, cacti and insects.)
*NOTE* - Neither Jamie D. nor the CHCoA guarantees the competency of any of the instructors or educational organizations listed below. As with choosing any educational program you should get references and ask questions to your satisfaction before enrollment.
| Medical Training - Human and Canine |
Statewide/Valleywide
American
Red Cross - Offers Pet First-aid and CPR, Human First-aid, Wilderness First-aid
and many more helpful courses for outdoor enthusiasts. Northern AZ Chapter
-
Flagstaff 928-779-5494
or krouth@arizonaredcross.org. Central AZ Chapter - Phoenix 602-336-6661
or phxaz@crossnet.org. Southern AZ Chapter - Tucson 520-318-6872
or questions@tucson-redcross.org
Heart Central - Offers CPR and First-aid courses, Wilderness First-aid and several other healthcare related classes. Training provided in accordance with AHA and ASHI guidelines. 480-767-7388.
Maricopa Community Colleges - Some offer Wilderness First Responder and other medical related training courses as either part of an Outdoor Eduction program or the EMT program.
Sportsman's Warehouse Retail Stores - Offer Wilderness First-aid classes taught by American Red Cross instructors. Classes are held inside stores valleywide.
Cave Creek
Bonnies Barkery - Offers American Red Cross Pet First-Aid and CPR classes each month in their store. Cost $30 per person. Pre-register by email at bonniesbarkery@qwest.net or sign-up in the store. Call 480-502-7973 for more info.
Flagstaff
Desert Mountain
Medicine - Specializing in customized backcountry medical training for outdoor
guides, professionals and enthusiasts. Offers Wilderness First Responder courses.
(866) 881-6313
or info@desertmountainmedicine.com for details.
Health Management Consulting - National Safety Council First Aid and CPR classes. 928-773-0093 or dmwille@msn.com
Gilbert
Pete & Mac’s Recreational Resorts for Pets - Offers the four hour American
Red Cross Pet First-Aid and CPR Course. Classes start periodically throughout
the year, call 480-633-3384 for info.
Phoenix
AZ
Humane Society
- Pet CPR and First Aid Class. Learn how to care for a sick or
injured animal in an emergency. Call (602) 997-7586, Ext. 1024
for details.
Tucson
Humane
Society of Southern AZ - Pet First Aid Course - Learn how
to recognize
an emergency, handle an injured pet, administer first aid and emergency prevention.
For more info. call 520-321-3704, Ext. 141
Pet Tech® First Aid & Emergency Care - Four hour classes include lecture, demonstration and hands on practice. Contact Kristen Codianni at 520-762-8269 or 520-360-5026 or Pet.Edu@hotmail.com.
| Land Navigation - Map and Compass Skills |
Both
the Maricopa
County Parks Dept. and the City
of Phoenix Parks Dept. - Offer Ranger led monthly seminars and day-long workshops
often addressing land navigation and topographic map reading. Contact your local
mountain park for more details.
Phx. Mtn. Preserve 602-262-7901, Papago Park/Camelback Mtn. 602-256-3220, S. Mtn.
Park 602-262-7393.
Greater Phoenix Orienteering Club - Offers Land Navigation Classes for all levels. Call (602) 212-6741 or email gphxoc@yahoo.com for more details. Phoenix
REI Recreational Equipment Inc - Offers a wide range of clinics in both their Paradise Valley and Tempe stores. Call Tempe (480) 967-5494 or P.V. (602) 996-5400 for more info.
Tucson Orienteering Club - Conducts competitions and educational clinics for all levels. Call (520) 628-8985 or email outreach@tucsonorienteering.org for more info.Tucson
| Obedience Training for the Trail |
For K9 Solutions - Owner Ken Desch - All types of training for all types of
breeds. Ken specializes in difficult behaviors like aggression, anxiety, and
fear. Call 602-618-0446 or email K.Desch@cox.net for more info.
