Adventures With Dogs! An Incredible 8-Day Southwest Tour!

Adventure with dog in San Rafael Swell, United States

How would you like to go on exciting adventures without having to leave your dog at home?

Owning a dog is not only a privilege but a responsibility that we have to take seriously. Just like having kids, they are dependent on us and we need to make time for them as often as we possibly can. That’s why for dog owners, it can seem difficult to go on long vacations, or even just to take a weekend break away from home. You can always hire a pet sitter, but admit it, you can’t go a day without worrying about your canine pal. Here’s the thing! Now you can have your much needed vacation without leaving them behind. Happy Tails Canine Adventure Tours’ The Coyote – A Southwest 8 Day Tour lets you have amazing adventures with dogs and see the highlights of the Southwest all in one journey!

From the 271-mile long Grand Canyon, to the Alice-In-Wonderland-like lunar landscape of Bryce Canyon, to breathtaking Monument Valley, nothing is more memorable than eight days in the Southwest. We’ll take you and your dog hiking, rafting, kayaking, on jeep tours, and other amazing and unforgettable experiences.

Make fun memories with your best canine buddy. Join The Coyote – A Southwest 8 Day Tour waitlist at: happytailstours.com/Coyote

patrick hendry dog adventure in little grand canyon
Dog Adventure in little Grand Canyon.
Photo by Patrick Hendry

 

Explore the Southwest in eight days!

We start our amazing tour in Las Vegas, where you will be checked in at one of the most dog-friendly casino resort hotels. Happy Tails Canine Adventure Tours owners, David Blank and Claudia Fabrega, will brief you on the next eight days’ itinerary. Then you can spend the rest of the evening exploring the Entertainment Capitol of the World with your dog.

On Day 2, we depart Las Vegas and proceed to the Grand Canyon. Along the way we’ll cross over the Hoover Dam, visit Seligman, Arizona (inspiration for the movie Cars), and dine at the wonderful and historic Snow Cap Drive-In with your four-legged pal. After lunch, we depart historic Route 66 and head to the awe inspiring Grand Canyon National Park, where we’ll spend the afternoon taking in one of the earth’s most famous and well-known geologic wonders.

 

It will be one of the best adventures you’ll ever have.

On Day 3 we depart the Grand Canyon with a stop at the Desert View area and the historic Cameron Trading Post. Here, you will find authentic Indian jewelry, blankets, pottery, rugs and sand paintings, all produced by the local Native Americans. Next, comes the unique beauty of  Lake Powell National Recreation Area. After having lunch at the Antelope Point Marina, we’ll enjoy a scenic hike with our dogs to the Horseshoe Bend.

On day 4, you and your canine companion are in for a wonderful treat as we navigate through the slot canyons of Lake Powell on our Private Power Boat Tour. We’ll take you to a nice sandy beach to enjoy play time in and out of the water and have a picnic lunch with our fellow adventurers. After nature comes culture. We will then immerse ourselves in the rich cultural heritage of the Dineh people in Monument Valley. A Navajo guide will take us on an amazing scenic tour within the Valley to a variety of famous filming locations.

Lake Powell, United-States Photo by Rainer Krienke
Lake Powell, United-States
Photo by Rainer Krienke

Explore nature and culture on The Coyote – A Southwest 8 Day Tour. Join our waitlist now at: happytailstours.com/Coyote

 

We’re just halfway through what the Southwest has to offer!

On day 5, we visit Dead Horse Point State Park where we’ll have another picnic lunch with our dogs and see some of the most spectacular views of the region. Next is the nearby Arches National Park, which serves as a home to 2,000 named arches. We finish the amazing day with an afternoon Jet Boat Ride on the mighty Colorado River through spectacular red rock canyons followed by a BBQ dinner on the banks of the Colorado River.

You have an option to go on a hike at the Grandstaff Canyon on the sixth day of our tour, which is one of the best trails for your dog. You are also free to enjoy the rest of the day exploring Moab and experience pet-friendly outdoor activities such as rafting and canoeing.

 


More sites to explore on our Southwest tour’s last two days.

On day 7, our first stop will be the Goblin Valley State Park, where wind and water have carved amazing goblin-like sculptures, creating a unique landscape that plays with the imagination. Plenty of rocks and coves are also available for exploration. Next, we’ll proceed to the Capitol Reef National Park for a delicious picnic lunch under the shade of towering cottonwood trees. Then we’ll enjoy a drive at Scenic Highway 12, the crown jewel of the Scenic Byways System. The rest of the afternoon will be spent exploring the beauty of the Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument and Bryce Canyon National Park.

