6:09 I doubt that Fancy “prefers” your sleeping pad because it’s more comfortable. I’d bet that she just wants to be in/on ‘your space’. My dog always jumps into my seat on the couch if I get up, or into the driver’s seat if I leave him in the car for a minute (in cool/cold weather of course), and onto my sleeping bag or bed every chance he gets. He is spoiled, though.
Could be a combination, my dog does that too but if you factor me out she also picks the couch over the floor, our bed with soft pillows over sleeping on the carpet etc. If I spread out something on the floor without my scent on it - and it’s warm and soft and fluffy (like when unboxing my EE quilt) - she’ll be lying there all cozy within seconds
Yeah I would say this is a case of the dog wanting to be near her owner's scent while she's gone, plus grabbing the extra warmth that might be in the bedding.
Overall very good advice. As an emergency veterinarian myself, I just have one issue with the medical advice you're giving. Please do not give Pepto Bismol to your dog. It contains aspirin (salicylic acid) which can actually worsen GI symptoms, up to and including causing GI ulceration and bleeding. If your dog is vomiting (as in repeatedly, not just one time), then it's time to get off the trail and get them to a vet. A single bout of vomiting doesn't necessarily need to be treated as some dogs simply vomit if they go too long between meals (bilious vomiting syndrome) or because they decided to munch on some fresh grass and overdid it. If you want to create a small first aid kit for your dog, please consult with your veterinarian. Most medications for this type of kit are very inexpensive, but paying for the advice of your vet is well worth the visit.
Hey Ashleigh! Thanks for your input. My vet recommended the pepto after Fancy had thrown up once and had diarrhea once (within a few hours) and we were out of town-otherwise, I would’ve never mentioned it.
Muzzles are also good gear for serious first aid situations. If Fancy was in a lot of pain, she may not let you put her in the sling, or treat an injury. It seems like Fancy is already accustomed to her muzzle, but for any people thinking about using one for their dog, make sure your dog is comfortable/happy in it before you need it so you're not adding extra stress to the situation.
Hey Dixie, thanks for this video. When I backpacked with my dog, I always kept some baking soda. It worked really well to stop a bleeding broken nail. Also vet wrap!
Cornstarch works well for broken nails. Be careful with vet wrap. If incorrectly applied it can create more problems than it solves as it tightens down on itself over time.
My favorite coats are by Hurtta. Lots of different styles that suit different needs. They have insulated and non-insulated (like for rain) options. I have had a groundbird gear harness for years. Love it for my dog who is in-between sizes usually. Just got the turtle top quilt. My dogs have more fur so I am thinking the lighter one will be fine.
Thank you for keeping us up to date on dog gear. The dog gear market has gaps for sure, so it's nice to know you are always looking for stuff for Fancy and would update us if something new came out. Not always easy keeping our pups happy. --- A note about booties. I always carry socks, but in a pinch I have use dental floss as thread on an ace bandage wrap with some duck tape and it worked out really well for booties over multiple days. --- Hadn't heard of Groundbird, such a cool pack. Thanks for giving that some time on your platform. --- +1 on the first aid. So important to be prepared. Rattle snake vaccine is a also super important if you are in rattle snake country. It can take a month or two to get both shots and give the immune system time to work it's magic, so start early.
I have two pups and also had some pad thieving going on. At first I tried just a half pad (inflatable) for weight. But I ultimately just switched to exped UL 2 person pad. It’s warmer and an easier solution. I’ve never had issues with punctures. For dog coats I highly recommend Huratta. They have really nice rain coats and warm coats that I have been really impressed with.
I love the advice you provide which is sound advice, but also put your doggy's needs first, which not everybody does. I can tell you care very much for Fancy Mae from all the videos you have taken her, she's well provided for. Thank you for another great video. Wishing you, your family, Mardee and, of course, Fancy Mae a Merry Christmas and a Happy & Healthy New Year!
You could cut down an old xlite, using a clothing iron (many instruction videos on YT). This would be lightest and cheapest if it's towards the end of it's life cycle. Hiker boxes on the AT in Georgia have such treasures for free. Chances are the hole is far away from the valve that it works. ;-) Thanks for the video!
For leashes, I got her a bungie type of leash (like you have) that also has a belt attachment. It hooked to a loop that goes around my waist so I don’t need to wear a hip belt. I literally just put the belt around my waist and hook the leash to it. No hands needed to hold the leash.
Another leash option is to braid your own out of paracord. I've made a few and it's nice because you can choose your own hardware and because the whole length is braided you have unlimited options to clip or tie other things into its length to shorten it or add a shorter handle. They have some spring to them too since they're braided. Many YT vids on how to make one.
Hey Dixie! I also backpack and hike a lot with my two dogs and the best part for them is to cuddle in the tent at night. Once the tent is set up my husky shepherd rolls up in his sleeping bag and cuddle with his teddy bear (yes, this big bad wolf need a teddy bear to sleep!) My other dog has short hair and she sleeps very cold. I am in Canada and when we go Fall camping, its cold for real! I found that Hurtta are making great dog gear. I do not own any rain jacket for the doggos ( I guess I am a bad dog mom as well haha), but their Winter stuff is amazing. It might be worth checking it out :)
To be honest I don't think fancy is switching to your sleeping pad because it's comfier. My dog does the same thing on my bed. As soon as I get up to go to the bathroom and come back i find she's taken my spot. I think they just want the warmth your body left behind.
Thanks for uploading Dixie. Great to see new dog gear that's out there. I've just bought a sleeping bag for my dog made by Whyld River via Garage Grown Gear - just hope he likes it. 🐶😁
Such a helpful video! The shot of fancy just going crazy in the snow is one of my favorites! Her helicopter skills are top notch! Been backpacking with my two dogs on a few trips, and they're finally big/old enough to get packs! Looking forward to more adventures with them! Thank you!
