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Hiking Gear

7121548

Well-Known Member
As the weather starts cooling off, I want to try taking my dog on short hikes. These hikes would be less than 5 miles round trip around various canyons and hills around the city. Does anyone have any suggestions for lightweight backpacks and collapsible water bowls large enough for a 150 lb dog? Is there anything else I should consider getting? Thanks!
 

DennasMom

Well-Known Member
I like RuffWear gear. We have a big backpack with separate harness and removable packs. It isn't small though.
REI has good options in store for dog packs, if you live near one. Eddie Bauer might also have some (or any other hiking/outdoor store).

We have a collapsible bowl, but Denna prefers drinking straight from the bottle. I dribble it slowly straight into her mouth to minimize losses. It seems to work pretty well.

Here's Denna modeling our backpack: https://www.facebook.com/Denna-303661206377738/photos/?tab=album&album_id=484046045005919
 

7121548

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the suggestions! Denna looks awesome in her red backpack! It looks like Ruffwear has a lighter-duty backpack at REI too, so maybe I'll go to the store and check it out. He doesn't really need to carry much--just a few snacks, drool towels, a couple bottles of water, and possibly a water bowl if he won't drink straight from the bottle. What does Denna normally carry in her pack? Does she tire easily?
 

nadelwald

Member
As the weather starts cooling off, I want to try taking my dog on short hikes. These hikes would be less than 5 miles round trip around various canyons and hills around the city. Does anyone have any suggestions for lightweight backpacks and collapsible water bowls large enough for a 150 lb dog? Is there anything else I should consider getting? Thanks!

Just a small pointer, always have a first aid kit with you, including sutures and Paracetamol. Paracetamol heals muscle fever in dogs quite fast, in case it hets it.
 

7121548

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the tip, nadelwald! Where would I get sutures from? Like in liquid sutures? I couldn't possibly stitch up any wound without him biting me!
 

nadelwald

Member
Avoid wounds... but, from my experience, molossers are quite chill about skin wounds like that... you'd be suprised. Anyways, it's always better to avoid any wounds.

btw, muscle fever in dogs doesn't manifest like in humans. Dogs just tend to go stiff and stop with obstination, some panic a bit. A pill of paracetamol, and in an hour you can continue. Force-feeding it is the way, as dogs in this state tend to refuse food, and some clench their jaws somwhat, but you can still open their mouth by hand.

Careful abt paws too, we're talking abt a haevy dog here, check them once in a while, in case they need bandaging.

I would also give him some joint pills before the hike...

And careful with the feeding hours, you know, the risk of torsion...
 

nadelwald

Member
And sory, abt the backpack... I personally would never put that on a dog. Strain on the column is the last thing you want in a hike. Most off them have problems in that area after 7-8 years, so... big no.

The bigger the dog, the more sensitive the column.
 

nadelwald

Member
oh, forgot- they all want to junp into cold mountain rivers when they see one.
Even if it is visibly very shallow and safe, don't let him go in it. They'll get a cold fast cause they're hot from walking.
 

7121548

Well-Known Member
Nadelwald, thanks so much for your input! My biggest concern is probably heatstroke, since even in the winter here it's still 60-70s and he gets hot very quickly. I'm prepared to carry lots of water for that. I'm thinking about getting booties for him to avoid paw injuries, but I was afraid it would make him too hot. The first aid kit is a great idea though and I'm definitely going to bring one, and thanks for the tip about feeding and joint supplements. It's still 90 degrees right now, so I think I still have a little time to prepare before the weather is appropriate!
 

nadelwald

Member
I'm thinking about getting booties for him to avoid paw injuries, but I was afraid it would make him too hot.

Even the most fancy dog boots are not comfy... I think they're only necessary on snow, on short coated dogs. I go hiking often with my dog, honestly, the biggest danger are acacia trees and wild rose bushes and other stuff like that with shedding thorns... but higher or a mountain there are no such things, but in the lower areas.. just avoid thorny stuff and paws will be fine.
 

7121548

Well-Known Member
Even the most fancy dog boots are not comfy... I think they're only necessary on snow, on short coated dogs. I go hiking often with my dog, honestly, the biggest danger are acacia trees and wild rose bushes and other stuff like that with shedding thorns... but higher or a mountain there are no such things, but in the lower areas.. just avoid thorny stuff and paws will be fine.

I don't think there's too much thorny stuff around here. I'm probably just overthinking it since I'm not really a hiker and just want to be prepared! My dog is really lazy, so we definitely wouldn't be doing any serious hikes anyway. I appreciate your help!
 

DennasMom

Well-Known Member
Sorry... finally get back to this thread.... Denna doesn't normally wear a back pack, but we have one! :)
She tires before I do, so adding weight just means we both go shorter distances.

One thing I do make her carry is her own poop. We have just a safety vest with pockets for that - the PooBoss k9 Utility Vest. LOVE this one. No room for water, but a few treats and some poop bags are all we need for our 3-5 mile excursions. She wears it if we go out an night, too - it's bright yellow and has reflective tape. I have a weight pack for me that carries two bottles of water, keys, wallet and phone/camera, which works well for us.

Here's us out hiking last weekend - about 3 miles round trip with 500ft elevation gain. She's looking back down the trail, where a new dog is coming up fast... :)

20161106_125356a.jpg
 

nadelwald

Member
DennasMom- great pointer there- a reflective vest is a great ideea - especially for a dog like yours, brindle. Brindles become invisible in the dark.
I don't know how mastinos are in the dark, if grey dogs are visible in the dark or not... but I think putting something reflective on him is a good safety measure anyway.
 

7121548

Well-Known Member
Thanks so much! So the vest holds the poop bags AND the poop too?! I must get it now!!! I wonder if they get annoyed by the smell following them for miles? Haha. I really do like that backpack though. It looks lightweight, and the reflective strips are a plus. Denna looks great--a natural hiker!
 

nadelwald

Member
A little offtopic- do you pick up the poops no matter what? I mean, it's biodegradable...

I pick it up on streets, parks, etc, common sense. But up on a montain I only pick it up if he poops directly on the walking path, and even than, I just use that scoop and put it out of the way, than I clean it with wet napkins and bag those to carry back, less stinky .Besides that... don't see much sense in picking it up from the middle of woods.
 

7121548

Well-Known Member
DennasMom, how big is Denna's chest? I was looking at the PooBoss vest, and the sizing chart says an XL fits up to 100 lbs. I know Denna is larger than that, and the pack seems to fit her well. But some reviews say it was too small for a German Shepherd dog!