Corgis Who Camp!

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This is a group for people who love to go camping with their Corgis!
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Dog Backpacks, good idea or not.

by Don

Mar 18, 2011

I was looking in to getting Jazmin her own backpack. I know that Annabelle's won't fit her so time to look again. I didn't have any issues with Annabelle and her's but just wondering if it would hurt the Jazmin pup. I'd not be packing anything heavy, just treats for the day trip and her food/water bowl. I may opt. as well and get one with a cammel back type water system for the quick stops.
I do know the one I've got for Annabelle also has a cooling inner layer that can be inserted, I'm pretty sure that I can find the same type for Jazmin without many issues.

I know it did lighten the load when Annabelle would run with her's, it also allowed me to stop and not dig to the bottom of my pack for food/snacks and water bowl for her.

 

Thanks for the reply,

Sincerely,

Don and Crew.

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    John Wolff

    I don't ask my dogs to carry anything.  The load a corgi could carry is inconsequential.  I want them free, unimpeded, able to keep up and cross streams on logs in perfect balance.

    Being a backpacking gear nut, I am unimpressed with the dog backpacks I've seen:  heavy, overbuilt, not ergonomic, wobbly, cumbersome, and probably hot.  They definitely impede the dog in thick brush.

    I keep all the dog gear in an accessible outside pack pocket.  This includes: 

    kibble (double-wrapped in plastic, or a screw-top plastic can, to contain bear-bait odors).

    "Outward Hound" collapsible bowl.

    1/2 pint water bottle (to conserve un-drunk dog water when water is scarce).

    belay harness for river crossings.

    "Pawz" booties (blue, medium) for emergency pad injuries.

    "Doggles"  or "Mesheye" sunglasses for sunny snow (mixed results; the dogs rub them off, dog must be in front).

    I usually allow the dog off-leash illegally in remote areas where I'm unlikely to encounter people.  You need a very good recall if you do this; be extra alert for horses, bears, porcupines, coyotes, other dogs.  I keep a quick-draw leash attached to the main pack strap with 2 small carabiners within easy reach, bundled with a rubber band.

    New addition:  "ChillyBuddy" cooling vest, medium, with plastic bag for wetting it.  Untried so far.

    An 18x18" ensolite pad is standard first aid emergency gear and doubles as the dog's sleeping pad (when the corgi is not inside your sleeping bag.

     

    If it's necessary to bring training treats -- and it's a good idea to reinforce recall and obedience on the trail -- find tiny low-odor treats and keep in an airtight screw-cap tube (like a pill bottle, but mine is heavier-duty).

    Dog food and treats are extra bear-bait.  Those odors get spread all around.  Try to contain them as much as possible, and make sure it all goes into the bear hang or the bear can or the car overnight.

    1

    Jun 2, 2011

    • up

      Zanna Russell

      I wouldn't do it to Tegan, unless she'd carrying light-weight items like her own (plastic) bowl on one side, and something equally light on the other and then what would be the point of having her carry anything at all?  I'd rather carry everything.  I wouldn't want to stress her back by making her carry food or water, and certainly not 6 to 8 pounds of gear.  Just my two cents.

      Nov 3, 2011

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        Tara Ludwig

        My male loves his back pack, when I say hiking he brings it to me.  My little girl is too small to carry anything yet and doesn't seem interested (She's the princess and isn't even much interested in hiking)  Amadeus only carries his ball his poop bags and his kibble and collapsible water bowl.

        Nov 14, 2011