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Ultralight Dogs?


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Viewing 25 posts - 26 through 50 (of 63 total)
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  • #1598724
    Joseph Reeves
    Spectator

    @umnak

    Locale: Southeast Alaska

    Maes eats leftovers and little bit of dog food if we convince her there is nothing else. She also forages…

    this on a 29 miles bushwhack
    Maes gets a flipper bone

    #1598757
    JJ Mathes
    Member

    @jmathes

    Locale: Southeast US

    JR- what is Maes?

    #1598776
    Joseph Reeves
    Spectator

    @umnak

    Locale: Southeast Alaska

    Maes is a Cairn Terrier, though we try to keep the waters still and not let her know she is a dog. That bone, by the way, is probably from a sea lion or small whale. She isn't ours, but since my wife feeds her salmon she might as well be a member of the family.

    #1598832
    George Matthews
    BPL Member

    @gmatthews

    Nice UL dog pictures.

    I had a couple of Good Southern Mongrels. Their heads were way bigger than the UL dogs pictured. I could not take them hiking because they were loud barkers. Non-dog owners would freakout when they'd see these two big, loud barking canines approaching.

    Another problem with non-UL dogs is their ouput. Again those steaming logs were bigger than any of the UL dogs pictures.

    Anyway, I still miss them. If we get another dog(s), we're going UL for sure.

    #1599901
    Alex Gilman
    BPL Member

    @vertigo

    Locale: Washington

    Well he's not 10lbs but he can easily carry 10lbs of my weight :)

    #1599972
    JJ Mathes
    Member

    @jmathes

    Locale: Southeast US

    This is my little buddy and UL dog Tennessee, she's out on her daily chipmunk hunt.

    Tennessee

    #1600032
    Steven Adeff
    BPL Member

    @tincanfury

    Locale: Boston

    Here's my boy, from this weekend on Mt Greylock
    My pooch

    and this one's the g/f's (she hates cameras and know when your taking her photo, this is the only good one of her from the whole weekend, and only cause she was too exhausted to move…)Pace

    #1600323
    Quinn Nelson
    Member

    @qnelson

    Absolutely love this thread. Now my dog (42 Lb 1/3 collie, 1/3 Lab, 1/3 Shepard) usually eats 1 1/2 two cups a day of Nutro Lamb and Rice which is about 340kcal per cup you guys think this is too little for trail use? I was considering using same food but the large breed puppy variety which comes with a little more calories in it but compared to what you guys are feeding your dogs it seems like I may be underfeeding him. Were do you guys pick up you food at because I dont think i've seen these brands at my local pet stores. Also how effective is frontline out on the trail? I figure i'll use that and just do a full tick check each night before bed.

    Heres my pup
    pup
    All packed up and ready to go
    Pup

    #1600402
    Alex Gilman
    BPL Member

    @vertigo

    Locale: Washington

    Quinn,

    Frontline is the one to get/use. You can get great deals on it at Costco. I follow the advice of my vet and do not treat with Frontline in the offseason months. For example winter, unless I know he'll be going to parks and being exposed to fleas etc.

    We do not have heart worm in my area so I don't have to worry about that. If that's an issue where you live I read that Frontline + Heartguard works better than Revolution.

    If your local pet food stores dont sell Orijen or Evo just buy it online. I prefer getting the smaller size bags and rotating them so he doesn't get bored.

    FROM ORIJEN WEBSITE:

    "CALORIE CONTENT & DISTRIBUTION
    ORIJEN 6 FISH for DOGS has a Metabolizable Energy (ME) of 4020 kcal/kg or 460 kcal per 250ml cup (115g). Calories are distributed to promote peak physical conditioning with 45% from protein, 25% from fruit & vegetables and 30% from fat."

