The Benefits of Dog Backpacks for Dogs

People ask me how they can get their dogs to calm down.

There is no quick fix for that, of course.

I recommend a combination of mental and physical challenges – structured walks, obedience training, visiting new places, etc.

One good tool to have on hand is the dog backpack.

A dog backpack is exactly what it sounds like, a backpack designed for a dog to wear.

How a doggy backpack can help with dog training

1. The backpack puts the dog in a working mode.

Sometimes the backpack itself has a calming effect on the dog. This is the case with my dog. When he wears his pack, he knows we’re going on an adventure, but he also knows to be serious.

He loves working just as much as he loves goofing off, and that is the case with a lot of dogs.

Some dogs can run for 90 minutes, and then they are ready to run some more! But if they work their minds for 20 minutes, they are wiped out. Backpacks are perfect for this. 

Try strapping the pack on your dog and then walking in a new neighborhood for 20 minutes while working on some obedience commands. All of this focus will leave your dog feeling drained.

2. Backpacks can help dogs with leash manners.

If you have a leash puller or a reactive dog, the backpack won’t be a quick fix, but it might help your dog stay focused. My own dog gets excited when he sees other dogs, and he definitely tries to sneak in front of me. The backpack helps him focus on something other than moving forward.

When he was younger I had him wear his backpack and carry a ball in his mouth at the same time. By focusing on these two things, he would forget about pulling. The backpack really helped his leash manners overall. Use one in addition to your current training techniques.

3. A backpack can be used for all breeds and ages.

Some people are worried the extra weight could hurt certain breeds due to the extra stress on joints or muscles. This is true. However, it’s not necessary to add any weight to the doggy backpack at all. Sometimes just wearing the pack itself is all that’s needed to give the dog a mental workout.

I recommend a dog backpack for all types of dogs – puppies, seniors, dogs with short legs, toy breeds and even dogs with arthritis. The pack itself barely weighs anything. If you’re still concerned, ask your dog’s vet.

4. It’s an extra physical challenge for short walks.

If you do load the pack with weight, it can be an extra physical workout for your dog. You’ll want to use common sense, of course.

A rottweiler can handle more weight proportionally than a dachshund. I used to really load Ace’s pack up with soup cans or hard-cover books and then take him on short, 10-minute walks. This was a great physical challenge for him in his younger years. You want to slowly ease into extra weight and keep the walks short.

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5. What should I put in the pack and how much?

This is a hard question because every breed is different, and every individual dog is different. I prefer to go with less weight. I’ve heard recommendations such as 10 percent of the dog’s body weight, which would be about 7 pounds in Ace’s case. This is too much weight unless you know your dog can handle it.

I would start with no weight at all and then slowly add some lightweight objects. Maybe a paperback book in each side for a Lab-sized dog. With time, you can slowly add more weight, such as water bottles, especially for short trips.

When I take my dog camping, Ace carries his own food, and it probably ends up being around 5 pounds or so. He does just fine. Just make sure to ease into it.

6. Dog backpacks are a great tool for dog walkers and shelter volunteers.

If you are a professional dog walker, or if you walk dogs for a shelter or rescue group, backpacks for dogs are wonderful tools.

My foster dogs often come to me with pent-up energy and stress just from living in a pound or kennel setting for a few weeks. A dog backpack, in addition to regular exercise and training, is such an important tool to help them settle in.

If you walk dogs at a shelter, a dog backpack can really help drain some energy from the dogs and provide them with some much-needed structure. That is, of course, if you can get the backpack on when the dog is so wiggly and happy to see you! 🙂

Does your mutt wear a doggy backpack?