Dog pack advice?

[troutseeker]

Well, as of yesterday we have a new dog at home. This time I had some say in the matter :-D and this model is a mix of Beagle, golden retriever and border collie. Looks like a golden with white paws and some very faint lighter patches on the shoulders and of course a white tip on the tail.

He is 5 months and goofy, I had to teach him to go up and down stairs yesterday. Kids say I looked pretty funny on all fours giving a demonstration... :???:
On the plus side, he is already a good size and strong! Look's like he may go up to 65 pounds and I plan on taking him along on backpack hunts.

Therefore, I am asking those of you who have taken a dog along to give me some advice on what pack I should get for him? Kody94, I know you took Kody along, what was he wearing?

Thanks!

[Devilbear]

Ruffwear, Wolfpacks, google these.

[KB90]

This is what you want

>>>>>>> http://thewildernesswanderer.com/dog-llama.htm

[pappy]

I have a kelty one for my large chocolate lab, it works o.k. but seems to slip around if it isn't fit right or loaded even on both sides. It holds the right amount of weight for a bigger dog. She never slowed down when I loaded the pack right up (water, dogfood, beer and a medium dog bowl), so I think it is sized good for a 90lb lab.

[Cbuck]

I had an Akita that I bought a "wolf pack" type of pack for. It worked really well and I had no issues with it - either did the dog!

[WesHarm]

Akita's are amazing.

How much can a border Collie usually carry? Trout i'd LOVE to see a pic of ur pup, sounds like an amazing mix!

[keoke]

Rule of thumb for dogs is 1/4 of their body weight. My border collie usually hauls her own food and water. The worst part is that she doesn't realize her extra girth and constantly runs into my legs and trees with the pack.

[Buck]

Ruffwear Pallisades for multi day treks very good quality.

[IronNoggin]

I've been exploring this same matter for Amaruq. He is our 1/2 Timber Wolf 1/2 Alaskan Husky male pictured here:

http://gallery.fishbc.com/albums/Tracks/Matt_and_Boogs.jpg

As you can see he is a fairly Beefy Boy, weighing in at close to 140 pounds and as hard as a rock at just over a year and a half of age. Believe he should be able to carry around 40 or so pounds on the many excursions he tags along with me (both hunting and fishing).

Checked with a few of my buddies in the Arctic as to what they might recommend. 4 of 5 of them (Yukon Ladz) use this version for their dogs whether hunting or Skijoring:

http://wolfpacks.com/products/dogpacks/banzai_files/banzai.gif

http://wolfpacks.com/products/dogpacks/banzai.html

"WolfPacks" top of the line "Banzai" pack. All noted they were extremely durable, and the dogs had no issues with them. I've ordered one for Amaruq based on their advice. Will letcha know down the line how it works out...

Good Luck with your decision!
Nog

[troutseeker]

Wow, Amaruk is one BIG dog! My dog is yet un-named, but will not be as big as that!!! Mind you he tripped me good a couple times already and I almost feared for my new ACL, hahaha.

I'll check out the packs mentionned, thanks. And I'll post some pics tonight!

[GoatGuy]

Wilderness wanderer works good.

Would suggest keeping it very light until the dog's a little older.

[BromBones]

I use a WolfPacks pack for my mutt. Excellent pack.

2 years now of shit and abuse and it still looks new. They make a good product.

[Kody94]

troutseeker, my dogs have always used DogStuf packs. They were hand-made in Nobleford AB and were very popular amongst the guides in the NWT way back when. Unfortunately they stopped making them some years ago.

You've gotten good advice here. I try to keep up on what's available currently (will probably have to be getting new packs at some point) and I have liked the looks of the WolfPacks, Wilderness Wanderer and Ruffwear packs. It would be nice to see them all in use. I think the WW pack has the greatest capacity, and is probably the direction I'd go with a bigger dog. With smaller to medium sized dogs, I think the Wolfpack and Ruffwear packs might have a little better design.

[ytlogger]

I used to have a big lab/chessie cross that hunted with me for years before cancer claimed him. I think we had a wolfpacks, but I could be wrong. Aside from the fit and appropriate loading, one thing I would offer is to get a colour that stands out. My dog shed his pack once on a mountain when the buttstrap let go and I didn't realize it for about an hour and a half. I never would have found it if it hadn't been bright orange. I train my dogs to heel in the bush by carrying a long willow switch. Just swing it gently from side to side while repeating a quiet heel, back or whatever command you are going to use when you're hiking and they get it quick. Never whack them with the switch just use it to define the boundary. I'm looking forward to a couple of new hunting buddies that came to live with me last winter.

[ytlogger]

I forgot to add that friends had packs that were a kind of soft saddle that the pack bags attached to with velcro. Other than having to brush out the velcro all the time, I thought they were good for training as you could start them with just the saddle and work up.

