My dog also has his hiking bag!
For some time now, I have seen photos of masters and their dogs trekking or trekking in magical places. Alps, Pyrenees, Massif Central and elsewhere, they post magnificent photos with breathtaking landscapes. Wild nature as far as the eye can see, a good physical effort, a great moment of complicity with his dog: inevitably I wanted to try the adventure with my beautiful Musher.
Let me give you some explanations before giving you more information on this adventure. Trekking is a great hike over 2 or more days, generally independently with a bivouac. A bivouac is a temporary open-air overnight camp with or without a tent.
Who says hiking independently over several days says big hiking bag to carry all the equipment necessary for this kind of expedition: food, a sleeping bag, a raincoat, a headlamp…. and the tent! No way for Musher and me to sleep under the stars. I'm far too scared of little buggers to risk swallowing one in my sleep… brrr it makes me tremble just thinking about it!
As I share this adventure with Musher, I also have to carry his things on my back. As a result, my bag quickly weighs very heavy. Musher has a good recall, so she is on the loose very often. We practice canicross or canitrail together, but when hiking, it moves freely. So I thought of involving her a little more in the common effort. Either the dog helps you by towing (with cani-rando equipment specially adapted for him) or he carries his belongings. He can't do both. It's not a donkey just your dog!! In this article, I test two packs of packs for dogs so that they carry their own equipment: water, kibble, first aid kit...
Editor's note: In the article “Hiking with your dog cannot be improvised”, I have listed in detail everything you need to plan for your dog on a hike. I invite you to read or re-read this article. I also invite you to read the brand new comparison of the best packs for dogs with for each the strengths and weaknesses, but also the links to the shops where you can find them!
Which bag for which dog?
Before buying this accessory for your dog, there are a few things to check…
Is your dog healthy? If not, don't force him to carry anything on his back; he will have enough of his carcass to move!
Is it a puppy? If it is growing, quickly banish this idea from your mind. Let him grow and finish growing before putting him on his back. If you have any doubts, consider asking your veterinarian for advice. He knows your dog well, he will be of good advice.
An absolutely mandatory adaptation phase
Of course to go trekking with Musher, I didn't order the bag 3 days before departure. We have been in the adaptation phase for several weeks now. First, it is essential to have him test the bag on short walks that are completely empty. Even empty, it already weighs a little and your dog will have to get used to its presence before filling the side pockets.
If someone puts a 15-kilogram bag on your back when you usually don't carry anything on a hike, it's going to make you feel weird…it's the same for your dog. We started with short walks then bigger ones then I started to fill the bag gradually. I checked that Musher is still comfortable.
The composition of the bag: weight, accessories, food?
Generally it is said that the dog can carry up to a third of its weight. Personally, I find that huge. So that means that Musher could carry up to 10 kilos! For now, I'm limiting it to half that weight. I let her get used to it and build her back for this weight and we'll see if we need her to help us more on future trips. Before loading the bag, remember to take into account its own empty weight.
If Musher carries his water, every time I serve him a ration, the balance of the bag is no longer good. It's a bit of a puzzle. That's why once I find the right balance, each pocket always contains the same thing!
On top of that, you'll learn soon enough if your dog is as fond of every puddle as my Labrador, pack bags are not waterproof. If you put his croquettes in it, be careful that it does not turn into mush! To avoid carnage, in case of rain, Ruffwear to create a blanket for his pack bag. It adapts to bat bags Approach Pack et Palisades Pack, in order to protect their contents from the weather.
Last advice on the composition of the bag: be careful that everything is well folded inside. Musher likes to roll on the ground. Bag or no bag, she has a field day. If I put hard objects in the bag, she might hurt herself by rolling over them. As for us, when we have a bottle of water that sinks into our back because it is badly wedged in the backpack or the camera... Pay attention to that also for your dog.
The Dog Scout pack bag from Ferplast
On the dog backpack side, there is something for all tastes and for all budgets. Before embarking on a major investment, I tested an entry-level bag to see if Musher was willing to have it on my back on the go. I chose the “Dog Scout” backpack from Ferplast.
-
color: orange and taupe
-
a pocket on each side of the dog with a zip closure
-
in each pocket there is a net to separate the space in two and a small hook to attach something in one of the pockets
-
reflective strips present on the side pockets and on the top of the bag
-
on top of the dog, at the level of the back, there is also a net: I am still looking for what it is for…
-
harness attachment with 2 clips under the belly and one clip on the chest, fully adjustable and protected by anti-friction reinforcements
I loved:
-
it slips on easily
-
it's not too big so you can't overload it
I did not like:
-
that the side closets jump on Musher's flanks when she runs and therefore hit her flanks when they are full
-
that it slides very easily despite its balance
-
that the bindings are easily disturbed during a ride...
