Dog Hiking Backpack - Saddle Bag Harness with Handle for Large Dogs

A dog on a long walk needs water, a bowl, treats, waste bags, and on a proper hike a towel and a first aid kit as well. All of that currently lives in your rucksack, along with everything you need.

This dog hiking backpack moves their share onto them. Two zipped side panniers sit either side of the spine, a padded harness spreads the load across the shoulders and chest, and a reinforced handle on top gives you close control when the path gets awkward.

It Tires Them Out - In A Good Way

This is the reason a lot of owners buy one, and it's a real effect. A dog carrying a modest load works noticeably harder for the same distance. For high-drive breeds who come back from an hour's walk ready for another one - Border Collies, Huskies, working-line Shepherds, young Labradors - a loaded pack turns a walk you have time for into a walk that actually settles them.

There's a focus element too. Many dogs visibly take the job seriously and become steadier and less reactive when they're working.

Built For The Trail

• Two zipped panniers that sit balanced either side of the spine
• Reinforced control handle on the back - for stiles, scrambles, stream crossings, and holding your dog steady when another dog passes on a narrow path
• Wide reflective panels on both sides, for early starts and late finishes
• Padded chest and belly straps, adjusted independently, with a separate padded chest piece
• Breathable mesh backing along the spine, so the pack isn't sitting flat against a sweating back
• Quick-release buckles throughout, so it comes off fast at a water stop
• Oxford cloth construction, which takes abrasion from rock, bracken and undergrowth
• Six colourways - Black, Light Green, Yellow, Night Camouflage, Grey and Blue

Sizing

This is a large-breed pack. The adjustment ranges suit dogs in the Labrador, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Husky, Doberman and larger Collie bracket. Small and medium dogs won't fill it, and shouldn't be carrying weight anyway.

Measure your dog standing: neck at the base where a collar sits, chest at the widest point just behind the front legs, belly around the narrowest part of the waist.

How Much Weight - This Part Matters

The widely accepted guidance is that a healthy, fully grown, conditioned dog can carry up to around 10–25% of their body weight, and that most dogs should start considerably below that.

In practice:

1. Start with an empty pack. Let them wear it around the house and on a short walk with nothing in it at all.
2. Add about 5% of body weight for the first few loaded walks.
3. Build up slowly over several weeks, watching their gait and their willingness.
4. Cap it around 10% for most dogs on ordinary walks. The upper end of the range is for conditioned working dogs on flat ground, not a family Labrador on a hilly trail.
5. Balance both sides. Uneven panniers pull the pack sideways and force your dog to compensate, which over distance causes real strain. Weigh each side if you're carrying anything dense.

When Not To Use It

• Puppies and young dogs. Growth plates don't close until somewhere between 12 and 18 months depending on breed, and loading a skeleton that's still forming is a genuine risk. Ask your vet before you start.
• Dogs with hip or elbow dysplasia, arthritis, or any joint or spinal condition. Check with your vet first - for many of these dogs the answer is no.
• Flat-faced breeds. Bulldogs, Pugs and Boxers already struggle to shed heat, and a pack over the back makes that worse.
• Hot weather. A loaded pack covers the surface a dog uses to lose heat. On warm days, walk early, walk light, or leave it at home.
• Overweight or unconditioned dogs. Build fitness first, then add load.

Fitting It

The pack should sit over the shoulders and front of the back - not over the hips, where a dog's spine is least able to take load. Tighten so it can't rotate when you push it gently sideways, but leave two fingers of room under every strap.

On the first few outings, check underneath at each stop: look for rubbing at the chest strap and the girth, and watch how your dog is moving. A shortened stride, a dropped head, or reluctance to keep going all mean take weight out.

Care

Empty both panniers and shake out grit before storing - sand and small stones left in the seams are what wear through Oxford cloth from the inside. Hand wash in cool water with mild detergent and air dry away from direct heat. Check the stitching around the handle and the buckle anchor points every few weeks; on a loaded pack, those carry everything.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I actually fit in it?
For a typical day walk: a collapsible bowl, a water bottle or two, treats, waste bags, a small towel and a compact first aid kit. Keep dense items low and balanced, and don't pack anything hard against the spine.

Will my dog mind wearing it?
Most take to it quickly, and many seem to enjoy having a job. Introduce it empty at home, then empty on a walk, then lightly loaded. Rushing that sequence is the usual reason a dog decides they dislike it.

Can I attach a leash to it?
Use your dog's own harness or collar for the leash rather than pulling against a loaded pack. The handle on top is for close control at obstacles, not for walking.

Is it waterproof?
Oxford cloth is water-resistant rather than waterproof - fine in light rain, not for a swim or a downpour. Put anything that must stay dry in a bag inside.

My dog is 20 kg. Will it fit?
Check the chest measurement rather than the weight. At 65 cm minimum chest, this pack suits larger dogs; a slim 20 kg dog may sit at the very bottom of the range or below it.

Can they wear it all day?
Take it off at longer breaks and let them move freely. A dog wearing a loaded pack continuously for hours is a dog whose shoulders will feel it the next day.

A Note On Measurements And Colour

Sizes are measured by hand and may vary by 1–2 cm. Colours can appear different across phone and monitor screens depending on lighting and calibration - the item itself is the accurate reference.

Find harnesses, leashes and the rest of our outdoor gear in the Dogs collection.