Big Paws Only Dog Forums

Well, Herman has been wearing his for about one month (he just turned 8 months old).  He's wiry, but plenty solid and strong as an ox.  He does great with it.

We weigh his pack with 1-1/2 lbs. per side, along with other little odds and ends and we make sure to keep it even.  I would think your dog should be able to handle it.
Good luck!   

Binky - WOW - your fence and your goats and your puppies look amazing.

We are encouraged reading your post.  My husband, Chris, poses this question: What about the "ground hardware"?  What do we put down to make sure they don't dig under...etc/.//

Thank you so much. 
Peace,
Lena

I'm pulling for Gigi. Poor baby.  She might make it - don't give up.  And of course you already know what a good life you have given her.  Keep positive thoughts in mind.

Those puppies are amazing.  Brody is such a grand mom (and so are YOU!) Glad that horrid "vet" was nailed - ugh, what a world.
 

WOW!  Axle is so gorgeous.  What a face.  What a dog.  I LOVE him!  Aww...Go take him for a walk, he looks dejected!   

Thanx for the warm welcome, K9!  Herman thanks you for the nice compliment.  He is a really pretty boy...that backpack pic doesn't really do him justice  Spoken like a true MOM...

We just got back from the dog run - what a beautiful day for it.  My two are really a sight.  Ellie (my 7-year-old Corgi/Shep mix) is a muscular little power-house who really takes charge.  She gets involved in every other dog's games.  Herman looks like a giraffe standing next to her, and he is sweet with the other dogs but slightly timid...when the playing gets too rough (ruff?), he tries to hide behind little Ellie, like: "Protect me!"  No matter how big he gets, she will always be his "Mommy dog"...it is really too cute. 

I'm attaching a pic of the two of them...I hope I do this right...anyhow, it was taken about 6 weeks ago.  Needless to say, Herman is substantially larger now. 

Howdy.  My 8-month old coonhound mix Herman is a real bundle of energy, and walking him or taking him to the dog run is not always enough exercise for him.  Cesar Milan (Dog Whisperer) suggests that a weighted doggy pack-back helps to wear a hyper dog out effectively.

SO - I did purchase one of these for Herman.  He wears it like a saddle, fits comfortably and securely.  I pack both sides evenly... books or light weights in it - never more than 3 pounds or so (total - not on each side - my aim is not to make him sway-backed...).  He doesn't seem to mind it at all, but at the same time I can't really tell if it's wearing him out any more than his usual bounding around.

MY QUESTION IS - since we have some "pulling and lunging" habits I'm trying to break him of...IS THE WEARING OF THIS EXTRA WEIGHT MAKING HIM STRONGER?  My father saw him wearing it and said: "What are you trying to do?  Beef him up like Schwarzenegger?" 

Now, I don't make Herman wear this thing all the time.  It's only for when I have limited time to take him to the park before work - say only half an hour - and I want to give him a good workout before I leave for a 6-hour day. 

What are your thoughts on this?  Does anyone else do this?  (I will say that it sure will come in handy when we go hiking or camping!)
Peace,
Lena

Oh, wow - I feel so supported!  I love you chicks!  I just checked in tonite and I am thrilled by all the terrific responses.  First of all...everybod y - Thank you, thank you and - um,...THANK YOU!!

To your individual responses:  KIM!  I already have several 30-foot running lines on my mountain property. Attached to trees, made of non-tangling cable...To me, this just doesn't seem like enough.  Herman is constantly lunging and pulling against the line.  He's such a big, strong, magnificent fellow. I guess I want him to have more freedom.

As far as building a dog-run...I would love to.  We own 10 acres of mountain land around our little cabin.  However, the land is exceedingly wild, uneven, very tree-dense, steep, rocky and just HARD...alot of clay and rocks, no soil really. But I will look into it this spring.  If it is do-able, I know it will be somewhat costly, but to me it is absolutely worth it.  My husband's attitude will probably be: "Why are we doing this - just let the dog run free." Oh, well...this is what I'm dealing with. 

JULIE!  What a sweetheart!  Providing us with all of these great dog-run parks in Queens.  Wow.  I am so glad I joined this forum~~!!  We also have a couple of great ones near our home....Your Beans sounds like Herman..."just being overwhelmed at being introduced to dogs"....good lord, can I relate.  Herman is so insanely social...and also mis-understood, because of his size people are afraid.  One of his favorite things is watching THE GARBAGE MEN from our bay window on Saturday morning.  They are like his SUPER HEROES.  If I am up and even partially-dressed, I bring him out front to greet the garbage men and they are crazy about each other.  Herman rushes to greet them and they pet him... Herman acts like he is meeting his version of MOVIE STARS...he is like: "DAMN - IT'S THE GARBAGE GUYS. PETTING ME. MEEEEE!!!!  I AM IN HEAVEN.  THIS IS AMAZING!!!

TO...The other Julie???  Thank you for writing...I feel you're right...Herman is a "hound"...it's hard to say what will "stick" with him... There is such an innate wildness about him, I have my doubts about ever letting him off-lead without losing him.

Melissa, I have always been skittish about any kind of "shock" collar.  But if this is ultimately something that would save my boy's life, I would be willing to try it out. Please let me know the model that you have.  Thank you.

I have been re-thinking the Halti, and honestly...I know some of you have had success but...knowing Herman ..... I think I may have to take a different tact with him. 

Thanks everyone...U guys rock...
~Lena