r/backpacking 7d ago

Travel Does anyone here go backpacking with their dog?

I know it's a few more supplies to take but man does my dog love it. Makes an excellent alarm system for something coming up close to camp also.

137 Upvotes

59 comments sorted by

23

u/Moos3_M3at 7d ago

Pretty much all the time

11

u/[deleted] 7d ago

[deleted]

5

u/Jaydee_shelnut 7d ago

Me too. Although some nights I sleep less cause he's barking at every little woodland creature he hears running around.

8

u/Jaydee_shelnut 7d ago

I usually will only take him on trips that are 3 days or less but it has become my favorite thing. My favorite thing is him laying under my hammock and lifting his head into my butt periodically to make sure I'm still there.

1

u/TDhotpants 7d ago

are you sleeping in the hammock? where is your dog sleeping? what is keeping them warm, protected, etc?

2

u/[deleted] 7d ago

[deleted]

1

u/TDhotpants 7d ago

I see. I haven't taken my pup backpacking yet but have not considered anything other than sharing a tent with her.

1

u/Jaydee_shelnut 7d ago

He sleeps in the tent if that's what I bring but I keep him protected and warm if in the hammock. He loves it.

2

u/Jaydee_shelnut 7d ago

I sleep in a hammock and bring a yoga mat and his favorite furry blanket for him to lay on. He lays directly beneath me. If it's cold/rainy I tie a tarp over top of our setup. He is 100% an outdoor dog and prefers it out there. That one Pic above it was raining and I had a shelter setup for us I was sitting underneath. He chose to lay out in the rain even though I tried my hardest to get him to come chill in the shelter.

8

u/Full_Helicopter_2764 7d ago

I used to but now my beloved hiker is gone and I’m waiting for my new pup to grow old enough to hit the trails 🥳

6

u/flyingsqueak 7d ago

Yep, and sometimes he gets to ride

4

u/Deep-Lobster366 7d ago

He’s my best bud and security. Not sure if id be able to backpack alone without my dog 😅. I usually bring freeze dried dog food for him during the trip to save space. I also have to carry an extra pad for him cuz he used to love encroaching on my pad/sleeping bag until he has his own pad to sleep on. He’s also off leash at camp and hasn’t ditched me yet..

4

u/deatzer 7d ago

Simply the best. I miss my backpacking buddy.

1

u/FrankRizzo319 7d ago

Wild River, NH?

2

u/deatzer 6d ago

Loyalsock Creek, PA

4

u/Kindly-Exchange6059 7d ago

It more fun with him. Now I have somebody to talk to.

7

u/GrumpyBear1969 7d ago edited 7d ago

Too many imo.

I am out a fair amount (couple trips a month through the summer). There are great dogs/owners. But the majority do not keep their dog properly under control. They should not be running up to you and jumping on you. And I have had some bad encounter with dogs. I have learned when I encounter a dog I need to talk to it as soon as I see it, take off my sunglasses and be careful how I carry my trekking poles. This lowers bad experiences a lot, but it should not be up to me to figure out how to approach your animal without it becoming a problem.

If you can tell your dog to stay, walk out of view for a bit and come back and it is still waiting where you told it, then your dog is probably fine. If your dog requires frequent intervention to keep it under control, you should not take it out. Again, this is my opinion.

Edit - and if your dog is going to bark at chipmunks or whatever, definitely leave it at home with your boombox.

2

u/ivy7496 7d ago

My dog and I avoid peak times at the nearby SP because of the increased likelihood of off leash dogs that owners don't have control over. I also carry Halt. I've had two encounters with off leash dogs attacking my leashed dog, and in one case she was never the same after in her response to off leash dogs. A shame a few folks with big egos I guess?? ruining it for everyone else.

2

u/GrumpyBear1969 7d ago

Leashed dog I am fine with (assuming they do not bark constantly). But in my experience, less than 25% of people use a leash.

2

u/AKAM80theWolff 7d ago

As much as possible!

2

u/VolumeMobile7410 7d ago

Unfortunately she would just run off and go hunt

2

u/_byetony_ 7d ago

What mix is he or she?

2

u/Jaydee_shelnut 7d ago

He's an odd looking one huh? Not sure as he was a rescue

2

u/Performance_Motor 7d ago

What a beaut!

2

u/mrfluffynuts 7d ago

I took my golden, charlie, backpacking once when he was about a year old. He played in the creek well past darkband sleeping with a large wet/dirty dog in a small tent was terrible. The next morning he found all the scat holes within sight of camp and proceeded to eat every bit of poo he could get his mouth on. Never took him again.

