Now that your dog is comfortable wearing the pack, you need to become accustomed to loading the pack – it’s not as easy as it sounds! There are two major concerns:
Balance.
The panniers should be roughly equal in weight. If one side is
too heavy, the pack will tend to slip around the dog, sagging on the
side with the most weight. In extreme cases, your dog may have
difficulty walking in a straight line! Adjusting the balance of the
pack is an ongoing process. If the pack includes a water bladder, for
example, items in the panniers might have to be redistributed every
time a significant amount of water is added or removed. Heft each
pannier to roughly gauge its relative weight, then put the pack on your
dog and watch it closely for a few moments. Often, the natural movement
of the dog will cause an imbalance to be noticeable.
Sharp corners.
Be careful of items with sharp points of corners, as they can jab
into your dog’s sides as he moves. If you have wide, flat objects that
you can place in the panniers next to your dog’s sides, they will
protect against other, less comfortable objects that may also be in the
bag. Another protective option is to cut pieces of closed-cell foam to
fit the inside of the pannier. These will protect your dog’s ribs from
jabs by hard-edged objects.
Now that you and your dog are comfortable with the pack, get out there! There are many dog-friendly trails in state parks, national forests, and wilderness areas, and don’t overlook urban excursions as well. With a properly fitting pack that doesn’t overburden your dog, your canine friend will soon relish these packing excursions. Many dogs learn to become excited at the mere sight of you handling the pack, because they know that exercise and adventure await!