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Maybe you won't see this, but I'll tell some of what I've used. =) I used a Hurtta Slush Combat Suit for my Australian shepherd (I say "used", because he crossed the rainbow bridge almost two weeks ago, after 13 years together...) to keep him dry in the rain. Absolutely perfect. Since it covers so much of the dog, there was only a wet face, paws and tail (here in Sweden they get to keep their tails) that I had to dry before getting in the tent for the night. Much more pleasant than having an overall wet/damp dog in the tent... It's not a very stylish piece of clothing, but it works for its purpose. Not sure if they sell it anymore, but they probably have similar clothing, maybe it's called the Hurtta Downpour now. The backpack I used for my aussie is EQDOGs Pro Harness which has gear loops for attaching their flexpacks that come in two different sizes. The harness has a sturdy handle as well. I love it, it fitted on him like a glove and the packs did not flip and fling about when he moved/got excited. For him a used a Thermarest Prolite Small inflatable sleeping pad. Never punctured it and quite light, takes up little space packed.
Hahah that's so sweet that she ends up on your pad when you leave the tent. It's *probably* more because she wants to be in your space/smell than comfort. I wouldn't be surprised if you got her an inflatable pad and she still did the same thing and moved to yours if you leave the tent hahah. Fancy seems like a sweetheart and fun, just like her mama! edit: That being said, try it! Spoil that doggo!
For anyone watching this, keep in mind the leash laws. Most (not all) trails require dogs to be on leashes. Others allow them to be off leash unless they are aggressive or chase other animals, but they are required to come when called. If your dog doesn’t have an excellent recall, they cannot be off leash. You also can’t pass through areas that enter national parks, so keep that in mind on trails like the PCT, which cannot be a true thru-hike with a pet dog because there are multiple areas along the trail where dogs aren’t allowed. 🙂
Great as always Dixie! A couple of things. Obviously all dogs are different. My Malamute was pretty weather proof and mosquito/fly proof. She preferred to sleep outside under a tree. One other thing. It is absolutely critical to keep your dog leashed and/or tied if possible. I was considering letting my dog off leash in the Boundary Waters when we came around a corner and there was a porcupine in the trail. She really wanted it. So thankful I hadn’t taken the leash off. In bear country if your dog gets in trouble with a bear it is coming running back to you for help. Not a good scenario. Finally, not all people are dog people. Your dog may be adorable to you, but it might frighten others. I have seen areas closed to dogs because of instances like this. Backpacking with your dog is awesome. But having good dog etiquette will keep this joy available for all of us.
Dixie, great video. 1 suggestion, we have been backpacking with a Great Pyrenees for 10 years. We use a retractable leash and a carabiner attached to our pack. The other we found is human grade freeze dried dog food on Amazon. Colt loves it and it cut his pack weight.
Hey Dixie! gotta tell you, watching these videos with Fancy Mae "playing" in the snow puts a BIG grin on my face. actually it makes me LMAO. try reaching out to "darn tough", maybe they can make her some booties, the advertisement they would get would be "phenomonal" good job as always Merry Christmas to ya'll
Excellent video! A couple adds - rattlesnake awareness training for dogs is awesome if they are present in your area, and the biggest reason to carry a muzzle is in case our pups get a severe injury. It helps protect us so we can protect them. Keep up the great work, and Merry Christmas!
My guy needed booties when going across the bridge of the gods. We were not making it across without them. Took him( a 63 lb 11 year old pit/German Shepherd mix) out to Mt hood but he didn't do well in all that sand. I took him back home and went hood to locks by myself. They come first that's for sure.
My first aid kit overlaps with my dog's, so I try to find items we both can use. If you bring Neosporin (the version *without* pain killer) you can use it on your dog too. Also vet wrap is really handy to have to keep gauze bandages on dogs. As always, talk to your vet before giving your dog any meds.
What sleeping pad did you end up using with your dog or are you using the same one? Curious if I should get one for my dog or not…. Since my dog is like Velcro lol.
We take a muzzle when we hike with our dog also. It's a great idea even if you don't have a reactive dog. They can act "out of character " if they get hurt, or if you get hurt and need rescuing. It's also important to muzzle condition before you get out on trail so the dog is comfortable wearing it and it doesn't add more stress to an already sticky situation. Great video! 👍
Your dog hates your BO (body odor) and really wants you to start wearing deodorant when on the trial! Respectfully, it was your own armpit issues that likely caused the chafing to occur.... Just saying.......
Been hiking with English Labradors most of my life. Ruffware palisades has worked great for me. Never heard of the company you mentioned. Will be looking into them for sure. Seems like a better design. Thanks! Get out and backpack..👍👍
There are 6 other Jimmy, Jim, or James usernames in the comments. ~7/220 seems too high to be a coincidence, 2-3 seems statistically high. But 7? I know more youtube viewers are male and most of her viewers are probably from the US which skews the odds a little. Also James is a name primarily given to white males, which is also the highest demographic category of people who camp. But 7 still seems high to me. I wonder if there is something about the name that makes you attracted to this kind of sport. I also wonder if she has more subscribers with the given name James than any other name or if this video is the odd occurrence where all the Jimmys showed up.
Maybe combine a NeoAir Small with a homesewn mat cover in a lightweight silk textile? I’ve been thinking about that for my dog. Although she’s smaller (Shetland sheepdog) so I might try the cheaper option of pairing up two Thermarest Deluxe sitpads within a silk cover. Weighs about the same but would save me some $
I like your channel and advice. I love your devotion to including your pooch on the trail. I am doing day hiking with my dog so I don't have much experience with overnight planning. I have a few comments about your medical advice. I treat humans and not dogs for a living so my perspective could be skewed but I think a styptic powder application is going to be much more effective to control bleeding than baking powder. With baking powder you would still have to apply pressure for awhile and I think the pressure will do the lion's share of controlling the bleeding. However, styptic powder can stop bleeding with only application. Another point is I am wondering what allergic reaction you might treat with Benadryl (diphenhydramine). This drug does many things and can be very useful in a human first aid kit (anti- motion sickness, anti nausea, sedative, treats hives, sleeping pill) but in humans it would not help with a serious reaction like anaphylaxis, or even a semi-serious one like swollen lip, tongue etc. I would suspect this would be true with dogs too... Thanks for your inspiration, I want to emulate you and go on some bigger adventures with my buddy.
Super video. I would highly recommend you look into wool products for Fancy- both sweaters and socks. Wool is breathable, sustainable, water and mildew resistant and naturally anti microbial. I bet she’d love it. There are both heavy and light weight wool.
