Backpacking With Your Dog [Paperback]

Charlene G. LaBelle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 6, 2004

Guide to backpacking with dogs that provides information on selecting the right pack, determining how much weight a dog can carry, teaching your dog to carry the pack, and conditioning for longer trips. What to take on longer trips. Awards and certifications for dogs that backpack. How to enjoy any size dog on the trail. Nine features of a quality dog pack. Lots more. You'll enjoy your hikes more, carry less, and become more observant by taking a canine companion with you! This book is all about safety for your dog, too, so you won't have to worry about overloading, overheating, causing sore muscles or torn ligaments because you did too much to fast or the wrong way.
So, if you think there's nothing to throwing a backpack on your dog and hitting the trail, you might want to check this out. You'll have a much more enjoyable trip if you prepare first and understand your dog's capabilities and limitations.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book is a gold mine of valuable information about taking yourself and your dog into the wilderness..." -- (Dave Musikoff, American Dog Packing Association)

...a concise, yet comprehensive guide which covers nearly every contingency... -- Colorado Libraries

Almost all of the information is applicable to day-hiking as well. Highly recommended. -- Dave Musikoff, American Dog Packing Association

LaBalle's expertise and enthusiasm make this book a must for dog-loving day hikers and overnighters alike. First Rate! --Susan Conant, author of Mysteries For Dog Lovers

From the Publisher

Dog Writer's Association Award Nominee. A best-selling guide, now revised and expanded.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: Alpine Publications, Inc.; 2nd edition (July 6, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1577790634
• ISBN-13: 978-1577790631
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,021,863 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not enough butter for the bread, March 13, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: A Guide to Backpacking With Your Dog (Paperback)

This book has the basics just fine. But nothing on the more experienced side. If your trails require fording you find no help here. Tent training, protecting tent floor & inflatable sleeping mattress from dog's nails etc stuff are missing.

The best part of the book was dog's health checkup, signs of dehydration, paw hardening recipe etc.

Conclusion: If your hike lasts a day, the book is fine. If it lasts a week in the wilderness, your dogs will be in trouble unless you find some more information.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended for pet loving hikers, October 9, 2004

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Backpacking With Your Dog (Paperback)

Now in a new and significantly revised edition, A Guide To Backpacking With Your Dog by dog-owner and backpacking expert Charlene LaBell is a no-nonsense guide to the ins and outs of enjoying vigorous outdoors hiking with one's canine pets. Individual chapters address necessary training and conditioning, mountain biking, geocaching, selecting a pack that properly fits one's dog, bringing along the right amount of food for oneself and one's dog, legal and permit issues, and much more. Black-and-white photographs and easy-to-follow rule lists nicely flesh out A Guide To Backpacking With Your Dog, which is practical, "user friendly", and enthusiastically recommended for pet loving hikers with their canine companions.

17 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great guide for hiking & camping with dogs, November 20, 2000

By 

"icapote" (St.Petersburg, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Guide to Backpacking With Your Dog (Paperback)

As an avid hiker & dog lover this book is a great read in my mind. You'll get all the basics, from choosing a backpack, training your dog to wear the pack, picking a route, planning a trip, safety, etc.

I've hiked extensively with our 2 Alaskan Malamutes and we use many of the tips that Charlene gives in the book. In fact having hiked as much as we had I often wish other hikers with dogs would read this book. Why? Because the book gives many good ideas for proper behavior & training of your dog outdoors. Things like being on leash, cleaning up after your dog, being controlled, etc...these are all things that make the experience of being outdoors more enjoyable for you, your dog, every other person and the wildlife.