For our eighth and final day, we’ll take you to Zion National Park, where 2000-foot temples can be found. Mischievous spirits are said to live in these towers, adding to the thrill of our Southwest tour. Then we can enjoy a walk along the Pa’rus Trail, a wonderful, dog-friendly trail with a distance of 3.5 miles (round trip). In the late afternoon, we’ll travel back to Las Vegas for a final chance to experience its glitz and glamour.

Adventure in Horseshoe Bend, United-States Photo by Drif Riadh
Adventure in Horseshoe Bend, United-States
Photo by Drif Riadh

 

HIGHLIGHTSINCLUSIONS
  • ARCHES NP
  • BRYCE CANYON NP
  • CAPITAL REEF NP
  • GRAND CANYON NP
  • HOOVER DAM
  • KODACHROME BASIN STATE PARK
  • MONUMENT VALLEY TRIBAL PARK
  • VALLEY OF THE GODS
  • ZION NP
  • LAS VEGAS
  • ALL PARK ENTRANCES
  • LODGING
  • TRANSPORTATION
  • TOUR GUIDE AND DRIVER
  • MOST MEALS

 

If an eight-day tour with your furry pal appeals to you, join the waitlist now for Happy Tails Tours’ The Coyote – A Southwest 8 Day Tour! Subscribe here: happytailstours.com/Coyote

 

To find out more about our tours: happytailstours.com/tours/

Don’t forget to share this article with your dog lover friends and like us on our  Facebook page:
facebook.com/HappyTailsTours

Follow us on Instagram here:
instagram.com/happytailstours/

Subscribe to our YouTube channel:

happytailstours.com/youtube

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Halloween Events Near Me: Canine Halloween Hiking & Wine Tasting Tour and Costume Contest

full moon dog mountain tour Halloween

Looking for Halloween events near Charlotte? Come join us in this exciting tour.

We have just entered the first week of October, and for a lot of us, this month means Halloween. We love to dress-up as different spooky characters and prepare goodies for the kids’ trick-or-treat. For this Halloween, though, isn’t it nice to give your dog a treat too by taking them on an horrifyingly fun adventure? Because we love your dog, Happy Tails Canine Adventure Tours, in partnership with PetWants Charlotte, takes Halloween to the next level with our Canine Halloween Hiking & Wine Tasting Tour and Costume Contest.

cute dog in a halloween costume
This cute lil guy is excited to join the Dog Halloween Costume Contest

We’ll start the day with a “hair-ofying” hike at the “spooktacular” Pilot Mountain State Park, where we can you can enjoy the amazing views from above the winery rich Yadkin Valley, the vast Sauratown Mountains, the Blue Ridge Mountains to the northwest, and the skyline of Downtown Winston Salem to the South. Rising abruptly 2,400 feet from the valley floor, Pilot Mountain has long been a navigational and recreational landmark, offering miles of trails of different difficulty levels from super easy to challenging.

Are you and your dog up for this challenge? Tickets are limited! Book our Canine Halloween Hiking & Wine Tasting Tour and Costume Contest now: happytailstours.com/tours/halloween/

 

Dog Halloween Event
Put on your dog’s scariest costume. Prizes at stake!

Happy Tails wants to make this Halloween a memorable one for your dog and you!

Hike “survivors” (spooky halloween laugh here) will then proceed to RagApple Lassie, one of Yadkin Valley’s most dog-friendly and award-winning wineries, for a picnic lunch and wine-tasting. Experience local culture and savor the richness of their award-winning wines. We also make sure to give the best treats that your four-legged monsters may devour.

Then comes the main event: the HOWL-O-WIN Costume Competition, where both dogs and humans can showcase their scariest costumes. Prizes will be awarded to the:

  • Best Dog Costume
  • Best Human Costume
  • Best Human/Dog Combo Costumes
  • Best Homemade Costumes

Of course, you can’t go to Yadkin Valley just to visit one winery. After the costume contest, we’ll take you to the super dog friendly Misty Creek Winery to cap the day off with dessert and more fine wines, to be followed by the announcement of the winners and awarding of the prizes.

Dress up your dog on our Canine Halloween Hiking & Wine Tasting Tour and Costume Contest. Limited slots only! Book now: happytailstours.com/tours/halloween/

 

Happy Tails Tours dog costume contest
Celebrate this year’s Halloween with your best canine buddy. Happy Tails Tours has got you covered.