We had the same armpit chafing with a Ruffwear approach pack and Enzo won't go near that pack anymore, for good reason. Our last hike I used my friends Ollydog pack and it does not have the front chest straps/pad and worked well, I tried to order one and that model does not exist and the new model from them has the typical straps thru the chest area that caused the problems as the Ruffwear. Still looking for the right pack, did find a Norwegian made pack that was temping but at $200, Seleverkstedet TOGO
Dog sleeping pad: My dog was using a thermarest pro lite small. It's comfortable, lite, but bulky and takes up one full side of his pack. This year he tried a blue foam mat from the doller store. When I'm out of the tent he tries to sneek omto my Uberlite. We tried doubling the mat by folding it but he still was tossing and turning and sneeking onto my mat. Even though it was summer and soft ground I think that he found the compessiion in his muscles from the ground too much and didn't allow him to rest. Halfway through the nights when I scooped him in onto my mat and under my bag, he slept the full way through to the morning. He knows to lay down on ground and kind of flop over with his bum and side onto the mat and not get his nails into it (took some training but hes very smart). When my Uberlite delamed and I received a xlite on trail, he used the bottom half of the Uberlite (the top half is a big pilow now, lol) and Inused the Xlite. He slept very well and was more rested. The Uberlite is half the bulk roled as the Prolite small. I'm considering seam sealing the Uberlite damaged pad into a smaller size with an iron. I've seen some tutorials on youtube. For a bag he has a down jacket. It is one of my older liteweight down jackets (650 goose) sewn down into a pull-over. I cut off the front zipper and sewed back the front pannels into half the size and cut and sewed the arms halfway up. I put shock cord in the cuffs but his feet still get caught inside when he walks. I might try elastic waist band to draw it in. Depending on temp, he either wears his jacket at night, or I put it on top of him after he lays down if it's warm. If it's cold he wears that plus my down jacket placed on top of him plus my rain jacket on top of that. Another optiinnis he wears his down and goes under ny bag too, which is great cause he's warmer than me and keeps me warm. Bags: he wore out a rudfwear approach. It caused him some chafing on one side. I did a mod on it and removed the nylon webbing closer, and attached the ruffear front range harnes to the front for the closures. Idk why roughwear does not use the Front Range harness for the closre mechanisim for the heavier carrying large volume packs. It would be way better than nylon webbing rubbing their body. This year we used the ruffwear front range day pack with the harness style closure. It was great, caused very minimal chafe. He used baby powder to help with it and it did wonders. I wish that closer was on the larger packs, when the day pack is full it pulls up on the body straps and causes more rubbing. Rain: we use the Canada Pooch Night Vision Reflective Jacket. It keeps him relatively dry and especially the under carrage dry and clean. It also protects his armpits when theres rubbing issues. The full jacket is 3M reflective material so it's great for walking highways or roads for saftey. Though its not a specific "rain jacket" the many uses makes it worth while. Also, it is snall and compact and rolls up to the size of a pop can. Shoes: we use Muttluks All Weather. There are no hard parts or seams that rub. We've tried the Snow Mushers and Ruffwear boots but they all cause his dew claw to rub into his arm or the dew claw pad is rubbed, also the tops of his paws have had abrasion too. When it's-45°c here in Canada we use the down parka by Canadian Canine - Bonfire Jacket. I appreciate this review and was really looking forward to it.
I have this Ruffwear Palisade pack for my dog. I noticed that you did not have the saddle bags tied down. They are a little fussy because they are tiny but there are straps you clip on to keep the saddle bags from flopping around. We have had no problems and my dog LOVES having a job to do. These packs are crazy adjustable (luckily, since my dog got larger than expected!) and you do have to get that figured out just right.
Is Fancy a long lost relative of my Ingrid?Her birth mom was a Catahoula mix/unknown papa.She and her sister are southern girls,born and raised in South Carolina.We have a female with the same markings as Fancy.1/2 inch white tip on her tail,white socks 1/2 the amount of Fancy,and the white line down her face is on the left side and narrower band.Even how they hold their ears is the same.Cheers to great dogs and the humans they love.
The muzzle is such a great point, but please make sure to muzzle condition your dog before you are ever in a situation where you will need it. If your dog starts associating the muzzle with a context they don't like (like other dogs), and they don't like the muzzle, it can make reactivity worse. Muzzle conditioning is important whether your dog is friendly or not, because you never know down the road what may happen where a muzzle is necessary.
Dixie, i really want to ask you what you do with your dogs when you are thru hiking without them? Im worried about leaving my 2 cats for so long, i know ill miss them a lot. Im torn between leaving them with a friend or maybe asking the neighbors if they can check on them every day to clean litterboxes, feed them and give them the lovin’ they need! Lots of things to think about when you live alone but want to thru hike .. most are easy things, have mail forwarded, hire a landscaping/grass cutting company, etc .. but its my pets thats worry me the most. One more thing, totally off subject. How do you upload/edit your videos while doing a zero somewhere? Do you take a laptop with you or maybe use a computer at a hostel or something? Thanks for all your informative videos Dixie .. youve answered so many questions for me and youre a really good vlogger
I bet she likes the warmth of your pad. Try sleeping on a foam pad, get up and when you come back she'll be on your foam pad. She just likes your spot. That's what dogs do.
@18:50 we have this issue when we take our rescue greyhounds on local walking trails. We try to avoid ones where off-leash is allowed but you will find the irresponsible owners who ignore that. Our rescues look at any dog smaller than a cocker as basically the same as a rabbit. Someone almost a yorkie if I hadn't grabbed it by the scruff of its neck. They weren't happy until I pointed out that 1. their dog is a chew toy and 2. They were breaking the rules of having their dog offleash
I've got a klymit k9 sport sleeper. i haven't used it much out on the trail because I found out my dog hates camping :( but car camping and at home he loves it!! it's suuuuper light and packs up tiny.