"My Dog Ate It" Dog and Owner Training - Director of Training Jamie J. DeBenedetto - e-mail Obedience as it relates to hiking, backpacking, camping etc. is taught through private lessons. Behavioral modification and group classes also offered. CHCoA donators receive a $10 discount per lesson. Serving Phoenix and surrounding cities for over 12 yrs.
| Outdoor Education and Survival Skills |
All over Maricopa County
Central
Arizona Mountain Rescue Association - They offer a Community Education Program
free (donation based) to the public or private sector. Contact speedwork@cox.net
or go to the Maricopa County Sheriff's
Office
Mountain Rescue website for more info.
Maricopa County Parks Dept. - Offers Ranger led programs at most of their park locations. Topics range from desert survival and edible plants to land navigation and recognizing venomous creatures. Go to www.maricopa.gov/parks for more info. or call a county park near you.
Maricopa Community Colleges - Some offer an Outdoor Eduction program where they plan hikes and offer in class lectures on outdoor skills and preparedness.
Sportsman's Warehouse Retail Stores - Offers a variety of clinics, most are fre, on various outdoor and hunting related topics. Classes are held inside stores valleywide.
Flagstaff
Ancient Pathways, LLC. - Offers courses in desert survival
and bushcraft living skills in Northern and Central AZ. Call
928-774-7522 or
email info@apathways.com for more details.
Peoria
City of Peoria Parks and Recreation Dept. - Offers instruction on hiking, backpacking, and kayaking as well as monthly outings through their Outdoor Adventure Program. For info. email communityservices@peoriaaz.gov or call 623-773-7725.
Phoenix
City
of Phoenix Parks Dept. - Offers monthly Ranger led day-long classes or short
1 to 2 hour workshops at several local mountain parks. Topics vary from outdoor
living and survival skills to discussions about venomous creatures. Visit www.ci.phoenix.az.us/PARKS/hikemain.html
for more info. or call your local Phoenix Mtn Park.
South Mtn. Park - 602-534-6324 or the Phx. Mtn. Preserve -602-262-7901
Portal
Raven's
Way Traditional School - Primitive
skills and nature workshops near the Chiricahua Mountains in Southeastern Arizona.
Call 520-403-5085
or email ravens_way@hotmail.com for details.
Prescott
Aboriginal Living Skills School, LLC. - Offers courses in modern and primitive outdoor living skills. Call (928) 713-1651 or email at abodude@alssadventures.com for more info.
Arizona Outdoor Institute - Call 928-778-2567 or email canyon@hotmail.com for more info.
Arizona Wildlife Federation (AWF) - Offers weekend workshops in Prescott for women covering skills like hunting, archery, fishing, gun safety, camping, Dutch-oven cooking, map and compass reading, wildlife photography, canoeing, kayaking, rappelling, etc. Email awf@azwildlife.org or call (480) 644-0077.
Roosevelt
Reevis
Mountain School -
Courses in survival skills and useful plants of the
desert, held in the Superstition Mountains. For
more information call (480) 961-0490 or (928) 467-2675 or email bigfoot@reevismountain.org.
Scottsdale
Deer
Tribe Metis Medicine Society - Offers a Wilderness Survival Training course.
Email wits@dtmms.org for more info.
Native American Self-Awareness Institute - Offers courses and workshops covering ecology education, natural living and wilderness survival skills, Native American lifeways, earth and body-based spirituality, or weight loss transformation. Call (480) 970-8811 or email stbrtewa@aol.com for more details.
Tucson
Willow
River Wilderness School - Offers courses in survival, fire building, tracking
and wilderness skills. Call 520-360-6868
or email info@willowriverwilderness.com for details.
| Snake and/or Toad Avoidance Training |
Camp Verde
North Rim Retrievers - Brent and Debra Bouldin -
928-567-9431
Globe
Pinal Mountain K9 - 480-202-5524
Maricopa County
Snake Safe - Jay Smith or Web Parton at
520-792-6411 or dogs@theriver.com or casacielo@theriver.com
Marana
Buhrke's
Pet Resort
- Steve Buhrke - 520-682-4114
New River
ViperVoidance
- 480-215-1776
or bigjim@doitnow.com
Pinal County
Southwest Snake Avoidance Experts - Michael Percy - 520-449-4200 or Roger Nelson - 520-399-1132 (serving - Tucson, Oro Valley, Green Valley, Marana, Avra Valley, Sierra Vista, Catalina, Oracle, Bisbee, Tubac, Rio Rico, Arivaca and other communities)
Snake Safe - Jay Smith or Web Parton at 520-792-6411 or dogs@theriver.com or casacielo@theriver.com (serving communities within three hours of Tucson)
Peoria
For K9 Solutions - Owner Ken Desch - 602-618-0446 or K.Desch@cox.net
Phoenix
Westside Pet Center
Kennels - Bill Gibbons - 602-272-8008 or magmabirddogs@earthlink.net
Debbie and Rick Maher - 623-936-7333 or RAMaher@juno.com
Tucson
Animal Magnetism - In home training - 520-850-2846
Humane Society of Southern AZ - At the Companions for Life Center - 520-795-6181 or 520-795-6115.
