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The long days of summer seem made for romping outside with your dog. But aside from heartworm pills and their own water bottle, your pet may not be prepared for lengthy outdoor adventures -- especially if your pooch is the pampered, indoor type who spends most of the year lolling on the sofa "helping" you watch marathons of The Real World. We've collected some equipment that will ease their adjustment. Soon you'll be hiking through parks, jogging through the city, and taking longer road trips in the car, and even on the bike.
Above:
Burley Tail Wagon
The entire concept of a dog bike trailer seems embarrassingly self-indulgent. Unlike, say, a year-old child, my dogs are fully capable of running alongside my bike. But summer excursions often entail journeys along busy roads, or that span daunting distances. The Tail Wagon ($400) latches onto the back of your bike and can accommodate dogs up to 75 pounds. The aluminum hitch makes the trailer easy to detach or reattach to your bike while negotiating obstacles like gates or garages. The parking brake, fold-down tailgate and rear-facing design make it easy to load or unload your dog. Unfortunately, an interior height of 22.8 inches meant that both my 35- and my 65-pound dog had to crouch while riding. And while I understand that safety concerns require quick releases, the fact that the door flap is held shut with only two hooks made it far too easy for stray appendages to escape the interior compartment. When I took my dog on her maiden voyage, I discovered on our return that her tail had been dragging behind the trailer. If you have the patience to acclimate your dog to the trailer gradually, there is no more convenient way to keep the pack together all summer long. Otherwise, the car's backseat might be the better transportation option. WIRED Easily collapsible for stowing away in a garage or car trunk. Included stroller handlebar and safety flag. Plenty of cargo pockets for stashing leashes and treats. TIRED Please: More door closure snaps! 22-pound trailer + 65-pound dog = burning quads. A double-legged kickstand would have prevented some embarrassing crashes when I forgot to place the parking brake. Rating: 6 out of 10All photos: Ariel Zambelich/Wired 
