Adventure Summary - Backpacking with a 16lb dog

Robin, at 16 pounds, can carry up to four pounds. Because he has a lean rather than muscular body type, we keep it under three pounds to be safe, generally far under since most of his stuff is bulky rather than heavy. His Ruffwear Approach weighs 11.2oz according to Ruffwear, which leaves about 2.3 pounds for gear.

Here's his backpacking packing list:

Lightweight paracord leash (0.71 oz)
Small stainless bowl (? oz- we seem to have lost it on the trip)
Larger silicone collapsible bowl (2.2 oz)
Ripstop rain jacket (1.77 oz)
Survival bandana (0.69 oz)
LED blinking light (.6 oz - this was heavy and pretty much useless)
Double his normal serving of kibble for 2 days (4 cups, about 16 oz)
Supplemental Blue Buffalo Trail Toppers (2 at 3 oz each = 6 oz)
Chicken jerky treats (2 oz)
Climate Changer fleece jacket for nighttime (3.5 oz)
LED collar (1.16 oz)
Sleeping pad (11oz)

Total weight including crossed out items: 39.63 oz / 3.3lb

Addison surveying the view while Robin keeps an eye on me -
Sunset Ridge Trail

Unfortunately, not all of this fits in Robin's pack volume-wise.  4 cups of kibble is .94L all by itself- one entire side of his 2L pack.  With that, his Climate Changer, collar and his raincoat, he'd be packed full (and very unbalanced).  For a longer trip, he probably wouldn't be able to carry enough kibble, let alone everything else.  We ended up packing his food and treats in our food bag, leaving him with 15.63 oz or 1.3 pounds including his 11 oz sleeping pad.

Robin oblivious to the added weight- Sunset Ridge Trail

I had planned to strap his sleeping pad to the top of his pack, but its 11 oz compared to the 1.5lb or so of his pack filled with the remaining items made it hilariously top heavy. We ended up strapping it to Addison's pack instead along with his frisbee and the houndstooth fleece cover for his pad (about 8 oz altogether). He carried about 2lb on the way in and danced circles around us.

On the way out, I loaded him up a little more heavily and was surprised how quickly he tired out. The total weight was definitely still under 3 lb, but since he didn't perk up much even after we took most of his load,  it became obvious that the heat is hard on him.

What worked:

Robin in a total state of exhaustion on the return trip

The silicone bowl ended up being a favorite since it clips to the outside of his pack and shakes dry.

The Climate Changer kept him warm outside my sleeping bag (for more information, see my Climate Changer review).

The paracord leash,  made from a 6' strand of paracord and a lightweight carabiner,  was fantastic.  Unlike his nylon leash,  it isn't slippery,  so I could easily fasten it around my waist with a larkshead knot whenever it wasn't attached to Robin and it was essentially weightless.

His LED collar didn't seem as bright in the deep dark of the back woods as it does at the dog park,  but it still helped me keep track of him at night.   The LED clip light,  however,  was useless for its weight.


Changes for next time: His kibble, Zignature Duck formula, comprises one of his three meals a day at home (the others are usually raw chicken / rabbit and organs). At home, he is bouncing off the walls after a kibble meal. On the trail, however, he remained lethargic after eating, which made it clear that the bulk to nutrition ratio is off for high intensity activity. Even after eating his fill he didn't have enough calories to feel rejuvenated. Since we have always struggled to get him enough calories before he gets full, this should not have been a surprise. I am looking into other options and hope to have a better solution for the next trip.  

Gear Review: Keeping Warm in the Backcountry with the Ruffwear Climate Changer

Even in balmy Southern California, it gets chilly at night, especially in the mountains. I generally avoid putting clothes on Robin except when weather necessitates it, but for his first backpacking trip, I knew a packable but warm jacket would be a necessity.

I've had the fleece Ruffwear Climate Changer in mind for a cool-weather layer, and finally snapped it up on sale just in time for our trip. Here's our experience:

Chilly camp morning - Mt Lowe Trail Camp

Fit: At an 18.5" girth, 14.5" back length, 12" neck circumference, Robin fits an XS like it was made for him. The length is ideal and his curly tail doesn't fold the jacket back. It's a tiny bit roomy in the chest and belly, which makes it easier for him to run around. Potty clearance is perfect. Reviews on Ruffwear's site are all over the place fit-wise, so apparently we got lucky with Robin's body type.

Chest view of the jacket

Design: The zipper is an elegant solution compared to the velcro closures on most dog clothing, and it never unzipped by itself. The athletic cut is flattering and the reflective piping is surprisingly visible at night. It's hard to find dog clothing with sleeves and these are well-executed. The fleece is thin but dense and feels like it will resist pilling. If there's anything to nitpick, I was disappointed that the trim on the triangular zipper flap at the neck isn't too durable- I snagged it the very first time I unzipped the jacket. The cover could be cut back farther to reduce zipper interference.

This is the first time I've ever gotten him something in gray when it came in orange, but I didn't like the shade of orange on his fur, and the orange color seemed to emphasize the bagginess.

Robin awaiting his breakfast from my hammock - Mt Lowe Trail Camp

Function: I'd heard stories of this jacket keeping dogs warm down to 40 degrees, but they must have more hair than Robin. Nighttime temperatures were probably just below 60 degrees in our camp. He stayed warm on top of my sleeping bag for most of the night with just the Climate Changer, but by morning he was chilled and didn't stop shivering until he finished breakfast.

The jacket brushed remarkably clean of dirt and leaves. However, it's shedding season so the inside is hairy, and the hair doesn't come off as easily. Since Robin doesn't shed for most of the year, I'll wait and remove it with tape.

Packability: The XS Climate Changer weighs about 3.5 oz and packs into one side of Robin's XXS Approach pack with room to spare. Fleece doesn't compress too well, but the efficient cut makes it relatively small when packed.  It's thin enough to fit under his pack if we ever go hiking in freezing weather.

The XS rolled jacket takes up just over half of the 1L bag on his XXS pack.

Takeaways:
Good for: Trim body types, keeping bald chests and bellies warm, a baselayer under a pack or heavier jacket.

Not ideal for: Extreme temperatures without a top layer, bulky or muscular body types, zipper chewers.


Updates: 
06/07/2015 added packed size and chest fit photos