    "NUTRITIONAL GUARANTEE
    ORIJEN 6 FISH for DOGS is formulated to meet nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for ALL LIFE STAGES"

    Daily Ration and Feeding Guide

    ACTIVE LIFESTYLE (g/cups per day) LESS ACTIVE (g/cups per day)
    10-20 kg/22-45 lb 150-275g/1¼-2¼ c 115-200 g/1-1¾ c
    20-35 kg/45-75 lb 275-375g/2¾-3¾ c 200-275 g/1¾-2½ c

    #1600428
    Joseph Reeves
    Spectator

    @umnak

    Locale: Southeast Alaska

    We joined our friends this past weekend on a short overnight hike with their Cairn Terrier. Yes, these are becoming the ultralight dog of choice here in Southeast Alaska.

    I'm not one for "cute" images, but hey, you work with what you get.

    Angus

    #1600500
    Steven Adeff
    BPL Member

    @tincanfury

    Locale: Boston

    Quinn, lucky pup, not only does he not have to carry his load, his load get's carried! (but it does make for a great holiday card photo).

    I'm a +1 to what Alex said regarding Frontline/Heartguard. In the winter here in N.E. he goes off Frontline until the temperature gets to flea/tick temp, when he goes back on. I get it at Costco, though Amazon has very good pricing on it every so often too. It's also a good impetus to shower him once a month before applying the Frontline.

    Mine needs Heartguard, he had heartworm when he was rescued (I actually had to wait a month for him to be cleared for adoption) so the vet said better safe than sorry, so he gets it once a month.

    As for food, those brands won't usually be found at the big box pet stores, check your local mom'n'pop shop, if they don't carry it standard they can probably get it for you.

    As to what food to get, get the small bags until you find 4 or 5 brands/flavors that he likes as much as your pocket book does then rotate/mix from there. Ask your vet about grain free for your breed, I know some breeds don't do well on them while others thrive. Mine went grain free a while back and now basically refuses to eat any grain'd food, for better or worse.

    while I'm at it, I can't recommend enough the dog psychology book "The Other End of the Leash" by Patricia McConnell, it should be mandatory reading for all dog owners (her other book, "For the Love of a Dog" is also good but covers much the same material)

    #1600528
    Ken Thompson
    BPL Member

    @here

    Locale: Right there

    021
    Kickin' it in the Trinities. Tigger had a broken hip when I found him at 9 weeks old. No pack for him, but he loves to go. Just have to keep the mileage down a little for him. When it starts to get dark he puts himself to bed in the tent. Usually on my stuff. Has his own quilt and pad that I happily carry for him.

    #1600551
    Buck Stolberg
    BPL Member

    @bstolberg

    Locale: Harlem

    Jet Propulsion

    He is a 100 labrador and able to carry his own food and pad. I carried a 300 weight fleece blanket for him at night during an overnight in the snow, and he was warm enough between that and a ridge-rest. I do throw in a plastic margarine tub to use as a food dish or water if needed (though he was still playing in the water this trip).

    #1600646
    Nate Davis
    BPL Member

    @knaight

    Locale: Western Massachusetts

    Katahdin:

    Katahdin & Nate

    With his fleece on:Katahdin's fleece

    Quinn, if you google Evo or any other high quality dog food brands, you should be able to find lists of dealers close to you. It's definitely worth looking into. As far as how much food to give your pup, it'll probably just take some trial and error. If you're not out on the trail for weeks at a time, this won't be a problem.

    Frontline is the way to go for tick control, but there are also lyme disease vaccines for dogs. They're not 100% effective, but they're worth having if your dog's outside regularly. Definitely use Heartguard too.

    #1600791
    Mary D
    BPL Member

    @hikinggranny

    Locale: Gateway to Columbia River Gorge

    In Marm's Lake, Wind River Range, WY

    My dog is 3/4 Lab, 1/4 Golden Retriever. Here he is wearing his Ruffwear Palisades Pack, older model. I note that several other dogs here have the same pack! It's big enough for 10-12 days food. Here it's just about empty except for a few gear items and my garbage, since we are at the end of our trip. He's very interested in someone fishing down the lakeshore! He's wading in Marm's Lake in the southern Wind River Range, Wyoming.

