Must Have Backpacking Essentials For Dogs
Backpacking is so much better with your dog am I right?!!! I seriously love taking my dog everywhere with me, but the first time I decided to go backpacking with her I was a little worried. I wasn’t sure if I had everything. What if I got out there and forgot something essential for her? I mean you will be miles from absolutely no where!
After years of successful backpacking trips with my puppers I thought it would be a good idea to share the essential things I bring for my dog, what I actually do while out in the backcountry, and share some of my favorite items.
So, let’s just jump right into it!
Must Have Backpacking Essentials For Dogs
1. Food, Treats, and Water
Ok, so this one is obvious, but I wanted to talk about how much food and what kind of treats. For me, I bring Yota, that is my Boston Terrier, her regular food. If we are backpacking for 5 days and 4 nights, I bring 5 days worth of food plus 2 extra days. I always come back with at least half of that. Typically Yota doesn’t eat a bunch out backpacking; however, I don’t want to be out there and have her hungry. So I always bring her regular amount plus a day or two. This way I am not worried. It really is for my own peace of mind.
For treats, bring something light weight and something that will last a little while. I do always suggest buying local or made locally. I always buy dog teats that are made in the USA. Lately Yota has been obsessed with Turkey Tendons.
2. Food and water bowls
Now you could technically go without a food bowl. I have done that in the past by feeding Yota off some sort of Granite rock; however, I found some incredibly light weight bowls that I am obsessed with. The links below are some bowls that I have tried and love. The key is to keep it light weight and compressible. If I were to recommend a bowl I would say hands down get the Fozzils. They are cheap, incredibly light weight, and they fold up. The Fozzils are the bowls that I personally use.
3. First Aid kit
I am not going to get into the details of first aid kits yet. When I create and article about them I will like it; however, you need to be prepared for anything and everything. I have a 4 lb first aid kit that covers everything for myself and my dog.
4. Leash and Harness
Depending on where you are at, you might not have a leash law. Typically, I go places where it is required to have your dog trained by command. That means I can let her off leash and roam freely. Even through that is the case I still bring a small leash just in case. You never know what other dogs are going to do.
Now, if you choose to go off leash, be responsible. Your dog needs to know commands and actually mind you. There have been too many times that I have come across dog owners in the wilderness that have lost their dogs. It makes me so incredibly sad and sick to my stomach. If your dog doesn’t mind well, DO NOT go off leash in the wilderness.
As far as harnesses or collars are concerned I like to have the reflective ones. Something that when the light shines just right you get a nice reflection to see your dog even better. The image to the left is Yota’s standard harness. It is an orange harness with a reflector the entire way around.
5. Something to keep them warm
So damn important! Seriously, it gets cold in the high country and you need to remember that you little four legged pal will get cold too. So there are a few things that you can do.
Bring a jacket for them. I personally made Yota’s jacket. It is made out of a synthetic (primaloft) which is super crazy warm. See the image below with her green puffy jacket on. Now I understand that I am a bit crazy and make everything, so just know that there are a ton of warm jackets out there for your doggie. My only thought here is don’t buy them a cheap sweater from Walmart. Buy them something that is actually going to keep the warmth in especially if you have a dog that isn’t made for the cold. Now if you have a dog that is meant to live in the snow you might now need a jacket :)
Remember that you are going to need something for them at night. I have always slept with my dog so I don’t have to carry any extra anything. Yep, she sleeps under the covers with me and is just loving life, but if you don’t want to sleep with your dog you might consider a dog bed set up.
I have linked a few items below for dog jackets and sleeping bags.
6. Something to keep them cool
This is also crazy important. Your dog can in fact over heat. They can even collapse or die from heat illness. So, you are going to need to plan your trip accordingly.
Yota is a Boston Terrier. She has an incredibly short nose which causes her not to breath great and causes her to easily over heat. She is also black which is the way wrong color for hiking. So she has two things against her.
I am always keenly aware, and probably over cautious when it comes to her getting to hot. As soon as she starts panting I start getting nervous. I give her ample water and take multiple breaks to allow her to cool. I also allow her to walk in the creeks to cool her feet off, and I typically get her a bit wet.
A couple of years ago she seemed to be getting hotter easier. I ended up taking my headband off and making her, what I now call her tube top. We were about 8 miles into our hike and I didn’t want her to get too warm so all I did was cut leg holes into the headband. Yep…. that was it. Seriously, and it has forever been her tube top lol. If you have a small dog this totally works. All it is is a headband, neck gator, or whatever you really want to call it. See the image on the left for a similar one.
You can see Yota sporting her grey tube top in the image below.
Now, if you have a large breed dog and can’t use a neck gator, then no worries! They make cooling vests for dogs! How neat is that?!! Check out the details below.
I just want to stress that your dogs safety is the most important. They are going to try to please you no matter what. Alot of times they will run themselves into the ground not to make you upset. It is our responsibility as dog owners to watch our dogs and take care of them.
7. Dog Id, tags, and light
For me I decided when I first got Yota that I was going to Microchip her. This was a total personal decision, but one that you should consider.
Also, I do always keep a dog tag on her with her name and my number. There are so many neat handmade dog tags out there now days it is amazing.
The other thing I do is put a light on her harness. This way at night I just turn on the light and I can see where she is without any problem at all.
Again…. safety.
8. Wet wipes and extra towels
Oh man, oh man, oh man do you need wet wipes and extra towels. Now, as I explained I sleep with my dog so she needs to be clean when she comes inside the tent. The way I do this is by using a wet wipe on her feet and across her body. This gets the majority of the dirt and grime off of her. That way it doesn’t ruin my sleeping gear.
You are also going to need extra towels for those unpredictable moments. I typically bring 2 small backpacking towels with me.
9. Dog Booties
Personally I have never had a need to use dog booties. I haven’t even ever bought a pair, but that is only because I don’t go places that are full of shell rock, snow, etc. Also, my dogs feet are very used to going hiking.
I have seen these booties and thought about them quite a bit, just haven’t had a need for them yet. I am sure some day my adventures will take me to a location that I need to grab a pair of doggie booties.
Alright my friends! There you have it. Must have backpacking essentials for dogs!
What are your must have backpacking essentials? Leave a comment below and let me know. I would absolutely love to hear and possibly add it to this ongoing list of essential items for dogs!
I can’t wait to hear from you!
Bess
