Hi My name is Roxy. :)I've been camping a few times with Jim, but he says I'm too much of a hound to take backpacking. Its the Greyhound in me, I love to run. I mean why sniff around yourself like a chihuahua when you can run a ways and then sniff somewhere else? (The problem is I would start to run and forget about Jim)
Anyway this is the coat I wear when we got up the dirt road to the snow. Its from Ruffwear in Bend. I wear their coat even though they didn't hire my dad.
The little pink bag I wear on my lecklace has my dog tags in it.
I Never wear booties, I hate em. And my little racing feet sink into everything, like mud and snow.
I don't have a pack, so I guess this coat is all the gear I have.
Maybe if I had a pack I would get to backpacking... does anyone have a good suggestion for a pack that would be good for a 50 pounds greyhound/short haired pointer? What has to go into a dog pack anyway?
Thats it for now,
Roxy

Hi, Roxy! My name is Hysson and (as you can see in my Mom's avatar) I am a backpacking dog. I carry all my food and water and most of my gear. In the picture (taken in Wyoming's Wind River Range) I am modeling an older model Ruffwear Approach pack. It's nice because the pack can be taken off the harness so Mom can use the harness to help me over deadfall or during gnarly creek fords (except when she falls in the creek herself!). I really like your classy jacket, but I have lots more hair than you do so only need something to sleep in on very cold nights. Ruffwear makes lots of good stuff for us dogs!

I like to run around, too, but Mom usually makes me stay on leash or walk on the trail behind her. I much prefer to walk ahead of her, but she takes exception to my stopping right in front of her to investigate an especially intoxicating smell!

Here's the packing list Mom made up for me. Total pack weight is about 11.5 lbs. for a ten-day trip, just under 15% of my body weight. Note that it includes some of her stuff. That's because she carries the tent and first aid for both of us and also my CCF sleeping pad. One little secret about Mom is that when we go on these long trips we go a much shorter distance the first 2 or 3 days until our packs get a bit lighter!

Ruffwear Palisades II dog pack (older model)
Mini-carabiner (on pack)(so leash won't catch under pack bags)
Spectra line, 725 lb. test, 40 ft.
(dog tie-out, clothesline)
Dog dish, 1 qt. yogurt container
1 qt. water (2 C. each side) (may vary depending on water sources)
Dog food, 10 oz /day (2.5 cups)
2-gal. ziplock bag, for wet/dirty clothes/laundry (for Mom)
2 OP sacks (1 each side for dog food)(smell goes right thru freezer bags)
Ursack for dog food (for trips >7 days)
(for trips 7 days or less, dog food fits in Mom's Ursack)
Large plastic trash bag (for dog pack in tent vestibule)
Dog boots (I hate them, too!)
Comb (Mom grooms me nightly to de-hair)
Dog sweater (light fleece) for cold night sleeping
Leash (6-ft puppy leash) and Gentle Leader headcollar
2 plastic shopping bags, for poop bags,muddy shoes or whatever
After I've eaten several days worth of dog food, Mom tends to replace it with her garbage.

You of course are a lighter and more svelte dog, but I'll bet you could carry at least part of your food and water.

Hi Roxy, my name is Kaya. I have never gone backpacking either. My dad says that I can't go unless I carry ALL of my stuff, and I don't have a bag yet. My dad says I will get one soon. But, I have gone winter camping with a sled. My dad tricked me and made me pull all of HIS stuff up but at least he let me come and let me off leash at camp a few times to trounce through the snow. I don't wear a coat or booties. Those things are for woosies. I have a little ccf pad that I never sit on.

Here I am at home.


Here I am in the snow.




Here I am waiting for my favorite job....cleaning the dishes. My dad had to tie me up so I wouldn't clean the dishes too early.


My dad said that if you ever want to take a bike ride without having to ever peddle, just tie me to the bike, and I will run for miles.