Back Packs for Dog Training

A dog wearing a backpack will be less inclined to pull forward.

Dogs can be trained to carry both medical equipment and their own food and toys in a backpack. Training your dog to wear a backpack is something that many dog owners are looking into, and whether you want to give your dog something to do on your walks or you are thinking of hitting the hiking trail, a backpack can be a great accessory.

Function

A backpack for your dog can hold items that you or the dog will need when you go out. Service dogs who are trained to help the disabled often carry medical supplies in their backpacks, but dogs who are simply accompanying their owners can carry things like extra water bottles, their own treats or even their own bodily waste.

Benefits

Training your dog to wear a backpack has advantages beyond the ability to haul more things around. A dog who is wearing a backpack is getting more exercise than a dog that is simply running unencumbered. Wearing a backpack provides the dog with a task that it can focus on, and the weight it is handling can prevent the dog from pulling on his leash.

Potential

There are plenty of useful supplies you can bring with you when your dog is trained to wear a backpack. Supplies for cleaning up after your dog can be placed in the bag, as can a plastic bowl for water. Your dog can also carry his own tick remover as well as an additional, longer leash when your dog might want to romp as you take it easy. A small towel can be included in the pack, which will allow you to clean your dog's paws before he gets back in the car, and a first aid kit can make sure that any bumps and scrapes get taken care of immediately.

Training

A dog who is 1 year old or older can be trained to wear a backpack. Trainers should strap the backpack to the dog and take him for a few walks while it is empty. This will allow him to get used to the feeling of the backpack and teach him that wearing the backpack means that he gets to go out. When he is comfortable with wearing the backpack and no longer tries to get it off, you can start putting things into the backpack. When you are training your dog to wear a backpack, make sure that you do not overload him. According to Old-dog-treats-and-rawhide.com, the backpack should not weigh more than 15 percent of your dog's body weight.

Equipment

When you purchase a dog backpack, make sure that you size the backpack to your dog. The backpacks are often sized to the dog's waistline, which is about two-thirds the distance from the front legs and the back legs. Check to see if the manufacturer wants the narrowest point on your dog's body. Some manufacturers prefer to use the narrowest point, and that is not necessarily the waistline. Use a plastic measuring tape to get the right measurement.

References

• Old Dog Treats and Rawhide: There's More to Dog Backpacks Than the Average Dog Owner Might Realize
• Free Dog Training Info: Packing a Doggy Backpack
• International Association of Assistance Dog Partners: Service Dog Tasks for Pysichiatric Disabilities
• Fun Stuff for Dogs: Dog Backpack Tip -- What to put in it