I also carry muzzles for my dogs, they're both friendly with dogs and people but it's good to have just in case, and especially if your dog is a forager.
i took one of my old utlralight inflatable pad and cut it . i resealed it with a iron and my dog seems to love it . i put a mylar blanket underneath it to keep the warmth sometime a littlel foam light pad ( gossemer ) he had his own down blanket so if i have to do my thing , or i turn and toss at night, we have our own sleeping system. i also like the fact that i can pack all my things and he can still be quiet in his warmth, packing his thing last and unpacking it first. he is waking up maybe 4 times a night, which is about the same times than me. sometimes i am rearranging his blanket ... but honeslty he is a trooper. I just loooove to backpack with my dog . i am always very impressed with him and honeslty it builted our relationship so strong ! i have an italian geyhound who back pack about 3 days a weeks from april to october... so you can imagine the look we get sometimes when they see my little squeleton coming out of my tent ready to climb a big moutain or do a long trail :-) Its a lot of fun and i dont find it complicated at all to carry his gear. The adventures i have with him are memorable on trail and i am enjoying every moment of it :-) I use to hike longer and harder by myself ... but now i am adapting all my hikes and i have no regret
You could cut down the size of a Neolithic pad for Fancy. They no longer sale torso length, but there are UA-cam videos showing how to cut one down yourself.
You will probably hate me but dogs don't need raincoats, sweaters etc.😂 Boots I can understand but take the time and effort to get the right set for your dog and always monitor the situation. They can do more harm then good.
those loose hunting dogs would cause me to bring out the bear spray quick quick! What a scary encounter for those poor hikers just trying to enjoy the woods with their doggos. worst case scenario to be sure.
I've been looking into using something like a fleece or thin wool blanket or some super thin yoga mat or flannel sheet to put on my air pad so my dog can get one the pad and under my quilt with me he usually snugs up close at night
To shoo away and also protect me dog from stray dogs who may come up to us for whatever reason I carry a tazer which I switch on and the sound alone makes the stray dogs run off.
Not everybody will like this but... There are many species of dogs. Most are not meant for 100 mile treks. Some are bred only to live outside. There's a reason hunters, sledders, military, and police use specific breeds. Consider that logic.
Duck hunters don't use a German Sheppard to break ice. They use a thick-headed 80lb lab. Pheasant hunters don't run huskies in 70° fields. Hikers need to think about what is fair to the animal vs their capabilities.
Ho my GOD...🤦🏻♂️... OK I've been a dog walker for more than 8 years, and so I learned some about dogs, let me ask you all a couple of questions : 1. Did you know that a dog has 102°F body temperature ? And human beings has 96.8 °F 2. How do you think it would be of the life of a dog or a fox, wolf or coyote without the intervention of the human hand ? 3. Do you think they would hike with rain coats to stay dry, quilts to stay warm, mattresses to sleap or shoes to walk ? A dog has : DOG'S PROBLEMS THAT NEEDS DOG'S SOLUTIONS... and not human problems with human solutions... YOU DIG...? PD: Don't put a rain coat or poncho to your dog to hike under tha rain... just don't hike your dog under the rain they can't stand it... set the tent to stay inside until it ends. Watch foxes, wolfs and coyotes documentaries, and then come and tell me if a dog needs human being gear to hike and sleep in outdoors scenario. By cheers. GOD bless
My pointer hound mix, Star, loves my sleeping pad and down quilt. I found a down lap quilt at Costco, so she keeps warm. She sleeps on a CCF pad cut to her size. She carries a modified Outward Hound pack. K-9 Apparel made her custom fleece jacket.
Wow I don't have a dog but i thought that this was interesting. Just going through all your videos. I'm hiking mostly in Switzerland and never more than 5 days. I just, wow! find that what you do and other people that do longer walks so incredible. And not just longer but for months! My backpack is so heavy, i'm always cold!!! Well that might just get me to go alone and use my campervan and do some bivouac as well. So much resourceful than staying at home. I've know a lot of the things that you said. Experience is a must! Continue like that and let me know if one day you want to come to switzerland. And look up for a wonderful hike in Tasmania!!!!
6:09 I doubt that Fancy “prefers” your sleeping pad because it’s more comfortable. I’d bet that she just wants to be in/on ‘your space’. My dog always jumps into my seat on the couch if I get up, or into the driver’s seat if I leave him in the car for a minute (in cool/cold weather of course), and onto my sleeping bag or bed every chance he gets. He is spoiled, though.
Could be a combination, my dog does that too but if you factor me out she also picks the couch over the floor, our bed with soft pillows over sleeping on the carpet etc. If I spread out something on the floor without my scent on it - and it’s warm and soft and fluffy (like when unboxing my EE quilt) - she’ll be lying there all cozy within seconds
Yeah I would say this is a case of the dog wanting to be near her owner's scent while she's gone, plus grabbing the extra warmth that might be in the bedding.
Overall very good advice. As an emergency veterinarian myself, I just have one issue with the medical advice you're giving. Please do not give Pepto Bismol to your dog. It contains aspirin (salicylic acid) which can actually worsen GI symptoms, up to and including causing GI ulceration and bleeding. If your dog is vomiting (as in repeatedly, not just one time), then it's time to get off the trail and get them to a vet. A single bout of vomiting doesn't necessarily need to be treated as some dogs simply vomit if they go too long between meals (bilious vomiting syndrome) or because they decided to munch on some fresh grass and overdid it. If you want to create a small first aid kit for your dog, please consult with your veterinarian. Most medications for this type of kit are very inexpensive, but paying for the advice of your vet is well worth the visit.
Hey Ashleigh! Thanks for your input. My vet recommended the pepto after Fancy had thrown up once and had diarrhea once (within a few hours) and we were out of town-otherwise, I would’ve never mentioned it.
Charcoal works to bind toxins in their gut
I love seeing Fancy's excitement while rolling in the snow 😂😍
That never gets old :D
Muzzles are also good gear for serious first aid situations. If Fancy was in a lot of pain, she may not let you put her in the sling, or treat an injury. It seems like Fancy is already accustomed to her muzzle, but for any people thinking about using one for their dog, make sure your dog is comfortable/happy in it before you need it so you're not adding extra stress to the situation.
Your thoroughness and attention to every detail makes your content a valuable hiking resource!
