Dog Back Packs

[pugwash4x4]

Doesn't anyone use dog backpacks for their dog on walks and hikes?

quite fancy using one on our ridiculously overactive bearded collie to wear him out and stop me having to carry all his water and food!

[Jasandjules]

Yes.

One of the outward hound jobbies. We put little weights into it as well (1-2kg but then dogs are 45kg)....

[pugwash4x4]

Have you come across any problems, like rubbing, tearing, sores, instability whilst running/sprinting etc?

[Jasandjules]

At first we were not too keen to do it up as tightly as the instructions say, which resulted in them moving around (the dogs will roll on the ground and dislodge them). Put them on properly and no problems with that bit. No rubbing or anything like that but our dogs are pretty furry.

[trickywoo]

OP earlier?

[Mrs Grumpy]

I'm not sure about these things... Would they not put more pressure on joints, much as being overweight would?

[Jasandjules]

Mrs Grumpy said:

I'm not sure about these things... Would they not put more pressure on joints, much as being overweight would?

You certainly wouldn't use one on a puppy but an adult dog, just for a walk is not too bad, of course you don't put much weight in them (as I said we put in 2kg on a 45kg dog!). It doesn't really tire the dog out as much as you'd think nor does it stop her sprinting around or playing with other dogs.

[tenex]

I'm sorry,perhaps I'm being naive.
Just why?

[Jasandjules]

tenex said:

I'm sorry,perhaps I'm being naive.
Just why?

A bit of extra weight carried in the backpack can be helpful to build up a bit of muscle or to lose a bit of weight..... It also can help tire the dog out a bit more, and in our case it's also helpful to carry the doggy poo bags and our water etc in....

[pugwash4x4]

tenex said:

I'm sorry,perhaps I'm being naive.
Just why?

Because we go walking for hour upon hours sometimes and i end up carrying a 30kg backpack most of the time.

Also our dog (a bearded collie), is totally mental and despite having 3 walks a day just doesn't use up enough energy- we would also like him a bit fitter too (he's pretty fit already, but we're starting agility, and we could do with really upping his fitness levels).

Not sure what joint problems dogs would have though- a couple of extra kilos is realistically going to make very very little difference!

[Superficial]

Got one of these for our spaniels, I think as someone else said you need to do them up well enough or else it just rolls to the side, but apart from that they're good for helping take some of the weight off you.