Newf Gooddies- Trail Dog!

First let's talk about the basic hiking equipment that YOU or your dog should never leave home without, even on a day hike.

This is a list of what we take.

  • Most important is a first aid kit. It is for both of us. In addition to the usual we make sure we have gauze rolls with plenty of tape and also a roll of Vet Wrap- find this at a feed store/livestock store or mail order from the same. It is much cheaper from horse supply places than from the vet. Include some Kwik Stop or Styptic Powder to help stop any bleepding and a thermometer especially in hot temps. ( If you hike in porcupine territory, carry pliers, 1 cup of vinegar and 2 teaspoons of baking soda-separately. Mix the 2 and pat on the quills. Wait ten minutes. Repeat. Use your pliers to remove easily.)
  • Space blanket- the thin kind. Be sure you do NOT wrap around you or the dog completely trying to get warm. It may cause problems. Just drape over you or the dog or use it underneath you.
  • A camp Knife
  • Map and compass- learn to use the compass. Don't just carry it around.
  • Flashlight and extra batteries.
  • Insect repellant- go for low DEET percentage. Safer!
  • Metal cup- for drinking, digging, or emergency cooking.
  • Emergency pack - containing food (nuts, dried fruit,granola- try dried liver cubes for your dog)
  • Sunglasses
  • Bandana
  • Laminated card with your doctor's and vet's number listed. Your address and phone number should be on there. Add a "Who to reach in an emergency" name and number, too.
  • Pencil and Paper
  • Light (as in weight not warmthability-is that a word?) jacket and hat
  • Water
  • Extra lead for dog
  • Matches in a watertight container.
  • Whistle- the kind playground monitors use.
  • You could add a length of rope if the area warrants it.
  • If you have a towel or sturdy piece of clothing, it's useful to sling under a dog to help him walk out, especially if he's too big to carry and all he needs is a little assistance. Place it right under his waist. It really relieves the weight on their hindquarters. Helps out those sore or cracked feet.
  • Now on to the Dog Packs!

    There are quite a few companies making them nowadays. When we started hiking there were only 2 or 3 available. We use Mountainsmith Dogpacks. Why? Because they seem to fit our larger dogs best and because of all the adjustments possible. Our dogs really change and grow for a long time. I love all the straps and adjustments possible on these packs. For some people they seem complicated. For smaller dogs they are way to cumbersome. These packs really can hold alot of gear. They are great for strapping gear on the outside, too. They are truly expedition style packs. If you are only going for an overnighter or the weekend, buy something smaller.

    On the Mountainsmith packs there are 3 straps across the back. This helps keep the back cool in heat. The straps can be adjusted to fit the length and depth of their back. This is especially nice if you have a high withered dog or one with hard to fit shoulders. There is a chest strap to keep the pack from riding backward and for going downhill we sometimes tie that extra lead on the back ends of the bags and twice around the hindquarters to keep the pack from sliding forward. If the weight is distributed just right, this usually doesn't happen, though. You can also put a towel (dampened in hot weather)under those straps for comfort on older dogs. They seem to need the extra padding.

    Other packs you can find out there are the Wenaha and the Wolfpack. I like the ability to remove just the bags from the Wenaha ( we make a similar pack ourselves) and I have heard good things about the fit and durabiltiy of the Wolfpacks. I have only used their smaller pack on a small dog. This is the pack I would use if I had a small or medium dog that wasn't going on any long expeditions. For a very complete list of dog packs available zip to this page

    We have also made our packs in the past. This is a good idea for your young growing dog, before you know for sure what size he will require. We make 2 kinds- a harness with velcro and removable bags or a vest/jacket type ( a little like a Wolfpack)

    A note about size- they sell packs by weight but some dogs are much shorter or fatter than others. Pay attention to the width of your dogs back as much as how far around he is. Be sure to try them on your dog over a towel or something to keep the pack clean and test for fit. You don't want to keep a pack that doesn't fit well. And don't use a pack that doesn't fit. You know what that feels like for a person. Well, it's even worse for your dog, what with all those elbows and legs.


    Other things to take along- 50 ft of 5/16 or 3/8 inch goldline (or the equivalent rope) is handy for getting your dogs safely over fast, rushing water or help in getting up rock scrambles. We coil it up and tie it on the top of the pack.

    2 Pairs of Dog Booties that you know fit beforehand. Don't go for those rough rocky parts if your dog has tender feet or if injured.

    Take his brush and comb along to keep him wellgroomed and comfortable. Nail clippers or a small bastard file aren't a bad idea, either.

    A pair of hobbles is handy in case your dog gets injured and you (poor thing) have to carry him out on your shoulders. Sorry you wanted a big dog , now? LOL!

    Get 2 waterproof sacks for dog pack. PLace all the gear inside these and then pack these sacks into the packbags.

    What should he carry? If you have a waterloving dog or if it's raining ( remember that your dog is closer to all those wet bushes and grass than your pack) only let him carry what you don't mind getting damp. He could carry his food, dishes ( we use an aluminum pie tin- the sturdy kind not the foil kind), his grooming things, tarp or tent (dog's), rope, extra tent stakes, campshoes, water (be aware of just how heavy water is- "a pint a pound the world around"), hobbles and pliers. I usually give them an extra roll of tp in a ziplock bag, too. They have carried fishing gear, our day pack, and an extra trowel. If our groundcloth gets really dirty, we put it in it's own sack and let the dogs carry that, too. He might like his toy brought along, if appropriate.

    Pack the bags similar to how you pack things in yours. Heavy, solid things near the bottom, no pokey things next to his body, little needed things near the top or on the outside. We added a small top bag to keep those commonly used things. We keep treats, the extra lead and such things in it. Watch to see if you have the weight wellbalnced. Those straps on your pack are for keeping the pack on the dog and not for keeping the load on the dog. The equal weight distribution will keep it right where it should be. It also shouldn't swing too much from side to side. If it does, the pack is riding too low. If your pack is just a little off, pick up a small rock and place that in the high side bag.

    Leave the flea Collar at home. And stop using your flea stop products awhile before your hike. Check it out with your vet if you aren't sure about a product. Some of these products can affect the fish in the streams and lakes if your dog were to immerse himself. You don't want to kill all those nice trout, do you?

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