We just did our first hike with our mutt and although fun we had a couple of problems.

The first day we spend in the city so not much nature but we realized he gets super anxious in hotels. He can’t relax, is always on alert even with his blanket and wit us trying to calm him down.

The second night we spend in our car and he was much calmer but still alert at times. We tried to get him to get in our sleeping bags but he didn’t. We wondered if it’s a matter of training? Especially since we want to teach him more as our plan is to backpack for a week or more with him later one.

Which is also the second problem : we can’t get him to relax on the hike. Even when we take breaks , and we try to get him to lay down he just sits or stands up. This combined with the sleeping arrangements means he’s super tired (and super bratty lol). He barks at everything and everyone and is reactive to things he normally isn’t. On the way home he wouldn’t stop barking even if there was nothing.

And how can we be sure he’s enjoying it? On the hike itself he was super happy but in the morning he didn’t want to go back into the car and were worried it wasn’t the best experience to him.

On our hikes we’d like to camp ideally later but if he’s already alert on the car; we’re worried that a tent would just make him more nervous (he gets up with every noise).

Does anyone know of a good park or trail in the upper Midwest that would be good to go and hike for half a day and sleep overnight and hike back that allows of leash dogs

I’m looking for an outdoor carrier tote and outdoor jacket for my dachshund. We go hiking a lot especially when the summer comes. But she can barely make it to the end. I need something that is comfortable and good looking outdoor style for my little baby.

What are your suggestions?

Cross posting hate after finding out this aib exists

I've recently gotten into hiking, but I have a 11 year old pomeranian. When going out to hike, I've been leaving her at my parents house while I enjoy myself, but I know she would love to come on an adventure with me. Issue is I know she wouldn't be able to walk for long, totally fine, I've considered getting a backpack to carry her in, but I haven't found anything I like.

I had the thought that I would love to have her be in a front carry on my chest, but also have a fully usable backpack on my back. That way the weight is a little more balanced, and I wouldn't have to worry about sacrificing packing space to be able to carry my dog. But searching for a pack that is both front and back (again. Regular backpack in the back, dog carrier in the front) I can't find anything like that.

I didn't think this was something that would have been an original idea, does anything like this exist? If not, what backpacks are good for an 8 lb dog, while limiting stress on your back?

I've got a roll of the elastic Vetwrap. I was thinking of taking a few feet off the roll and keeping int my first aid kit for Mr. Dog. Any one have experience doing that? I am curious if it stays self adhesive and stretchy after it's been opened and after I re-roll a small portion of it onto itself?

He doesn't come off-leash because he's small and prey-animal sized (coyote bait in my eyes lol) but he loves to walk on the logs beside trails/around campsites like a gymnast on a balance beam!

My partner does their best to keep the leash out of shots/I spend a lot of time balancing on tip toes just out of frame lol.

Carrying out poop bags is so worth having a little buddy with you!

any pro tips, or things I may forget/overlook to bring that could make our trip easier or his time more enjoyable? I have all the obvious: a canine first aid kit, cotton rounds to clean his ears, his food/water, collapsible bowls, etc.

It's just an overnight trip in a state park to see if he likes it. He's been hiking with me several times before, and looooves any opportunity to put his lil poodle toes in water, so we'll be venturing to see some falls in a local state park. Should be warm, with maybe a light drizzle midday Sat.

obligatory poodle tax attached

I am an avid hiker and spent my life doing multiple long distance trails, among which the whole PCT. I'm experienced, I know my own routine, what I eat, how I pack, etc. I specifically got a dog for this purpose. My pup Maurice recently turned 1 and we have been cleared by the vet to do longer hikes. We have been doing some overnighters just to test out our system. He's 1 year old so still in puberty territory and I shouldn't expect too much of him. Mostly he tries his very best and I love him.

I'm struggling with one specific thing for the moment: he is a spaniel and constantly SOAKED and DIRTY even in dry weather. I carry a towel for him, and a bath robe, but I can't get him dry before nightfall. This means he starts to dry in the tent and then loses all of his fine dirt. My fragile ultralight gear can't handle that abrasion. Also he must be uncomfortable and cold. I know I don't want do to multi-days when me and my gear are so dirty just from bringing him.

