From the person who hiked 800 miles of the AT with a Border Collie
The Trail Dog Field Guide
The complete system for turning your dog into a confident, capable trail companion -- built from a decade of real miles, real mistakes, and two Border Collies who taught me everything.
Get Instant Access -- $97One-time payment. Lifetime access. 30-day guarantee.
In 2013, I made every mistake you can make on the Appalachian Trail.
Gus was two years old when we started. I was 28, full of confidence, and had no idea what I was doing. I bought the wrong pack. Loaded it too heavy. Didn't know how to read his paw pads. Didn't understand trail nutrition. Thought “he'll be fine” was a plan.
The first week nearly ended us. Gus overheated on a ridgeline in Virginia because I didn't know the signs. His paws cracked on rocky terrain because I hadn't conditioned them. I carried too much weight in his pack because I'd read a blog post instead of learning the math.
We figured it out -- over 800 miles, dozens of mistakes, and a lot of nights lying in a tent promising myself I'd do better tomorrow. By the time we finished, I had a system. Not a collection of tips from the internet -- a system. One that kept Gus healthy, happy, and eager to hike every single morning.
After the AT, we did 30+ New Hampshire 4000-footers. Colorado 13ers. Canoe trips. Rock climbing approaches. Snowshoe adventures. Every one of them refined the system further.
Gus passed last July. He was the best trail partner I'll ever have.
Now I have Trillium -- a 16-week-old Border Collie who thinks every stick is a toy and every puddle is a swimming pool. And I'm running the exact same system with her, from day one. Every module in this guide includes a real update from her current training stage.
Your dog doesn't need more obedience training.
They need more adventure. And so do you.
The Trail Dog Field Guide isn't another collection of tips from someone who hiked once and started a blog. It's a complete, tested system built from years of real trail miles -- and it's being validated right now, in real time, with a brand new puppy.
What's Inside the Field Guide
6 modules. Built from real miles. Updated with Trillium's progress.
Is My Dog Ready?
Assessment, baseline fitness, breed considerations, and the honest evaluation most owners skip.
Know exactly where your dog stands -- and what to work on first.
Gear Without the Overwhelm
The 12 essentials for dog and owner. What survived 800 miles, what didn't, and what you actually need for your first trip.
Stop buying gear you'll never use. Start with exactly what works.
Trail Conditioning
An 8-week fitness ramp-up plan that takes your dog from couch to trail-ready without injury or burnout.
Build the endurance your dog needs -- safely and on a real timeline.
Trail Safety & First Aid
Paw care, heat management, water safety, wildlife encounters, and the field kit that could save your dog's life.
Handle anything the trail throws at you with confidence, not panic.
Planning Your First Trip
Route selection matched to your dog's current level. How to read a trail for dog-friendliness before you commit.
Pick the right trail the first time -- not the Instagram-famous one that'll wreck your dog.
The First Overnight
Pre-trip checklist, what to expect, camp routines, and how to recover so you both want to do it again.
Go from day hiker to overnight adventurer with a plan, not a prayer.
Everything You Get
Total value: $408+
Your price: $97
A note about Trillium
Trillium is my new puppy -- a Border Collie, just like Gus. She's working through the same system you're about to start, and I'm documenting her real progress as it happens. Every win, every setback, every messy moment.
Trillium Trail Journal entries get added to the Field Guide as they happen in real life. Some modules may not have an entry yet -- because she hasn't gotten there yet. That's the point. This isn't pre-written content. It's a real dog on a real timeline, and you get to follow along.
30-Day Trail Guarantee
Try the entire Field Guide for 30 days. Work through the modules. Use the checklists. Start the conditioning plan. If it doesn't fundamentally change how you think about adventuring with your dog, email me and I'll refund every penny. No questions. No hoops. I built this because it works -- and I'm willing to bet on that.
Common Questions
What breed of dog do I need?
Any healthy dog can become a trail dog. The Field Guide covers breed-specific considerations -- including honest guidance for brachycephalic breeds, small dogs, and senior dogs. The system adapts to your dog, not the other way around.
Is this just for backpackers?
Not at all. Module 1 starts with day hikes. The curriculum scales from your first 2-mile trail walk to multi-day backcountry trips. You go as far as you and your dog want to go.
How is the content delivered?
Pure written curriculum -- no video to sit through. Lessons, checklists, and worksheets you can access anytime from your member dashboard. Print what you need, reference it on the trail.
My dog is still a puppy. Is it too early?
Trillium started this system at 16 weeks. Module 1 includes age-specific guidance. The earlier you start building the foundation, the better -- you're not waiting, you're preparing.
What if it's not for me?
30-day money-back guarantee. If the Field Guide doesn't change how you think about adventuring with your dog, email me and I'll refund you. No questions, no hoops.
Your dog was born for the trail.
The Field Guide shows you how to get there -- safely, confidently, and together.
Get the Trail Dog Field Guide -- $97One-time payment. Lifetime access. 30-day guarantee.