Backpacks

Angela

Angela

Super Moderator
I need a backpack for Evan for doing the DDX in May here.

So I need advice from those who have one, I'm thinking Outward Hound, he is 120 lb, 26" withers, 35" loosely around the neck and 37' chest.
He has to carry 20 lb in it, 10 each side.

Any ideas what size he would need?
 
Joan Fisher

Joan Fisher

New member
I've done two DDX trials with Tiika - still haven't succeeded but we'll keep trying! I tried 4 packs before and during the first trial - and wasn't happy with any of them. Then we got the Ruffware Palisades pack for the 2nd trial. It is fabulous! http://www.ruffwear.com/Palisades-Pack. The Berner and Russian Terrier owners in the trial with me all wanted to order one like ours. Even the judges thought it was great. Outward Hound was one of the ones we tried but didn't like. I got the Palisades pack from Backcountry.com. Speedy delivery into Canada and the best price I could find. It's expensive but well worth the lack of frustration and concern for Tiika that I had with all the other packs.
 
Angela

Angela

Super Moderator
Thanks Joan, I looked it up, nice but way too expensive. I need something cheaper!!
 
happy2be

happy2be

New member
"I tried 4 packs before ...and wasn't happy with any of them".

Do you know which ones and can you tell us why? I see you tried the outwards Hounds. I was looking at the Ruffwear Approach too

Secondly, any chance you can post a picture for me? Briggs is 150 lbs and I'd really like to see the pack on a newfie
 
Joan Fisher

Joan Fisher

New member
happy2be said:
"I tried 4 packs before ...and wasn't happy with any of them".

Do you know which ones and can you tell us why? I see you tried the outwards Hounds. I was looking at the Ruffwear Approach too

Secondly, any chance you can post a picture for me? Briggs is 150 lbs and I'd really like to see the pack on a newfie
Click to expand...
The first pack I tried was the Outward Hound and it just wouldn't balance, no matter how even you got the weights for each side. It kept slipping to one side or the other - very frustrating! I think its shape just wasn't right for a Newfie. I gave it to a Berner friend with a smaller dog even though it was a size large - not sure if she ever used it. The next one was a really old one that my friend Judi had from around 20 years ago. I don't know who made it but it seemed good until you put significant weight in it. Then the material interfered with Tiika putting her head up and it slid into the back of her head when going downhill. That was no good so I couldn't use that one on her. The 3rd one was one made by my Draft instructor, Alan Maniate. His was basically the harness he uses for draft with bike saddle bags attached to it. It was better than the other two because it was more stable on Tiika's body, but when there was 22 pounds in it (you have to have 1/6 of your dog's body weight to a maximum of 25 pounds. You would need the full 25 pounds for your 150 lb dog in a trial), the saddle bags knocked the sides of Tiika's front legs and made her walk funny. She didn't seem very comfortable although we did use it for her first DDX trial - we didn't qualify in the commands from behind the cart part, but did fine in the backpacking. I still didn't feel it was right for her so I looked at a lot of reviews on-line. I found a few Newf reviews and other large dog reviews which all said the Ruffware Palisades pack was the best. The Ruffware site has reviews and even some video's showing how to put the pack on, etc. I used it in our 2nd DDX trial last October - still didn't pass, but did pretty good except for the commands from behind the cart again :darn:. The Palisades pack was really a whole lot better for Tiika, and I felt okay asking her to carry the 22 pounds. Sorry I don't have any photos. I will try and take some and post them for you.
 
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Angela

Angela

Super Moderator
Joan,
On EBay there is a Ruffwear Approach 2 quite cheap I'm looking at. Have you any information on that one?

I used the Outward Hound one on my Lab when we did DDX and it worked, but I see what you are saying for a giant breed. Evan would have to carry 20 lb.
 
Joan Fisher

Joan Fisher

New member
Hi Angela,
Here are some reviews on the approach pack http://www.backcountry.com/ruffwear-approach-dog-pack#reviews. http://www.ruffwear.com/Approach-Pack?sc=2&category=13#item_review_average. All pretty good, but no big dogs mentioned. I don't know if it will hold the weight you need for a trial. The Palisades is supposed to be large capacity compared to the Approach for single day trips. I found it took some planning to get 11 pounds in on each side. I even had to put a couple of small diving weights inside a towel on each side to get the weight up without more bulk. You also have to have items you would really have like food and water.
 
Angela

Angela

Super Moderator
Thanks Teri, the more I look at them all the more confused I become!!!!
The backpack must be large enough to carry 20 lb stuff, food for 3 days, plus water and other stuff. Like Joan said, it's hard to find that amount of weight to put in them and balance it correctly.

The backpacking course is 1/2 mile over rugged terrain with dog OFF leash and close to you. So the backpack must fit snugly, you can't keep readjusting it etc.
 
Joan Fisher

Joan Fisher

New member
Hi Angela,
This is what I have in Tiika's pack - exactly the same on each side:
1. the water bladder for the pack full of water
2. towel with 1 1/2 pound diving weight inside
3. Kirkland baby wipes -full package unopened
4. sample bags of dog kibble unopened
5. zip-lock with almonds for me to make up the remaining weight
I have a baby scale in my office which I use to make sure it is exactly right and then I also use a suitcase scale to show the weight at the trial and to check again when we're out and practising. I keep that in the pack.
 
Abbey

Abbey

Active member
Angela said:
Thanks Teri, the more I look at them all the more confused I become!!!!
The backpack must be large enough to carry 20 lb stuff, food for 3 days, plus water and other stuff. Like Joan said, it's hard to find that amount of weight to put in them and balance it correctly.

The backpacking course is 1/2 mile over rugged terrain with dog OFF leash and close to you. So the backpack must fit snugly, you can't keep readjusting it etc.
Click to expand...
Try laying everything out that needs to go in the backpack. You might get a better idea on how big it needs to be.
 
happy2be

happy2be

New member
Great conversation. I confess I am just looking for one for using on picnics with my family. I thought perhaps Briggs would like to carry our food, water and a picnic blanket for us. Its a matter of size for me and I am leaning towards the Palasides as the bags are removeable and it seems to have the large sacks.

He is almost 2 now and weighing in at 150 lbs so I don't think a picnic lunch would be a big deal for him. I am thinking about looking at drafting at some point so I like the idea of him getting used to the harness too.
 
lilly06

lilly06

New member
We used a Ruffwear pack on my Lab a lot. We used it for backpacking. Never had a problem. She was a pretty good sized 90 lb girl. We would also strap a bed roll to the top of it so she would have something to lay on at the end of the day. It is similar to the one Terri and Abby are showing. Nice thing about it is that the saddle bag velcro to the harness. It was nice to take the bags off while she swam and not have to worry about taking the harness off too. The pack comes in an XL and it is quite large. We borrowed an XL from a friend and it was way to huge for Kelsey. They had a 130lb rottie that they used it on. We had her packing her own food, bowl and treats. If there was enough room we would put in backpacking pots and pans. We did not pack water for the dogs. There were enough fresh water lakes around. Never got giardia either.....

Ruffwear also makes some fabulous booties for their feet. There is a lot of granite where we backpack and it just tears the dogs feet up.
 
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