Your participation will go a long way.

Ten percent of the proceeds from all tickets sold will go to either PetWants Give Match Feed Program to help feed the animals still impacted by Hurricane Florence, or to the Humane Society of Charlotte. Not only are you going to make your dog happy; you’ll be able to help other animals as well.

Humane society of charlotte logopet wants charlotte logo

 

The Canine Halloween Hiking & Wine Tasting Tour and Costume Contest will be on October 21, 2018, at 8am-7pm.

Celebrate Halloween for a cause with Happy Tails Tours and PetWants Charlotte on our Canine Halloween Hiking & Wine Tasting Tour and Costume Contest. Book a slot HERE.

 

Canine dog halloween costume contest
Help an animal in need. Book the Canine Halloween Hiking & Wine-Tasting Tour and Costume Contest now.

 

HIGHLIGHTSINCLUSIONS
  • Traveling with your dog!
  • Hiking in pilot mountain state park
  • Incredible mountain views
  • Wine tastings
  • Transportation to/from Charlotte
  • Wine tastings in 2 wineries
  • Picnic lunch, snacks, drinks, & dog treats
  • Tour guide
  • Prizes

 

To find out more about our tours: happytailstours.com/tours/

Don’t forget to share this article with your dog lover friends and like us on our  Facebook page:
facebook.com/HappyTailsTours

Follow us on Instagram here:
instagram.com/happytailstours/

Subscribe to our YouTube channel:
happytailstours.com/youtube

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Asheville Tours: The Hound – Asheville 2 Day Tour

North Carolina Waterfall hiking

If you’re looking for Asheville tours, or just planning for the next adventure with your dog, then you have come to the right place!

After the successful launching of Howl At The Moon and The Fox adventure tours, Happy Tails Canine Adventure Tours yet again kicks off an amazing tour that your four-legged canine pal will surely love. Two days of pure fun and relaxation with just you, your dog and like-minded adventurers on The Hound – Asheville 2 Day Tour.

From Charlotte, we will head westward and upward, into the Blue Ridge Mountains and Chimney Rock State Park. Admire the amazing 75-mile vista overlooking the Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure. Following an invigorating morning hike, have a picnic lunch with your canine buddy and relax in the presence of nature. Then we will proceed to Asheville, where more adventures await.

Let’s hike at the Blue Ridge Mountains and Chimney Rock State Park on The Hound – Asheville 2 Day Tour! Book now before slots run out: happytailstours.com/Asheville2

Hiking with Dog
Living the life! Our canine buddy is on top of the world – literally and figuratively.

Why Asheville?

You’ll never have to worry about the welfare of your dog – Asheville ranks second in the USA’s most pet-friendly towns. With its great climate, fine dining, wineries, breweries, and wide variety of outdoor adventures to choose from, your dog and you will definitely be living the dream.

Discover public art and shop to your heart’s content in Asheville’s walkable downtown. Happy Tails Tours will also take you to the finest, dog-friendly pubs and breweries, where you can spend a laid-back time with your canine pal. Then for dinner, you can pick any location you want. This growing city never runs out of delicious and unique restaurants to try, for tourists and locals alike. Dogs are welcome too!

After an exciting day of hiking and exploring Asheville, rest your tired feet and spend the night at one of Asheville’s most pet-friendly hotels. Happy Tails Tours got you all covered.

What’s a dog-friendly city like? Book our The Hound – Asheville 2 Day Tour to find out:
happytailstours.com/Asheville2

Asheville Tours
Having a blast in the snow. The cold never bothered Margie and Dozer.

The second day will be just as fun as the first one! A variety of activities are in store for your dog and you.

David, the owner of Happy Tails Tours himself, will take you on a guided walking tour around historic parts of Asheville. You can also explore downtown or paddleboard with your dog on the French Broad River. Then we’ll take you on a leisurely trip back to Charlotte after lunch. Depending on the season, we can finish off this amazing tour with apple-picking or wine-tasting at one of North Carolina’s award-winning, most dog-friendly wineries.