Hey Dixie, thanks for this video. When I backpacked with my dog, I always kept some baking soda. It worked really well to stop a bleeding broken nail. Also vet wrap!
Cornstarch works well for broken nails. Be careful with vet wrap. If incorrectly applied it can create more problems than it solves as it tightens down on itself over time.
My favorite coats are by Hurtta. Lots of different styles that suit different needs. They have insulated and non-insulated (like for rain) options.
I have had a groundbird gear harness for years. Love it for my dog who is in-between sizes usually. Just got the turtle top quilt. My dogs have more fur so I am thinking the lighter one will be fine.
Thank you for keeping us up to date on dog gear. The dog gear market has gaps for sure, so it's nice to know you are always looking for stuff for Fancy and would update us if something new came out. Not always easy keeping our pups happy.
--- A note about booties. I always carry socks, but in a pinch I have use dental floss as thread on an ace bandage wrap with some duck tape and it worked out really well for booties over multiple days.
--- Hadn't heard of Groundbird, such a cool pack. Thanks for giving that some time on your platform.
--- +1 on the first aid. So important to be prepared. Rattle snake vaccine is a also super important if you are in rattle snake country. It can take a month or two to get both shots and give the immune system time to work it's magic, so start early.
Fancy has a future as a professional outdoor gear model.
I have two pups and also had some pad thieving going on. At first I tried just a half pad (inflatable) for weight. But I ultimately just switched to exped UL 2 person pad. It’s warmer and an easier solution. I’ve never had issues with punctures. For dog coats I highly recommend Huratta. They have really nice rain coats and warm coats that I have been really impressed with.
I second the Hurtta line up. Everything I have from them has been of great quality and the fits has been easy to dial in.
You have inspired and educated this 42 year old new subscriber to start with Wonderland Trail next spring. Thank you for all the information!
Well said, as usual. You are a great mamma to your dogs. Loved seeing Fancy and Hank together!
I love the advice you provide which is sound advice, but also put your doggy's needs first, which not everybody does.
I can tell you care very much for Fancy Mae from all the videos you have taken her, she's well provided for.
Thank you for another great video. Wishing you, your family, Mardee and, of course, Fancy Mae a Merry Christmas and a Happy & Healthy New Year!
You could cut down an old xlite, using a clothing iron (many instruction videos on YT). This would be lightest and cheapest if it's towards the end of it's life cycle. Hiker boxes on the AT in Georgia have such treasures for free. Chances are the hole is far away from the valve that it works. ;-)
Thanks for the video!
For leashes, I got her a bungie type of leash (like you have) that also has a belt attachment. It hooked to a loop that goes around my waist so I don’t need to wear a hip belt. I literally just put the belt around my waist and hook the leash to it. No hands needed to hold the leash.
Another leash option is to braid your own out of paracord. I've made a few and it's nice because you can choose your own hardware and because the whole length is braided you have unlimited options to clip or tie other things into its length to shorten it or add a shorter handle. They have some spring to them too since they're braided. Many YT vids on how to make one.
Hey Dixie! I also backpack and hike a lot with my two dogs and the best part for them is to cuddle in the tent at night. Once the tent is set up my husky shepherd rolls up in his sleeping bag and cuddle with his teddy bear (yes, this big bad wolf need a teddy bear to sleep!) My other dog has short hair and she sleeps very cold. I am in Canada and when we go Fall camping, its cold for real! I found that Hurtta are making great dog gear. I do not own any rain jacket for the doggos ( I guess I am a bad dog mom as well haha), but their Winter stuff is amazing. It might be worth checking it out :)
To be honest I don't think fancy is switching to your sleeping pad because it's comfier. My dog does the same thing on my bed. As soon as I get up to go to the bathroom and come back i find she's taken my spot. I think they just want the warmth your body left behind.
Fancy is a sweetheart. Thank you for sharing. Merry Christmas and best wishes for a happy new year!
You’re blessed to be able to hike with Fancy. What a sweetie!
Thanks for uploading Dixie. Great to see new dog gear that's out there. I've just bought a sleeping bag for my dog made by Whyld River via Garage Grown Gear - just hope he likes it. 🐶😁
How'd the whyld river bag work out?
love your content Dixie, each one just makes my day that much better :) thank you!
Such a helpful video! The shot of fancy just going crazy in the snow is one of my favorites! Her helicopter skills are top notch!
Been backpacking with my two dogs on a few trips, and they're finally big/old enough to get packs! Looking forward to more adventures with them!
Thank you!
Maybe you won't see this, but I'll tell some of what I've used. =)
I used a Hurtta Slush Combat Suit for my Australian shepherd (I say "used", because he crossed the rainbow bridge almost two weeks ago, after 13 years together...) to keep him dry in the rain. Absolutely perfect. Since it covers so much of the dog, there was only a wet face, paws and tail (here in Sweden they get to keep their tails) that I had to dry before getting in the tent for the night. Much more pleasant than having an overall wet/damp dog in the tent... It's not a very stylish piece of clothing, but it works for its purpose. Not sure if they sell it anymore, but they probably have similar clothing, maybe it's called the Hurtta Downpour now.
The backpack I used for my aussie is EQDOGs Pro Harness which has gear loops for attaching their flexpacks that come in two different sizes. The harness has a sturdy handle as well. I love it, it fitted on him like a glove and the packs did not flip and fling about when he moved/got excited.
For him a used a Thermarest Prolite Small inflatable sleeping pad. Never punctured it and quite light, takes up little space packed.
Hahah that's so sweet that she ends up on your pad when you leave the tent. It's *probably* more because she wants to be in your space/smell than comfort. I wouldn't be surprised if you got her an inflatable pad and she still did the same thing and moved to yours if you leave the tent hahah. Fancy seems like a sweetheart and fun, just like her mama!
edit: That being said, try it! Spoil that doggo!
UGQ makes a quilt for dogs. You can also use the shorter Klymit sleeping pad. UGQ recently had a sale where they offered both for a great deal.
Doesn't look like they are selling it at the moment... Maybe when the weather gets a bit warmer
Grandma Gatewood had worse gear than Fancy, lol😂
Truth 😅
The Hurtta Monsoon ECO raincoat is the golden standard for doggie rain wear.
