Sleeping bags for dogs (custom)

imported
#1

Was reading some of 2 Dog Night Journals and read about a custom made sleeping bag…was wondering if anyone knew how to get in touch with her, I’d like to ask some doggie questions about thru hiking with the pooch. If others have some advise about pet gear or special needs I need to be aware of, I’d love to hear about it. Planning on a 2004 northbound thru-hike starting in mid-March, so I think that I really need to figure out how to keep the dog warm on those cold nights at the beginning/end.

thanks in advance for the info.
john overbey
denver, colorado

john overbey

#2

The dog will be warm, comfortable and well fed if you leave it with someone who actually cares for it. Since you cannot ask a dog if it wants to spend months being cold, wet, tired, dirty and hungry (which is not a possibility but a clear fact), you can almost be assured that the answer is NO. It’s your dream, it’s a dog nightmare.

Blue Jay

#3

Again, there are some dogs that actually REALLY like this kind of a trip. Huskies thrive on this environment, and would prefer it over sitting in a house. I agree most dogs are not like this, but Huskies are. They can and do regularly run marathons, and have been breed to need less food.

Here’s a quote from the Siberian Husky Club of America :

The Siberian Husky is noted as an “easy keeper,” requiring a relatively small amount of food for his size. This trait, too, may be traced to the origins of the breed, as the Chukchis developed their dogs to pull a light load at a fast pace over great distances in low temperatures on the smallest possible intake of food.

Gravity Man

#4

I agree with Gravity Man. Some breeds of dogs thrive on this. Sporting breeds are bred to be outdoor dogs are are happier in the field. I have a black lab named Shadow who loves to go hiking. When I bring the backpack out he goes nuts with excitement at the prospect of time in the woods. Personally I would not take him on a through hike though. I think carrying all his stuff every day for six months and all the logistics of crossing busy roads, finding places to stay in town and arranging for kennels in the Smokies and Baxter would piss me off after a while. I would miss him though.

Big B

#5

They may like the outdoors, but I’m not sure how they would hold up on a thru-hike. Most dogs can’t hike 2000 miles in a summer. The only dog that I’ve found in the limited amount of research that I have done that can handle this are huskies and their counterparts. (of course even a dog make for this kind of a hike can get injured).

How is you black lab after a couple of 15 mile days? Almost every dog that I have ever seen after 15 miles is very unhappy.

Not all breeds are created the same…

Gravity Man

Gravity Man

#6

I thru-hiked the PCT with my dog in 2002 and would be glad to answer any questions you might have. Please e-mail me off of this list as I don’t want to go through all the arguments for and against dogs on the trail, yet again. My dog slept on my fleece every night and did not require a pad or sleeping bag. He was a husky/shepherd beagle mix about 42 lbs. and did great all 2,500+ miles of the trip.

Cross Country

#7

My black Lab has hiked with me on a week long backpack through the Mahoosic Notch and into Maine and he loved every day. He day hikes with me every weekend so his feet have toughened up. On cold nights I have to unzip my sleeping bag and let him sleep under it with me. Which sucks for me because he loves to get wet and snores. He also will not stop to drink as long as I keep moving so I have to watch him carefully to make sure he drinks enough. He is tired when he gets to camp and usually just eats then goes to sleep but so do I. I agree that he would probably not hold up to a thru hike. At the end of the week he was very happy to be home.

Big B

#8

Definitely contact people like Cross Country to get their experiences and advice. The AT may have rockier footing for pooches than the PCT, though.

We hiked for a while with people who had a lab/rottweiler mix. They kept her on a leash, burried her poo, constantly monitored her health etc. She was a fun dog to be around, but did not hike the whole trail. I can’t really think of anyone last year who’s dog made it the whole way. They usually had to be sent home after developing hip problems or something. The PA type rocks were tough on many dogs. Young dogs (like a year old) and small dogs seemed to last longer, and I think keeping them leashed prevents them from adding extra miles to their joints.

I think it would be a simple to buy a fleece liner and cut it to be short, or take a blanket and sew it into a doggie sleeping bag. Most dogs, though, are probably fine with thier fur for warmth, but they might like a pad to lay on.

Jitterbug

#9

I actually researched out my next dog to go on the trail with me. After my Siberian Husky died of cancer, I wanted an animal that was nimble and would stay right by my side on the trail and in lean-tos. All of my research brought me to the Blue Heeler (Australian Cattle Dog). I adopted a poor soul out of lancaster PA (*before they put him down) and he has been with me all over the woods and across the country. On 0 degree nights, I would simply allow him the option of sleeping under my bag with me but I found they can regulate their own temperatures better than we can. I would find him out of my bag in the morning and sleeping on a fleece shirt that I keep for him warm and happy. The one thing I do have to watch are his nails since certain sections of the AT are very rocky. He has always loved being on the trail with me cold or hot and always looks forward to our next trip in the woods.

Skunker