Dog pack question

If you're gonna try it, start light (just a pack with nothing in it), with low mileage, and ask a knowledgeable veterinarian about your particular dog. Dogs can break down just like people, but the signs may not be nearly as obvious.

Putting food in the dog's pack may distract it. Sure, it can smell the dog treats in your pack as well, but it won't be such an in-your-nose taunting.

Also take into consideration whether or not the dog likes to be outdoors for short periods of time (an hour), a long period (8 hours), or multiple days. This does NOT mean "take into consideration whether or not [YOU THINK] the dog likes to be outdoors". Projection is to be avoided at all costs. Some dogs are fairly obvious in their likes, dislikes, and level of fatigue. Others aren't. I've known both.

If your dog likes 2-5 miles but no more, don't make it go farther. If your dog likes flat ground but not hills, don't take it on hilly trails. If you dog likes cool weather, don't take it on hikes in summer.

Take food and water. They tend to lap up a lot of water at times, which may - or may not - be a sign of fatigue.

Retrievers are known to frequently suffer from displasia, but in an attempt to please their human, will silently trudge on anyway, painfully, and to their future detriment.

Think of the dog as a child who can communicate very little or not at all. Think of the dog as Number One, and yourself as Number Two.

"First, do no harm."

The important thing is to have a backup plan, in case your furry friend becomes fatigued or injured.

When my canine companion tuckers out or splits a paw pad, I deploy a dog sling to comfortably transport them back to the trailhead.


Here’s one of my wives (I’m part of a non-hierarchical, ethically non-monogamous polycule) carrying our pooped-out pooch Mister Fluffykins on a recent hike:



I crocheted the sling myself, using Peruvian vicuña wool direct from the shores of Lake Titicaca. With a micron-count of 8-13, vicuña fiber is the finest in the world - unrivaled softness & warmth formerly reserved exclusively for Incan royalty, but light enough to satisfy even the most strident ultralight gram-weenie.

The rings are titanium alloy, closed-die forged at 900°C for optimum ductility and minimal surface contamination.

The general rule I've always heard is no more than 25% of the dog's own body weight. I never even approached that with my old backpacking companion, Floyd. Since we were usually backpacking in bear country, I carried his food, which had to go in a bear can. He carried his bed, his blanket, his collapsible food bowl, and his water.


Strongly agree.

Individual fitness and strength of your dog will be important factors. Most of us humans require some level of training to be able to comfortably carry a backpack over long distances. A dog is no different.

Depending on terrain, I would highly recommend getting your dog a pair of booties. Get him used to them before hitting the trail, most dogs don't take too kindly to having boots on their feet until they get used to it.

Sorry for all the unsolicited advice. I really miss my hiking buddy.

Hiking southbound on the PCT in Oregon, I encountered a couple northbound section hikers with a dog near Santiam Pass. The dog was moving very slow, and was in obvious misery.

They entered the trail at McKenzie pass. Going north, the first 3 miles of that hike is on pure lava rock as you traverse Belknap Crater - hard on human feet due to balance issues and brutal on shoes due to the sharp, jagged lava rocks. I still have my running shoes from that trip as a memento, with all the cut marks from the lava.

Anyways, they made their dog walk across that lava, and then 13 more miles after that with injured paws.

I cursed them out, for not bringing booties & not turning back quickly on that lava. I told them if there was any justice I would take my pocket knife out, give them each 100 small cuts on the bottom of their feet, and make them walk back the 16 miles barefoot.

Looking back on it, it surprises me how well they took my cursing. That was a long time ago...fragile snowflakes today can't handle criticism.

I've only backpacked with one dog and he was a golden.  Just weekend hikes and never in winter.  I thought about getting him his own pack but never did; carrying 2-3 days of food wasn't a big deal.

The biggest lesson learned on our first hike together was that he needed almost double the amount of his normal food intake.  I totally underestimated the difference walking most of day would have.  (He was spending most of the day laying around and napping while I was at work.)  I ended up giving him half of my food.  We both hiked out starving.  :D

I also thought he would sleep in the vestibule of my small solo tent.  Nope.  When I woke up, he was on the pad and I was squeezed between the pad and the tent wall.