Pet Project

Oh, the joys of pet ownership. Pets come with all sorts of pleasures and woes. Some owners find more woes than others, but, regardless of these annoying parts, a therapeutic bond can form.

An article published in the Western Journal of Nursing Research in 2002 found that the presence of brightly colored fish in an aquarium positively affected eating habits and nutrition of Alzheimer patients. Another article, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association in 2001, concluded that while medications can lower the blood pressure in hypertension patients, pets accomplish this better by lowering patient response to stresses that cause high blood pressure.

The studies, however, forgot to mention the stress caused by a dog that barks at passing cars all night, or that finds valuable electronics to chew on.

So, for better or worse, we have pets. Some pets, like parakeets, guinea pigs, and turtles, sit in their respective containers all day. More interactive pets, like dogs, cats, and horses, require daily playing, walking, or grooming to be healthy. This takes time and often causes you to leave the house. Leaving the house to amuse your pet can be an enjoyable past time. An owner can take his pet to play fetch in the park or for a walk, run, or bike ride along the many trials in Logan Canyon. Pets, such as dogs, are great backpacking partners; they hardly ever complain and they love to be alone with you however long you are wandering.

However fun these activities are in the spring, summer, and fall, the owner’s desire to leave the house may wane during the cold winter.

“Her love handles are quite evident during the winter,” Lauren Hancey, social studies secondary education major, said regarding her dog Lila. “But, the last thing I want to do is trudge out into the cold inversion weather with the dog.”

What can one do to entertain their dog during the winter? The solution takes a little more effort than walking to the neighborhood park, but it is close. Winter activities in Cache Valley are abundant and many are dog friendly and lack the inversion. For example, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing exercise both the dog and the owner. One sport, skijoring, involves the dog pulling its cross-country skiing owner in a mix between skiing and dog sledding. If your dog is more athletic, wear him out in deep, un-groomed snow such as the Jardine Juniper trail, located approximately 12 miles up Logan Canyon. Smaller and older dogs can jog along groomed trails such as Green Canyon, located in North Logan.

With the right clothing, these activities are generally warm. Skis, snowshoes, GPS and other needed equipment are available to rent at the Outdoor Recreation Program (ORP), located east of Romney Stadium. Once equipped, an owner can head to the trailhead where he can wear his dog out for hours.

Additionally, the ORP began a trial dog policy at their yurt in Green Canyon. The yurt, located three miles up Green Canyon, has all the amenities for a warm cozy night in the winter wild. Equipped with a wood burning stove, a propane cooking stove, cushioned beds, and cutlery, it is a place to camp outdoors with your dog and not freeze.

The yurt, discounted for students, is rented through the ORP and owned by campus recreation. Check availability by calling 435-797-3264 or stopping into the ORP.

The groomed trail to the yurt accommodates small, fat and old dogs alike. Once there, the owners with the more energetic dogs can explore the adjacent Naomi Wilderness with its deep snow and cross-country skiing trails. Due to Forest Service policy, the dogs must be leashed for the first mile up Green Canyon. After that mile, however, the dog is free to romp and play.

Both owner and pet benefit from continued winter activity. Activity can curb the winter blues for both parties, and then soon, it is back to playing fetch in the park.