Top Dog Tours
“Row faster, dad.” Margie and Dozer having the time of their lives with David.
HIGHLIGHTSINCLUSIONS
  • WINE AND BEER TASTING
  • CHIMNEY ROCK STATE PARK
  • DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE
  • BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS
  • LODGING
  • TRANSPORTATION FOR YOU AND 1 PUP
  • STATE PARK ENTRANCE FEES
  • TOUR GUIDE

Sounds good? We only have TWO SCHEDULES LEFT FOR THIS YEAR (Oct. 3 & Nov. 7)!
What are you waiting for? Book now: happytailstours.com/Asheville2

 

To find out more about our tours: happytailstours.com/tours/

Don’t forget to share this article with your dog lover friends and like us on our  Facebook page:
facebook.com/HappyTailsTours

Follow us on Instagram here:
instagram.com/happytailstours/

Subscribe to our YouTube channel:

happytailstours.com/youtube

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Best Dog Adventure On The Fox – Yadkin Valley Hiking & Wine Tasting

Friendly Pets

This will be one of the best dog adventures you’ll ever experience!

Imagine hiking on the Pilot Mountain, taking in the greenery and the spectacular views of nature. After this hike, you are to proceed to the finest wineries in Yadkin Valley, where some of the best wines are produced. Now, imagine experiencing this whole adventure with your canine pal. Sounds wonderful, right? We have a great news for you! Happy Tails Canine Adventure Tours brings this idea to reality with our The Fox – Yadkin Valley Hiking & Wine Tasting tour.

The adventure starts with a morning hike at Pilot Mountain state park, where you can enjoy the amazing views from above the winery rich Yadkin Valley, the vast Sauratown Mountains, the Blue Ridge Mountains to the northwest, and the skyline of Downtown Winston Salem to the South. Rising abruptly 2,400 feet from the valley floor, Pilot Mountain has long been a navigational and recreational landmark, offering miles of trails of different difficulty levels and camping areas. Because we care for your dog, we organize hikes that are guaranteed dog-friendly.

Hike with us and see the world in a different perspective on The Fox – Yadkin Valley Hiking & Wine Tasting tour. Book now before slots run out: https://happytailstours.com/Fox

Best dog
This is the life! This furball and his dad makes it to the Pilot Mountain.

Happy Tails makes sure that you and your dog are given an experience of a lifetime!

After the hike, we’ll have a picnic lunch at one of the award winning wineries on the days itinerary. We pack treats for your four-legged buddy as well. These are all part of the The Fox – Yadkin Valley Hiking & Wine Tasting tour package, making sure that every experience is not only dog-friendly, but also dog-focused.

The fun doesn’t end there. As a highlight of the afternoon, we are taking you to two of the finest wineries in Yadkin Valley. Experience local culture like you’ve never had before and savor the richness of their award-winning wines. Whether you are with a group or just traveling with your furry companion, this is surely an experience you would never want to miss.

Discover the best local dog-friendly wineries in Yadkin Valley on The Fox – Yadkin Valley Hiking & Wine Tasting tour. Book now before slots run out: https://happytailstours.com/Fox

Pet Friendly
Time for wine. Our fur parents enjoy a laid-back afternoon in one of the best and most pet-friendly wineries in Yadkin Valley.

Happy Tails proudly specializes in unique small-group tours with a highly specialized service and great attention to detail.

We are meticulous in terms of tour preparations. We commit to providing the best adventure tour service and at the same time transforming the lives of each client through a shared meaningful experience with their dogs. Our passion for dogs and adventures makes The Fox – Yadkin Valley Hiking & Wine Tasting a tour with a heart and purpose.

For this year, we have seven tours left on our schedule for The Fox – Yadkin Valley Hiking & Wine Tasting. These are on September 3, October 7, 14, & 21. Book now before it’s too late!

Hiking With Dog
It’s a day of pure bliss for these dogs and their humans. Adventure + dogs made possible by Happy Tails Tours.
HIGHLIGHTSINCLUSIONS
  • Traveling with your dog!
  • Hiking in Pilot Mountain State Park
  • Incredible mountain views
  • Wine tastings
  • Transportation from Charlotte
  • Wine tastings in two wineries
  • Picnic lunch and dog treats
  • Entrance fees
  • Tour guide with 20+ years experience

Take your adventures to a whole new level on The Fox – Yadkin Valley Hiking & Wine Tasting tour. Book now before slots run out: https://happytailstours.com/Fox

 

To find out more about our tours: happytailstours.com/tours/

Don’t forget to share this article with your dog lover friends and like us on our  Facebook page:
facebook.com/HappyTailsTours

Follow us on Instagram here:
instagram.com/happytailstours/

Subscribe to our YouTube channel:

happytailstours.com/youtube

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Charlotte Tours: Howl At The Moon – Full Moon Kayak & SUP Adventure

Happy Tails Tours Howl at the moon group photo

Happy Tails Tours is about having fun while building a deeper relationship between dogs and their humans.

