Just bought my first hammock system

The hammock and tarp weight about 2.5lbs and remove the need for a sleeping pad. I have not tried it out yet. Wanted to see if I could get my dog in it with me comfortably. SO i ws looking for something for summer. Normally I camp with a SMD tarp but because I live n Texas there are a lot of bugs in the summer time. If I like it I was wondering if anyone has used reflective as a sleep pad to stay warm when the weather is cooler or cold. It weighs about an oz a foot

I am not a hammock guy, but my understanding is it is popular to hang the stuff below the hammock for insulation. If you need more insulation, you can fill the space with locally sourced leaves and duff.

I haven't used Reflectix, but have a poncho liner underquilt that uses Insultex as a middle layer. Insultex is slightly breathable, but acts like a vapor barrier. If you sleep on Reflectix, it will be a vapor barrier and you may sleep wet. If you rig it as an underquilt with an air gap, you may not notice any moisture. You can sleep on a pad in your hammock, but it may squirt out from under you. You can also use a sit pad under your feet. I've moved on to a short Climashield underquilt with a Climashield topquilt or a down bag that can be unzipped and used as a quilt. My problem with hammocks has nothing to do with insulation,but that I don't sleep comfortably in a hammock. Your dog may be different, but many don't like the movement of the hammock.

I love a hammock when its warm and buggy as in Louisiana in the Summer or even Spring. Usually if it's below about 60 at night a hammock is way too cold for me and the bugs aren't so bad so I would rather sleep on the ground. The insulating tricks folks have used to push hammocks into winter use look interesting but if terrain permits it seems that a ground-based system would be lighter and easier. I can't imagine my dog in a hammock for any length of time but yours might be less restless. I'd think that a dog would be happy on the ground below.

I am not a hammock person, but I do know several. Those who have dogs have them sleep on the ground below. I personally loved to share heat with my late dog (there were a few cold nights I could have used 3 dogs!), and saw no way to get a 70-lb. Labrador into a hammock even if I wanted to. The morning tail-wag was hard enough to cope with in a tent; in a hammock it would have been like a hurricane at sea!

My fox terrier Jack beats me into the hammock. He sleeps between my legs, usually under the sleeping bag. I use a thermorest pad and my sleeping bag as a top quilt.

I AM a hammock camper for many years, but never had a dog in there with me. You'll love it, especially here in Texas. As far as reflective pads and such, I don't mess with it. You'll go through a long learning curve trying different options of pads, outside coverings, underquilts and such and end up with your own preferred system.
For me, it's a cut down Ridgerest foam pad...it's light and effective. I've kept warm down to 17 deg. with just that. I use a cheap mylar space blanket sometimes on the outside to block wind.
You'll want to either treat the hammock with some pyrethrin bug wash or spray yourself with DEET especially your legs, as skeeters will bite through the fabric, in Texas summers.

I'm currently reading "Lost on the Appalachian Trail" by Kyle S Rohrig. "Katana" is his little dog companion and he's using a hammock the entire trail. There is a ton of detail in that book about hammock/dog camping and you would certainly pick up some tips from that book.

Holy crap!! I didnt even thing of that

It's not that big a deal, but will make you more comfortable and bite free. Not a problem in winter since you'll probably be all covered up. In Texas summers, you'll likely not have anything in that hammock thicker than a cotton sheet. Some of us use this on hammocks:
https://sawyer.com/products/permethrin-premium-insect-repellent/

...and sometimes I just spray my legs lightly with Repel with 45% DEET.
I've also lit a mosquito coil under my hammock that burns all night as a car camping option.

What part of Texas?

I use that to treat all my clothes and my ground shet for my tarp. I am in Houston. I do a lot of backpacking in the LST area. Are you a member of the Texas backpacking network?

Nope, not a member. Sounds like you are good to go with the bug treatments. I'm just south of Dallas.

Well if you want to become a member look on facebook. Texas backpacking network

I'll have a look...

I joined on FB....Same name as here. Thanks for the heads up!