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Author - Jen Sotolongo

Hello! I'm Jen. I'm a writer, photographer, dog mom, and outdoor enthusiast. When I'm not writing about awesome ways to get outside with your dog, I'm probably out for a long trail run. I also fancy myself a pretty decent vegan cook, and am always happy to whip up a batch of cookies for friends. I am based in the Pacific Northwest and I never leave home without my dogs.

The Voyagers K9 Apparel Winter Coat is the best winter jacket for dogs.

Gear Review: Voyagers K9 Apparel Winter Coat

2 days agoJen Sotolongo5 min readAdd comment

Disclaimer: Voyagers K9 Apparel sent me a Winter Coat to test and review. I have purchased other jackets from the brand previously because I love the quality and design. I test my products thoroughly and in various conditions and always give my honest thoughts. In search of a functional[...]

October is Pet Obesity Awareness Month, and I've partnered with my pals at @dexasintl to talk about proper portions and helping your dog stay at a healthy weight. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, in 2018, an estimated 56% of dogs in the United States were overweight or obese. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The Internet has glorified "chonks" as cute in recent years, but it's actually a very serious matter that is becoming more and more common. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Some common causes of obesity include: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 1️⃣ Overfeeding - Dog owners tend to spoil their dogs, often in the form of extra food and frequent high-calories treats or unhealthy human foods. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Tip #1: Use the feeding guidelines on your pet's food bag as a guide and use a proper measuring cup, like the KlipScoop pictured here from Dexas. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 2️⃣ Low activity levels - Just like humans, if a dog isn’t getting enough exercise, they can become overweight. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Tip: Your dog doesn’t need to run 10 miles a day (even if they have a ton of energy), but they do need daily physical activity, which varies by breed. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 3️⃣ Age - As dogs get older, they have a higher tendency to become overweight. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Tip: Don't retire your dog from activity just because they're older! Simply adjust to fit their current abilities. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 4️⃣ Medical Conditions - Weight gain can be a sign of underlying health issues, such as hormonal disorders like Cushing’s Disease or an under-active thyroid. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Tip: Take your dog to the vet if the weight comes on suddenly or steps to reduce weight don't seem to be working. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What are your favorite ways to keep your dog at at healthy weight? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #petobesity #petobesityawarenessmonth #pethealth #hikingwithdogs #dogsthathike #pethealthcare #doghealthtips
I had had the idea for Adventure Dog Camp for a long time. I just didn't know what to do with that idea. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ When I met @headtotaildogtraining about a year ago, I learned that we had a shared vision. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ A few weeks ago, we made that vision a reality by bringing together 11 dogs and 10 people in a group camp setting. 🐕 ⛺️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Our goal was to create an inclusive and safe space for all of our guests and the dogs. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We wanted to create an atmosphere where reactive dog owners could relax and gain the skills and confidence to be outdoors with their dogs. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We sought to create a community of like-minded dog owners who advocate for their dogs and that also represents the diversity within the intersection of the outdoors and dog ownership, made possible thanks to a generous sponsorship from @visitcentraloregon that covered the cost for three BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+ guests. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🐾 For three days and three nights, we played, hiked, paddled, and learned. We warmed our chilled bodies with coffee and tea from @thehugocoffee and @metoliustea in the frigid Central Oregon temps, while our dogs enjoyed an ice cream social thanks to @swellgelatofordogs and @begandbarker. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🐾 Melissa led a fun enrichment workshop featuring @westpawus Toppls. We hiked as a group with zero issues and learned about pet first aid from a veterinarian. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🐾. We paddled at a nearby lake and, perhaps the highlight of all was two hours of barn hunt. MAN, was that FUN! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Now, who's coming next time? 👀 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ✅ Visit the link in my bio to sign up for ADC news and to receive a short survey that will help us shape future ADC events! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #adventuredogcamp #barnhunt #visitcentraloregon #hikingwithdogs #campingwithdogs
