Doggie Backpacks!!

    • Gold Top Dog

    Doggie Backpacks!!

    I would really like to get Zoey a doggie backpack, akyra's is WAY too big for her, I just measured her girth & it's 23", she's tiny. I really wanted another pack like akyra's, since it's pretty well made. Its a granite gear one. But ack!! $50 for one! ( I bought Akrya's used).  I really like their new 'long howl' design too, but that one is $100. I think for that much money I'd be better off making her one!

    So I'm trying to find out do I buy a 'cheapo' one like an outward hound one, or should I just make her one??

     

    • Gold Top Dog

    Outward Hound packs generally sit really far back on the back instead of up around the shoulders.  Since I know that you can, I would recommend making her one.

    • Moderators
    • Gold Top Dog

     Yea I second making her one - she isn't old enough to carry much and will likely fill out more.  Once she is about 18 mos or so look into Ollydog packs or Ruffwear packs - you can always find last year's models/colors and reduced prices

    • Puppy

    I dont reccomend making a pack since dont anatomy is very precise you can put your dogs health in jeopardy if the weight isnt centered or distributed correctly. I bought my ruffwear approach pack when someone was reselling it since it didnt fit their dog for $37.

     

    Check sierra trading post and ebay, sometimes rei outlet will have discounts as well. Although I think Ruffwear makes the best models (best designed for dogs comfort and anatomically correct)

    • Moderators
    • Gold Top Dog

     The OP is very talented AND her dog is a pup.  I am sure that she can make something suitable for now and she can get something more substantial when her dog is fully grown

    • Gold Top Dog

    I bought Gizmo's pack at a doggy bouquet.  I made sure that she tried a few different ones on to get the best fit. I got a good deal, like $40 for it.  We use it a lot when we go hiking and as long as it's even on both sides it works well.  But if you can make one for less then go for it!

     

    Here she is in full gear, doggles and all, she gets really excited when we put it on her so had to hold the handel to get this pic:

    • Gold Top Dog

     Ya I'm not planning on having her carry anything for awhile, i just want her to wear it, I made her wear akyra's yesterday, it stayed on ( it was empty!) but it's huge. I shouldve took a pic, she looked pretty goofy, but she really took it in stride and didn't object to it being there.

    Of course you guys know if I'm gonna make one there's gonna be some neon green in there somewhere!! LOL

     Thinking about selling that first pack I made, it's huge, more for a dog thats it least 100lbs, if the straps fit anyways. maybe I can sell it to someone looking for a goat pack! lol

    • Gold Top Dog
    Don't know if you have a discount store around you, (don't you live in Canada?) but around here, you can sometimes find stuff like that at TJ Maxx, or Marshalls. Once I stumbled onto a whole crop of the 'puppy' Busy Buddy toys (waggle, squirrel dude, twist and treats) all for under $5 each!
    • Gold Top Dog

     Might've just had a genius moment. LOL.

    I have this fabric I originally ordered for donkey masks, and not reading the ad correctly it was the 'better' fabric than what I needed, it has a tighter weave - i.e. donkey's probably couldn't see out of it, but it's still a 'screen' type material, just 95% shade factor.

    So it just dawned on me that I could make Zoey a backpack outta that stuff!! it least the vest part of it, I want to make a convertible dog pack, with bags that come off. This way since its a nice cuz the fabric is light tan ( since Zoey is black) and it has airflow!

    Not sure if I would construct the saddle bags out of the same stuff, I guess it would let any dirt that got in them fall out the bottom.

    • Gold Top Dog

    akyramoto82

    So it just dawned on me that I could make Zoey a backpack outta that stuff!! it least the vest part of it, I want to make a convertible dog pack, with bags that come off. This way since its a nice cuz the fabric is light tan ( since Zoey is black) and it has airflow!

    I would tottaly buy one where the bags come off.  It would be so much easer to wash.  Gizmo's pack has plastic clips so I worry about them breaking or melting in the dryer.  If it's a mulit pack on each side then it would be nice to take off the packs that aren't needed.  i really see this as a good idea.

    • Gold Top Dog

    Xebby

    akyramoto82

    So it just dawned on me that I could make Zoey a backpack outta that stuff!! it least the vest part of it, I want to make a convertible dog pack, with bags that come off. This way since its a nice cuz the fabric is light tan ( since Zoey is black) and it has airflow!

    I would tottaly buy one where the bags come off.  It would be so much easer to wash.  Gizmo's pack has plastic clips so I worry about them breaking or melting in the dryer.  If it's a mulit pack on each side then it would be nice to take off the packs that aren't needed.  i really see this as a good idea.

     

    I agree about plastic parts, I usually make all my stuff out of stainless steel, even my side release buckles are metal! 

    also the bonus thing about this fabric is you wouldn't throw it in the wash, you'd just hose it down LOL I've had those plastic buckles break on one of Zoey's cheap harnesses, last one I bought!! I just don't trust them!