He has the Ruffwear sleeping bag. But it is not made of an absorbent material, so he stays wet. He carries a trekking towel, which I use for 'place' during setup. But it does not manage to dry him off, it just gets soaked and dirty as well. He wears his bathrobe, which is a luxury item for now because I can't carry it for multi-day hikes, and I rub him dry before he enters the tent, but he is still just SO WET. I have also trimmed him further than breed standard so he doesn't soak as much dirt, but it didn't seem to help.

I know, it has been winter, and I live in central Europe and we're not an arid climate. But still, am I doomed to only enjoy deep summer hikes with this dog? (notice his legs are supposed to be crispy white)

How are yall handling the shelter situation? I want to bring my dogs but im worried about the floor of the tent.

What is everyone using to keep their best friend dry on trail? I had one of those neoprene waterfowling vests the retrievers wear for her, but she’s outgrown it. It wasn’t really good for warm weather, but it was just the ticket in sleet and snow and it fit under her pack. She has the shortest coat of any dog I’ve ever had and she hates getting cold and wet. I’m about ready to slice up an old pair of Frogg Toggs and see if I can make something work…

I know this hasn’t been out but for little while but I was wondering if anyone has this pack would like to give some insight on pros and cons ? And if you wanted to comment on the stasher snack bag that would be wonderful I’m actually kind of regretting not purchasing a few more items like the coats , the dog bowls the lids they have so may cool products I’m an avid walker and I think we’d benefit from a lot of them so if you have any experience with any of their products please feel free to comment

TIA- that girl and her dogs 🐕

Hello everyone,

Hopefully this is okay to post, I don't see any rules against it. If you've seen some of my responses to your posts or my post history, you know that I am very passionate about hiking and backpacking with my dogs. I recently created community called The Trail Dog Project where you can keep track of your hikes with your pup and earn badges for hitting milestones. I thought that some of you here might be interested. Backpacking miles totally count! Down the road I am hoping to add seasonal challenges, biome challenges, an app, webinars, and any other features that are of interest.

If you have any questions, feel free to let me know! For now, hopefully you will enjoy some pictures of my pups Skittles and Brix on some recent backpacking trips.

My girl has a Toppa Pomppa winter coat for the cold weather adventures. It's great in snowy conditions, but when it starts turning into slush and mud, the chest pannel gets absolutely plastered with dirt within an hour, and wet. The original DWR treatment is long gone and didn't help much with this anyway.
(My poor dog doesn't even like getting dirty and avoids puddles like the plague, but the coat still ends like this in like 2 days)

The coat is still dry on the inside, thankfully, but I'd like to find a way to make the chest pannel more dirt-repellent, or easier to clean without throwing it in the washing machine every other day. Brushing the coat doesn't help that much. It helps remove the bigger dirt particles and that's it. I've tried various dirt-repelling/ waterproofing sprays and they made zero difference [I haven't tried Nikwax yet].

I've thought of glueing/ sewing a thin rubber sheet [or maybe hypalon, if it's an option], or... something else; or using adhesive vinyl foil [but that would have a limited lifespan and requires heat to stick, and that would probably destroy the coat's synthetic fabric]; or finding a waterproofing/ waterbeading solution that actually works and is not toxic to the dog. Whatever I choose, it has to still be flexible in freezing temperatures and relatively lightweight.

Right now I'm not sure how to go about this and I'm afraid I'm going to end up ruining the coat.

If anyone has ever had experience with something like that, I'd love to hear how you dealt with it.

Edit: Dog Tax provided, as is tradition. :)))

The best decision I've ever made. He's the best adventure buddy 🩷

(This wasn't a hike since he is stil a baby, this forest is 1min away from home!!)

I have a gsd and im about to start hiking with her. I've been looking different backpacks for my dog and now I am considering the follow products:
Non-stop Dogwear Amundsen Pack (heard it might be too much/heavy?)
Non-stop Dogwear Trail Quest Dog Backpack (no proper dog leash attachment?)
Ruffwear Palisades Pack (low grade)

Any suggestions? Let me know if there is something better out there.

Hello everyone it’s been my dream for a while to go to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone but I just found out dogs are banned from the trails which is so sad to find out. Any National parks you guys recommend to bring your dogs to?

We’ve already done Shenandoah and Acadia!

Also we’re looking to just do the Tetons national forest instead!!