How to Buy a Dog Pack

Most dogs can carry their food, their chew toys and some of your toys, too, if they wear the right pack. Look for the following features to help your dog carry a fair share of the gear.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Dog Bones
• Dog Brushes
• Dog Collars
• Dog Dishes
• Dog Flea/tick Control Medication
• Dog Food
• Dog Leashes
• Dog Packs
• Dog Tags
• Dog Treats

1. Be prepared to spend $40 to $200 on a quality dog pack.

2. Consider the dog's age and body weight to determine how much she can carry. Young or aged dogs can only carry up to 15 percent of their body weight; mature, healthy dogs can carry as much as 20 to 25 percent of their body weight.

3. Know your dog's weight before going to purchase the pack. Dog packs are usually sized from small to large, with weight specifications.

4. Prioritize comfort and weight as your primary considerations when selecting a dog pack. Extra features are fun (and expensive), but in the end you want a pack your dog can carry with little effort.

5. Look for the following features to maximize your dog's comfort: mesh or lined saddle and bags for ventilation and slip resistance; padding on the saddle and buckles; brush guards for abrasion resistance; and tubular nylon webbing straps that won't cut into the dog's skin. Also look for bags that can be removed from the saddle without removing the harness and quick-release buckles.

6. Consider a waterproof pack with zipper pulls that can be opened with mittens if you plan to be out in rain or snow.

7. Check the bag for durability by looking for nonmetal zippers and fasteners, solid stitching around the zippers, reinforced bottom panels, and reinforced straps.

8. Consult the Web sites of outdoor magazines, and read their product reviews and buying tips before setting out for an outdoor equipment store.

Tips & Warnings

• Give the dog a trial run with the pack before setting off on a trail so the dog is accustomed to its new appendage.

• Remove the pack when the dog is off-trail. Otherwise the pack may catch on brush, injuring the animal or damaging the pack.

• Keep the dog on a leash at all times when the dog is wearing a pack. If the dog runs out of sight, you risk either losing the pack or injuring the dog if the pack catches on brush.