Backpacks

[avlsarah]

Couple of questions here:

First, how many of you have bakcpacks for your pups when you go hiking? I understand that using a backpack for hiking, or just daily walks, is good because it gives the dog more of a purpose and they are more likely to stay focused. I also like the idea of Maxwell being able to carry his own weight and haul his bowl / water / kibble.

For those of you who use packs, what pack do you have? Have you found that it changes your dog's endurance (eg. they are able to walk fewer miles with the pack)?

Does anybody have the Ruffwear Approach pack specifically? What size does your dog use?After all my researching about different options, this is the one I've decided is the best fit for Maxwell's size and the kind of hikes we do. I was planning to order one online in the Spring, but we will definitely hike through the winter so when I saw one marked down 30% at a store today I got it. Thing is, I'm not so sure I have the right size. I got Maxwell the size 'small' which is for girth size 21"-30." The next size down is 17-24." I think the XS might seem more realistic, but I haven't measured Maxwell yet.

Here are some photos. It just seems too big. The belts are all sinched down as far as they go and the fit is right, but the pack itself seems too large. What do you think?

[bradl]

I agree with you that it looks maybe too large. Doesn't appear to leave him much ground clearance - he might get high-sided on a rock

[Nikki]

yeah the back pack is too big. I have a back pack from moochies that scotty wears I think its xs. and Angel has a web master harness from ruff wear and it think she wears xxs. Angel is small only about 12lbs. Scotty would probably wear xs ruff master harness. Scotty is about 22lbs

when your dog is wearing a backpack you don't want him to carry more than 15% of his body weight or you could damage his back.

I fill my bad with beans or campbell soup depends what I have in stock at my house lol

I put photo of scotty's book bag and Angel's harness ...the harness sizes should be the same size as the back packs

[avlsarah]

Thanks! Good to have a second opinion.

The pack is definitely too big - I measured; Maxwell is 19" girth at the largest part of his chest, so much smaller than the size S. I looked at the Ruffwear website for sizing info, and the photo of a Jack Russell showed a much smaller, better fitting pack than the size S looks on Maxwell.

I'll have to return the pack and find somewhere else to order a size XS as the store where I purchased it doesn't carry below size S.

But it was good to have the opportunity to check it out and see how sturdy it is. He's going to love it.

I'll take some photos when the new pack arrives! And hopefully we'll be breaking it in soon (I was hoping to take it for a maiden hike in the snow tomorrow. Oh well).

[Nikki]

I like ruff wear their products are very well made. I didn't see their backpacks until I had already bought one for scotty. Other wise I probably would of bought theirs. I love the web master harness...there is no way Angel can get out it. But I only use the harness for hiking. I use Scotty's backpack for everything. We we go on walks, when he goes on the treadmill, and car rides.

[avlsarah]

Maxwell's new backpack came in the mail today. And it is perfect!

The fit is much better; I'm amazed what a difference just one size can make. It is significantly smaller than the larger size we tried from the store.

I immediately put it on him to check sizing and fit it to him, now he is wandering around the house with it on. I think he likes it, but he'll have to get used to having it on since he's bumping into things. Tomorrow we'll take it for a test drive.

[Nena]

It is really cute on him. What do you plan for him to carry? I never thought of a pack for mine.

[avlsarah]

Using a pack, other than being useful in certain situations, is supposed to be a tool to facilitate 'purposeful' walks. The idea is that, instead of going out and rooting about in leaves, chasing after birds, picking up sticks, barking at joggers, etc the dog is given a task which helps him to be more focused on just walking.

Dogs can carry about 1/3 of their body weight. That's about 5lbs for Maxwell. I figure that, whether we're hiking or just walking around town, he can carry his own water bottles, food, and bowl.

[Nikki]

I wouldn't let him carry 1/3 of his weight that is way too heavy... you will end up hurting his back

I would say no more than 3lbs for 20lbs dog that is at a max {15% of their body weight}

just like when humans start working out ...they start with a light weight and gradually add more

Start with 1lb then gradually add more you need to give his body time to adjust to carry a weight

[avlsarah]

The "guide to your dog's new pack" says most dogs can handle UP TO 1/3 of their own weight, but to get to that point you need to begin with a light pack and work up to heavier loads so that the dog's endurance also increases. But, it also stresses that it is important not to overload your dog, and always monitor his physical condition while he is wearing the pack and adjust the contents as needed.

I don't think Maxwell would ever carry a full 5lbs. The pack holds two small water bottles, which I don't intend to fill completely at first so that Maxwell has lots of positive experiences while wearing the pack and isn't stressed by a heavy load. At 15% of his body weight, Maxwell could carry 2.5lbs which is probably greater than the weight of both water bottles when full. As I'm intending to use the pack mostly as a way to let Maxwell feel like he has a job, the actual load or amount that he's able to carry is somewhat inconsequential since I'm not trying to load him down or build his endurance for multi-day excursions. Also, I know from others that the greater the load, the slower the dog's pace and the less distance they are able to cover. I don't want to hamper Maxwell's ability to go out, climb up on the rocks and push himself on the trails, and neither do I want to end up carrying a tired Maxwell plus pack down a mountain.

[beccadiane374]

Tanner uses a backpack. I think the brand is Outward Hound. I don't remember the size, probably small. I don't have a whole lot in it. I started just putting loose pennies, like, 5 in each side & have added 5 every other month ( I think we're up to 15 on each side). And I think I have an extra house key in one side & a couple of poo bags in the other. I know it's not much, but I want to be very careful not to over do it. Either way, he doesn't seem to mind at all.

[avlsarah]

Here are some more recent photos of Maxwell and his backpack. The two are almost inseparable. He has really taken a liking to it. He gets excited whenever I take it out because he knows we are going for a hike. He is carrying 18 - 32oz. of water and a cup of kibble. His longest hike so far has been 7mi. and he carried the pack the whole way. We take it off when we break, and I can attach it to my pack if he is slowing down, but the weight seems like just enough to slow down his pace but not enough to tire him out. On our 7mi. hike, he was still pulling on the leash at the end of the trail. I'm really satisfied with this pack; the only thing I don't like about it is that the saddle bags cannot detach from the harness like the larger style; this would be much easier than taking the whole pack off at rests, which is quite cumbersome

(We have matching packs)

Here Maxwell is swimming across a stream that had washed out the trail

Water breaks are real easy since I don't have to take off my pack anymore.

[Autumn & Lola]

Awesome photos! Makes me want to go hiking (if only I could!)

[bradl]

Looks like fun. I've noticed that some dogs seem to enjoy wearing and carrying things while others not so much. Haggis will wear anything and seems to sort of enjoy it. The girls more or less just tolerate stuff. I suspect taking them on fun walks in the woods would make most dog's association with a pack a very positive one!