-
that the bindings are in direct contact with the body of the dog without further protection
My final opinion: I recommend this bag for walks. Your dog will be able to carry his favorite ball and bowl. I don't find it suitable for long hikes and trekking as I recently tested with Musher. It's a bit like going with a simple backpack: your back will quickly become very painful.
Ruffwear Commuter Pack Bag
Following the test of the first bag, not suitable for what we wanted to do, I looked for another bag. I wanted solid material, easily adjustable, well reinforced so as not to hurt the dog and practical.
I'm quite a fan of the Ruffwear brand so naturally I looked at their dog hiking backpacks. I compared products (and prices!) and settled on the Commuter dog backpack from Ruffwear.
-
color: gray (it also exists in purple)
-
a pocket on each side of the dog with a zip closure
-
in each pocket, there is a small practical pocket to slip small objects. On each pocket, there is another practical zipped compartment also for slipping objects to retrieve quickly.
-
reflective seams present on the side pockets and on the chest of the dog
-
3 attachments for the leash: 2 on the dog's back and one on the chest (personally, I use the chest buckle to attach the Musher's medal and its bell)
-
1 handle on the dog's back, well padded, it allows the dog to be hoisted if necessary.
-
harness attachment with 2 clips under the belly, both reinforced to prevent the strap from rubbing against the dog's skin. It slips through the dog's head.
I loved:
-
it slips on easily and each strap is padded so as not to hurt the dog.
-
the chest is well protected with a special reinforcement
-
the fixing of the bag is well thought out so that it does not slip on the dog's back: balancing is much easier to do!
-
it also does not slide down the back towards the tail, it stays in place
-
it has a large capacity (be careful not to overload it, however)
-
the fabric and finish of the bag are very nice! the quality is there!
I did not like:
-
its empty weight...
-
that it is not waterproof (like all bags for that matter..)
My final opinion: I recommend this bag for walks, hikes and treks. Your dog should feel comfortable wearing the Ruffwear Commuter Dog Backpack. Musher and I have just returned from a 2-day hike with bivouac in a tent and in total autonomy in the Pyrenees. She had her bag the whole hike. She did not go unnoticed with her dog backpack on the back. Each hiker had a nice little word for her and not necessarily for me behind… hihi.
Ruffwear Approach Pack Bag
At Ruffewear, I also tested another backpack. I hesitated for a long time between the two. They have a different look and different finishes. Eventually I decided to test it too and so Musher did a few hikes equipped with the Ruffwear Approach Pack Bag.
Here is a quick description of the different elements of the Approach dog backpack.
- Orange color
- a pocket on each side of the dog with a zip closure
- in each pocket there is a net to separate the space in two
- the volume of each pocket allows you to put a lot of things. Be careful, however, to respect the carrying capacity of your dog.
- reflective lines present on the side pockets of the bag
- at the level of the back, there is a handle to catch the dog
- harness attachment with 2 clips on the dog's back
I loved:
- it slips on easily
- it is perfectly adjusted to the morphology of my dog, a Labrador. It rests on his front shoulders, not the middle of his back.
- a small clip-on strap secures the side pouches to prevent them from jumping along Musher when she runs with them.
- it is adjustable thanks to 5 adjustment points: which allows you to find the perfect fit for your dog's morphology.
- its color: orange is perfect for Musher. On the other hand, the light orange gets dirty quickly. The bag is easily machine washable so no problem.
I did not like:
- that the side pockets are not waterproof. It's hard to ask a Labrador not to jump into the slightest puddle in its path...
- that the bindings are in direct contact with the body of the dog without further protection. There is protection under the two straps that pass under the dog's belly but no reinforcement at the level of the chest unlike the Ruffwear Commuter bag.
My final opinion: I recommend this dog hiking bag for hiking with your dog. He will be well equipped with this equipment! The bag and therefore the weight of the bag rests well on the shoulders of the good and not on the middle of his back. Thus, with each jump of the dog, the weight does not fall on the hollow of its back.
I can't wait to go on an adventure with Musher and to be able to share new photos with you! Trekking is not accessible to everyone or to all dogs. It requires a good physical condition and especially a lot of equipment. But it's a damn good experience to share with your dog!
READ ALSO: The GR20: A Corsican adventure full of surprises, Hiking with your dog cannot be improvised