attaching pad to dog pack

I've thought about this with my dog and ended up just strapping her cutdown z-lite to the outside of my pack. I would use some cordage and tie it perpendicular to the spine through/on the handle. You lose the handle this way, it makes the dog's overall width much wider, but it seems better than down the spine. I didn't like any of these and just strap it to my pack.

use thinner foam and fold it up and put it inside the dog pack pockets.

Lets see the pack you have.

Many packs have a bungee array that can handle a small pad on top. Depends on how active your dog is– they have a hard time with the concept of stuff outside their body. My Aussie smacks me in the calves with his pack now and then, or runs into a log with it. Folded inside would always be better. I did some searching and couldn't come up with one photo of a dog with a pack with stuff stashed on top.

The pack I have is very similar to the one in the above picture. I saw a picture somewhere here on this forum a while back with a dog and apad down the back of the dog, attached to the pack. I have also seen several dogs on the trail in the past with the same set up.

I had this question too and my solution ended up being trading gear with my dog. I carry her pad because it straps well on my pack. She carries my water, or some other item that fits well in her pack and offsets the weight of her gear.

You could make a bungie cord system for the pack? Poke some holes at the corners and down the sides of the back piece. Then thread some bungie cord through it that will fit for the sleep pad?

or, after you've placed the pack on the dog, wrap some cord around both the sleep pad and your dog's stomach until it is secure. This would probably be uncomfortable for the dog and would be a pain to take on/off

Depending on how long that pad is and the size of the dog, would it hinder the pup's movement when he is jumping/running? At least my dog occasionally sticks her butt up in the air when she runs like a Deer…..but she is pretty odd…..

Also,
remember that a dog can only carry a third of his body weight.

A third of body weight? I would keep it much lower than that

Ya I would keep the weight less than that. His pack is filled with a k9 first aid kit, Mushers Seceret, short leash and food/ water bowls….the weight is pretty minimal, but the pack is full. I carry a light summer bag for him and his food. I cut my z-lite into a shorter section for the dog. its only 20 inches wide, so if it was placed down the middle of his back it would fit really nicely. Just not sure how to secure. I was thinking I could attatch it to the pack handle, but not sure how much it would move around.

I have an older REI pack and it came with strap attachment things sewn on. I'm sure you could find some and sew them on the pack. They work great for holding the pad.

I use Musher's Secret as well. Good stuff.

I've heard the rule of thumb that a dog shouldn't carry more than 20% of their weight but even that sounds like a lot. My dog is around 80 lbs. Even with a week's worth of kibble, his pack has never been above 10 lbs.

"I carry her pad because it straps well on my pack. She carries my water, or some other item that fits well in her pack and offsets the weight of her gear."

lol. I carry the foam, dog carries the water. I see how it is… :D

Randy…that is the original picture that I saw that gave me the idea. It seems reasonable that someone should be able to sew on straps like that…just gotta find some one who is good at sewing.

Does anyone know of a place that sells those square rubber or plastic pieces that are attached to the pack that the straps thread through?

Those plastic pieces are lash tabs:

http://www.seattlefabrics.com/sewable_hardware.html

I went to purchase 4 of those tabs from the link you provided ~$3. But shipping was almost $20! crazy! Anyone know of other places to get those?

Quest Outfitters charges real postage. They have those tabs as well.

http://www.questoutfitters.com/plastic.htm#Acetal%20Fasteners

Could accomplish the same with flat webbing sewn on the pack.

I think Ken has the right idea. Keep it simple and use the flat webbing. You can easily sew it by hand, and I've used the Speedy Sticher awl and thread to re-attach my lash tabs, but you can easily find some one to sew on the flat webbing. And if you are really serious, you can seam seal the threads for the illusion that it might help keep their food dry. :)

Also, I don't think strapping the pad to the pack handle will result in a satisfactory connection for keeping the pad stable.