Not cheap but much better quality than anything else we've tried!
For anyone watching this, keep in mind the leash laws. Most (not all) trails require dogs to be on leashes. Others allow them to be off leash unless they are aggressive or chase other animals, but they are required to come when called. If your dog doesn’t have an excellent recall, they cannot be off leash. You also can’t pass through areas that enter national parks, so keep that in mind on trails like the PCT, which cannot be a true thru-hike with a pet dog because there are multiple areas along the trail where dogs aren’t allowed. 🙂
Great as always Dixie! A couple of things. Obviously all dogs are different. My Malamute was pretty weather proof and mosquito/fly proof. She preferred to sleep outside under a tree. One other thing. It is absolutely critical to keep your dog leashed and/or tied if possible. I was considering letting my dog off leash in the Boundary Waters when we came around a corner and there was a porcupine in the trail. She really wanted it. So thankful I hadn’t taken the leash off. In bear country if your dog gets in trouble with a bear it is coming running back to you for help. Not a good scenario. Finally, not all people are dog people. Your dog may be adorable to you, but it might frighten others. I have seen areas closed to dogs because of instances like this. Backpacking with your dog is awesome. But having good dog etiquette will keep this joy available for all of us.
Dixie, great video. 1 suggestion, we have been backpacking with a Great Pyrenees for 10 years. We use a retractable leash and a carabiner attached to our pack. The other we found is human grade freeze dried dog food on Amazon. Colt loves it and it cut his pack weight.
what pack to you have for him? We had an English mastiff and now a St. Bernard. Massive gaps for massive dog breeds. Dehydrated food is perfect. 👍🏼
Hey Dixie! gotta tell you, watching these videos with Fancy Mae "playing" in the snow puts a BIG grin on my face. actually it makes me LMAO. try reaching out to "darn tough", maybe they can make her some booties, the advertisement they would get would be "phenomonal" good job as always Merry Christmas to ya'll
I don’t have a dog. I watched this video simply because Fancy May seems like the happiest sweetest dog and you’re a great mom!
Excellent video! A couple adds - rattlesnake awareness training for dogs is awesome if they are present in your area, and the biggest reason to carry a muzzle is in case our pups get a severe injury. It helps protect us so we can protect them. Keep up the great work, and Merry Christmas!
My guy needed booties when going across the bridge of the gods. We were not making it across without them.
Took him( a 63 lb 11 year old pit/German Shepherd mix) out to Mt hood but he didn't do well in all that sand. I took him back home and went hood to locks by myself. They come first that's for sure.
My first aid kit overlaps with my dog's, so I try to find items we both can use. If you bring Neosporin (the version *without* pain killer) you can use it on your dog too. Also vet wrap is really handy to have to keep gauze bandages on dogs. As always, talk to your vet before giving your dog any meds.
What sleeping pad did you end up using with your dog or are you using the same one? Curious if I should get one for my dog or not…. Since my dog is like Velcro lol.
We take a muzzle when we hike with our dog also. It's a great idea even if you don't have a reactive dog. They can act "out of character " if they get hurt, or if you get hurt and need rescuing. It's also important to muzzle condition before you get out on trail so the dog is comfortable wearing it and it doesn't add more stress to an already sticky situation. Great video! 👍
Your dog hates your BO (body odor) and really wants you to start wearing deodorant when on the trial! Respectfully, it was your own armpit issues that likely caused the chafing to occur.... Just saying.......
If you combine sock liners with the boots it helps immensely. But your right I recommend developing the natural hardness of their pads.
Been hiking with English Labradors most of my life. Ruffware palisades has worked great for me. Never heard of the company you mentioned. Will be looking into them for sure. Seems like a better design. Thanks! Get out and backpack..👍👍
There are 6 other Jimmy, Jim, or James usernames in the comments. ~7/220 seems too high to be a coincidence, 2-3 seems statistically high. But 7? I know more youtube viewers are male and most of her viewers are probably from the US which skews the odds a little. Also James is a name primarily given to white males, which is also the highest demographic category of people who camp. But 7 still seems high to me. I wonder if there is something about the name that makes you attracted to this kind of sport. I also wonder if she has more subscribers with the given name James than any other name or if this video is the odd occurrence where all the Jimmys showed up.
Maybe combine a NeoAir Small with a homesewn mat cover in a lightweight silk textile? I’ve been thinking about that for my dog. Although she’s smaller (Shetland sheepdog) so I might try the cheaper option of pairing up two Thermarest Deluxe sitpads within a silk cover. Weighs about the same but would save me some $
I like your channel and advice. I love your devotion to including your pooch on the trail. I am doing day hiking with my dog so I don't have much experience with overnight planning. I have a few comments about your medical advice. I treat humans and not dogs for a living so my perspective could be skewed but I think a styptic powder application is going to be much more effective to control bleeding than baking powder. With baking powder you would still have to apply pressure for awhile and I think the pressure will do the lion's share of controlling the bleeding. However, styptic powder can stop bleeding with only application. Another point is I am wondering what allergic reaction you might treat with Benadryl (diphenhydramine). This drug does many things and can be very useful in a human first aid kit (anti- motion sickness, anti nausea, sedative, treats hives, sleeping pill) but in humans it would not help with a serious reaction like anaphylaxis, or even a semi-serious one like swollen lip, tongue etc. I would suspect this would be true with dogs too...
Thanks for your inspiration, I want to emulate you and go on some bigger adventures with my buddy.
Super video. I would highly recommend you look into wool products for Fancy- both sweaters and socks. Wool is breathable, sustainable, water and mildew resistant and naturally anti microbial. I bet she’d love it. There are both heavy and light weight wool.
We had the same armpit chafing with a Ruffwear approach pack and Enzo won't go near that pack anymore, for good reason. Our last hike I used my friends Ollydog pack and it does not have the front chest straps/pad and worked well, I tried to order one and that model does not exist and the new model from them has the typical straps thru the chest area that caused the problems as the Ruffwear. Still looking for the right pack, did find a Norwegian made pack that was temping but at $200, Seleverkstedet TOGO
Dog sleeping pad:
My dog was using a thermarest pro lite small. It's comfortable, lite, but bulky and takes up one full side of his pack.