It is every dog owner’s responsibility to take their canine pals out on a regular basis, for exercise as well as for their necessary functions. And while we love our dogs very much, we can’t deny that sometimes it can feel a bit tedious and routine to have to walk them. If dogs could talk, they would tell you that it bores them as much as it does us. But what if I were to tell you that there is a fun way to get their furry legs moving? If you’re living in or around Charlotte, we’ve got you covered! Happy Tails Canine Adventure Tours can bring your dog and you on a night full of adventures and amazing experiences. This blog about our Charlotte Tours will give you insight on what to expect and how you can take part in this fantastic and life-changing experience.

 

Charlotte Tours: Howl At The Moon - Full Moon Kayak & SUP Adventure
Two of our friends, with their canine pal, explore the river under the full moon.

 

LAST CHANCE TO JOIN The Howl At The Moon – Full Moon Kayak & SUP Adventure tour for this year!
Sept 21 & 22, 2018  Book Now: happytailstours.com/howl

 

We offer a variety of wonderful tours, and one of them is the Howl At The Moon – Full Moon Kayak & Stand Up Paddleboard Adventure. Yes, you’ve read that right. Happy Tails is taking you to the Catawba River to enjoy different water activities while bathing under the full moon. Kayaking and SUP are no longer just for humans; dogs can now enjoy them too.

Charlotte Tours: Howl At The Moon - Full Moon Kayak & SUP Adventure
These furballs are having a wonderful, relaxing time on their mom’s lap.

As a tour guide for 20 plus years who bring my dogs on every tour, our co-founder David and his wife Claudia always see to it that the safety of my tour companions is given the utmost importance. Hence, for this Howl At The Moon – Full Moon Kayak & SUP Adventure tour, which begins at Tailrace Marina at 7:00 in the evening, we start off with a dog and human meet and greet and snacks for all. Next, we have a safety briefing and then get everyone set up in their kayaks or on their SUPs, with all the needed equipment, and then get going. The real fun begins after this, as we paddle and explore the river with our canine best friends.

 

Charlotte Tours: Howl At The Moon - Full Moon Kayak & SUP Adventure
Not scared at all! This brave soul is ready to conquer the river.

 

Whether kayaking and SUP is your thing or not, there is nothing to worry about. We can teach you how to get on your boats and paddleboards. Or you can explore the beauty of nature with your dog under the full moon’s natural light. This is a rare opportunity for your furry buddy and you to marvel at the nocturnal beauties around the river. You can also have a picnic with your four-legged buddy while basking in the incredible view of nature.

Charlotte Tours: Howl At The Moon - Full Moon Kayak & SUP Adventure
David (red kayak), guides and bonds with the group and their four-legged buddies.

While it is a dog and human-focused tour, you do not need to bring a dog in order to participate.

We understand that you might just want to hang out with like-minded adventurers and their canine pals. We could even offer you a dog-for-the-day if you would like!

Our dogs are special, and they deserve to be treated and pampered at least every once in a while. So, join our next Happy Tails Howl At The Moon – Full Moon Kayak and SUP Adventure this September 21 & 22, 2018.

You can book it here happytailstours.com/howl

Don’t miss out because these are the LAST HOWL TOURS OF THE YEAR!

Charlotte Tours: Howl At The Moon - Full Moon Kayak & SUP Adventure
This dog surely loves the river.

 

Book the tour now to explore the light of the full moon kayaking & SUP with your dog ? this coming Sept 21 & 22, 2018  happytailstours.com/howl

To find out more about our tours: happytailstours.com/tours/

Don’t forget to share this article with your dog lover friends and like us on our  Facebook page:
facebook.com/HappyTailsTours

Follow us on Instagram here:
instagram.com/happytailstours/

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Traveling With Dogs Has Life Transforming Power

Kayaking with dogs during the Happy Tails Tours Howl at the Moon

There are many things that have shaped who I am and how I interact in the world, but none more so than travel, at least not until I started traveling with dogs.

