backpack for the dogs?

[woody d]

does anyone make a pack that a dog can carry on hikes and camping trips? sometimes id rather hit the timber and dissapear with just a dog for a little peace of mind, and my dogs are working animals so packing a little extra weight/camping gear wouldnt be an issue for them. i have looked around and cant seem to find what im looking for, so i figured id ask you all for a little help.

[mctrinket]

These are great:

http://www.wolfpacks.com/products/dogpacks/banzai.html

[woody d]

thank you so much man, that might be exactly what im looking for. i figured bottled water would be the safest thing for them to pack simply because of the rough terrain we have to cover to get to one of my favorite sites. i worry about straining/hurting the dogs by loading em down with an unbalanced load. a couple bottles on each side, and theyd be helping me tremendously. afterall, we all need that H2O to survivie

[Brad "the butcher"]

I used saddlebags made by Outward Hound with my lab for years until he turned 11 two years ago, more people should harness theirs boundless energy.
Those wolfpacks on the link look pretty well made as well.
When you first start with the dog fill the pack with crumpled newspaper stuffed in plastic bags, This way the dog does not get spooked or annoyed by unfamiliar weight, and gets used to the volume and width of the pack. They tend to run a saddlebag into trees/rocks and the BACK of your knee....possible knee injury on a narrow trail. Takes them a little while to realize the extra width on tight spaces.
Then start adding 500ml water bottles to each side to build them up.
Our longest trek was 17 days.

This learning curve is hard on any pack, bring a good needle with some tough braided line for repairs along with a half dozen wire-ties which work great as emergency buckle/strap replacements. Or else you will be carrying their pack as well.

Small drybags for inside their pack are a must as well, you can turn a corner and find them already chest deep in mudhole.

Old Spot is pretty grey now at 13 this may, no more packing but he can still get out for a few km's and a swim.

[foxx]

I looked around, and around for a good dog pack, and also found the Wolf Packs. I got a size Small for my 65lbs Pitbull, she loves it, well I love it. It's never failed, fell off, or caused her any problems. They are made for working dogs, and are sized towards larger breeds, but the straps adjust for a range of shapes. They also use heavy duty cordura, my dog hits everything with the pack, I've seen no damage or wear on the materials.

[blt-2-drg]

REI also sells a variety of dog packs if you want to check some out in person.

[woody d]

thanks for all the the advice Brad, i hadnt thought of some of that.( like the pack width, and possible repairs)
both my dogs compete at ADBA weight pull competitions (and have pulled 75x their body weight on multiple occasions) with a harness, so im hoping the transition from wp harness' to a pack would be an easy one.

[woody d]

I looked around, and around for a good dog pack, and also found the Wolf Packs. I got a size Small for my 65lbs Pitbull.

yikes, my APBTs are the smaller gamebred type..35-45lbs..i hope that wont be an issue

[woody d]

hard working dogs LOL....




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[foxx]

Hey Woody, beautiful dogs! I just went and looked at my Wolf Pack, and the adjustment straps are open about 3/4 of the length. That means, it could be cinched down about 7-8 more inches. That's a good amout of difference in it's adjustment. I measured my Pit for a hunting jacket, and the base of her neck is 19" and the peak of her chest was 29" or 30". I'm saying my Pit is at about the maximum of the small size, it can be made much smaller. Hope this helps.

[woody d]

that does help man, thanks for the info. and thanks to all who have posted, i really was kinda lost looking for a dog pack.

btw, nice looking dog ya got there foxx

[MikeyJ]

Good thread. We have a deposit down on a lab pup who will be ready mid-May. I've already started looking into this as well. I want to get her used to it as early as possible!!!

[foxx]

According to Ceasar Milan, and my own experiences, working breeds take to packs and harnesses quite well. I never had to do any training with my Pit, she trusts me anyway. Every time I put that pack on her, she changes her energy and behavior. It's like I'm pushing a button for work mode, she stays calm, and will walk on or off leash right beside me.
Even if I go walking her off leash, down in the field, I she doesn't run around or play. When backpacking, it keeps her right beside me, without the pack, she would run around, go off trail, sniffing everything, etc.. I keep her on the leash 99% of the time anyway on the trail. I do let her go when the terrain is to technical for us to be leashed together. But the pack keeps her near by, this dog used to go exploring for an hour or so otherwise.