How to Pack Your Dog's Pack

Better bonding, unbridled exploring — that’s the magic of backpacking with your dog. Before you hit the trailhead, however, you’ll need to sort out all of your gear.

Outfitting yourself and your dog with the right equipment helps you both focus on enjoying every moment along the way. It’s also just as important to get well-acquainted with that gear ahead of time, and have a plan on how to organize it.

Ruffwear Pack member Alex Murray shares how he packs his dog Raya’s Palisades™ Pack for miles (on miles) in the backcountry.

Before You Begin

One of the most crucial pieces of backcountry gear is the dog pack. If your dog is new to wearing one, it can take some getting used to.

Our Palisades™ Pack is a great option for longer hikes and multi-day trips. It’s a high-volume pack with removable saddlebags that attach to a breathable, standalone harness. The harness itself comes with integrated zippered pouches, making it lighter and more streamlined for summit attempts and day hikes.

When you’re first introducing your dog to their new pack, try taking them on small test-runs—like wearing it on neighborhood walks or short hikes. It’ll give both of you the chance to dial in the fit just right, and you’ll get accustomed to how the pack works along with all of its features. Start with an empty pack, then work up to carrying some weight.

Pro Tip: This get-to-know-your-gear method works for boots as well. If you think your dog might use boots during your trip, it’s worth spending some time getting used to them, too.

The Basics

While there is no single "right" way to load up your dog’s pack, it’s recommended that the total weight of the pack and its contents should not exceed 25% of your dog's body weight.

It’s also a good idea to maintain balanced weight in both sides of the saddlebags to ensure your dog is comfortable and happy. One way Alex likes to do this with Raya is having her carry her own kibble.

“I put each of her meals into individual plastic baggies, and I will put 2 bags of food in one side, and 2 bags of food in the other side. When we get to camp and she has dinner, that’s one meal out of one side, and the next morning it’s the other meal as breakfast—so it’s even and the pack gets lighter as we move along the trail.”

Constant Items

Unlike food that will get eaten along the way, some things stay constant in your dog’s pack. For Alex and Raya, he likes to keep one water bowl on each side so Raya can have food and water at the same time at camp.

To compensate for any minor weight discrepancies, Alex adds smaller accessories - like the Swamp Cooler™ Neck Gaiter - when Raya’s not wearing it.

Maximizing Space

The Palisades™ Pack is designed for flexible organization. That means not only are the saddlebags removable, but it also includes an external daisy chain system that runs the length of each saddlebag. Alex likes to use this system to attach Raya’s Ridgeline™ Shoes to the pack.

“She doesn’t wear the shoes at all times, they’re more for when she’s on some rocky terrain and I’m worried about her pads a little bit, so I put them equally distributed all across the pack”

If you want to see Alex and Raya in action, watch their film, “Stories in Every Stitch.”

The Approach Pack

If you’re interested in a pack that can work for both backpacking and hiking, another great option is the Approach™ Pack. It has enough room to carry gear for an overnight backpacking trip (or longer), but isn’t so roomy that it would be considered over-the-top for a day hike.

Here’s a visual of what you can pack for a day and night on the trail:

After you’ve become an expert in your dog’s pack, the next step is to make your gear list and plan your route. Our Product Line Manager, Cristina, and dog Lennon have been fortunate enough to get out into the backcountry a number of times, and have made this great resource of tips, tricks and gear.