Ultralight Dog Backpack

Our dog used a pack for all excursions. She carried her food, and then our trash as it accumulated.

The pack had a mesh top across her back for breathability, two belly straps, and a sturnum strap. She was a swimmer so everything went into large ziplok bags.

The only two issues for her was 1) re-learning each time that she had limited clearance between trees, rocks, and brush, and 2) that water exits required a gradual slope, as the water-filled bags constrained her outbound leaps. We were prepared to haul her out until she remembered.

We did take a small piece of fleece for her spot in the tent. It defined where she was to be, and it soaked up water and mud. We shook and dried it in the mornings.

The issues for us was remembering that we had another food bag to hang. We used two separate ropes. We never had an animal problem.

We also taught her to take "off-trail" dumps which we would then disperse with a stick. (Whew!)

Even though she was a hunter, we could prevent her from chasing game by voice command. And, remarkably, she never let us out of her sight, 20 yards at most. So surprise encounters were rare.

It is also important to remember that most people, though dog friendly, can be startled or frightened when seeing a large four-legged animal running towards them. Command and control is critical. "She's Friendly" doesn't cut it.

Have fun.

Who made the pack and where did you buy it?

I have backpacked with dogs for more than 30 years. IMHO an ultralight dog backpack may not be a good idea. Dogs do not realize how easily destroyable light weight materials are. They'll bust through the brush and trees with abandon and soon rip your creation to shreds, leaving you to find their food and blanket and carry them after all. By the way, you might want to store their load in Aloksaks in order to keep the stuff dry in the event of a "water landing". Also don't load them down. I never give them more than one fifth to one quarter of their body weight to carry. This includes the pack weight. Dogs don't have the large leg muscles of humans. I have been carrying a 30"X60" polyester blanket (piece of old U-Haul blanket) to keep them warm and protect the tent floor from dog feet. One thing I have experienced is dogs farting alot in the tent. A candle lamp might help keep the explosive gasses under control.

Sadie with her new backpacks.

How about upgrading to an Irish Wolfhound – better load carrying capacity, better travel over rough ground and better protection against bears?

I know that a Wolfhound is not exactly Ultralight but sometimes lighter is not always better.

"One thing I have experienced is dogs farting alot in the tent. A candle lamp might help keep the explosive gasses under control."

May I suggest you try out a tarp? Maybe a 10×12 for a couple and a dog? I think the ventilation feature should sell it at this point.

I agree that UL materials probably wouldn’t last long with the abuse a dog can put a pack through. My dog, a German Shepherd mix, will brush against trees, rocks, and just plop on the ground with his pack. Even after the few minutes he needs to remember where the pack is, he’s not at all careful with it!

When you get a pack, make sure you get one with a Y harness and not just a straight strap across the chest. The straigh strap will restrict the dog’s front leg movement, especially when jumping.

Even though his empty pack weighs as much as mine (or more), he never seems reluctant to put it on. On the contrary, he seems ecstatic to have a job to do and behaves much better than without it.

We use a Ruffwear Approach, which is a pretty stripped down pack with no bells and whistles.

I haven’t found him to need any sort of covering, at least down to about freezing. He’s very furry, though, and will play in the snow for hours without getting cold. Below freezing, and I’ve covered him with my down vest. He shook it off though, so I’m guessing he was fine. Short-haired dogs will obviously need more protection.