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CZ_Shadower
Puppy
Joined: 20 Nov 2009
Posts: 2
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 Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 11:53 pm Post subject: Back pack |
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| I bought my AmStaff a pack to put weight in for better excercise rather than just a walk. I read that most healthy dogs can carry up to 30% their body weight. She's 48 lbs. and I put 2.5 lb. weights on both sides. Then some body on another forum told me this was too much weight and I was setting my dog up for failure or hatred of the pack. I really don't think so she loves it. She also has a harness and she pulls a 15 lb tire around on our night walks. |
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ckramer
Alpha Dog
Joined: 16 Jan 2009
Posts: 2910
Location: Kennesaw, Ga USA
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| Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2009 9:37 pm Post subject: |
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| I believe you are supposed to ease them into weights add small amounts at a time. Aluengo (a memberof this forum) Does all kinds of backpacking you should check out his posts he does a lot of work with his dog |
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TitletownAST
Hunters
Joined: 24 Nov 2009
Posts: 827
Location: Iowa
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| Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 3:10 pm Post subject: |
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I do sanctioned pack dog hikes with the GSMDCA.
1st thing you want to do is make sure you have a good quality pack and that it fits your dog well. I recommend either Mountainsmith or Ruffwear....do not use the Outward Hound packs they're awful.
2nd, you should start off with light weight and gradually increase weight and distance. when I start a dog I usually start with a couple of water bottles on each side.
3rd, make sure you check to make sure the pack is not rubbing uncomfortably anywhere, the dog is more likely to resent the pack if it fits poorly than the weight (though some dogs are just lazy and will resent the weight haha) I have actually customized my packs by wrapping the straps in fleece and then wrapping the fleece in vet wrap for extra padding. This has made a tremendous difference in comfortability for my dogs I think.
As far as ultimate weight, yes the dog is more than capable of carrying 30% of their body weight. My boy Rush is hiking on the Open Level for the GSMDCA Working Pack Dog Title and he is packing 30% of his body weight which has been about 17 lbs for his 2 WPD hikes. But you need to work slowly up to that weight if you desire to carry that much. You also need to work up the distance.
It sounds like you're starting out the right way - 2 1/2 lbs on each side fine for beginning. |
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Sagebrush
Shamans
Joined: 11 Jan 2008
Posts: 591
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| Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 7:43 am Post subject: Re: Back pack |
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| CZ_Shadower wrote: |
| I really don't think so she loves it. She also has a harness and she pulls a 15 lb tire around on our night walks. |
Is she "packing" or pulling on every walk she goes on?
You might try just doing it on SOME walks, not everytime. I think dogs need a chance to just be a dog, to run and sniff freely (as one can on a leash) without having a burden all the time.
Or going for a burden "free" walk after the work.
Having to make an effort all the time while supposed to be on the fun walk may not work for her.
Carla |
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TitletownAST
Hunters
Joined: 24 Nov 2009
Posts: 827
Location: Iowa
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| Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 10:36 am Post subject: |
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| Good point Carla, I should have mentioned we only pack walk everyday for about the 2 weeks leading up to a hike. Other than that it's mostly regular exercise with occasional practice hikes or a random pack walk around the neighborhood thrown in. |
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