[sheephunterab]

The RuffWear packs seem to be a great fit for medium framed dogs. From what we tried, many of the other brands that work well on bigger dogs just don't fit that well on the medium-sized dogs.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h44/sheephunterab/Fortress2.jpg

[stoneguide]

I like how this pack is built and fits. Its a Ezydog brand. Havent been out with it but I think its going to be very good.

Now I just need to wait till my dog finishes growing so we can start some weight. For now the empty backs with some filler to learn where it sticks out while he walks will work.

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSCN2797.jpg

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSCN2799.jpg

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/DSCN2794.jpg

[BromBones]

SG, nice looking pup!

Should be a decent pack. I like the handle and leash ring on the backside. Handle there is wicked for helping the dog out through rough ground.

I'm curious to see how that chest harness works out. Let us know how it goes once you've eventually got some use out of it.

[stoneguide]

I think the chest harness should work pretty good. I bought a leash harness from the same company and its build the exact same as the one on the pack. It works good. When he first started on the leash and liked to pull it held in place, and kept all the pressure down off his neck. Seams like well built gear. We have the collar, harness and pack now from them.
Hope to post pics in the near future of us making some light trips with it. Not gunna put much weight on him till he is around 1, so still have just over 6 months to go.
SG

[Coming_out_heavy.]

Wilderness wanderer dog packs! Amazing packs.

[Devilbear]

Wilderness wanderer dog packs! Amazing packs.

OK, I have never cared for their frame packs, after using a couple belonging to friends and in some very rough West Kootenay country as well as in the Coast Mountains.

However, the heavyduty dog pack on their site looks like EXACTLY what I want for Cisco, a big, strong, 3.5 yr. old p/b Rottweiler and the worst mooch of meatloaf, meatballs, burgers and sausage ever seen....bit spoiled, but, he is my baby. The lady at WW tells me she can make it all in red so no creep with a serious death wish shoots my boy "by accident", as has happened recently.

So, what is your actual field experience with this pack as I want some input before laying out $200+ and guys with sheep avatars should have the kind of mountain experience to be able to tell me what is/is not good about these packs. Thanks, for any input you can give us.

[troutseeker]

Ok, sorry for the delay but I had to leave town in a hurry to go work in Quesnel for a few days. I just got back and here he is, still nameless, lol.

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/IMG_23531.JPG

[BlackwaterMerc]

Great looking dogs you guys.

[wiggy]

I think the chest harness should work pretty good. I bought a leash harness from the same company and its build the exact same as the one on the pack. It works good. When he first started on the leash and liked to pull it held in place, and kept all the pressure down off his neck. Seams like well built gear. We have the collar, harness and pack now from them.
Hope to post pics in the near future of us making some light trips with it. Not gunna put much weight on him till he is around 1, so still have just over 6 months to go.
SG
I still would not put too much weight on him at 1 year old. Im gonna start using my Tibetan Mastiff male next year when he is over 2 and going on three. There hips just arent set until there 3 and you dont want to encourage displascia. Same as our girls. Lots of breeders breed at 2 and we frown on it. Ill send some pics of the big boy. He's already over 150 lbs and just over 30" at the withers. Best mountain dog there is. He will easily pack 40 and i would not do that to him for a couple more years. By the time he's 5 he should be around 180 to 190 and then he'll be ready to carry some big weight

[wiggy]

forgot to mention i really like the look of the pack; gonna contact them on monday and order up a xl and see if they can go bigger

[stoneguide]

Thanks wiggy. Ya he wont be packed to much this year. Just light loads while we do some backcountry camping. Then next fall I hope to take him with me on a few hunting trips. Id love to have him with me in Aug. for my goat hunt but dont think he will be ready even without the pack.

Sounds like your dog could carry you if you get tired LOL cant wait to see the pics!

[Coming_out_heavy.]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FK7vkHn_aaQ

Here is a video of a couple friends of mine here in Fort Nelson. Ive hunted several times with the fella who made this video. The dogs and the dog packs were amazing. I've since gotten a lab of my own and a set of packs, with intentions of getting one more. Thick brush or rocky sheep country, the dogs and the packs are amazing.

[troutseeker]

Went for a hike today with Tobi and his training pack, I wore my MR Crewcab with 45 pounds in it. The cheapy dog pack is the only pack I could find locally, it's just for him to get used to it (which he did instantly). Only had 5 pounds in there for him, gonna get MR to make him a hunting pack.

On acid...
http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/]http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/P5010304.JPGhttp://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/P5010304.JPG

Crewcab and dog pack
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/P5010306.JPG

Thirsty pup!
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/P5010309.JPG

Beautiful day in K-town!
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/P5010311.JPG