What age is good to start backpacking with your puppy?
May 29th, 2008
liese513 asked:
Me and my husband are avid hikers and backpackers. We already had 2 dogs that are over a yr that we take with us but recently a stray puppy probably about 10 weeks old but very energetic was dumped on lawn so now we have 3 dogs. Our favorite local hike is about 5 miles long with about 2 of it on a decent slope and 1.5 on a decent slope down. Is she too young for this or could we take her. She is very hyper so I think she could go and I want to start exposing her to this since we will be doing it a lot.
Me and my husband are avid hikers and backpackers. We already had 2 dogs that are over a yr that we take with us but recently a stray puppy probably about 10 weeks old but very energetic was dumped on lawn so now we have 3 dogs. Our favorite local hike is about 5 miles long with about 2 of it on a decent slope and 1.5 on a decent slope down. Is she too young for this or could we take her. She is very hyper so I think she could go and I want to start exposing her to this since we will be doing it a lot.
the sooner the better
he will learn faster if you start training
him now!!
enroll puppy in the cub scouts … and by all means … don’t take him backbacking until he can carry his own back packing supplies. Puppies need dicipline training before they start roaming around in the woods.
Everybody knows that LOL
Pups younger than 18 months should have limited forced exercise as their musculo-skeletal systems are not fully developed. Forcing exercise on young pups can have adverse effects on the browth plates and cuase major problems later as they mature. There is no problem with taking the pup hiking if you are willing and able to carry it some or stop for rests often. Young pups can play all day with no problems as they baturally take mini breaks constantly.
We have been doing day hikes with out 4 month old puppy with great success. I wouldnt want to do a backpacking trip though, because there is a good chance you wil have to carry him a portion of the way, or fight with im to get him to keep going.
They make little packs for dogs, just a small backpack basically. Our puppy carries one for a few treats and his water dish whenever we go out and even enjoys wearing it.
Take him on a 2 mile hike and see how he does. If he’s fine, go 3 miles and work up to the 5 mile. We took one of our dogs on a long hike when he was just a pup and he got so tired. He would run up ahead to a patch of shade and sit and rest till we caught up, then he’d run ahead to another patch of shade and rest. We finally picked him up and took turns carrying him. It was funny but he was so tired. When we got back to camp he crashed and slept for a long time.