backpacking with a mastiff

[sleewell]

wondering if anyone has experience with backpacking with their mastiffs? yogi and i routinely go to the local park that has hiking trails and he does great on longer day hikes so i am thinking about trying a 3-4 day backpacking trip this spring. any tips or pointers i should know about? currently i am looking at a few different packs for him so i dont have to carry his food and water. what else should i be thinking/planning for?

thanks,

Bill

 

[Mongo]

I have absolutely no idea but I am interested in seeing what others have to say.

 

[sleewell]

me too.....




forgot to mention he is 1/2 EM and 1/2 st bernard.


yogi pulls a sled like a beast and smiles like the proudest dog the entire time. we harness him up and he will pull a 40lb sled of ice fishing gear like a champ. he also does great on day hikes, we normally average 6-8 miles and he is tired by the end but still keeps up and seems insanely happy. i know he would be fine on a 3-5 day packpacking trip, im just a little worried about sleeping arrangements and finding a decent a pack for him. my current tent is only built for 2 so i dont know if i should get a bigger one or if my gf would even let him in the tent if i got a 3 person. he really likes sleeping near me so i dont know how he would handle sleeping out of our tent or how people usually handle that situation.

these are the two packs i am deciding between:

http://www.rei.com/product/771037

http://www.rei.com/product/771046

 

[Mongo]

Ruff Wear makes teh best back packs! I personally dont have one but know several that do and they LOVE them!

So if your GF doesnt let him in the tent with yall, where would he be sleeping? Just outside? Or tied up?

 

[monkeys23]

I have a Ruffwear Palisades pack for Lily. Love it!

Also, I have to tie the tent zippers closed because she knows how to open them.