Hello, hello! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Sitka and I just returned from a three-week adventure that took us through five different states. We're glad to be back home, especially after the VERY long 12-hour drive we did from SLC yesterday. 😅 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🐕 It all started with Adventure Dog Camp in Central Oregon. @headtotaildogtraining and I hosted 10 humans and 11 dogs and it was SO.MUCH.FUN. More on that to come! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🏔 Right after that, we headed to Colorado to attend the @outdoormediasummit in Estes Park with @youdidwhatwithyourwiener and a whole bunch of new awesome friends. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🍂 From there, Sitka and I traveled some of the most beautiful roads in Colorado in search of Aspens and Instagram friends, like @ellenandpack , @tuckerleo_da_huskies, and @bannertheheelerpup. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🐶 Our final stop was Durango, where I spent a week shadowing @leadoffleashk9training, who has a super sweet set up in the mountains just outside of town. I had a blast and learned a ton from Cheryl! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I'll be posting more from each leg in the coming days! . . . #visitcolorado #coloradofall #aspenleaves #dogsofcolorado #roadtrippin #gopetfriendly #cattledog #cattledogsofinstagram #redheeler #rescuedogsrock
IMPOSTER SYNDROME. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This is something I work on constantly because I doubt my skills and expertise regularly. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I'm preparing a presentation on expert blogging tips for an upcoming conference and when the organizers asked if I wanted to present on the topic, I thought, ME? A blogging expert? No way. Not me. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I thought this despite the fact that I've owned and run my blog for nearly seven years. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Despite the fact that an editor from a major book publisher found me and asked me to write a book. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I thought this despite the fact that I've turned this into a full-time business. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I visited with a good friend recently and we talked about my imposter syndrome. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ She said four simple words that silenced my doubts: "I believe in you." ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I need to believe in me, too! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What about you? Do you feel like an imposter with your work and skills or are you confident in your abilities? . . . #cattledog #hikingwithdogs #traveloregon #exploregon #easternoregon #dogsofpnw #dogsoforegon #campingwithdogs #dogsthathike #cattledogsoinstagram #rescuedogsofinstagram
DO DOGS NEED DOG FRIENDS? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I've seen a few posts lately about dogs and their dogs friends, and I wanted to throw in my thoughts to the party. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I am of the belief that dogs do not NEED dogs friends. It is not a biological need for them to live. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I do believe that some dogs enjoy having dogs friends and I think everyone will agree that watching dogs play together is quite joyful. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I think what is most important is knowing how to properly introduce two new dogs and also ensuring that you, the owner, is advocating for your dog and not forcing them into play with other dogs when they would really rather just not. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Sora was one such dog. I was always so sad when we'd meet a new dog and she didn't want to play with them. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We tried to shape her into this dog that would play with other dogs and that just wasn't her. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Sometimes, she would play with the right dog, but most of the time, she'd try to pick a fight. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Part of the reason was improper introductions, another reason was OUR human want for her to play. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ With Sitka, things are different: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🐾 I've learned how to better introduce him to new dogs (I have a slide show all about that in my feed). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🐾 I watch for signs that he or the other dog is done playing and only recall him away when I see those signs. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🐾 I practice calmness around other dogs so that he doesn't think that other dogs = play ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🐾 I've stopped caring whether he plays with other dogs or not. If he does, yay! If he doesn't, that's ok! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Is your dog playful with other dogs or are they more introverted? . . #balancedtraining #balanceddogtraining #dogtraining #adventuredog #dogsofinstagram #washingtonexplored #wanderwashington #cattledogsofinstagram #cattledog #rescuedogsrock #rescuedogsofinstagram
September is #nationalpreparednessmonth and I've partnered with @tailtrax to bring you some tips on preparing for an emergency evacuation in the event of a natural disaster. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ In the west, we have experience increased wildfires and are aware that we could be asked to evacuate at any point during a burn. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Other areas of the country are seeing stronger storms and preparation is key to staying safe, and this includes your pet. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I've outlined five tips in this post to help prepare your pet for an emergency disaster. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 1. Use an app like @tailtrax to keep track of your pet's medical records. You can also access a veterinarian 24/7 and find local clinics easily. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 2. Crate train your dog. This will keep them from running away in the chaos, and prepare them if they need to be boarded while you are evacuated. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 3. Assemble an emergency kit for your dog that you can quickly grab on your way out the door. See essential items in slide #5 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 4. Make arrangements with a trusted friend in the event that you cannot get home in time. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 5. Don't wait for an evacuation order. If you can get out earlier, do it to avoid traffic and find a pet-friendly hotel. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Do you have any tips to add to this list? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #emergencypreparedness #emergencypreparednessmonth #tailtrax #beprepared #besafe #adventuredog #hikingwithdogs #dogsthathike #hikingdogsofinstagram #wildfireseason #campingwithdogs