Karyn Garvin & Associates Inc. - 520-790-Dogs(3647)
Wickenburg
Debbie
and Rick Maher -
623-936-7333
or RAMaher@juno.com
Gear Lists for Owner and Traildog
The items listed below have been compiled from various sources. Please keep in mind this info. is intended as helpful guidelines, not as a comprehensive checklist. Personal outdoor equipment will vary. Each trip should be planned with specific weather, terrain and other changing factors in mind. Plan ahead, pre-use and check your gear before you hit the trails.
The "10 Essentials"
(Items you should never be without regardless of the length or
location of your journey)
|
Humans |
Dogs |
| 1. Water and a method to purify more | 1. Water and a method to dispense it |
| 2. Food | 2. Food |
| 3. Shelter - space blanket, poncho | 3. Shelter |
| 4. Fire - lighter, matches | 4. Collar or Non-Restrictive Harness |
| 5. First-Aid Supplies | 5. Leash |
| 6. Sun Protection - hat, sunglasses | 6. First-Aid Supplies |
| 7. Extra Clothing - jacket, rain gear | 7. Outerwear - rain coat, sweater, booties |
| 8. Map and Compass | 8. Emergency Vet Location and Phone # - CHCoA List, VetWeb List |
| 9. Knife or Multi-tool | 9. Pliers or Tweezers |
| 10. Signalling - flashlight, chemical sticks, headlamp, whistle, mirror | 10. Identification - Rabies and up to date I.D tags |
A more detailed account of the K9 Ten Essentials can be found in the "Something to Chew On" section.
Mark
W.'s Backpack
Equip. List (3 Season )(Human Items Only)
(Mark advises you to choose items that match
your trip plans and the expected weather conditions)
|
The 10+ Essentials Extra clothing layer(s)
- Map of area (in waterproof case)
- Drinking water
- Compass
- Food
-
Headlamp or flashlight
- Extra batteries / bulbs
-
First-aid kit - Sunglasses (with |
Hiking Clothing Quick-drying pants/shorts - Short-sleeved shirts - Wicking long underwear (top/bottoms) - Long sleeve shirts - Regular underwear - Warm pants (fleece or wool) - Quick drying swimsuit - and Fleece or wool vest |
|
Other Gear Backpack
- Day/summit pack
- Pack cover-
Funnel
-
|
Outerwear Rainwear (top/bottoms) - Fleece jacket or wool sweater -Fleece or wool gloves/mittens - Waterproof gloves/overmitts - Warm hat (fleece or wool) - Wide-brimmed rain/sun hat -and Bandanna |
|
Kitchen Cook set, w/ dishes - Cooking/eating utensils - Cup - Pot grabber -Biodegradable soap - Pot scrubber/dish towel - Stove and fuel - Food (adequate supply for your trip) |
Personal Items Lip balm (with sun protection) - Head net - Insect repellent - Toothbrush and toothpaste - Small bath towel - Brush/ Comb - Trowel - Toilet paper - Other personal toiletry items |
|
Footwear Hiking socks - Wicking liner socks - Gaiters - Hiking boots/shoes that match the terrain - and Extra laces |
|
Jamie
D's Backpack
Equip. List (3 Season)
(I'm
fairly weight conscious so I've included the pounds/ounces for some of my items
in case anyone viewing this is interested. Additionally, I did not list food
and
water amounts since these totals vary with each trip.)
