Trouble can come at any time during a hike and expert hikers know this all too well. Someone from the department of the county sheriff who lived through plenty of California mountain wild nights said that anyone today interested in reading survival stories should start with those from the 19th century. Errors like accidentally going astray can be prevented by exercising good judgment while on the trail he said.

Proper arrangements have to be made if a trek into the woods and wild is to be successful. Apart from a flashlight plus a fire starter and a pocket knife hikes require taking along a map and compass on top of a pair of sunglasses and a first aid kit together with additional food and clothing as well as waterproof matches.

The situation might turn ugly so be ready for it. People who make unscheduled overnight stops in the woods should also arm themselves with a whistle as well as a space blanket and some signal mirrors for a source of light flashes from the sun advise search and rescue personnel.

Hiker status is communicated in a timely fashion using speed of light. Lost hikers have frequently had success alerting others of their location by flashing the flashbulbs on their cameras. While helpful with summoning assistance the sound of whistles may not be loud enough to be heard beyond the trees and water.

When problems crop up during a hike do not rely too much on a cellular phone to get you out as there is a good chance placing calls will be impossible especially in areas outside of the front country. Straying from the established trails or taking alternate routes is usually how hikers lose their way and is a leading cause of a search.

Territorial maps are not the easiest to read so if you do not know a lot about them sticking with the trails might be best. It would be a mistake to wander off when you are already lost and search and rescue staff say you increase your chances of being found by staying put in one spot. You may find the way back yourself but if you really want to be rescued quickly you will remain in your position so searchers can locate you easier.

Consider the acronym STOP say some experienced pros. When feeling lost and panicky just STOP. Focus and start THINKING of the last location wherein you did not feel lost.

Observe details that might provide clues to where you should be. Plan your next course of action. If you got lost in the evening then an overnight stay in the place might be in order.

Here the main goal is to stay dry and keep warm. You can bring out the space blanket for this situation but if you forgot yours the tree branches and leaves also provide comfort.

When possible eat something to avoid elevated core body temperature. The best advice for kids when lost is to not leave their spot and just put their arms around a tree while awaiting rescuers according to search and rescue pros.

You may be the biggest dog lover in the world, but that doesn’t mean everyone in your family or circle of friends is a fan of canines “” even your cute Havanese may look scary. They might have had a bad encounter with a dog as a child or they might simply have an irrational phobia.
Or, it’s possible that they may be frightened by specific behaviors your dog may exhibit. It’s important to not only learn what is causing the fear, but then to figure out what you can do, as the dog owner, to cut it off.
The Source of the Fear
Step one is to talk to your family or friends about what is going on. Imagine if you were afraid of someone’s dog because it growled at you. How would you feel if the dog’s owner blamed you for the problem, assuming you have some irrational fear?
So, you shouldn’t do the same to them. Always start by assuming there is a sound reason for their fear and talk to them about it. Ask if they have seen something in your dog that causes the fear or if they were attacked as a child. The second you can figure out what started the cycle, you’ll be able to start dealing with it.
If Your Dog is Causing the Fear
If you find out that something your dog is doing in particular is causing the problem, keep an open mind. Most dog owners have blinders that keep them from seeing the negative things their dogs might be doing. You look at your Havanese and you see a perfect little angel.
If they happen to be growling whenever your friends go near their water bowl, you have a real problem that needs to be dealt with. It cannot be written off as the person’s fault.
To start with, address the behaviour. If the dog is showing aggressive tendencies based on their space or territorial actions, you need to take control of the space and show the dog that you’re in charge. Once you’ve done that, make sure no one is treating your dog improperly. If they’re up front or physical and that makes your dog uncomfortable, it can create an environment where fear is bred.
If the Fear is from a Past Incident
If it turns out that your dog is not causing any of the anxiety and fear that your family or friends are having, it very well may be the result of a past incident. In this case, it can be easy to simply blame them and tell them to “deal with it”.
But, again, would you want someone to be that callous with you? Probably not. I’m not telling you to hide your dog in a corner and keep him there until they leave, but you can introduce certain safeguards to maintain the safety of your home.
First, teach your dog to stop jumping at strangers. Make them stay calm and well behaved when new people enter the house. Second, make sure they understand that they do not have to pet the dog or greet him.
For most dogs, being ignored will breed ignoring. They will respond the same as this is a clear body language signal to be left alone – presuming there is no direct eye contact or touching.
With time, if you can show them that your dog is well behaved and patient, you may be able to communicate to them that the dog is not going to do anything bad. But, first you must show that the dog is under control.

You want a crate that’s large enough for your dog to turn around, stand up, or lie down in comfortably when he reaches full maturity. There are all different types of crates. Some are made of wire mesh, some are cloth mesh, or there are plastic types that are most often times called airline crates. You really want to consider the ease of assembly, but also the durability. Although heavier, wire crates are usually easy to put up and take down and are very durable.

The best type of crate is one you can take with you when you travel with your dog. You might even want to get two different crates. One for the car and one for the house. Then you don’t have to be carrying it back and forth which can become a real hassle.

Now the next step is teaching your new puppy to use the crate.

Here are 7 tips to coaxing your new puppy into his crate:

1. Set up the crate and let your puppy check it out. Put a blanket or one of the special crate pads inside.

2. Come up with a command, such as “Go to Bed” or “Go to your crate.” If you’re new puppy won’t enter the crate on his own or when you call to him then physically place your puppy in the crate.

3. Close the door, praise him and give him a little treat, and then let him out.

4. Use a treat to lure him into the crate. If he doesn’t want the treat and won’t follow it in, then physically place him inside and then give him the treat.

5. Close the door, praise him while he is inside, and give him another little treat.

6. Let him out again. And just remember, the treat can be anything as long as it motivates him.

7. Continue using the command you had chosen and giving your new puppy a treat after he enters into the crate until he is going into the crate all on his own.

If your new puppy happens to be afraid of the crate, try feeding him his meal in front of the crate. Then when you feed him his next meal place it just inside of the crate. Continue feeding him this way , each time pushing his food bowl further back into the crate until your new puppy is inside and isn’t afraid to go in on his own.