A trail snack so good, my dog tries to woo me into sharing with him! #sponsored I brought along Peanut Butter Crunchy granola bars from @kodiakcakes on my most recent backpacking adventure to keep me fueled during our long day hikes. As a plant-based eater, the most common question I get is "where do you get your protein?" It's really not hard at all to fulfill my protein needs, especially with brands like @kodiakcakes that emphasize protein-packed products. Kodiak makes a ton of tasty mixes and snacks (including several plant-based options) that are ideal for enjoying at camp or at home! #Kodiak, #proteinpackedkodiak . #hikingwithdogs #dogsthathike #hikingdogsofinstagram #plantbased #plantbaseddiet #plantbasedathletes #rescuedogsofinstagram
Sitka and I have been having a ton of fun these past few weeks, hence being a bit MIA! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ One of our adventures took us to @crystalmountain, which just so happens to be VERY dog friendly! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I've always avoided Mt. Rainier because it is a National Park and therefore not so welcoming to dogs. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Enter Crystal Mountain. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Located just outside of the NP boundaries and with the "best view of Mt. Rainier with the least amount of effort" Crystal Mountain jumped to the top of list of places to visit because, well, because Mt. Rainier. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What makes it so dog-friendly? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Dogs can ride the state's only gondola where Mt. Rainier greets you front and center (unless it's cloudy, like it was the day I visited 😖) ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The Summit House Restaurant patio is dog-friendly and serves tasty food with views to match (including a couple vegan options, woot!). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Crystal is also crushing it with summer activities, most of which are dog-friendly, including paddle boarding, foraging, guided hikes, and more. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ And, and, and next year, they'll have glamping tents you can enjoy with your pup. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ In addition to all the fun activities, there are miles and miles of hiking trails both at and near the resort that allow dogs. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I'm already planning my winter visit for some snowshoeing. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Who wants to join me? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Thank you so much for hosting Sikta and me @crystalmountain. We can't wait to come back!
If you have a reactive dog, then you are probably all too familiar with trigger stacking. It can happen to any dog, but it's definitely more prevalent with reactive dogs. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It's true that when it rains, it pours! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Raise your hand if you've ever gone on a dog walk and all of your dog's triggers just seemed to appear one right after the other. 🙋🏻‍♀️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It's not fun, it's frustrating, it's draining, and it's demoralizing. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Just when you think you've made progress with your dog, boom! You have a terrible walk. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Here's what you need to know: It's OK. It sucks, but it's ok. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Here's are a few ways we tackle our triggers: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🐾 I know what my dog's triggers are. I listen for them and know their sounds and try to hear and see them before he does. If you have a reactive dogs, then you'll want to gradually increase their exposure over time. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🐾 We practice calm behaviors around the triggers. For us lately, that means staying in a down in the park near the busy road where there's often trucks and motorcycles whizzing by. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🐾 Monday is garbage day, and you know how much Sitka loves the garbage truck. We follow the truck around while Sitka earns his breakfast. Some days, we can work on the same block, other days, we have to have more of a buffer. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🐾 Most importantly, I don't react to his triggers. I know what could happen and prepare as best I can. If I become reactive, then it will only cause more reactivity in Sitka, so I stay calm and focus on getting away from the trigger if it sparks a reaction. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Pay attention to how long your dog's reactions last each time. If the duration shortens over time, that's how you know you're progressing. If not, then keep working and you'll get there! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What tips do you have for working around your dog's triggers?