Smart canine parents keep a variety of items stored in dedicated Saddle Bags for Dogs.  This eliminates time spent searching for scattered items and hold the number of items lost to a minimum. But strangely, these doggie moms and dads often decide to lug this stuff around themselves.

While ferrying your dog’s treats and water bottle isn’t like dragging around a bag full of bowling balls, it is a pain in the butt. The question is: Why are you being such a sucker? Why are you hauling all this stuff that your dog would actually enjoy carrying?

Most dogs enjoy working for and pleasing their humans (some more so than others), and many require copious amounts of exercise. Saddling them with a sack stuffed with their own stuff is a great way to scratch both of these itches.

Saddling Up Your Supplies: What You Might Need For Your Journey

Fido may be ready to rock at the drop of a hat, but you can’t just run out the door. You have to take the time to collect (and ultimately carry) a variety of things that will help ensure the trip is fun for both and safe for all.

Minimally, this means gathering up a water bottle and dish, a leash and a few plastic baggies; buy you may also need things like:

• Treats
• A favorite toy
• Clickers
• Muzzles
• Training collars
• Towels

And if your adventure will take you far from home or last a long time, you will need things like:

• Food
• Medications
• First-aid supplies
• Footwear

With a hefty helping of supplies like these, having your dog pull his fair share will likely sound appealing. Your pup’s only request will be to securely stow said gear in a well-made, well-fitted dog saddlebag.

Important Features & Considerations In Picking A saddlebag for dog

While any dog backpack is probably better than no pack, there is a big difference between a bottom-of-the-barrel product and the cream-of-the-crop.

However – and this is key – the difference in price between the two is rarely significant enough to make the economy models cost-effective. It’s usually wise to plunk down the extra ten or twenty bucks for a premium pack.

A high-quality saddlebag for a dog is made with materials resilient enough to withstand some wear and tear. Still, they also feature padded straps and contact points engineered to be as comfortable as possible. 

High-end dog backpacks also feature broken clasps, buckles, zippers, and snaps, rather than cheaply made connectors and hardware.

That said, budgets are a fact of life. If you cannot afford one of the higher-priced models, try to select a canine economy backpack built to last. Generally speaking, this means opting for dog saddlebags without any bells and whistles; instead, you want the manufacturer to spend money on quality materials and craftsmanship.

While it’s unlikely, Spot knows, understands, or cares if his pack is ready for the red carpet, there’s nothing wrong with selecting dog saddlebags that fashionable wear remains functional and fits well.

Note that canine backpacks often calm nervous dogs, in the same way, swaddling blankets soothe newborn babies.

Accordingly, it can be helpful to consider the basic design of the saddle pack and select one that provides plenty of snug body contact.

Dog whisperer Cesar Milan discusses the benefits of dog backpacks, and how to choose a well-fitting dog saddlebag.

Don’t Weigh Down Your Dog: Choose An Appropriate Load

Obviously, you don’t want to overburden your beloved bestie, even if he is a beast.

Use discretion when adding stuff to the dog saddlebag. Too much weight on dog saddlebags can lead to overexertion and health problems.

Weight recommendations vary quite a bit from one authority to the next. Conservative guidelines hover in the 10% – 20% of bodyweight range, while more relaxed guidelines suggest that healthy dogs can carry a quarter of their body weight or more in a well-fitting dog backpack.

Also, always make sure that when loading your dog up with supplies, that the pack has weight evenly distributed on both sides. Uneven weight distribution can cause pain and harm to your pup.

Check out this handy image guide from Outward Hound, showing how to measure various parts of your dog’s body to ensure his pack fits:

Things like your pup’s breed, health, and age all factor into deciding an optimal weight, like the terrain and grade of the place you’re visiting.

As always, discuss the issue with your vet and err on the side of caution to ensure your pup’s continued good health.

1. Mountainsmith K-9 Dog Pack

About:

The Mountainsmith K-9 Dog Pack is a great looking, quality canine saddlebag.

While it’s on the pricier side, it’s definitely durable and high-quality enough to justify the price tag.

This pack is completely customizable, with several points of adjustment to fit your dog’s body perfectly. 

The pockets are deep and offer reflective trim for visibility. Plus, the padded tubular handle is ideal for helping your dog up rocky areas that might need a hand navigating.

Features:

• Available in three different sizes-small, medium, and large
• Padded tubular grab handle
• Adjustable back harness and adjustable belly strap
• Four-point adjustable chest harness with padded sternum strap
• Two-pocket compartments with extra zippered accessory panels.
• Reflective trim for improved visibility

2. Cesar Millan Dog Backpack

About:

The Cesar Millan Dog Backpack is a reliable, well-made canine saddle bag from the beloved Dog Whisperer!

Features:

• Keeps weight towards your dog’s front shoulder, where he is the strongest
• Water-resistant, tough, and durable material
• Inner mesh cushioning keeps your dog cool while exercising, as well as comfortable

3. Lifeunion Dog Saddle Bag

About:

The Lifeunion Dog Saddle Bag is a simple and effective pack that features two large side pockets and a handy carrying handle.

Features:

• Adjustable width straps allow for a secure, comfortable fit
• Straps feature reflective strips
• A selection of colors to choose from
• Made from durable, 100 percent waterproof nylon

Pros

Most owners love the color scheme and praise the exceptional durability of the bag. This model appears to be very comfortable for most dogs, and many 

I seem to enjoy wearing it.

Cons

Some owners with smaller dogs (30 to 35 pounds) found that they had to tighten the straps as much as is possible to attain a good fit, so be sure to rely on your dog’s chest size, rather than weight, when selecting a size.

4. OneTigris Cotton Canvas Dog Pack

About: 

The OneTigris Cotton Canvas Dog Pack is a rugged saddlebag that features multiple pockets for carrying all of your pup’s gear.

Features:

• The high-density cotton construction provides a comfortable fit for your pet
• Twin zippered pockets and easy-access pouches make retrieving items a breeze
• Vintage styling gives the pack a “classic” look

Pros

Most owners have found the pack to fit their dog well, and few noted any comfort issues. Additionally, the durability of the OneTigris Dog Pack has drawn positive praise from most owners.

Cons

Owners with thin dogs have occasionally needed to use safety pins to keep the pack tight. Some have found the pockets to be too narrow, if relatively spacious.

5. Outward Hound DayPak

About: 

The Outward Hound DayPak is an affordable, yet high-quality saddlebag, available in two different colors and three different sizes.

Features:

• The fun color scheme with reflective accents for safety
• The breathable mesh harness helps ensure a comfortable fit
• Metal D-ring leash attachment
• Four expandable pockets provide plenty of room for your dog’s stuff

Pros

The relatively compact design of the bag works helps keep dogs fresh and prevents the bag from impacting their movement.

Cons

Some owners experienced size- and fit-related problems, so be sure that you measure your dog’s body carefully to select the proper size.

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Let us know about your experiences with saddlebags in the comments below. Did your dog enjoy this new pack, or was it a chore to get the dog to wear it? What types of features would you recommend that buyers look for in a saddlebag? What would you look for when selecting a new pack in the future?