Has anyone had any experience with dog back packs for lead walking. Have had my westie for 1 year now who sufferers from fear agression and can be leash reactive. He has come on a long way since i started positive training techniques 6 months ago. He is fine with dogs that he knows (even if he has only met a couple of times) but if we come across a dog he doesn't know , especially head on then he will still lunge and bark. Was considering buying a backpack to help him focus his mind further.

Hi
How would a backpack help him focus his mind further?

He could keep some rescue remedy it it? lol

Has someone been watching telly? Milan had something on with a Dobe (I think) that lunged at other dogs and he stuck a 'backpack' on it with a weight in each side 'to help it concentrate and to distract him'.
Chris

on a few dog websites there has been some good comments regarding these backpacks - to be used while lead walking - obviously gives the dog a good workout and seems to help calm them down. I am going to give it a go anyway and will report back!!

my dog loves her backpack she is proud of wearing it and likes having a job to do.

> he stuck a 'backpack' on it with a weight in each side

I think you would get away with using a lightweight back pack on a dog, although I am not sure why people bother, but it is illegal to use dogs to pull carts in the UK and I am not sure if it would be legal to use them as beasts of burden either.  Unless packs are carefully designed, as they generally are with horses, with thought to the anatomy I think you could strain the animals back.

> but it is illegal to use dogs to pull carts in the UK

Is it, what kind of carts are you referring to? I know that Bernese, Newfs and Leo's do carting and there are many carting clubs in the country.

I have seen a few dogs wearing backpacks. At a show sometime last year i saw a Bernese with one on, the owners said he was carrying all his brushes and show gear in it, saves them and makes him work(it wasn't very heavy). Thought it was a fab idea.
I think though it would all depend on the dog, the age and size as to what backpack you use and how much weight is in it.

I should have been more specific.  It is illegal on public roads. 

my tilly carries her own coat should it rain(she despises rain) poo bags, collapsable water bowl and treats, (and maybe mine and my partners sandwiches if we are on a day out)
shes a dane so its not heavy at all but she knows she is doing a job and her tail doesnt stop wagging

> I should have been more specific.  It is illegal on public roads.

Thanks Isabel. Was getting worried then as its something i'm looking to do with my Berner.

> my tilly carries her own coat should it rain(she despises rain) poo bags, collapsable water bowl and treats, (and maybe mine and my partners sandwiches if we are on a day out)

That sounds fine for a large strong breed but I would wonder about puts weights on a Westie.  There has to be a better way of approaching training than this.

> Thanks Isabel. Was getting worried then as its something i'm looking to do with my Berner.

I would imagine in a club context where there are experienced people who understand dog anatomy and how to distribute weight safely it would be perfectly acceptable and probably enjoyable for a dog that has been bred with this instinct to pull.

re small dogs, westies and terriers i think some people have got the wrong end of the dog stick here - the intention is not to get the dog to pull a cart /trolley/chariot/trailer but carry a very small backpack especially designed for the breed. We are talking very very light here and nothing to hurt dogs back/legs or the like. The post was just to find out whether any one else had had any experience with the use of backpacks as an aid to improving leash reactive dogs - not to replace any other techniques!

>i think some people have got the wrong end of the dog stick here - the intention is not to get the dog to pull a cart /trolley/chariot/trailer but carry a very small backpack especially designed for the breed.

I did understand that and it was the carrying of weights that I questioned.  If it is lightweight why would it have any more effect than a coat?

Hi Maxine
Dogs weren't designed to carry weight on their back and some breeds (due to their conformation and/or genetic predisposition to various ailments) will be more prone to problems than others. 

I don't know what breed you have, how old it is, how fit it is, how long you would intend your dog to carry the backpack for...........What I would advise is to get a well padded, well constructed pack.  Also, to ensure that the 'weight' you use is sewn into the pack so that it does not shift when in motion and cause friction or balance problems.  I would start using the pack for 10 minutes max and then build up to longer periods over a number of weeks/months.  I would get your dog REGULARLY checked at first by an ACPAT (Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy) canine physio to check that you are not creating any problems and move on from there, heeding their advice.
http://www.acpat.org/ 

Oops! :-)  Just re-read your post and see that you have a westie and that you have had him 1 year.  Does that mean he is one year old, or was he a rescue?  If just one year, I would wait a bit until he is fully mature before getting him to carry anything. 

My Malamutes wear backpacks on their walks and they are often commented on at shows because they carry all their "gear" to the benches and back, leaving me free to drag the crate :-) In fact, it worked wonders at Crufts last year - it was like a parting of the waves when we were leaving as the crowds stood back to watch Womble carry his pack past and I got to the exit in record time :-D

I know it's different to the OP query, but my Mals are trained up to carry 1/3 their body weight in their packs and we do 10 miles with them as a minimum.

Look at the difference in size  a Mal and a Westie.  Personally I have never heard of backpacks, and would not dream of putting one on my westies, I just use lead control and commands if I see another dog when out with mine, and sometimes I am walking 4.---. I never, ever use the leads that are retractable. I dont think you have proper control of the dog on one of them, seen too many near accidents whilst driving with people and those leads on their dogs and the dog trying to lunge across the road and the bit that holds the lead tight giving way and dog running onto the road with the owner being dragged behind.

> would not dream of putting one on my westies,

Totally agree, and, as Isabel pointed out, if you're not using weights (which I hope you wouldn't with a Westie), why not just wear a coat?

As I stated, I know it's different to what the OP is wanting to do and I wouldn't suggest they started loading heavy weights into a pack. My comment was replying to the comment that it may be illegal to have your dog carry weights. Ruffwear do XXS packs for dogs which are used for smaller breeds and have a maximum capacity of 2 litres. I just fail to see them as a bad thing if used sensibly and I know through experience that the dogs love having their packs on.

> I just fail to see them as a bad thing if used sensibly and I know through experience that the dogs love having their packs on.

But not every one is sensible or kind which was why the laws regarding dog carts were brought it. It may be that your dogs do this, and I am have no doubt you are able to ensure that they are not overloaded, and we certainly know that packs are sold but I don't see that this is evidence that load carrying is legal on a public road.

My Malamute has a back pack which she regularly wears - sometimes to carry her bowl and water etc on a walk and other times to carry shopping home :)

We also have a Border Terrier with a backpack - her general duty is carrier of the (empty) poo ags.

Isabel, I fail to see how a dog wearing a backpack and carrying a couple of rolled tea towels makes them a "beast of burden" :-) I have had chats with our local police on several occasions during walks and I can safely say that they have never made any comment about my dog's activity being illegal but next time I see one of them I'll ask ;-)

> Isabel, I fail to see how a dog wearing a backpack and carrying a couple of rolled tea towels makes them a "beast of burden"

I would agree but at what point do they become so.  As I say, I do not know if this is illegal I have merely speculated that it may be so as carting is, although many people would not realise it.

I think there are 4 separate issues here albeit rolled into one problem.
1 Socialising a dog to others/training isues     
      There are lots of great posts on here with advice  - mine is - have patience and consistency and don't expect too much from a rebellious teenager; which is what a 1yr old Westie is.
2 Dogs wearing backpacks/Health issues - you need sound advice on anatomy etc
3 Dogs carting etc/Health issues - you need sound advice on anatomy etc
4 Legal issues - check up on this -  a working dog needs to work -

also look at canninespirit.co.uk for dogs that work and play with their active owners there's quie a lot of interesting kit here - boots, coats, life-jackets and so on