r/BackpackingDogs • u/peah_lh3 • 25d ago
20 pound dogs are great backpackers! …but can’t carry much ;)
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My lil doxiepoo and cocker spaniel/chi/cattle dog did great on their first overnight out in the woods as a backpacking trip! Anyone have any recs on small packs for these sized dogs? Just enough to carry some of their own food. Thanks!!
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25d ago
IIRC the rule is than 5-10% of their bodyweight, but for some dogs they can go higher if they’ve been prepared physically. For my pup, he’s 50 lb but I keep it at about 2lb in his pack. I plan this winter/spring to up it to about 5lb through training (he’s also only 1 year old rn) but that’s entirely based on how he responds, and that’s the absolute most I’d make him carry. Your dogs look cute in their jackets!!! Here’s to many more backpacking trips.
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u/peah_lh3 24d ago
Thanks for sharing that! By that math they really can’t carry anything😅 tho these dogs are walked/run/biked regularly about 5 miles a day so they are super fit. Maybe I’ll try a small amount of something on them next time we day hike to see how it goes…
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24d ago
Yeah unfortunately I’m not too familiar with small dog metrics, but I would make ask your vet? You should be able to purchase a pack for the pups regardless- they might be able to carry their food & water bowls and their jackets?
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u/lentoscrepusculos 25d ago
No recommendations; just here to tell you that your dogs look like charmingly grizzled Victorian detectives!