Thinking about backpacking with dogs? Whether it’s your first trip or your tenth, consider these items and tips to help you pack for a successful trip with your pups!
9 Items to Pack for a Backpacking Trip with Your Dog
We all have slightly different setups for our backpacking essentials, including those we put together for our dogs. Here are nine of the essentials I consider including when I go backpacking with my dogs.
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1. Dog Backpack
A backpack is the first item many people think of for this type of adventure. Outfitting your dog with a backpack can give them a sense of having a job to do. They can carry their own essentials like food, water, and gear. Some of my favorite dog backpacks (that Cool Whip and Hercules actually used):
Keep the saddle bag sizes in mind when purchasing and packing your dog’s backpack. It is recommended to keep a dog’s backpack weight at less than 15% of their own weight. Really big saddle bags aren’t always that necessary. If your pup is new to backpacking, practice hiking in the pack without weight and slowly build them up to what they’ll carry on a trip.
2. Leash, Collar, Harness
Always bring a leash (6 feet or less, not a retractable leash), even if you’re on a hiking trail that doesn’t require your dog to be leashed. You may encounter another dog or other animal along your hike that makes your dog nervous and you’ll want to keep them close. Your dog may also encounter a wild animal it wants to chase, which is not safe for you, your dog, or the other animal(s).
A collar is great to have to carry your dog’s ID tags. It’s also a good backup attachment point for when you need to remove your dog’s backpack or if the backpack malfunctions.
If your pup isn’t wearing a backpack, a regular dog harness with a handle along the back is a good idea for an outdoor adventure. The handle is useful for helping your dog (especially an older dog) up or down challenging steps and rocky climbs, crossing streams, and more.
3. Water Bowls and Water
It is always important to carry sufficient water for your dogs, along with a bowl for them to drink from. Collapsible bowls are my favorite to carry on our outdoor adventures. They’re typically lightweight and collapse down to take up minimal room in your back.
Related Article: Best Dog Bowls for Hiking and Road Trips
4. Dog Food, Food Bowls, Treats, and How to Pack Them When Backpacking with Dogs
There are a lot of factors to consider when packing dog food for a backpacking trip with dogs. Here are some of the most common questions:
How much dog food should you pack for a backpacking trip with dogs?
Pack enough dog food for the duration of your trip, plus an extra day in case of emergencies. Give your dog larger portions than they get at home since they’re likely expending more energy.
Also, don’t forget to bring their favorite dog treats for rewards and encouragement.
What type of dog food should you pack when backpacking with your dog?
Dehydrated or freeze-dried dog food is a great choice if you want to pack light. However, with this type of dog food, you’ll need to ensure you’ll have enough water to rehydrate their food. If you’re backpacking in an area without access to water, you’ll have to carry that water in with you, which means more weight in your pack.
Packing dry kibble weighs a little more, but it’s easy to pack and serve. Packing raw dog food can be the most challenging if you need to keep the food cold for multiple meals. Also, it may weigh the most.
Ultimately, this may just depend on what your dog already eats at home and what they’ll be willing to eat in the backcountry. Hercules used to get nervous in new environments and wouldn’t eat his regular dog kibble for the first meal or two. I would have to bring more enticing food to keep him nourished and energized.
Consider making your first backpacking trip with your dogs a short, easy trip so you can pack extra options to figure out what works (for food and other items). This also makes it easier to head home if the trip goes wildly awry.
How should you pack dog food for a backpacking trip?
Packing your dog’s food in a hard-sided container may seem like the most secure option, but it can be challenging to fit into a backpack.
Some companies offer soft-sided kibble carriers, which is a lot easier to fit in a backpack (yours or your dog’s). The challenge with these can be volume: Will it hold enough food for your dog(s)? When I was backpacking with Cool Whip (70 pounds) and Hercules (65 pounds), there weren’t any soft-sided kibble carriers that could contain the amount of food they needed for more than a day or two.
I typically pack dry kibble for my dog backpacking trips. I put 1-2 servings of dog food in a sandwich-sized zip lock bag. Then I put each day’s worth of servings in a quart or gallon zip lock bag.
