Introducing Your Dog to a Backpack

Hello! And welcome back to the Live Life Off Leash blog!

If you have followed along with any of our content you know how much we love getting out and hiking with our dogs and we hope you do too! It's one of our favorite ways to bond with our dogs and give them the enrichment they deserve. But wouldn't it be nice if your dog would carry some of their own gear from time to time?!

Well today we are going to talk about teaching your dog to carry their very own backpack! Before we get into how to teach them we do want to stress not to go too soon and make sure your dog is physically and mentally able and old enough to carry a pack. You do not want a young puppy or an old arthritic dog to have to carry a pack, so make sure your dog is physically able to carry one before you ask them to.

The best thing to keep in mind is to go slow. Start with just a basic harness and let them learn to walk with the feel of a harness. Some dogs don't like the feel of something around their belly or near their elbows so a regular harness is a good way to get them used to how straps will feel on a backpack. Once your dogs seems good with that, finding a good quality backpack that fits well is very important. Make sure you follow the manufacturer's size guide and get a pack that will suit your dog for years to come. Once you have the pack let the dog wear it with it empty and head out for a walk. Usually if you can get them moving quickly they forget about the pack and go about their regular walking habits. Use plenty of positive reinforcement and reward and once they are comfortable with walking with an empty pack you can slowly add weight.

Packs are great for carrying water, bowls, extra food, extra leashes or clips, a first aid kit and poop bags. You can have your dog carry all kinds of things for himself or you! Not only is it useful but many dogs really enjoy carrying a pack. It makes them feel useful and like they have a job that is great for working breeds. It's very fulfilling for them. Make sure when training to use a high quality treat like any of the training treats we offer at pawTree. If you have questions regarding the best training treat for you, give us a shout! We'd love to talk about it!