    He eats Breeders Choice Active Care Chicken and Rice (he's allergic to most other dog foods). On the quantity, you need to go by what keeps your dog at his ideal weight–not getting too skinny but on the other hand not gaining weight. The vet says my dog should have a definite waistline and I should be able easily to feel his ribs but not to see them sticking out.

    After a vomiting episode during a trip last summer (we had to turn around and go back out), the vet suggested feeding him smaller amounts at a time during trips. We'll therefore be stopping for lunch as well as breakfast and dinner, thanks to his sensitive Labrador stomach!

    I also use Frontline and Heartguard except during the winter. I have been switching to K9 Advantix for the mosquito months. It helps a little with the mozzies but not as much as advertised.

    #1600812
    Jesse McKinney
    Member

    @jessemckinney

    Locale: Mid-Atlantic

    Here is my 8 pound dog south of Harpers Ferry on the AT. I have him on a harness so I can pick him up over obstacles.

    Me and my dog on the AT, south of Harpers Ferry

    #1600866
    Mike S
    BPL Member

    @mikeylxt

    Locale: Maryland

    I believe the rule of thumb is that you don't want to see the ribs but if you lightly run your hand over his skin you want to feel them.

    Here are my 2 pups. A yellow lab mix that is 6 years old (my boy) w/ a Granite Gear pack. He has been hiking with me for all 4 years we have had him. The chocolate/chessie mix is 2.5 years old and we got her about 6 months ago. She has the Ruff Wear Approach pack. It is much higher quality then the Granite Gear and I think we will soon get another Approach pack for the yellow lab.

    Dogs

    #1601055
    Lynn Tramper
    Member

    @retropump

    Locale: The Antipodes of La Coruna

    Sigh, we've just added another UL dog to our 'pack'. She struggles a bit more than our other dog as she has a defective front leg she can't use, so we find we really need to carry her a lot. I've made a front pack to carry her in (she's 4kg/9lbs). But she's a lot better in the natural insulation department than our other pooch :)

    sydney

    They both love to snuggle under my new cuben/down quilt :0

    #1601151
    Scott Lehr
    Member

    @lehrscott4

    Locale: Louisville - KY

    Im not so lucky as alot of you guys, or maybe it is i am more lucky. My Dane, Murphy weighs 152lbs and eats 9 cups a day, so anything more than 3 days is more than fits in his pack and i get stuck carrying it.Murphy

    #1601264
    Steven Adeff
    BPL Member

    @tincanfury

    Locale: Boston

    Scott, are you using a high caloric density food? Can he fit a larger pack? Either way, he's a beautiful creature.

    #1601281
    Alex Gilman
    BPL Member

    @vertigo

    Locale: Washington

    Scott he's a good lookin' dog! I love his markings.

    Yeah why 9 cups of food? If you go with something like Orijen you'll only have to feed him 4-6 cups a day. I just doubled your range and cut your clean up duty in half.

    #1601313
    Michael Crosby
    BPL Member

    @djjmikie

    Locale: Ky

    Jethro

    #1601369
    Quinn Nelson
    Member

    @qnelson

    ^^^^I say just get a mini saddle at that point. Would you get in trouble for going on trails that didn't allow horse and pack mule traffic?

    #1601434
    George Matthews
    BPL Member

    @gmatthews

    #1602630
    Hendrik Morkel
    BPL Member

    @skullmonkey

    Locale: Finland

    I <3 this thread =)

    I had a Dachshund back in Germany, a Pharaoh Hound with the ex (she took it :/ ) and now I have the fiancée almost so far that she's OK with getting a dog. I'll likely get a German Shorthaired Pointer, not really UL though I love their looks & character. He will be accompanying me then on my adventures in the future, and when he's old enough he likely will learn to carry his own food and gear.

    All lovely dogs, you really put my dog fever one up!

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