Essential Gear for Backpacking with Dogs

Frequent questions I get about backpacking with dogs:
What should I pack, and how much can they carry?
As someone that has three outdoor-loving mutts, I've honed in our gear line-up and overview what exactly I bring along and why.
What I cover in this video:
- How much dogs can and should carry according to their weight
- Different gear options for varying dog breeds
- My dog gear priorities while hiking and backpacking
As there was some confusion in my delivery regarding how much weight dogs should carry, here's the breakdown:
- MOST dogs should only carry around 10 - 15% of their body weight in gear
- More active dog breeds can get away with carrying up to 25% of their body weight, but generally less is better
- Working breeds and dogs specifically conditioned for carrying heavy loads (like my youngest dog) can carry up to 30-50% of their body weight, but that is not recommended for average hikers or most dogs and should be done with great care and planning.
Just like humans, dogs need time to adapt and be conditioned to carry weight on their bodies! Take it slow and build up gradually. If you are bringing your pup for the first time, they should be carrying far less than 25%, if anything at all!
Keep in mind that these are simply the things that work best for me and my dogs. Every adventure and every dog is different, so the gear you choose may not be exactly the same.
Need tips for training your dog for backpacking and hiking? Checkout ‪@happyhoundsdogtraining‬
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Gear Featured in Video
- Ruffwear Approach Dog Pack: ruffwear.com/products/hiking-...
- Fido Pro Airlift - fidoprotection.com/products/f...
- Jinks Dog Treats: prf.hn/l/q3Agnpp
- Arcadia Trail Dog Rain Jacket - rb.gy/ppwepg
- Kong H20 K9 Water Bottle - prf.hn/l/OqnMbgW
- LED Dog Collar: prf.hn/l/8j1NoNQ
- Dog First Aid: prf.hn/l/Rlye5kn
- Muzzle: prf.hn/l/deqQXQZ
- Sawyer Permethrin: www.sawyer.com/page/dogs-and-...
- Nora's Nursery Wet Bag - norasnursery.com/products/des...
*This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links.
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TIMESTAMPS
00:22 Intro
00:32 How much dogs can carry
01:14 Ruffwear Approach Dog Pack
01:55 Fido Pro Airlift
02:25 Leash and dog poop bags
03:04 Dog treats
03:33 Dog jackets
04:30 Water
05:34 LED collars
05:55 First Aid
06:19 Muzzles
06:34 Bandanas and Permethrin Tick Protectant
07:35 Packing their backpacking pack and conditioning
08:31 Tailor gear to your dog's needs
08:52 Dog food
09:09 Backpack overview and other options

[@theoutdoordogandhikinggirl]

I think 50% is absolutely a no-go, even for well trained dogs. It's way to much. Than 25% is really the max and totally for long distances.

[@theoutdoorminimalist]

I absolutely agree! Almost ALL dogs, especially standard house pets, should be carrying less than 25% of their body weight for safety reasons, which is stated in the video. I apologize if that was not clear in my delivery! I mention the 30-50% specific to working breeds and dogs conditioned to carry that amount of weight. That is not a standard recommendation for average dogs or hikers. I hope that clears that up 😀

[@Hiker89-kp5sy]

Agree with theoutdoordogandhikinggirl.
50% is ridiculous. If that's what you tell people, than I am over with this channel. Poor dogs...that amount of weight....🤦

[@theoutdoorminimalist]

I understand why that seems ridiculous because IT IS for most dogs. In fact, for first-time backpacking trips, I'd recommend much less than 25% of their body weight because, like humans, dogs need to be conditioned to prevent injury and overexertion. It seems my delivery may have confused some viewers about which weight recommendation is appropriate for which types of dogs, so I appreciate the feedback. ☺
I will add, though, that working dogs and dogs specifically conditioned for trekking with heavy loads can fit within the higher 30-50% but that should be done responsibly and with great care. That's not the standard recommendation by any means.