Good idea. I'm gonna take her turtle that she sleeps with and maybe it will help her be comfortable. As far as a backpack, smart energetic and working dogs enjoy having a a job. Carrying her food and such gives her something to do. We'll build up slowly on walks and hikes. Empty pack the first few times, very light weight building up to the amount she needs for out backpacking trip. I think shes gonna love it.
Registered: 02/23/03
Posts: 2124
Loc: Meadow Valley, CA
I know my dogs in the past, after a day or two, associate their pack with "we're moving, let's go!". Funny, in the AM, when I'm packed up and about to go, if I even get close to their pack, they are right over there, waiting to be saddled up. Come on Dad!
Registered: 02/23/03
Posts: 2124
Loc: Meadow Valley, CA
Too funny. Due to my work situation, I can't have a dog since Pooch passed on seven years ago. I know the last couple years, it just isn't the same without him.
I finally bought a pack for Kaya. I bought it at the same time I got her a pulling harness (Christmas present). She isn't convinces she likes it yet. I make sure and put it on her every time we go out for a walk or something, even if it is empty. That way she associates the pack with walking/running/hiking.
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Registered: 08/16/10
Posts: 1590
Loc: San Diego CA
So what kind of pack did you get FinallyME? And, as a side note, are you a Bob Marley fan (Kaya)?
Speaking of fun with dogs, last night my sleep was interrupted about every 2 hours as my dog squeaked that she wanted to go outside where she threw up and had bouts of diarrhea. This usually means she found something nasty to eat in the back yard. She had been acting lethargic in the evening. To take it easy on her this morning, I took her to a REALLY BIG dog park where you can essentially be alone. She finally got it all out this morning...then started acting bossy to other dogs coming up to her (I can sniff you but you can't sniff me, marking over other dogs spots). Back to normal.
sk 4 cups of coffee and a dose of sarcasm then I am ready to get started
My dog barfed in my tent once when I couldn't get the zipper open in time. She was pretty frantic to get out but just couldn't hold it. One day she barfed up a blue kitchen sponge that someone left laying around after doing dishes. A few days later there was a dog dropping in the yard with blue sponge in it. I have to be relly careful taking her near campsites because people who car camp will leave anything laying around from broken glass to Macdonalds food wrappers. Mostly where I walk my dog is by one of the local streams and where do people go to car camp? Where I walk my dog. Did I mention that she loves to eat paper with food smells on it? All of our garbage cans have lids as shes like a racoon that way. When the dog droppings in the yard are full of paper I know I have a leak" somewhere. Jim
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These are my own opinions based on wisdom earned through many wrong decisions. Your mileage may vary.
Registered: 08/16/10
Posts: 1590
Loc: San Diego CA
Yikes! Passing a blue sponge...you mean the scrubbing sided ones? Talk about a colon cleanse! Your lucky your dog didn't get a blockage. We have a friend who's husky eats tennis balls. She has had 2 operations for blockages.
Hey Jim(shaw)! Have you gotten any snow, or has it been rain snow mix?
sk we got about 1/2 inch of snow in town last night with little else predicted. Its been really warm - hit 54 degrees 2 days ago and the ground thawed enough to get some plants into the new garden.
Mt Bachelor got 3 inches in last 12 hours, 5 in last 72 with over 6 feet of base. Thats 2300 feet above my house, but now I live ten miles from the old house, it will take me 45 mintes to be on a skilift at the downhill area.
Yep passed a sponge, but it wasn't the plastic scratchy kind, just plain blue. She was a bit lethargic, probably had soap in it. I have considered a muzzle, and I wonder if it would prevent her from eating garbage? Why can't people with a vehicle carry away their garbage?
Soapbox on : The worst messiest campsites with jars and cans of stuff left behind in the wilderness are ALL from horse campers. No one else has the resources to get that garbage that far in. Soapbox off. Jim
_________________________
These are my own opinions based on wisdom earned through many wrong decisions. Your mileage may vary.
Registered: 08/16/10
Posts: 1590
Loc: San Diego CA
Stay on the box! There are too many people using the back country for anybody to be a slob. The sloppy few are going to ruin it for everybody else in their group.
I'm hoping you and da FOOT have a good snow trip (and post pics of your setups).
Registered: 09/15/10
Posts: 67
Loc: North Central Texas
When I car camp I take a trash bag with me and pick up all the junk I find around my spot as soon as I start to make camp. And I take all of my own trash home with me since its usually next to nothing. I car camp a lot on the LBJ Grasslands near one of the horse trails and you're right, Jim, there is usually more garbage in those types of areas. But its only 20 minutes away and makes for a convenient last minute camping spot. We just gotta watch out for the horse manure.
