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Ultimate Adventure Companion

All you need to know about going wild with man's best friend

We Went Dogsledding

Did Katie Heaney actually go dogsledding? It seems like it—or this whole thing is just an extremely detailed fever dream.

The Undisputed King of Dogsled Tourism

Starting with a single Alaskan Husky named Derby, Kenth Fjellborg built a dogsled-touring empire that attracts 5,000 would-be mushers a year to a frozen patch of tundra 100 miles north of the Arctic Circle. And he's not afraid to yell at you in bad words.

Could Your Dog Save Your Life?

Yes. Here are the real-life stories and training advice to prove it.

First Snow

It snowed in the Twin Cities on Thanksgiving, and Katie Heaney went to a dog park

The Dog He Never Wanted

When his wife Amy showed up with a Labrador Retriever, Jeff Supergan wasn't sure it made sense. He had never had a dog before, and, being confined to a wheelchair, didn't know if he could handle it. But when Amy's doctors discovered an unexpected brain tumor, the dog ended up taking care of them both.

Teaching Your Dog to Ski

It's one of the most dangerous outdoor sports for pets, but if you invest the time and discipline in proper obedience, it can be fun for everyone

Underwater Dogs

"In more than 80 portraits, award-winning pet photographer and animal rights activist Seth Casteel captures new sides of our old friends with vibrant underwater photography that makes it impossible to look away."

The Most Popular Dog Breeds in the U.S.

When the American Kennel Club released its 2012 statistics on the most popular dog breeds in America, nobody was surprised to find the Labrador Retriever at the top of the list. It's been there for 21 consecutive years now.

Outside Photo Galleries

Underwater Dogs

Most Popular Dogs

Most Expensive Dogs

The World's Rarest Dogs

Best Equipment for Your Dog

Dogs of the Iditarod

Skier Julia Mancuso

Angel Collinson

Exposure Special: Surfers

Top MTB Gear for Winter 2013

Exploring Belize: Gear

A Cult's Last Resort

Dog Videos

Outside K9: Skiing Downhill

Outside senior editor Grayson...

Outside K9: Skiing Uphill

Outside K9: Steady Exercises

Gear of the Show: Ruff Wear Omnijore

Outside K9: Mountain Biking

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Expert Advice

Can Your Dog Experience a 'Runner's High'?

How Do I Adopt a Stray Dog From Puerto Rico?

What's the Best Way to Fly With Your Dog?

How Do I Get My Dog to Stop Chasing Cats?

How Can I Get My Dog to Stop Nipping at Me?

Dog Stories

The Predator Inside

By Mike Stewart

If you're not a hunter, you may think that a dog's instinct to locate, pursue, and kill doesn't pertain to you, but you would be wrong. Evaluating an animal's prey drive should be of paramount consideration in selecting a pet or working dog.

Decoding Your Dog's DNA, II

By Ali Carr Troxell

Pick up a shelter dog and curious about what breed he or she is? In this, the second in a two-part series, Ali Carr Troxell learn about Odin and Rio for the first time.

Decoding Your Dog's DNA, I

By Ali Carr Troxell

Pick up a shelter dog and curious about what breed he or she is? In this, the first in a two-part series, Ali Carr Troxell orders a cheek-swab test kit from Canine Heritage.

Animal Wise

By Virginia Morell

In this chapter from Animal Wise, the latest book from journalist Virginia Morell, the author visits renowned scientist Dr. Irene Pepperberg to explore cognition in parrots, specifically, Alex the African Grey.

The Slow Food Movement

By Grayson Schaffer

Wolfing down an entire day's worth of food in under a minute can lead to serious digestive problems.

What Kind of Collar?

By Grayson Schaffer

It doesn't really matter. But whichever kind you choose—chokers, slip leads, e-collars—make sure you're using it correctly.

Introducing a Dog to Water

By Grayson Schaffer

Most dogs don't like being left on shore and will follow their handler right in. You just need to be willing to get wet—and to take things slow.

In Defense of Vanity Dogs

By Grayson Schaffer

Find a companion you can get along with, whether from a responsible breeder or your local shelter. You’re going to be spending the next 13 years together.

The Forgotten Ones

By Scott Rosenfield

Seven years after Hurricane Katrina, animal advocates faced their greatest challenge yet—but a combination of technological advances, coordination, and legislation made all the difference

The Problem With Dogs

By Mary Catherine O'Connor

Cats are being blamed for killing billions of birds and small mammals in the United States every year, but off-leash, free-roaming, and feral dogs are responsible for a fair bit of damage to wildlife, too.

Keep Your Dog From Overheating

By Mike Stewart

Some high-energy, athletic dogs, unable to sweat, will work to the point of self-injury, so make sure you're able to recognize the warning signs of exhaustion.

A Trick to Teach Self Control

By Grayson Schaffer

Holding a sausage for what must be an unbearable length of time.

How Clicker Training Dogs Work

By Sue Barns

A 2009 review of Reaching the Animal Mind by Karen Pryor, the trainer who popularized the term and practice of clicker training over three decades.

Place Training

By Mike Stewart

Five simple steps for teaching place.

What Dogs Want

By Mike Stewart

From the treat to the retrieve.

Healthy, Organic Dog Treats

By Walker Parks

Bacon and cheese and peanut butter biscuits.

Getting Your Dog to Focus, II

By Mike Stewart

The second in a series about the most important behavior in pups.

Getting Your Dog to Focus, I

By Mike Stewart

The first in a series about the most important behavior in pups.