In 1993, Trek America changed my life. I was 24 years old when after a few weeks of training they handed me the keys to a van, 13 young people from all over the world, and $4000 and essentially said “Drive safe, have fun, and bring everyone back in one piece!” I did, and I was hooked, both on guiding and on travel. In 2000, when I loaded my dog Max on the back of my motorcycle, my life took its next big turn! That’s when I began traveling with dogs and really experienced the transformational power of combining travel and animals, and, once we got into the Canadian wilderness a week later, the trifecta was complete! The power of traveling with dogs in nature, and the connection that resulted, was unparalleled in my experience.

Trek America 2018 Reunion Group Picture
Trek America 2018 Reunion Group Picture

Last week I spent 4 days in the Redwoods of Northern California at a reunion of some of the most wonderful people that I’ve been privileged to share my life with. It was reunion where everyone was family, yet almost no one was related. The reunion was of Trek America tour leaders. There were guides from the early 70’s all the way up to folks who have only been with the company a few years now. Everyone there agreed that Trek and travel had had an amazing, undeniable positive impact on their lives and on the lives of the passengers who it had been their privilege to guide for the past 46 years.

And everyone was supportive and thrilled with the idea of Happy Tails Canine Adventure Tours. Because we are all intensely passionate about travel and sharing that experience to transform people’s lives for the better, everyone felt instinctively that traveling with dogs was definitely the next step in the genesis of travel and its power of transforming lives.

David Blank of Happy Tails Tours in the Trek America Reunion at Redwoods California

I could go on about what a great experience it was connecting with old friends as well as making many new friends. Or about how Jack, who hired and trained me in 1992 and put the whole reunion together is an amazing person, role model and inspiration for me and many of us who were there. Both of those things are true and I’m incredibly grateful to Jack and everyone for their love, support and energy!

dog hammock adventure tours

But what I really left the reunion with was clarity about the incredible transformative power of traveling with dogs in nature and an inspiring certainty that Happy Tails Tours is the most revolutionary, most appropriate and most important project I have ever worked on. Happy Tails is a culmination of my years of international travel, adventure guiding, studying dog training and learning about people and nature. It’s continued growth and success is a result of not only hard work but also trusting that the roads life has taken me down have been the right ones.

As a guide I have been blessed. I’ve gotten to experience so many amazing new and wonderful things, from cities like New York, San Francisco & Vancouver, to Bison in Yellowstone, to hiking parts of the Appalachian Trail, to spending time on a small uninhabited Panamanian island in the Caribbean watching the Pleiades meteor shower, to the northern lights in Jasper National Park in the Canadian Rockies. Even better, I often get to experience those things more than once. And better still, by sharing those incredible things and places with clients, I get to re-experience everything again as if for the first time because I am experiencing it through their eyes. I get to experience the wonder and amazement and excitement, and sometimes even fear, all over again, and it just keeps feeding my soul!

Trek america 2018 reunion with all the tour leaders

Now, with Happy Tails, I get to go deeper! Not only do I get to share the world with people, but also with their dogs. Not only will I be able to experience things again through the human eyes, but also through the pure eyes of man’s best friend. And most importantly, not only have I been so deeply blessed as to have a relationship with my dogs that has transformed my life and who I am, but I’ll be doubly blessed to be of service by helping other dogs and their humans live a fuller life, together, as they have that same intense transformational bonding experience that makes life so much richer. Guiding people traveling with dogs – what more could any one person hope for?

  • A man cuddles with his pet dog during the TrekAmerica Reunion
  • A dog riding a motorcycle
  • A lady going on a pet friendly adventure

Simply book one of our amazing tours at happytailstours.com/tours and show up with your dog. Nature, your dog, and Happy Tails will take care of the rest!

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Worlds First Official Canine Adventure Tour is a Sold-Out Success for Happy Tails Tours!

Happy Tails tours launch

We are incredibly excited and grateful to announce that Saturday was the official launch of our new company, Happy Tails Canine Adventure Tours and we kicked it off with a sold-out inaugural tour to northern North Carolina.

https://facebook.com/HappyTailsTours/videos/365669303941535/

We started the day with a great hike at Pilot Mountain State Park, followed by lunch and wine tasting at two great and very dog-friendly wineries in the Yadkin Valley – Ragapple Lassie Winery and Misty Creek Vineyards.
Tour Featured in this Blog: THE FOX – YADKIN VALLEY HIKING & WINE TASTING

Hike with dogs to Pilot Mountain Tour

When asked by Ellie Porter what was the best part of the day for me, my first reaction was “Leaving my house in the morning, knowing that our vision had become a reality!” But, the whole day was amazing! Seeing everyone have such a fantastic time with their dogs and each other, hearing everyone’s enthusiasm and positive thoughts about the tours and the concept, hearing the conversation in the bus as everyone laughed and shared their experiences and their love for their animals, were all great.