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Proud to be an American. Lucky to be a Texan.
So what kind of pack did you get FinallyME? And, as a side note, are you a Bob Marley fan (Kaya)?
I got her one from Black Ice. I bought it the same time as her harness. It has a separate harness and bag like the Ruff Wear Palisades, except for half the price. For her name, I got her when she was 4 years old. I didn't think I should change her name and confuse her.
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Registered: 08/16/10
Posts: 1590
Loc: San Diego CA
Sounds like a deal to me. It is so easy to drop a lot of money on "specialty" items. I tried a lot of different booties with Tica. Some as much as $45 a set of 4 and nothing worked until I found these solid piece leather ones. (I returned everything else). They were $12 for four and now I make slightly modified ones for a buck or so. Great for when she tears her feet up (and its dry).
About the pack, which model did you get? Ruca is a fairly lean pitt at 58 lbs. I cant decide which size and am hoping for some feed back from you on the fit. She's tall and long I'm not sure if the small will be ok. Your thoughts are much appreciated. Tried to upload a pic, although I am technologically savvy, I can't figure it out!
I got the explorer II medium. My dog is 70 lbs and it fits her perfectly. Of course, they are experienced with malamutes, so the pack was made for them. I would call them up about what size to get. They will probably ask you to measure the dog. Of course, you have to call them anyways to order, so.....
Edited by finallyME (01/21/1101:58 PM)
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Registered: 01/30/11
Posts: 14
Loc: Marina del Rey, California
Getting back into camping with the wife and two weasel-dogs later next month. Growing up with "real" dogs, it was a blast camping with them. Unfortunately, the current dogs are a ten pound chihuahua and a twenty pound terrier, so it's rather unlikely that they'll be able to carry anything!
Registered: 08/16/10
Posts: 1590
Loc: San Diego CA
You could always try to rig up something out of two small baggies and some duct tape. (If you try this, do NOT apply duct tape directly to dog). Theoretically, it could carry its own food for a couple days.
My dog is a working line German Shepherd. working line shepherds are supposed to have a job. herding, protection, Search and rescue etc.. for them to be truely happy.
my trainer said having Cody wear a pack and lug his own food will most certainly be viewed by him as a job and hence a great thing for both of us...not sure that that applies to any other dogs, but thought i'd throw it out there
Originally Posted By Howie
My Rebel likes to sleep with his teddy bear. When we go backpacking overnight I strap Teddy to his pack. I figure that would allay any illusions a person may have about him being ferocious.
One thing I have found is that there are some people out there that seem to think it is cruel to make a dog wear a backpack. Most folks think it is a good idea so he can carry his own water and such, but it seems not everyone sees it that way. I overheard one lady say “what a shame”.
I haven't had a chance to read through this tread in it's entirety yet and I'm sure you got lots of great advice so far but I'd thought I chime in w/ two cents anyway.
My pup comes along w/ me every time I head for the trail as long as I'm not visiting a restrictive park. As far as being inside the tent, he hasn't been much of an issue. He does have long nails(I leave them long so he has a better grip climbing steep terrain) but our tent is so snug that once it has two bags in it there isn't much tent floor exposed. If he's particularly dirty, I put down a small pack towel in the vetibule and he's pretty happy w/ it. He's only 35lbs so he fits well.
I bought him an REI dog pack last year and it's worked out fairly well. W/ this he can carry both of his collapsible food and water bowls and about 5 days food. The pack isn't close to waterproof so keeping the food in a couple of 2 liter Sea To Summit dry sacks is what I've had to do. Ziplocks just weren't cutting it. After a jump into water, shake and roll in the dirt, the bags would bust open. Also the pack would have to have balanced loads in each side. The straps like to slip when wet and soon the pack would dip to one side. I'm sure this is uncomfortable.
You might want to get little booties as well. After a long day for the pooch on rough terrain, unconditioned pads will become raw and irritated. My pup would show reluctance w/ these at first but I'd slip them on later on in the day only when I had to. The REI ones could be a little finicky too so you'd have to keep an eye on them. They might fall off if not put on correctly.
And last, rattlesnakes are always a concern on hot days in rocky areas. If you have a particularly rambunctious or inquisitive pooch you may want to keep them on leash in these conditions. There is a rattlesnake "vaccine" but it basically only works to slow down the effects of venom long enough to get them to a vet. Unlike most snake bite regarding people, they're most certainly a death sentence for dogs. And if you're out far enough, a vet is out of the question.
I think in Virgina you guys have Cotton Mouths? Maybe Water Moccasins? Either one, both are worse than rattlesnakes.
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