Dog Backpack Suggestions?
Not entirely related (and feel free to move this...I couldn't get my iPod to let me use the menu to change the category today), but I'm looking for suggestions.
A friend of mine is fostering a pit-type dog, young adult. She's looking for a pack for her to wear on walks to help tire her out more, but says all the ones she's found are too expensive. She's hoping, of course, to place Sarah soon, so doesn't want to spend too much on a pack for a few months' use, but of course it needs to be good enough to not cause chafing, etc.
Any suggestions?
A friend of mine is fostering a pit-type dog, young adult. She's looking for a pack for her to wear on walks to help tire her out more, but says all the ones she's found are too expensive. She's hoping, of course, to place Sarah soon, so doesn't want to spend too much on a pack for a few months' use, but of course it needs to be good enough to not cause chafing, etc.
Any suggestions?
Comments
outward hound brand has dog packs they're sold at petsmart, but I never used ruffwear or outward hounds packs so not sure on chafing.
http://www.amazon.com/Kyjen-Outward-Release-BackPack-Medium/dp/B003MU9OUW
West Michigan, so pretty far from you I'm afraid, haha. I haven't met the dog in person yet (which is horrible because my university is only about 40 minutes from where she is, so I'm nearby this time of year); I know she said that she usually goes for a size "large" (she's used one before, but I'm not sure where she got it--apparently she no longer has access to it). I'd have to ask what brand that was though.
Pictures of the dog in question, which might help a bit:
@Saya:
I'll send her the links to those anyway; I'm not entirely sure what her price range is beyond "not too expensive" XD
I will see if we have a large in the garage... We have so many extra harnesses and packs it's ridiculous.
http://www.geartrade.com/browse/dog-packs-and-accessories#b
Just giving ideas since least expensive is a thing on this.
I figure the price I spent on Saya's life jacket is worth it should last her a very long time of swimming in lakes.
Sorry it took a while for me to get back about that.
But again, thanks!
I was thinking I could get her a back pack to carry water a couple water bottles and other lighter items. Like a towel, chalk bag, climbing shoes, snacks, tp, and chews for her.
This seems like a lot of bulk especially with a towel maybe two. I don't think it would be too heavy for her, but i could be wrong (let me know if I am).
My crash pad doesn't have much room for storage. But i figured it would give her something to do and feel important.
I guess my real question is. Does anyone know of a good backpack with a lot of storage space?
I'll be honest, I usually go by 10% or less of my pup's body weight. I get paranoid that more, esp if I don't build her up to it, will strain her in unexpected wYs since we go quite a distance. Generally I just have my pup carry her own stuff and I carry mine, though she does get the first aid kit. Perhaps others that hike more frequently can chime in on general weight.
Also, how old is Arashi again? That would also make a difference. To be honest, under two years i would personally be more conservative.
You could join the Traildogforum
She is almost 1.5 year. I would start her light.
Possible Goal:
water
chalk bag and shoes ~ 1 lb
snacks would be a box of granola bars.
I could probably do a small "real" towel and a hand towel
chew would be a pig ear or 2 /maybe a bully stick or 2
and a little plastic bowl 4/5 oz
and tp... well.
I like the Palisade pack and use it from time to time with my pups. Something to consider, if hiking through areas with a lot of undergrowth, the pack makes it harder for the dog to move without getting snagged on the various branches and vines. I does have a decent amount of space and is set up for also holding water bladders, so it is a useful pack.
It has good reviews on rei (better than the palisade) and is quite a bit cheaper, but you guys have so much good to say about Ruffwear that I'm tempted to go that direction... I also really like that you can take the palisade off and it can double as a harness.
But before I read this thread, I had that Mountainsmith pack picked out, and now I just don't know... Anyone know anything about it?
My biggest concern is the shape of the pouches. They are oval shaped, where the ruffwear bags the weight is biased forward which pushes the weight towards the dogs shoulders. Ruffwear packs do this by a wedge-shaped pouch, so the biggest part of the bag sits right over their shoulders. It's a good design. This keeps strain off of their back and puts it where most of the dog's strength is. This one would be hard to pack and not have the weight further down the dogs back.
I went for the approach pack in small for Rollo. It has 1L less capacity than the palisades (9L vs 10 in the palisades), but the approach pouches felt bigger than the ones in the palisades pack. Where I bought it from the approach was $80 cheaper than the palisades, I spent $80 on it. For myself I'd only want the palisades removable bags for if he went swimming while we camped, and he hates water so that won't happen haha. I'll only ask him to carry his food for 5 days, maybe 1L of water, a towel and maybe a toy, so this was a great compromise. If he ends up needing more space, that's why I bought an 80L Gregory expedition bag for! So far it's a great pack. I'll be going on a 5 day backpacking expedition this summer in the Rockies so I'll have a breakdown of how it performed after the trip. It feels very solid, similar materials to what my own pack is made of.
I like the idea of taking it off because Shoko doesn't have a nice harness yet and this would cover both bases. Do you plan to switch Rollo to a different harness when you make camp, or leave the pack on? Also, how old is Rollo? I know he's a little older than Shoko. I'm waiting to get her a pack because I'm worried I'll get the wrong size (she's only 5 months) but I'm guessing she'll just end up being a small, since Rollo is and he's older and seems to be a big boy. Are you worried he'll grow out of it?
http://www.backcountryk9.com/Products/Hurtta-Trail-Pack
or
https://eurodogdesigns.3dcartstores.com/Hurtta-Trail-Pack_p_349.html
(Hurtta has also released their "Active Harness" which looks like a direct competitor to the recent and popular Ruffwear Front Range. Haven't seen it in person, but I've already got a Front Range.)
If you are considering getting a harness for everyday use anyway the palisades is great as its both a pack and a good harness.
Rollo is 7 months old now. His rib cage is around 22 inches just behind his shoulders, so he is at the bottom of the small pack scale in the ascent. He can get a good deal bigger before looking at a medium which is great. The good thing about the palisades pack is that the size chart has the small being 21-30 inches around, and the small is the smallest size. You can pretty well guarantee the small will fit just fine. Maybe a touch big until she is fully grown, but that should be a perfect fit.
@zandrame, thanks for the links! Another pack to consider.
Loading up the bags takes some precision too. We went to the grocery store and put a couple bags of chips in there just to start. One was 250g and the other was 125g and the bag was moving to one side. I've got it on there snug, but not too tight.
It was really funny watching him walk next to a building as he didn't realize how much wider he is with the bag on. He smashed into the wall a couple of times and got stuck on a tree once. It was pretty funny. He is pretty smart though, it won't take him long to figure it out. He is super cute with the bag on. My wife put a beer in the bag and sent him out to me when I was bbqing. Good boy!