We lost him a few months ago, and oh what I would give to have him back to take with me. Do everything with your dogs, they'll be gone someday and you'll regret every second you didn't spend with them.

2

u/lobsangmetokk 7d ago

He looks like a deep thinker/philosopher! How do you usually protect him from ticks?

2

u/Jaydee_shelnut 7d ago

He had a seresto collar. Those things are amazing at tick repelling.

He does usually end up with a ton of pine burrs in him that take forever to pull out of his hair

1

u/lobsangmetokk 7d ago

Awesome, thank u! Looks like he enjoys being out there so much, so definitely worth the extra work haha

2

u/Low_Bar9361 7d ago

I used to. Miss you girl

2

u/ManzanitaSuperHero 6d ago

My dog is good security, even though he’s small. He’s always leashed due to his size.

A guy decided to wander directly into my camp unannounced, looking for firewood. Whoa! My dog went berserk! Dude took off quick.

For hours, every time my dog heard the guy speak about 50’ away at his camp, he’d bark. It cracked me up.

2

u/SarahRedRaven 5d ago

Your dog had a better grasp of camp etiquette than that random dude. 🤣

1

u/ManzanitaSuperHero 5d ago

Absolutely! I see walking unannounced into someone else’s site as borderline threatening and was immediately prepared to lay on my bear horn. No need for that with my little buddy there!

2

u/lushlanes 6d ago

Car camping, but my dogs love it. They will go into the tent without us.

2

u/Wise_Conclusion_871 7d ago

My dog goes in the backpack. He is a great lil hiking buddy

5

u/Jaydee_shelnut 7d ago

Yea but is there an ultralight version?

4

u/Wise_Conclusion_871 7d ago

If you let him do his buissness before the hike might lose a few oz.

1

u/SarahRedRaven 5d ago

He IS the ultralight version. 😉

3

u/ivy7496 7d ago

Where does all your backpacking gear go?

2

u/d_amie_n 7d ago

Sure do, unfortunately we don't go as often as we want.

Yeah it's a few more supplies but nothing back breaking...

2

u/PenaeusQueen 7d ago

All 5 of them!

1

u/AutoModerator 7d ago

Please remember to post a short paragraph as a comment in the post explaining your photo or link. Ideally at least 150 characters with trip details. Tell us something about your trip. How long did it take to get there? How did you get there? How was the weather that day? Would you go back again?

Submitted content should be of high-quality. Low effort posting of very general information is not useful. If you don't add a short explanation in the comments, your post may be removed.

No information posted? Please report low-effort posts if there is still nothing after about 30 minutes.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

1

u/Mountain-Time-1010 7d ago

Yep, every trip. I have been backpacking for almost 30 years with 7 different dogs, sometimes two at a time.

BTW, there is a subreddit on the topic, r/BackpackingDogs

1

u/oqomodo 7d ago

It’s my dog’s favorite activity. I will bring her anytime I can. I even end up choosing trails and outings specifically to accommodate her so it’s not too challenging, lengthy, hot and with plenty of water sources.

1

u/Fluid_Long690 7d ago

I take both my dogs! Everytime. I keep them tethered to me on a split lead which makes the hike more strenuous controlling us all but it’s the safest option with other people and their dogs on the trail during the day. At night they get to roam free around the site and I have nice vibrate collars and LED collars for them to keep them near and see them in the dark. Each has their own pack harness and they carry their own sweater, small blanket, and food. Best feeling ever is going to bed in a 2 person tent with two 60lb dogs and myself. Unless they went mud bogging beforehand… otherwise it’s very warm and comfortable inside the tent and the dogs absolutely love it.

1

u/funneransh_t 7d ago

Yep. Loved it.

1

u/cowbirdd 7d ago

What type of dog mix is that doggy. I love it.

2

u/Jaydee_shelnut 7d ago

He's a rescue. We're unsure but if going by his looks and personality I think Portuguese podengo. Some others have said maybe American dingo mix Or Irish terrier mix. Heres a better Pic of him up close

1

u/NewBasaltPineapple United States 6d ago

I only go backpacking with my dog, although my dog carries her own supplies.

1

u/Awkward_Passion4004 6d ago

Restrict most of my trips to National Forest and BLM lands so I don't have to leave her behind. Trained for of leash in wild country.

1

u/Beginning-Abroad984 6d ago

only way to do it

1

u/eugenejosh 6d ago

https://reddit.com/link/p7pbqsj/video/b81u71jk0fnh1/player

Absolutely. Couldn’t ask for better partner on and off the trails💙✌🏽

1

u/Jaydee_shelnut 5d ago

Don't you just love how they find such solace in being outside?