Fitting a Ruff Wear Approach Pack

I was recently asked for help in fitting  a Ruff Wear Approach pack.  I thought I would post my advice to help others out.

These details also apply to the Palisades pack and, to a lesser degree, the Web Master Harness.

First, unclip both of the fleece covered straps on the bottom of the pack.  They will be fleece on one side and the color of the pack on the other.   If fitting a Palisades pack, it is easiest to first remove the pack from the harness until the harness is on the dog.

Looking at the top of the pack, the front is the end with the square Ruff Wear Logo - the back is the end with the handle.

Stand over the top of your dog so your heads are both facing the same way.  The front strap that you unclipped will now have created a "Y" shape with the other non-covered strap that has the triangle shaped padding.  Your dog's head will go through the loop created by the pack and that triangle pad.

Pick up your dog's right foot and put it through the other loop.  The front fleece covered strap can now be brought behind your dog's left front leg and re-clipped to the left side of the pack.  The triangle padding should now be centered on your dogs chest.

If the triangle pad is higher and on the neck at all, adjust the uncovered straps to bring the triangle padding down a little.  That strap has two adjustments on top and one on the bottom.  You don't want it interfering with your dog's wind pipe.

The fleece covered strap itself can also be adjusted.  You want it slightly snug across the bottom of the dog's chest - not so much that is will constrict breathing but enough that it doesn't allow the pack to slip to your dog's side.  This is an adjustment that is best perfected after walking a short distance and making some minor adjustments along the way.

The back fleece strap will obviously go under the belly and should be adjusted with the same snug fit.  Again, I would walk a little and then check this one too.

A well fitted pack will have the majority of the pack around the shoulder blades and not in the middle of the back or on the butt.  This will obviously vary a little depending on how long your dog is.  As long as about a third of the pack is up on the shoulders you are fine.  Those same straps that control the triangle pad can all be tightened to pull the pack forward.

Be sure to balance the weight of the pack's bags.  Even a very little difference will cause the pack to shift to one side while on a hike.

If your dog is not conditioned to carry a pack, work up to carrying weight just like you might do with yourself to get into hiking shape.  Start with an empty pack and gradually increase the load to 10% - 20% of the dog's weight.  This percentage will vary with breed and physical conditioning.  A well conditioned working dog can carry 20%.  A less conditioned dog should carry less.  Also, young dogs under 1 year should carry minimum weight as their bones finish developing.

If your dog doesn't respond well to having the things in the pack, try stuffing it with newspaper.  This won't add any weight but will help the dog get used to carrying something on their back that sticks out.  My dog can't ever grasp the concept that she is wider than normal - she constantly runs into trees. She kind of gives a look like the tree jumped out at her!

Have questions?  Just ask!