This year he tried a blue foam mat from the doller store. When I'm out of the tent he tries to sneek omto my Uberlite. We tried doubling the mat by folding it but he still was tossing and turning and sneeking onto my mat. Even though it was summer and soft ground I think that he found the compessiion in his muscles from the ground too much and didn't allow him to rest. Halfway through the nights when I scooped him in onto my mat and under my bag, he slept the full way through to the morning. He knows to lay down on ground and kind of flop over with his bum and side onto the mat and not get his nails into it (took some training but hes very smart).
When my Uberlite delamed and I received a xlite on trail, he used the bottom half of the Uberlite (the top half is a big pilow now, lol) and Inused the Xlite. He slept very well and was more rested. The Uberlite is half the bulk roled as the Prolite small. I'm considering seam sealing the Uberlite damaged pad into a smaller size with an iron. I've seen some tutorials on youtube.
For a bag he has a down jacket. It is one of my older liteweight down jackets (650 goose) sewn down into a pull-over. I cut off the front zipper and sewed back the front pannels into half the size and cut and sewed the arms halfway up. I put shock cord in the cuffs but his feet still get caught inside when he walks. I might try elastic waist band to draw it in. Depending on temp, he either wears his jacket at night, or I put it on top of him after he lays down if it's warm. If it's cold he wears that plus my down jacket placed on top of him plus my rain jacket on top of that. Another optiinnis he wears his down and goes under ny bag too, which is great cause he's warmer than me and keeps me warm.
Bags: he wore out a rudfwear approach. It caused him some chafing on one side. I did a mod on it and removed the nylon webbing closer, and attached the ruffear front range harnes to the front for the closures. Idk why roughwear does not use the Front Range harness for the closre mechanisim for the heavier carrying large volume packs. It would be way better than nylon webbing rubbing their body. This year we used the ruffwear front range day pack with the harness style closure. It was great, caused very minimal chafe. He used baby powder to help with it and it did wonders. I wish that closer was on the larger packs, when the day pack is full it pulls up on the body straps and causes more rubbing.
Rain: we use the Canada Pooch Night Vision Reflective Jacket. It keeps him relatively dry and especially the under carrage dry and clean. It also protects his armpits when theres rubbing issues. The full jacket is 3M reflective material so it's great for walking highways or roads for saftey. Though its not a specific "rain jacket" the many uses makes it worth while. Also, it is snall and compact and rolls up to the size of a pop can.
Shoes: we use Muttluks All Weather. There are no hard parts or seams that rub. We've tried the Snow Mushers and Ruffwear boots but they all cause his dew claw to rub into his arm or the dew claw pad is rubbed, also the tops of his paws have had abrasion too.
When it's-45°c here in Canada we use the down parka by Canadian Canine - Bonfire Jacket.
I appreciate this review and was really looking forward to it.
I have this Ruffwear Palisade pack for my dog. I noticed that you did not have the saddle bags tied down. They are a little fussy because they are tiny but there are straps you clip on to keep the saddle bags from flopping around. We have had no problems and my dog LOVES having a job to do. These packs are crazy adjustable (luckily, since my dog got larger than expected!) and you do have to get that figured out just right.
15% is the recommended but that too is excessive. Your 10% suggestion is spot on.
Is Fancy a long lost relative of my Ingrid?Her birth mom was a Catahoula mix/unknown papa.She and her sister are southern girls,born and raised in South Carolina.We have a female with the same markings as Fancy.1/2 inch white tip on her tail,white socks 1/2 the amount of Fancy,and the white line down her face is on the left side and narrower band.Even how they hold their ears is the same.Cheers to great dogs and the humans they love.
The muzzle is such a great point, but please make sure to muzzle condition your dog before you are ever in a situation where you will need it. If your dog starts associating the muzzle with a context they don't like (like other dogs), and they don't like the muzzle, it can make reactivity worse. Muzzle conditioning is important whether your dog is friendly or not, because you never know down the road what may happen where a muzzle is necessary.
Dixie, i really want to ask you what you do with your dogs when you are thru hiking without them? Im worried about leaving my 2 cats for so long, i know ill miss them a lot. Im torn between leaving them with a friend or maybe asking the neighbors if they can check on them every day to clean litterboxes, feed them and give them the lovin’ they need! Lots of things to think about when you live alone but want to thru hike .. most are easy things, have mail forwarded, hire a landscaping/grass cutting company, etc .. but its my pets thats worry me the most. One more thing, totally off subject. How do you upload/edit your videos while doing a zero somewhere? Do you take a laptop with you or maybe use a computer at a hostel or something? Thanks for all your informative videos Dixie .. youve answered so many questions for me and youre a really good vlogger
You need to watch Matthew Posa's videos. His Dog Monty and him have quite the relationship with sleeping pads. LOL
That zlite pad is only an R value of 2. No wonder your dog is freezing even with a quilt. Have to apply the same principles to your dog as yourself.
I bet she likes the warmth of your pad. Try sleeping on a foam pad, get up and when you come back she'll be on your foam pad. She just likes your spot. That's what dogs do.
Let's talk food. Do you carry her normal food or do you do anything for added calories?
Nobody takes better care of their dogs than you do, Dixie. And that's high praise coming from me cause I'm the same way.
@18:50 we have this issue when we take our rescue greyhounds on local walking trails. We try to avoid ones where off-leash is allowed but you will find the irresponsible owners who ignore that. Our rescues look at any dog smaller than a cocker as basically the same as a rabbit. Someone almost a yorkie if I hadn't grabbed it by the scruff of its neck. They weren't happy until I pointed out that 1. their dog is a chew toy and 2. They were breaking the rules of having their dog offleash
Areas with lava rocks are really sharp. Doggy booties are pretty much essential.
I've got a klymit k9 sport sleeper. i haven't used it much out on the trail because I found out my dog hates camping :( but car camping and at home he loves it!! it's suuuuper light and packs up tiny.
I also carry muzzles for my dogs, they're both friendly with dogs and people but it's good to have just in case, and especially if your dog is a forager.
You can use your umbrella to block\scare an approaching dog to give yourself time to scoop Fancy up.