Bo Obama's Trainer Interview

By Grayson Schaffer

The Portuguese water dog selected as the Obama family pet nearly four years ago has turned out just fine, thank you very much. We spoke to Dawn Sylvia-Stasiewicz, his trainer, to find out more about her methods.

How to Punish Your Dog

By Sue Barns

Always try positive reinforcement before resorting to any form of punishment—it produces fewer unwanted side effects—but certain dogs just won't learn to avoid temptation with tricks and treats alone.

3 Tricks for Teaching Your Dog

By Grayson Schaffer

Used together, the bench, lure, and successive approximation make for a powerful tool to control young, unfocused, hyperactive dogs.

Dog Recall, Part III

By Mike Stewart

The third in a three-part series that will teach you to produce effective recall behaviors in dogs of any age.

Dog Recall, Part II

By Mike Stewart

The second in a three-part series that will teach you to produce effective recall behaviors in dogs of any age.

Dog Recall, Part I

By Mike Stewart

The first in a three-part series that will teach you to produce effective recall behaviors in dogs of any age.

Perfect Sporting Companion

By Mike Stewart

Looking for a dog that makes a great family member at home but is also able to help out on the hunt or when fly fishing? There are five main categories of sporting dogs to consider.

Teaching Your Dog to Walk

By Grayson Schaffer

Like anything, loose-leash walking is much easier to teach if it’s started at a young age. Train it in as a good habit early, rather than trying to fix a bad habit late.

Housebreaking Your Dog

By Grayson Schaffer

It's a lot easier than you think.

How to Capture a Behavior

By Grayson Schaffer

Your new puppy is going to express all kinds of behaviors on his own. Learn to spot and control the good ones so you can return to them later.

Teaching Your Dog to Tug

By Grayson Schaffer

Most dogs have a natural instinct to rip and pull, but teaching a controlled and gentle tug requires a bit of work.

On What Makes a Good Dog

By Grayson Schaffer

Thinking about getting a new puppy? The first thing you have to ask yourself is what characteristics you're looking for. And remember: There can be a lot of variation even within breeds.

Bringing a Dog to a Hotel

By Grayson Schaffer

There's no better way to break a dog's training than by introducing him to aggressive petters and the extreme temptations of children and good food.

Teaching Your Dog to Stop

By Grayson Schaffer

You've mastered all of the basic skills and are moving on to more advanced ones. But dogs aren't completely neutral: they'll pick up new behaviors with or without your guidance, and getting a dog to stop doing something can be trickier than anything you've already taught him.

Mexico's Stray Dog Problem

By Eric Nusbaum

Eric Nusbaum examines the harrowing and very real stray dog population filling up Mexico City.

Dog Training

By Grayson Schaffer

Some tasks and skills are harder to train than you might think. Others are easier. Here's a list of nine basics, in order from hardest to easiest.

Teaching Your Dog to Heel

By Mike Stewart

Six simple steps for getting your pup to heel without constant corrections or reminders.

On Losing Your Dog

By Ryan O'Hanlon

Is the author a psychopath? Draw your own conclusions.

A Dog Left to Die

By Scott Rosenfield

A German Shepherd is found at 13,000 feet, and rescued after surviving seven nights in the cold. How did she get there, and what happened to her owner?

When Your Dog Won't Drop

By Mike Stewart

Step 1: Get rid of all chew toys. They encourage possessiveness.

First Aid Kit for Dogs

By Berne Broudy

Deal with hurt pets like you would deal with a human emergency: use common sense. And if you’re heading into the woods for a day or longer, bring a first aid kit that will work for man and beast alike.

Living in Dog Years

By Bill Vaughn

Tearing through the banquet of life, Radish, the authors omnivorous, irrepressible red heeler, was a happy and undiscriminating guest—not to mention a philosophical beast who maybe, just maybe, had it all figured out.

The Most Common Dog Ailments

By Berne Broudy

Taking Fido along for a hike in the woods can be rewarding and fun, but you need to be prepared in the event of an unexpected emergency.

The Most Common Dog Ailments

By Berne Broudy

Taking Fido along for a hike in the woods can be rewarding and fun, but you need to be prepared in the event of an unexpected emergency.

The Ultimate Outdoor Companion

By Josh Dean

All you need to know about going wild with man's best friend, including training tips, canine gear, and wilderness etiquette.

Adventure Dog

Dog Trainer Mike Stewart

By Megan Stroup

The owner of Wildrose Kennels, Inc., in Mississippi, Mike Stewart has more than 30 years of experience training dogs for hunting, hiking, and fishing.

It's the Dog in You

By Brian Alexander

An Oklahoma veterinary scientist named Mike Davis says there's no doubt about it: The world's greatest athletes, of any species, are the canines who pull sleds at the Iditarod. Now, in a project funded by the Pentagon's research arm, he's coming up with ways to make us more like them.

Rin Tin Tin

A Dog's Life

By Grayson Schaffer

Before there was Marley or Benji or even Lassie, there was Rin Tin Tin. In her book of the same name, Susan Orlean chronicles the life and afterlife of the German shepherd who became arguably the most important dog in the history of showbiz.

Gear of the Dog: 11 Adventure Companion Essentials

By Ali Carr Troxell

Outside reviews the best adventure gear for man’s best friend.

Ring in the new year with a "mush!"

Denali Dog Sled Expeditions

By Christina Erb

Denali Dog Sled Expeditions’ 60-mile round trip from Healy, Alaska, to a backcountry cabin—just six miles from where Christopher McCandless starved to death—is worth the frigid cold.

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