How to Get a Dog Used to Wearing a Backpack
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A dog backpack looks like a harness with two bags on it, but to your dog it is a new thing on their back that rustles, presses on their sides and changes how they move. Most dogs accept one well when it comes in small steps: first an empty pack at home, then short walks, and only later anything inside it. This guide shows how to get a dog used to wearing a backpack, from fit to the first loaded hike.
How we wrote this: the steps come from Treeline Review’s dog backpack guide, whose testers have hiked with packs on their own dogs for several years, Dogs Trust’s guides to harness training, hot weather and older dogs, Battersea’s guide to introducing a collar, lead or harness, and Best Friends Animal Society’s senior dog care tips. All were checked on 1 November 2026. We did not test any packs for this guide, and we do not show prices or ratings.
Ask your vet first
Treeline Review says to talk to your vet if you are worried about your dog carrying extra weight, because some dogs are not suited to it, depending on their age, health and build. It also says puppies should not wear a loaded pack: dogs should not carry extra weight until they are fully grown.
Older dogs need the same check. Treeline Review says an older dog that is already fit may carry a pack if your vet approves, but not a senior dog with arthritis or any other joint problem. Dogs Trust suggests letting an older dog set the pace, with frequent short walks instead of one long one, and Best Friends advises talking with your vet about the right activity level for a senior dog.
If your dog is young, older, or has joint, back, heart or breathing problems, let your vet decide whether they should carry anything at all. How much weight is safe is a question for your vet too; our best dog backpack for hiking guide lists the limits that the American Kennel Club and the pack makers publish, with sources.
Get the fit right before training
A pack that rubs or slips will undo any training, so fit it first. Treeline Review suggests measuring around the deepest part of your dog’s chest, just behind the front legs, with a soft tape (or a piece of string you then measure), and using that to pick the size. Our guide on how to measure a dog for a harness walks through the same measurement.
Treeline Review’s fit checks:
- Neck: you should fit two to three fingers under the neck strap, and the neck opening should sit at the base of the neck, not sag or ride up.
- Armpits: the straps behind the front legs should not dig in. A neck strap that is too tight often pulls them into the armpits and causes chafing.
- Shoulders: a good pack is cut high enough at the front that it does not cover the shoulders.
- Belly: belly straps should be snug, but not so tight that they squeeze the skin.
Step 1: start with a harness if your dog has never worn one
Treeline Review says that a dog already comfortable in a harness may take only a few days to accept an empty pack, while a dog who has never worn a harness needs more work, and may need to start with a plain harness. Getting a dog used to a pack can take weeks or even months, depending on the dog.
Our best dog harness for hiking guide covers trail harnesses; the steps below work for one too.
Step 2: make the pack a good thing to see
Take the bags off if your pack allows it, or empty every pocket. Then follow the gear steps that Dogs Trust and Battersea use for harnesses:
- Put the pack on the floor and scatter a few rewards around it, so your dog can sniff it and link it with good things.
- Reward any calm looking, sniffing or stepping closer.
- Hold the pack up and reward your dog through the neck opening, with your hand all the way through at first, so they do not have to push their head in yet.
- Keep sessions short and upbeat, and stop while your dog is still keen.
Step 3: put it on, then do it up
Dogs Trust suggests moving the reward back through the neck opening so your dog pushes their nose and head through to take it. If they stay relaxed, let the pack rest loosely on them without fastening anything. If they back away, take it off at once and go back a stage.
Next, the buckles. Dogs Trust says to let your dog hear the clips first, by clicking them shut while you hold the pack, and to watch how they react. Battersea suggests a reward after each clip sound so it becomes familiar. When that is easy, put the pack on, reward, fasten the straps around the body and reward again straight away.
Some packs need you to lift a front leg to put them on. Battersea suggests a clip-around style if lifting legs is uncomfortable for your dog.
Step 4: wear the empty pack around the house
Once the pack is on, Dogs Trust suggests getting your dog moving with something fun, such as a game or some trick training, so they forget about it. Battersea suggests playing with toys or training while the gear is on and building up the time slowly, so it becomes part of normal life.