Pupps are a seat thief! It could be a ball of dirty laundry, if you had it warm and moved. They’re sliding right in! Lol
There are lots of Coon traps around here. I always think of heavy gauge wire cutters, do you have suggestions? Not the shoelace trick too complicated.
Hi I've successfully cut a neoair xlite down. There are yt tutorials.
i took one of my old utlralight inflatable pad and cut it . i resealed it with a iron and my dog seems to love it . i put a mylar blanket underneath it to keep the warmth sometime a littlel foam light pad ( gossemer )
he had his own down blanket so if i have to do my thing , or i turn and toss at night, we have our own sleeping system.
i also like the fact that i can pack all my things and he can still be quiet in his warmth, packing his thing last and unpacking it first.
he is waking up maybe 4 times a night, which is about the same times than me. sometimes i am rearranging his blanket ... but honeslty he is a trooper.
I just loooove to backpack with my dog .
i am always very impressed with him and honeslty it builted our relationship so strong !
i have an italian geyhound who back pack about 3 days a weeks from april to october... so you can imagine the look we get sometimes when they see my little squeleton coming out of my tent ready to climb a big moutain or do a long trail :-)
Its a lot of fun and i dont find it complicated at all to carry his gear.
The adventures i have with him are memorable on trail and i am enjoying every moment of it :-)
I use to hike longer and harder by myself ... but now i am adapting all my hikes and i have no regret
K9Sportsack makes an inflatable dog bed. I used one for my pointer and he really liked it.
You could cut down the size of a Neolithic pad for Fancy. They no longer sale torso length, but there are UA-cam videos showing how to cut one down yourself.
The 1000d cordura is the same meterial that is used for motorcycle protective clothing it is one most abrasion resistance meterial
You will probably hate me but dogs don't need raincoats, sweaters etc.😂 Boots I can understand but take the time and effort to get the right set for your dog and always monitor the situation. They can do more harm then good.
LLBean or Hurtta for a rain coat. Not from the materials you want but I think you'll have to compromise unless you want to sow your own.
I have 2 chihuahuas. 10% of their weight would be a chapstick. Lol
If you haven't tried dog socialisation sessions with other dogs, I believe that they may be of benefit to Fancy and you.
I couldn’t bring my dog on trail, I would be more concern for my dogs safety then mines 😅
those loose hunting dogs would cause me to bring out the bear spray quick quick! What a scary encounter for those poor hikers just trying to enjoy the woods with their doggos. worst case scenario to be sure.
Your umbrella is also a good deterrent to iffy off leash dogs. You can open it in their face and hopefully block.
Whenever you get a new pad give fancy your old one. You can shorten them and reseal it with a iron
I've been looking into using something like a fleece or thin wool blanket or some super thin yoga mat or flannel sheet to put on my air pad so my dog can get one the pad and under my quilt with me he usually snugs up close at night
How does the sleeping hours go??? Mine would hear every noise and smell.
Watching fancy walk around in a quilt made my day XD
I have a foam pad for my dog. By the morning, he's pushed my legs off my air pad and is laying on it. 😄
I have a puffy jacket with feathers in it, I washed it now it's flat did I ruin it?
muzzle also in case a stranger has to take your dog in an emergency
To shoo away and also protect me dog from stray dogs who may come up to us for whatever reason I carry a tazer which I switch on and the sound alone makes the stray dogs run off.
when i saw the title.... for a mila second i thought it was about pert 😉
My dog does not need me to lift him 😂 I wish he could lift me over trees
Great video, Dixie {and Fancy}...😉
Really helpful video. Thank you 😊
I'm sad ground bird went out of business
3:22
Haha, this was very funny. 😂
Just out of curiosity, do you have to bury dog poop?
i think klymit makes a dog inflatable pad
Because -Doggz
Sub'd.
Not everybody will like this but...
There are many species of dogs. Most are not meant for 100 mile treks. Some are bred only to live outside.
There's a reason hunters, sledders, military, and police use specific breeds.
Consider that logic.
Duck hunters don't use a German Sheppard to break ice. They use a thick-headed 80lb lab.
Pheasant hunters don't run huskies in 70° fields.
Hikers need to think about what is fair to the animal vs their capabilities.
Do you have a lightweight muzzle or is it a standard basket muzzle? I'd love a light weight and compact option!
.. Try a mesh pack strap water bottle pocket ,, usually for pint sizes but there are quart sizes for hip belt..
Great job thank you!
Ho my GOD...🤦🏻♂️... OK I've been a dog walker for more than 8 years, and so I learned some about dogs, let me ask you all a couple of questions :
1. Did you know that a dog has 102°F body temperature ? And human beings has 96.8 °F
2. How do you think it would be of the life of a dog or a fox, wolf or coyote without the intervention of the human hand ?
3. Do you think they would hike with rain coats to stay dry, quilts to stay warm, mattresses to sleap or shoes to walk ?
A dog has : DOG'S PROBLEMS THAT NEEDS DOG'S SOLUTIONS... and not human problems with human solutions... YOU DIG...?
PD: Don't put a rain coat or poncho to your dog to hike under tha rain... just don't hike your dog under the rain they can't stand it... set the tent to stay inside until it ends. Watch foxes, wolfs and coyotes documentaries, and then come and tell me if a dog needs human being gear to hike and sleep in outdoors scenario. By cheers. GOD bless
My pointer hound mix, Star, loves my sleeping pad and down quilt. I found a down lap quilt at Costco, so she keeps warm. She sleeps on a CCF pad cut to her size. She carries a modified Outward Hound pack. K-9 Apparel made her custom fleece jacket.
Wow I don't have a dog but i thought that this was interesting. Just going through all your videos. I'm hiking mostly in Switzerland and never more than 5 days. I just, wow! find that what you do and other people that do longer walks so incredible. And not just longer but for months! My backpack is so heavy, i'm always cold!!! Well that might just get me to go alone and use my campervan and do some bivouac as well. So much resourceful than staying at home. I've know a lot of the things that you said. Experience is a must! Continue like that and let me know if one day you want to come to switzerland. And look up for a wonderful hike in Tasmania!!!!