Do you have to pack dog food in a bear-safe container?
If you need a bear canister for your food, you must include your dog’s food in there as well. Check the bear-safe regulations for the area where you’ll be hiking. Certain national forest, state park, or national park organizations might require bear-safe food storage (bear-safe canisters, bear boxes at campsites, hard-sided vehicles, or hanging food at least 10 feet off the ground and 4 feet away from branches and tree trunks).
5. GPS Dog Tracker and Identification
Make sure your dogs are wearing ID tags with your contact information. Also consider investing in a dog GPS tracker. Most GPS dog trackers require a subscription, so it’s a good idea to have this set up well before your hiking trip to ensure it’s active and you know how to use the app to locate your dog.
My two favorite dog GPS trackers used by Cool Whip, Hercules, Lulu, and my parent’s dog Phyllis are from Tractive and Whistle (both purchased Spring 2022). The original Whistle device I use (Go Explore) is no longer available, but there is a 2.0 version (I do not know if it works as well or better). I also tried the Fi tracker, but it didn’t work as well in my area (limited cell reception).
Shop via Amazon: Tractive
6. First Aid Kit for Dogs and Carry-Out Harness
A lot of the items in your regular first aid kit can be useful for your furry friend, but there are a few additional items you’ll want to consider adding. Check with your vet to review what is safe for your particular dog and when/how to use each item.
- Safety carry-out harness – Carry out your dog if they’re unable to walk
- Rubber dog boots – Keep an injured paw clean and dry
- Self-adhering bandage – Wrap up a wound without tape that sticks to fur
- Antibiotic spray/ointment – Healing aid and protection
- Digital thermometer – Easy to read
- Muzzle – For your safety and theirs
- Slip lead – A backup leash, doesn’t require a collar
- Benadryl – For allergies
- Irrigation syringe – Helpful in giving oral medication or flushing wounds
- Milk of magnesia / activated charcoal – Absorb and counteract poisons
- Hydrogen peroxide – Antiseptic
- Non-medicated saline rinse – Flush wounds and eyes
- Styptic powder – Stop bleeding from a torn nail
- Magnifying glass – Easier to see splinters/wounds
- Needle-nose pliers/multi-tool – Remove thorns, etc.
- Tick removal tool
- Disposable gloves
- Flashlight
- Pet first aid book
7. Poop Bags
Good trail etiquette for any dog owner is to pick up after their pet. Carry enough poop bags to clean up the dog poop your pup leaves along the hiking trail. The easiest way to get dogs banned from a dog friendly trail is to leave dog poop on the trail for other hikers to encounter.
8. Weather Protection When Backpacking with Dogs
Check the weather before you go on your hike and pack accordingly for your canine companion: rain jacket, fleece dog coat, insulated dog jacket, dog booties, etc. At minimum, I include our Tooth and Honey fleece jackets (lightweight but warm) for the dogs. Even on a warm day, we can all get a little chilled as the temperature starts to drop in the evening.
9. Sleeping Gear for Dogs Backpacking
Where will your dog sleep at night? If you have a medium or small dog, they might sleep in your sleeping bag. For Cool Whip and Hercules, I would bring my Klymit inflatable sleeping pad and a fleece blanket for them to sleep on (the blanket kept the pups cozy and protected the pad from their nails). Another option might be to bring a lightweight dog bed or foam sleeping pad (cut in half if they don’t need the full length).
Additional Considerations When Backpacking with Dogs
I did most of my backpacking with two large dogs, so I needed a tent that could accommodate more than one person. At minimum, I opted for a two-person backpacking tent. Backpacking tents can be slightly smaller than the average tent, so a three-person backpacking tent was usually my preference. The extra space was worth a bit of extra weight. When car camping, a regular two-person tent fit us just fine.
When camping in soft or sandy areas, there is a chance your dog’s nails might puncture the tent floor (speaking from experience). Before I let the dogs in the tent, I spread out their blanket or put down the sleeping pads and sleeping bags right away.
What else do you include in your pack when backpacking with dogs?