In our view, a few minutes at a time over several days works best. A dog who freezes or keeps turning to look at the pack is not ready to go out in it yet.
Step 5: short walks with an empty pack
Treeline Review’s method is to reward your dog while you put the pack on and take it off and then, once they are comfortable with it on, to take them on walks wearing it empty. Dogs Trust suggests going out for a walk once your dog is comfortable in their harness, with a reward every now and then if they need more encouragement.
In our view, use a familiar route and keep it short. After each walk, check the armpits, chest and shoulders for red skin or rubbed fur.
Step 6: add weight slowly, and only with your vet’s OK
Treeline Review says to add weight only once your dog is comfortable in the empty pack, to start small, and to add more over weeks to months. It says never to put a full pack on a dog who has not been conditioned to it, because that stresses the body and can cause injury. It also advises checking with your vet or a canine physical therapist on how much weight your dog should carry and how fast to increase it.
How to pack it, per Treeline Review:
- Split the weight evenly between the two sides. Water is often the heaviest item, so two smaller containers, one on each side, keep the pack balanced.
- Put the heaviest items in the pockets closest to your dog’s body, so the bags do not sag or shift.
- Make only one thing harder at a time: more distance or more weight, not both.
Our how to pack a dog travel bag checklist can help you decide what your dog really needs to carry.
Weather, terrain and when to take the pack off
Treeline Review says a pack makes your dog work harder than a harness alone, because it adds weight and covers more of the body, and that this can lead to overheating or tiredness depending on the weather and your dog’s fitness. It advises against packs in hot weather. Dogs Trust explains that dogs mostly cool themselves by panting, and suggests walking early in the morning or later in the evening in warm weather. It says to take extra care with dogs who are old, overweight, have breathing problems or are flat-faced breeds. Our guide on how to keep a dog cool in summer covers the rest.
Treeline Review lists these as signs that a pack is causing chafing or fatigue:
- slowing down, or lying down and not wanting to get up
- a change in how your dog walks
- scratching or pawing at the pack
If you see any of them, take the pack off and carry it yourself. Treeline Review also suggests carrying your dog’s pack on very rocky, icy or steep sections, so your dog can focus on balance. If your dog is panting heavily and struggling, Dogs Trust says to stop, move them to shade and start cooling them at once, then call your vet urgently.
Picking a first pack
Both are from Treeline Review’s test; we did not test them. Our best dog backpack for hiking guide compares more.
- Wilderdog Dog Backpack: Treeline Review’s best affordable pick, a light day pack that suits a dog just starting out. Wilderdog lists it as machine washable on gentle.
- Ruffwear Approach: Treeline Review’s best overall pick, with inner pockets that keep heavy items close to the body. Ruffwear suggests sizing down if your dog is between sizes.
When to stop and get help
Battersea says to go at your dog’s pace, and to pause and speak to your vet or a behaviorist if you notice signs of pain or fear. Dogs Trust says that if your dog is struggling with a stage, go back to the one before and stay there a little longer. If your dog seems worried by the pack or by being handled, stop. If your dog behaves in a way that worries you, or shows any sign of aggression, Dogs Trust advises contacting your vet to rule out a medical reason.
In our view, a rubbed spot, a stiff gait after hikes or a new reluctance to wear the pack are reasons to rest it and book a vet check.
FAQ
How long does it take a dog to get used to a backpack?
Treeline Review says it can take weeks or even months. A dog already used to a harness may accept an empty pack within a few days. Adding weight takes longer and should go at the pace your vet sets.
Can a puppy wear a dog backpack?
Not loaded. Treeline Review says dogs should not carry extra weight until they are fully grown. Ask your vet when your dog is ready.
Can a senior dog wear a backpack?
Only if your vet agrees. Treeline Review says a fit older dog may, but not a senior dog with arthritis or other joint problems.
How much weight can my dog carry in a backpack?
Ask your vet. It depends on your dog’s age, health, build and fitness. Start with an empty pack and add weight slowly over weeks to months.