kurgo-baxter-dog-backpack -  boy and his dog

When going on an adventure with my dog, I am always thinking of what I need for them to also have a good time. So, I usually bring some type of treat as well as a toy depending on the activity that we are doing. Usually, I have just thrown this into my pack and hauled it as I do for my kids. But as I was preparing for our next adventure as a family, I decided that me hauling everything was not going to work. That is where the Baxter Pack came in.

The great people at Kurgo were nice enough to send out the Baxter Pack for me to give it a try. Or should I say for my dog to give it a try. We were heading out on a backpacking trip as a family for 3 days and I did not want to haul all my kid’s food as well as the dogs. The wife and I were already hauling extra gear for our two littlest kids and food for the bunch. Luckily my 13-year-old loves to backpack and was willing to take all of his gear and a little extra as well. But with all this, the dogs needed to carry their own weight on this trip.

Kurgo Baxter Dog Pack - dog sitting

Before the trip, I made sure I fitted the pack to my dog and made sure he was going to be able to wear it. I suggest doing this before just loading up and taking your dog on a long trip where you plan on them hiking their own food or anything for that matter. We had a dog growing up that we put a pack on once and about 50 feet into the hike he just stopped. He wasn’t going anywhere. We thought, we will just leave him and keep walking and he will not be left behind. To our surprise, he didn’t care if we left. We had to round back and take the pack off and away he went. Also, I had a golden retriever who the first time we put the pack on her, she was like a bucking bronco trying to get the pack off. She finally calmed down and was a great hiker with the pack.

Dog with Glasses

Our dog, Lincoln, was a champ from the start. This might be because our 5-year-old loves to dress him up with necklaces, glasses, bow ties, and shirts on occasion. Nonetheless, when I fitted the pack and got it on, he was ready to go. To fit the pack there are a few straps that need to be adjusted. Make sure you take the time to make sure the pack fits nicely on your dog. This will make the experience a lot better for both your dog and you. If the pack is not fitted correctly it will most likely be moving all around and sliding sideways on your dog.

Kurgo Baxter Dog Pack

To put the pack on the dog you will need to slide it over the dog’s head and then buckle the straps. If you have a calm dog I find it is easy to loosen the straps off the dog for the first fitting and then slide it on and buckle it all up and then adjust the straps. Lincoln was a champ as I did this and waited patiently as I made the adjustments. The pack has 8 different adjustment points so you can really dial in the fit. The pack adjusts to fit different size dogs, but with that said there are two sizes, so make sure you buy the one appropriate for your dog. We got the smaller of the two as Lincoln is 45 lbs. This fits him perfectly.

Once the pack was all fitted and on, I let him and the other dog play for a bit to make sure it was fitted right and would stay on. He almost acted like nothing was on him at all. I then loaded it up with some stuff to add a little weight to the pack to give him a more realistic experience of what it would be like when hiking and it still didn’t seem to phase him. He just wanted to get out on a trail.

Kurgo Baxter Dog Pack - top handle

The Baxter pack has some great features that make it a great dog pack. It has a large handle on the top of the pack which makes holding and controlling your dog a breeze. Lincoln is only 2 and very friendly. He loves people and dogs. So, on the trail, we are always needing to call him back or hold him as we pass others. Also, next to the handle there is a metal leash hook, so you can attach a leash there if you are on a trail that leashes are required. There is also a front leash hook as well. I found if you have a “puller” this attachment point can sometimes help reduce the pull.

Kurgo Baxter Dog Pack - saddlebags

At first, when I pulled the pack out of the box, I thought the saddlebags might be a little small for a backpacking trip. But as I started to add food and treats, it all fit in there perfectly with a little room to spare. Each saddle bag has two pockets, a larger pocket for most things, and a small zipper pocket that is perfect for poop bags or other small essentials that you want quick access to. I took about 10 cups of dry food and split it into two Ziploc quarts bags so I could balance the load on Lincoln’s back. This is one important step that you will want to take when loading up a dog pack. Try to balance the load. Also, I have found that it is super nice to put the food in Ziploc bags to keep the food dry if your dog runs through a stream or it starts to rain. This method might now work if your dog takes the pack for a swim or you get stuck in a torrential downpour, but it has worked for me every time. I also put in a few chews as well as some treats to round it out.

Kurgo Baxter Dog Pack - boy and dog hiking

Out on the trail the pack held up nicely as Lincoln jumped over rocks, logs, and generally zig-zagged along the trail. It did seem to have the tendency to lean to one side but never super far and it never seemed to bother Lincoln. This might have been my loading skills or maybe I didn’t have it quite tight enough. Either way, the pack worked great and it was super nice not to have to carry his food. I was impressed after the day’s trek; he still had the energy to run and play. Now when he sees the pack, he knows adventure is coming.

I have now decided after reading a blog post on Kurgo’s website of the “5 Reasons Your Dog Needs a Backpack” to have him carry it more often on hiking trips. I don’t know about you, but one thing they mention in the post is about having the dog carry their own waste. I love this. I have always cleaned up after my dog, as many others do, but one thing that I have always hated was seeing poop bags along the trail in hopes that the owner picks it back up on the way out. I don’t know how many bags get left behind, but I am sure many do. This way, you don’t have to worry about carrying the poop for the rest of the hike or trying to remember when he pooped on the way out. A quick secret, if you either double up the bag or use a Ziploc to help control the odor. It still stinks even if the dog is carrying it. 

Kurgo Baxter Dog Pack - Family and dog hiking

I would definitely recommend this dog pack to others. If you love to backpack and bring your dog along or if you even just hike with your dog, this is a great way for your dog to get a little more involved in carrying their stuff. The pack looks great and has held up to my pup, running through thickets, jump over or crawling under logs, and through multiple stream crossings. The pack is a little dirty but other than that is looks great. The last thing, Kurgo stands behind their products with a lifetime guarantee.

I have copied below the features of the pack right off their website with the MSRP as well as a link to their site if you are looking to pick one up yourself.

• Eight adjustment points for a near-custom fit
• Two saddlebags offer liberal room for adventure essentials and balance the load
• Reflective trim for low light visibility
• Large padded handle on top for control or extraction
• Rear-mounted leash hook
• Ergonomic spine support contours to the dog’s back for a comfortable fit
• Secure straps. Machine wash gentle or hand wash. Air dry
• Sizing – Baxter Size – for dogs 30-85 pounds – fits 3.75L, Big Baxter Size – for dogs 50-110 pounds – fits 7.5L
• MSRP: $57.99
https://www.kurgo.com/outdoor-gear/baxter-dog-backpack/