Tours with their dogs at Pilot Mountain

 

Claudia and I are blessed to be creating our vision. Besides the most important thing, which is that our guests had an amazing experience traveling with their dogs, the icing on the cake that confirmed 100% for me that Claudia and I are indeed on the right track, was that Chris McPeck, who was playing live at Misty Creek, closed his set with Wonderful Tonight by Clapton. That was the song of our first dance at our wedding and when I heard it I grabbed Claudia and we danced and we both felt such an overwhelming sense of gratitude, joy, and contentment. I am just so, so grateful to have this amazing person by my side as my partner in life.

Yadkin Valley Tour with dogs

Thank you so much to the great people who attended, including Tamara Lyn Rivera, Eric Rivera, Nicole Carpenter Adams, Jamie Adams, and from KeenDog owner Katrina Kensington and trainer Ellie Porter, as well Austin Chaney.

Claudia and I have been slowly working on this idea for several years and have dedicated ourselves full time since January to creating this amazing company that will give others the opportunity to have amazing, life-transforming adventure experiences with their dogs. It has been a lot of work, a labor of love, the culmination of which was realized Saturday, April 21st, 2018.

Thank you everyone who has been supportive of our vision in so many ways. If you are so inspired, follow and like our Facebook page @happyTailsTours and follow us on Instagram @happyTailsTours to see what amazing adventures are developing. Thank you!!

Tour Featured in this Blog: THE FOX – YADKIN VALLEY HIKING & WINE TASTING

My Best Friend!

outdoor adventure with dog

It happened in an instant. One minute the old man was down standing in the water of the Panama Canal. He couldn’t see well and he was almost deaf. I had been calling him, yelling for him to come for five minutes. But he didn’t hear me. Maybe it was selective. He was probably just enjoying himself and at 14 and a half years old didn’t have to listen to anyone. I’m glad he did. Ten minutes later he was gone.

I just finished bathing and drying him, his body. It was clear that’s what it was. I didn’t feel anything else there. And I felt very alone. Less than alone. I feel as if part of me is missing.

On a Friday afternoon in May of 2000 I received a phone call from a woman at the Australian Cattle Dog Rescue Association. I had been speaking with her a few weeks earlier trying to adopt a dog, but their policy was to not give dogs to anyone without a home with a yard. She called me because she felt I knew the breed and what he would need, and had been told of a dog in the animal shelter an hour away in Delaware.

“They are open tomorrow, Saturday, from 8 to 12 and closed Sunday. This dog I have just found out has been there for 3 months minus a few weeks with a family that didn’t work out. Monday morning at 6 am he is scheduled to be euthanized.”

When we got there Saturday morning, they had to drag him out of his cage. He was not friendly and not to trusting. They had me go into a small room about 15 feet square and then put him in with me and shut the door. I took a chair and put it against the center of a wall away from the door. He went and sat in the corner closest to the door. For five minutes neither of us moved. We just stared at each other. Finally he stood up. He walked over to me slowly and sniffed my leg. Then he lifted his leg and urinated on my legs. Then he jumped up into my lap and licked my face. He has never willingly let me out of his sight since.

I filled out the paperwork and we left. We took him to a beach and played with him in the waves. In the pound they had called him Blue. He had been a stray and they didn’t know his name. So we sat at the beach and whenever he turned away from me I started calling out names. I started with the A’s and worked my way through the alphabet. When I said Max, he immediately turned and looked at me and then came over and rubbed against me. Max it is!! That was almost 13 years ago.

A few days later I went in for a job interview. I had recently been downsized. It was the second interview and I was offered the job. It would be hard work, 80 hour weeks, but great money and a stake in a new company. I accepted. When I got home an hour later, Max had destroyed some of my favorite things. I was furious. I wanted to kill him. So I sat down and breathed and thought. And I came to the conclusion that he was right. After almost two years in a corporate job after graduate school, I realized I didn’t want to spend all my time inside any more either. I picked up the phone and called the employer and told them I was going to have to pass on their offer. That was the first time Max saved me from myself.