|
Backpack and Shelter - Total weight with the 23F bag is 5 lbs 1 oz; total with the 45F degree bag is 5 lbs 3oz Six
Moon Designs Comet
backpack - 3700
cu
inches - 27 oz |
Clothes - Clothes will also vary depending on climate and days on the trail. This is what I generally wear/carry for 2 or 3 day outings in mild conditions. 1 pair convertible hiking pants - 1 PolyPro quick drying t-shirt - 1 long sleeve Polypro shirt - 1 lightweight long sleeve fleece pullover - 1 pair Polartec tights - Undergarments (the usual for a female!) - 1 swim suit if needed |
|
Kitchen - Total weight less fuel is 5 oz Aluminum beer can pot - Homemade Esbit stove - Esbit fuel tabs (will vary depending on how much cooking I'm doing) - Lexan spork - Olay Cleansing Clothes for cleaning cookware - Packtowl lightweight camp towel (used for drying cookware and as a pot holder) - Two 1 gallon size ziplock bags |
Outerwear Montane Featherlite wind/rain shirt - 1 wool hat - 1 fleece neck gaiter - 1 pair cotton or fleece gloves - As least 1 bandanna - wide-brimmed hat - sunglasses - and if the temps are going to be below 45 F I will bring my down jacket - |
|
Personal Items - Total weight 6 oz I. D. - Money - Hair tie - Lib balm - Kleenex - Toothpaste and Toothbrush - Comb - Travel size deodorant - Olay Cleansing Clothes for washing - Toilet paper - and if out for more than a couple of days, I also carry a small tube of lotion (this is my personal luxury item!) |
Footwear Trail Runners - 2 pairs wool blend socks - 1 pair Acorn fleece slippers (for night-time camp shoes) - if I'm expecting lots of water crossings I bring a pair of Tevas instead of the slippers |
|
10 Essentials & Other Items - Total weight is just under 3 lbs Compass - map in ziplock
bag - LED
Headlamp - water purification
tabs - whistle
- pocket knife - two large trash bags - rope - duct tape - matches in waterproof
container - fire starting material - emergency food - sunblock
- bug repellent
-
small pad of paper and pencil - wristwatch - trekking
poles. First-aid kit - includes pain and wound management stuff plus tweezers, Vet Wrap, moleskin, burn cream and eye wash solution. I carry extra of the bandage material and pain management when hiking with my dog. Scroll up to the K9 10 essentials list for 2 on-line lists with suggestions of what to put in a doggie first-aid kit. |
Dog Gear - I have two dogs but I only hike with one at a time for safety reasons. They both use a 15 oz Granite Gear Ruff Rider dog pack. I generally have them carry: I.D & rabies tags, collar, collapsible bowl, small fleece blanket, a sweater if it's going to be below freezing, and food. What I carry for them: water, leash, first-aid supplies, emergency vet info. and eye medication. I may also carry doggie booties if we will be on rough or hot trails for an extended period, otherwise I bring extra rolls of Vet Wrap(bright colors are prefered). |
Human and Traildog Related Websites
|
|
(www.BackpackGearTest.org) |
 |
Maricopa
County Sheriff's Office Mountain Rescue
Team
(outdoor safety information) |
Arizona Department of Transportation (The ADOT website provides a map and a list of all statewide freeway and ramp closures and delays)
Easy Gourmet Trail Food (Recipes by and for backpackers who want filling meals and no cleanup)
"Never Lost Pet" Custom Engraved Pet ID Tags or at www.petidtags.ws
REI (Outdoor equipment rental and sales - Loctions in Tempe and Phoenix)
Campmor (On-line outdoor equipment sales - not local)
Ultimate
Direction Packs (Hydration packs for people - not local)
GoLite (Lightweight backpacking
gear - not local)
Guyot Designs (Makers of the Squishy
Pet Bowl and other useful hiking items)
TrailHound (Retail store with stuff just for dogs - not local)
Ruffwear (Canine outerwear and travel gear manufacturer - not local)
Outdoor Safety (Canine and Human First-aid kit retailer - not local)
Your Active Pet (On-line retailer of aventure gear for dogs - not local)
DogPark.com (Listing of off leash parks in the USA and Canada)