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Permalink Reply by liane, emi, and helix! on April 29, 2013 at 4:04am

Hi Martha! I read alot on the forum that putting a backpack on your corgi will hurt its back, but i also read that its okay as long as the backpacks weight is on top of the dogs shoulders, so when looking for a backpack i made sure to buy ones that carried the weight over the dogs shoulders. I have a friend of mine that has the ruffwear one for their golden, and it seems to be more focused on his mid-back. the one i bought is from a company named "doggles" you can find it on amazon. i think ultimately it is your decision if you want to get a backpack for your corgi/what kind to get for your corgi. :)

 

theres another thread on this topic here where wolfpacks are recommended, which is the one i would have gotten if i could have afforded two! lol 

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Permalink Reply by liane, emi, and helix! on April 29, 2013 at 4:08am

also, if you do plan on getting a backpack for your corgi, my trainer recommended that the weight of the backpack + everything inside should not be more than 5% of your dogs total body weight. so if your corgi is 30 pounds, then the backpack + plus everything inside should not weigh more than 1.5 pounds. she told us to work up gradually if you were to be a more avid hiker, or if you wanted to use the backpack to help tire out your dog. 

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Permalink Reply by John Wolff on April 29, 2013 at 4:26pm

Don't do it.  The weight a corgi can carry is insignificant.  Any dog pack will impede the dog, especially in brush.  Al actually injured his knee, presumably trying to negotiate tangled windfall on a stretch of abandoned trail, and that was without a backpack to snag and unbablance him.  Most dog packs I've seen look overly heavy, hot, and not ergonomic. Forget the weight overhead of a dog pack.  I want my dog to enjoy the freedom without an unaccustomed burden.

I've taken Al on 9-day trips, and I carry everything.  For such long trips, the expense of freeze-dried dog food is worth it (100% organic raw meat freeze-dried dog food... not making this up).

If you do encumber your corgi with a pack, REMEMBER to take it off whenever the dog crosses a river log or encounters any really rough terrain.  You do not want your dog's balance compromised on a dangerous log crossing.

Our normal kibble has a stong odor.  Bear bait.  I double-bag all food and take extra bear precautions. 

Doggles are fun photo props, but mine won't keep them on, and I've never seen sled dogs wearing eye pro.

I carry Pawz booties for lightweight emergency only pad protection, medium size (blue) for ours; MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT TOO TIGHT OR THEY COULD CONSTRICT CIRCULATION.

I recommend the Chillybuddy cooling vest for hot open sunshine.  Keep it wet.

Keep the dog leashed at night.

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Permalink Reply by Kathy Losacco on April 29, 2013 at 6:52pm

There really isn't a good reason to put a backpack on a corgi. They wouldn't be able to carry anything, they would drag on the ground or get extremely muddy. You would probably get grit and mud under the straps that would cause abrasions. I prefer to let a larger dog do all the work. I do use a pack on my larger dog but usually the only thing that goes on that is what comes out of her, so no added weight. And I am always aware that at any time I may be carrying it. So the corgi gets off easy. No wonder they ended up in HHS palace.

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Permalink Reply by Anna Morelli on April 29, 2013 at 8:55pm

I've done a lot of backpacking with pack dogs and would never consider putting a backpack on a dwarf breed, such as a Corgi. They simply are not structurally built to carry weight. Other than that, it's correct that pack dogs should carry the weight over the shoulders. My trained and well conditioned Alaskan Malamutes could carry 30% of their weight at the onset of our tips.

In addition to the above, regardless of the breed, i would think twice about starting to put a backpack on a 7 yr.old dog.... I agree with John, don't do it.

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