A week later I purchased a small plastic airline kennel and strapped it onto the back of my motorcycle for our first test run. I shoved Max in and we went to the park a few blocks away. When we got off the bike and went into the park to play, I put my helmet on the ground and went to pick up a stick to throw for him. He walked over and urinated on my helmet. He might as well have spoken to me. It was clear he wasn’t happy with things. So I put on my smelly helmet after a quick rinse in the fountain, shoved him back into the crate and went home. I dropped Max off and went out and traded in the kennel for a larger one. I took it home, strapped it onto the bike. Max took one look at it, jumped up on the seat and into the crate and sat down, ready to go.

Three weeks later we took off on a 1 year journey through the US, Canada and Mexico. We traveled over 20,000 miles camping and exploring and he was the best friend and companion I could have asked for. Only twice did he refuse to jump up onto the bike. The first time was when the crate fell off going over a mountain pass in Colorado at 5 miles an hour. He was not happy. Not injured, but not happy. The second time was when we did an 18 hour day from Los Angeles to New Mexico. I didn’t want to get back on either.

Max traveled with me through ten countries in North, Central and South America. He protected me at night when we camped out. He attacked the police that tried to rob us in Mexico. And he was my friend. He saved my life and he changed my life. He has been rafting, kayaking, tubing on the Rio Grande and flying to South America.

Today I was helpless to save him when he was caught in an Africanized bee’s nest. I tried to grab him and was covered myself and couldn’t get close. We both ran, he the best he could. I raced to a restaurant up the street and stole their fire extinguisher. I raced back and blasted the bees off of him. He was already out of it, covered with bees and unable to move, probably in a coma. We raced to the vet but when we got there, it was too late. I’m so, so very sad. He was my friend.

So now I just keep remembering him standing in the water before it happened, looking happy and free in his old age. Every day of his life was a blessing, since that first day at the pound. And I am so very grateful to have been part of that.

Thank you to everyone over the years that have loved him and been his friend.

Tomorrow we will find a place in the jungle and bury him.

Roots of a Canine Adventurer and Dog Tour Guide

david on motorcycle adventure with his dog max

On a Saturday morning In May of 2000 I adopted the first dog of my own as an adult, Max. He was an 18 month old, 45-pound Australian Cattle Dog. He’d been in a shelter in Delaware for 3 months minus a few weeks with a family that didn’t work out, and was scheduled to be euthanized Monday morning at 6 am.Three weeks later Max and I took off on a 1 year journey through the US, Canada and Mexico. We traveled, camping and exploring, for over 20,000 miles by motorcycle. Max rode in an airline kennel mounted onto the back, and he was the best friend and companion I could have asked for. Only twice did he refuse to get up onto the bike.

Over our 13 years together, Max, who was joined by Dozer in 2005 and Margie in 2008, traveled with me through ten countries in North, Central and South America. He and Dozer protected me at night when we camped out. They chased off the police that tried to rob us in Mexico. They have been rafting, kayaking, and tubing on the Rio Grande. They are well known amongst many of the indigenous groups we worked with in Panama and have been in many areas of the jungles that few non-natives ever visit, and they are in more tour client photos than I have.

Max was my friend and constant companion. He saved my life and he changed my life. In 2010 I took a couple of ladies on a private camping tour to a small private island off the coast of Panama, inhabited by only one family. I had always taken the three dogs, Max, Dozer and Margie on all of my tours and this was no exception. When we arrived to the coast to meet the boat for the trip to the island, I unloaded the equipment, luggage and dogs from my truck. That was apparently the first time since we had left Panama City 2+ hours earlier that the ladies had noticed the dogs. They were polite but visibly concerned. “Do you always take your dogs?” I replied that I do. “Does anyone ever complain?” I had to think back but the answer was no, never.

 

Over the years so many people who had seen me traveling or who had been on my tours had expressed how much they wished they could travel with their dogs, and I was grateful for my good fortune to be able to do so.

After three fantastic days on the island, the ladies approached me. They wanted to let me know that although the snorkeling was amazing, the food delicious, the island gorgeous, the people friendly, the guide excellent, and the ice cream a huge treat (I had made homemade ice cream the last night), “ … the best part of the trip was your dogs. We really enjoyed them. Thank you!”

That is when the idea for Happy Tails Canine Adventure Tours was born. I knew that I had to come up with a way to help others to travel with their best friends. And, now it’s finally coming to fruition. They say that humans are attracted to pets and especially dogs because they give us unconditional love, but for me I think its because they give me the opportunity to love unconditionally!

So keep the rubber down, the wind in your hair and the tails wagging! The best is yet to come.