Sarah Toews climbed some as a child, but really picked up bouldering about three years ago. Two years ago, she and her husband, Christian, decided they wanted a dog and fell in love with their golden retriever. When Sarah and Christian Toews adopted Teddy, also known as Theodore the Golden Boy, they drove all the way to Iowa to do it, with no regrets. His dad was a champion dog, his mom a house dog, and now he’s a crag dog.  A crag is a mass of rock that may be suitable to climb, and “a crag dog is just a dog that goes with you to the crags,” Toews said. “So, you’ve got your climbing partner, someone to go climb with, but he’s your [climbing] buddy.”  Not any dog is crag dog material. It’s important for a crag dog to be sociable, have endurance, follow commands, and not get spooked easily or go off chasing wildlife.  “When you’re climbing, you need to trust that your dog is not going to get in the way or wander off,” Toews said.  After his first road trip back to Texas, Teddy went on his first camping trip to Palo Duro Canyon Sate Park when he was about six months old. He went on several hikes and went bouldering with Sarah and Christian. He easily maneuvered over and around rocks on the hike and when they were boulder hunting. But back at the campsite, one night, it was so windy that the gusts were caving in the sides of the tent and Teddy was terrified, so they all made their way to the car to seek sturdier, quieter cover from the wind to get some rest. Despite his experience with the wind and being absolutely exhausted when they got home, Teddy did really well on that adventure, and they knew they adopted a great dog and climbing buddy.   Whenever they go climbing or on any outdoor voyage, they pack all of Teddy’s equipment: water, water bowl, his black Kong bone, and poop bags because “you pack it in, you pack it out.” They carry a dog bed for the car ride and depending on whether it’s hot or cold they’ll bring for him a towel or blanket, respectively. And he also has his own vest that holds his bowl and poop bags because “he’s a working dog!” Since adopting Teddy, they’ve worked to train him well, especially considering that he is not only a crag dog, but Sarah’s emotional support dog. He knows the basic sit, stay, lay commands, but they’ve also taught him “leave it” and one they consider really important while climbing: “your bed.” When he hears that, Teddy knows to go lay on whatever bedding they’ve laid out for him.  Teddy has been on nearly every trip they’ve taken except for one and the trips he’s been on are not only climbing, they’re also mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, and even just running errands.  “We’re those annoying people where when we go to our friend’s house, our dog comes,” she laughed.  He’s traveled with them around Texas, to Oklahoma, to Arkansas, Colorado and Tennessee. He has been to at least 10 different state and national parks so far, including Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma—one of her favorite places to climb—Eisenhower State Park here in Texas, Smoky Mountain National Park in Tennessee, and Hobbs State Park in Arkansas. She says he’s great company to have at the campsite and to go boulder hunting with.  “It was just really fun to be working on a boulder and then, when you’re resting and just bored and itching to climb again, but knowing you shouldn’t because you’re not ready, to have a dog to play fetch with or pet or just talk to.” Sarah has slowed down on the climbing a bit because she tweaked a pulley (a common finger injury in bouldering) while climbing a few months ago, but the injury has only put her climbing on pause. Teddy goes to watch her play in a soccer league and in April they went back to Palo Duro Canyon on a mountain biking trip. She suggests for any climbers considering adopting a dog to journey with them to the crags, to look into which breeds are best for such adventures, do research on which parks allow dogs, and to just do it. Time was a factor that made her think twice about getting a dog—she thought having a dog would slow her and her husband down because they are so busy, but it hasn’t.  “I come home every day and I’m happier because I’m greeted by my dog.” Here is a link to all the parks in Texas that allow dogs in the park and on hikes.  https://hikewithyourdog.com/texas Note: It is important to do research on the park rules, hikes, and to check the weather to make sure you and your dog will be comfortable and safe.  Visit Teddy on his Instagram: @theodore_the_golden_boy

