My dog and I have been hiking together since he was a puppy. I went backpacking with my dog for the first time when he was about 1 year old and we have gone on dozens of trips since.
My dog, Summit, is a 5 year old, 50lbs golden doodle (although he really just looks like a little golden retriever) and has a pretty calm temperament. Your dog’s size and activity level is going to influence their backpacking capabilities so I’m going to cover general tips that can help you get your dog ready for his or her first backpacking trip.
If you’re new to hiking or backpacking with your dog and curious How to Find Dog Friendly Trails, you can check that out here.
Can My Dog Carry His Own Backpack?
Yes! If your dog is healthy and big enough to carry a backpack, then they absolutely can carry some gear. Just like people, dogs should not carry more than 20% of their body weight. So Summit weighing 50 pounds, can carry 10 pounds. This includes the weight of his pack and any gear inside.
Dog Backpack
My dog has had the Ruffwear Approach pack for about 4 years now and I love it. I have no complaints. It is a saddle bag style to evenly distribute the weight, has a few pockets for organization, and the material is very durable. I like this because when he is running through the brush, I don’t have to worry about him ripping a hole in his pack.
Where Should My Dog Sleep?
I have always let my dog sleep in my tent, but I do take a few precautions. I have an indoor dog that would whine all night if I made him sleep outside so we make room for him in the tent. Dog claws can be sharp so make sure they don’t walk directly on your tent floor because you definitely don’t want to get a hole in it. I have never had this happen before, but better safe than sorry.
I like to keep repair tape on hand incase anything were to get a hole in it while we were out backpacking.
Before we had kids, we had him sleep on his own pad. We used the Thermarest Z Lite Pad which is a closed cell foam pad so he couldn’t pop it with his claws. It was also nice to bring the pad outside for him to lay on to keep him a little cleaner, and insulated from the ground when it was really cold out.
What Should I Bring Backpacking With a Dog?
Dogs don’t need too much but here is a list of gear you might need for backpacking with a dog: (If you prefer to shop on Amazon, you can check out My Dog Essentials here)
- Dog backpack: As talked about above, I love the Ruffwear Approach Dog Backpack.
- Leash: If you are backpacking on an on leash trail, or your dog does not have perfect recall, it’s important they are always on their leash. I love the Ruffwear Roamer leash because I can clip it to my pack, around a tree, or around my waist. I also like the bungee element so it has a little give.
- Water bowl: The Ruffwear Trail Runner dog bowl is perfect for backpacking because it’s super lightweight and packs down incredibly small.
- Dog first aid kit: There are a few first aid items I think are essential for dogs on the trail and I love that this Adventure Medical first aid kit is specific for dogs. I have the first aid kit that is for both humans and dogs.
- Light: I love having a light around my dog’s neck so I can see him at night. I used to use the Ruffwear Beacon but the clip broke and I didn’t love hooking the key ring around his collar. I upgraded his collar to the Carhartt dog collar which has a built in light and I love it! You could also use a few glow sticks and make a necklace with them.
- Sleeping pad: As talked about above, I like the Thermarest Z Lite pad because it’s lightweight, relatively inexpensive, and it can’t be popped. You could also do a cheap foam pad from Walmart.
- Blanket: I don’t bring a sleeping bag for my dog since he’s double coated and doesn’t like to be confined, but a synthetic blanket works great to just throw on top of him to keep the nighttime chill off.
- Poop bags: When we are out in the backcountry, I normally bury my dog’s poop like I would mine in a 6 inch hole. But sometimes we are places where we need to pack it out and I will just double bag it and he carry’s it out. Make sure to always follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles.
- Dog food: I bring his food in a silicone or ziplock bag and portion it into his dog bowl. Depending on how long we’re going, I’ll bring an extra meal or days worth of food for him.
- Dog treats: I don’t always bring dog specific treats. Sometimes I’ll just give him the peanuts out of my trail mix or he will have some of of my fruit pouch. But dog treats in my hip belt pocket are great to make sure he always stays close.
How Do I Keep My Dog Safe When Out Backpacking?
Wildlife
Making sure you keep your dog safe when out backpacking is not only important for them, but also for yourself. When you’re out backpacking with a dog, they can aggravate large wildlife like moose and bears, and even attract it with their smaller size. Here are a few ways to help avoid unwanted wildlife encounters and keep you and your dog safe:
- Research the area you will be backpacking in ahead of time to know what wildlife you may encounter and how to avoid them.
- Make sure your dog is well trained and has perfect recall. This means they will come when you call them no matter their surroundings or distractions. This can take years to master.
- If your dog does not come every time you call them, keep them on a leash.
- Make noise while you hike and stick to the trail so you don’t startle any unsuspecting animals.
- If rattlesnakes are a concern where you will be hiking, consider putting your dog in a rattlesnake avoidance training class
Wildlife is not the only danger out on the trail. Injury, dehydration, and exposure are all very real dangers to dogs as they are to humans. Obviously dogs cannot tell you what is wrong so it’s important to stay vigilant and make sure their needs are met.
Injury
Dogs are resilient but not infallible so you want to be prepared in case they were to get an injury. I always carry my dog specific first aid kit on all of our backpacking trips. (Actually, this is something I have Summit carry in his pack.) In it are things that are in most typical first aid kits like tweezers to get things out of their paws, supplies for wound irrigation, a muzzle to care for wounds, hydrogen peroxide in case they eat something they shouldn’t, bandages, and more.
If it is hunting season and you are out backpacking with a dog, put an orange vest on your dog so hunter’s don’t mistake them for wildlife. This high visibility vest is a great option to keep them visible during the day and night.
Dehydration
Make sure your dog is drinking plenty of water, and drinking regularly. It can be hard to remember as they can’t tell you they’re thirsty, but don’t let them go too long without getting a drink. My ideal hike is along side a river or multiple water sources so we don’t have to carry as much water, but making sure your dog is drinking every hour will keep them much happier.
If the water you are hiking by is not safe to drink, make sure to filter it. A lightweight water filter that’s easy to carry is the Katadyn BeFree and the Sawyer Squeeze.
Exposure
Whether it’s the heat or cold, dogs are susceptible to the outdoor elements just like people. Make sure you’re not taking your dog on a hike where it will be too hot with no way to cool down. Dogs paws are tough but they can blister if the ground is too hot and also get frostbite if they’re in the snow too long (this is breed dependent). If you’re doing a hot hike or a snowy hike, look into investing in some dog booties to protect their feet from the hot ground or snow. A balm like Mushers Wax or Bag Balm can also help protect their paws.
If you have a short coat breed, or are doing a really cold hike with your long haired dog, a dog jacket is an excellent thing to bring along. Ruffwear makes some amazing dog jackets for many different needs.
Backpacking with a dog is a great way for you to get out and enjoy nature with a friend by your side.
Check out more of my backpacking posts:
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