The American Eskimo, commonly known to the meme world as a cloud floof (not to be confused with the Shoob), got its name from one of the most contentious times in American history.  image provided by blendshapes/iStock/Getty Image German immigrants in the 1930s came to the United States seeking a new life. Many of them were farmers that brought over their German Spitz dogs that are widely known as all-around great farm pups.  This breed was instantly popular among the show community, which led to them being featured in many trained dog acts across the country. There was even a famed tightrope walking pup named Pierre that performed for Barnum & Bailey in the 1930s.  After the United States entered World War I, there was a lot of controversy and anger pointed towards anything German. This led to the renaming of the breed as the American Eskimo Dog, although this gorgeous floof has no history with the Inuit people commonly referred to as Eskimo.  Many families have sought these dogs as companions for their high energy and loyalty. They are virtually perfect to be around a growing family as they are whip-smart and highly affectionate. The added benefit of their intelligence is that they're easily trained for any situation and can even be taught to perform many service dog jobs.  They always have a white or cream-colored coat and are bred in three sizes (toy, miniature, and standard). The toy size has been increasingly popular but the standard has been the most common for decades due to their great history in shows and effectiveness on farms.  The American Kennel Club took nearly a century to register its first American Eskimo in 1995, but its history predates many of the most popular breeds in the country. SIZE Height: Ranges from 9 inches as a toy to 19 inches as a standard.  Weight: Anywhere from a few pounds to over 35 pounds.  GROOMING They have two coats of thin white fur that sheds constantly. While their fur tends to be easily combed, it can be a bit of a chore if they like to roll around in the dirt outside. Luckily they have a naturally oily fur that makes brushing off dirt an easy task.  You should comb them 2-3 times a week to keep their fur from matting. They do not need baths very often, typically only once every few months unless absolutely necessary. However, if their skin dries out it can cause skin irritation that can lead to more trouble down the road.  EXERCISE AND TRAINING The main thing that makes the American Eskimo such a great show dog is the ease of training. Many first-time Eskie companions are surprised at how easy it is to teach them basic commands. And they excel in environments where they can perform much more energy-consuming tasks. As with many farm dogs, the Eskie needs an abundance of space to work out. They have adapted very well to warmer climates so even when it's 80-plus degrees outside your Eskie will still be begging to run around long after you're winded. It's advised that you find an open space to let them run as much as they want.  HEALTH ISSUES Many large breeds tend to have issues with hip dysplasia and the Eskie is no exception. They also have a history of progressive retinal atrophy.  Talk with your vet and schedule regular testing to make sure you get out ahead of any potential problems with your Eskie. Also, make sure you're doing all of your due diligence when searching through breeders.  The American Kennel Club refers to the American Eskimo Dog Club of America for anyone looking to rescue or find one of these gorgeous and affectionate companions.  Texas Dog Magazine encourages readers to send in pictures and stories from all dog rescues. If you have an Eskie of your own or just a great story to share with us, send it on over to our social media page.

Kaylee was surrendered by her previous owner to BARCS in Baltimore for euthanasia at age 11.  On June 12, 2017 she found her fur-ever home with the Davis family after Melissa Davis’ child Raven wanted to adopt “an old dog that might not otherwise get adopted.” Just 15 days after bringing her home it was discovered that Kaylee had cancer which spurred #KayleesBucketList. Soon after, Kaylee took the internet by storm when her human, Melissa, began sharing Kaylee’s adventures conquering her bucket list via Facebook.  Kaylee’s Bucket List: 1. Find a forever family 2. Go out for a burger 3. Go out for ice cream 4. Breakfast in bed 5. Celebrate my birthday 6. Go for a (short) hike 7. Find a home for Sarge from Senior Dog Sanctuary of Maryland 8. Go to Disney World 9. Go on a picnic 10. Have a doggie massage 11. Go out for coffee with mom 12. Go to the beach 13. Have professional photos 14. Meet a celebrity 15. Inspire someone to adopt a senior dog 16. Eat a cheese buffet in memory of Sargie 17. Visit another state 18. Eat a real Thanksgiving meal 19. Photos with Santa 20. Eat at a dog-friendly restaurant  She completed almost all of her bucket list items, but Kaylee’s health deteriorated further in early January. After consulting veterinarians, Melissa and her family were told they would have to say goodbye.  On Jan. 15 Kaylee passed away, free from the pain of her cancer and surrounded by all of her humans. According to Melissa, on Kaylee’s last day she had “country fried steak, eggs, potatoes, a puppacchino, a cheese buffet, a bacon cheeseburger from McDonald's, a trip to the Senior Dog Sanctuary of Maryland and lots of snuggles.” Melissa continues to use the @KayleesBucketList Facebook page with tens of thousands of followers to gather donations for BARCS, encourage people to adopt senior dogs and celebrate senior dogs’ happy endings. Melissa says that each time someone shares Kaylee’s story or adopts a senior dog she lives on.

As Texas shakes off that cold weather and begins to descend into its only other season, there are a few weeks where the hot and cold mix give way to a brief spring. Warmer weather brings the need for adventure, but for many taking their pupper along is a must and can prove challenging. We’ve compiled a list of must-have items for traveling with your fur baby and why you need them.  1.) A seatbelt with harness:  Taking your dog on a ride can be dangerous if they like to walk around, not only can it cause you to crash your car, but also your dog to go flying into the nearest hard surface in the car. Buckling up your dog can help them as much as it does you. Also, be sure to attach the seatbelt to a harness so as to not choke out your fur baby every time you tap the brakes.  2.) Water bowl/bottle:  Keeping plenty of water for your little, or big one, is a must. As it gets hotter your dog will become dehydrated faster. Be sure to have plenty of water and a way for them to drink it.  3.) Calming aid : Some doggos hate the car, and for long road trips this can be stressful for you and your pup. Try giving your pup a calming aid with melatonin. This not only will help them calm down but may also put them to sleep.  Image provided by Thundershirt 4.) Thundershirt:  Another way to reduce your dog’s anxiety during travel is to invest in a Thundershirt. The shirt wraps your dog in a tight jacket applying pressure to their body – making some dogs feel safer.  5.) A leash:  You’ll want to take a leash with you on your trip, and make sure to take frequent breaks if you and your pal are in the car for a long time. Your baby may not need to go potty every time, but they like to stretch their legs too.  6.) Waste bags:  It may seem obvious but not every place you go will have doggy clean up areas, so make sure to bring something to clean up after your pet with.