Hi folks,

Ive recently given a welsh collie a home and i am looking for suggestions and links for gear for him. Mainly a coat that has side pockets so he can carry his own food and water and maybe the tent poles and pegs. Also a good chest harness for him and an extendable lead.

Thanks in advance

Drew and Jara(woof woof)

How old is the dog?

Can be very damaging to a dogs joints to overwork them in their first 18 months. No big walks in the hills and definitely no load carrying

well for a start he needs a pair of boots
http://store.securehosting.com/stores/sh205601/shophome.php

Then his own tent
http://store.securehosting.com/stores/sh205601/shophome.php

then a bag
http://store.securehosting.com/stores/sh205601/shophome.php

and a roll mat

http://store.securehosting.com/stores/sh205601/shophome.php

and the harness
http://store.securehosting.com/stores/sh205601/shophome.php

Drew, have a look at www.caninespirit.co.uk

Everything your new pal could want for days out on the hill :o)

Cheers.

My local gearshop "thegorgeoutdoors.co.uk sells a brand called ruff wear, things like panniers, boots and the like in various dog sizes.

How do you know he is Welsh Andrew.

I know that mine are since they respond to Welsh Commands!


;))



All Collie based breeds are well equipped to face the harshest of the weather, that is what they were bred for, so he shouldn't need anything to keep him warm and in fact covering their double coats with an "artificial" coat can be detrimental to their natural process of "insulation."

This is more so in the summer months where there is a greater danger of them overheating, especially if carrying a load in panniers.

We have had this discussion before on this forum, and I don't want to revisit the arguments again, so I will shut up now!

Jara is 13 months old. He must be Welsh because thats where i got him from, Wales that is.

The next 12 months are going to spent training and improving his fitness. Tent training is high on the list of things to do, although he passed his first big test today with flying colours....Sheep.

Thanks for the links guys and pointers.

Drew and Jara(woof woof)

Drew heres a carry pouch for a start,but if you do get him a doggy tent dont get a green one hey!lol.
the site might help too.
http://www.outdoorproducts.com/proddetail.aspx?sku=1017U
thanks again..

CHECK OUT THE LEGALITY OF MAKING YOUR DOG CARRY ANYTHING OTHER THAN ITS OWN FOOD IM SURE ITS NOT LEGAL TO MAKE IT CARRY MUCH MORE IN THIS COUNTRY

"CHECK OUT THE LEGALITY OF MAKING YOUR DOG CARRY ANYTHING OTHER THAN ITS OWN FOOD IM SURE ITS NOT LEGAL TO MAKE IT CARRY MUCH MORE IN THIS COUNTRY"

Can you please stop shouting FFS? Is your Caps Lock stuck or what?

Jeez O man.

If it's legal to have your dog waddling about 30 lbs overweight I fail to see why it might be illegal to have it carry 2 lbs of food, 1lb of water and a 1lb set of panniers...

but if you're worried the nice people at canine spirit have some guidelines (not legal I know):
http://www.canine-spirit.com/canine/default.asp?p=43

"CHECK OUT THE LEGALITY OF MAKING YOUR DOG CARRY ANYTHING etc etc"

Was that an attempt at LOUD humour then gordon?

If not, then anything that causes distress or suffering to a dog could lead to accusations of animal cruelty and possible prosecution, but come on, doggie panniers are legal in this country, as are choke chains, "spike" collars and electric bark deterrents, the latter three which certainly SHOULD be illegal.

Do a search for "spot tag" well worth a buy arrounf £4.

Small Led thing that attaches to the collar and flashes - the clever bit is it has a light and motion sensor so only goes of in the dark and when Jara moving about, no messing arround switching it on/off etc.

Hi Rob yes we got a flashy light thing for his collar, he looks like he's having a doggie disco.

Well the training has started for him now, 3 miles running per night, will increase it to 3 1/2 next month.

This dog i have is a real "working" dog and he will be carrying his own water and food and maybe a few other nick nacks like a small section of roll mat etc thats if he wants to drink eat and sleep in comfort, I mean i'm carrying the tent and his sleeping bag/blankie(which is currently being made out of an old 2 season one of mine).

Tent training is also going well and he seems quite ok with the confinement as long as I am in there aswell.

I'm getting the panniers which incorporate the full harness system as used by SAR dogs as i think it looks the nutts muts.

Cheers all

Drew and Jara

"CHECK OUT THE LEGALITY OF MAKING YOUR DOG CARRY ANYTHING etc etc" the bloody world has gone barking mad!!!!!!!!!

Ok folks sorted out the flashing collar thingymajig, the harness is on order.

Now then, a dog coat? I know for during the day my dogs own coat will be more than sufficient to keep him warm and dry, due to its natural makeup, but what about at night when the temp drops sub zero and he is sleeping in the tent(he will have a cut down 12mm foam mat under him)do i get him a fleece dog jacket?.

Any advice or opinions would be very welcome from people who have experience of this.

Cheers in advance

Drew and Jara(woof woof)

Tony said "All Collie based breeds are well equipped to face the harshest of the weather, that is what they were bred for, so he shouldn't need anything to keep him warm and in fact covering their double coats with an "artificial" coat can be detrimental to their natural process of "insulation." " Which I think is sound advice.

Years ago I went camping with a collie cross - which usually was a pampered family pet. She coped with some moderately foul conditions seemingly better than I did and with no special treatment. Soaking wet and min temp drops below zero - no problem. A 7 day hike accross Wales - nearly got lost racing up the Glyders on day 6. And that on half rations ( dog harnesses hadn't been invented then ).

Start off gentle and see how it goes, but I think you will be surprised. Post us some reports.

Drew, Jara looks great mate! Don't go painting him/her bright yellow now! She'll keep you warm up in those crazy wild camps of yours!

cruxster man, you could have bought an old R.A.F. police dog, Apparently they are trained to read maps and compasses, as the handler's arn't up to it! (sorry to any snowdrop reader's,), and dare I even mention (for fear of offending those who are worried about dog pannier cruelty)the French army even have parachute harnesses for dogs, so that the dog can be strapped to it's handler, and do a tandem jump together.
But back to being serious, will you be buying your dog "dog boots" or whatever they are called. or does anyone else out there use them, or are they a bit of a gimmick.
PS. Does the dogs drinking water need to be treated (for impurities) in the same way as yours will, or would chlorine/iodine be bad for him.

Ray,

Dog boots can be useful if your dog has a problem, but routine use on hardy dogs like working breeds could have a detrimental effect in that it can soften their pads and makes them less resistant to hard/rough surfaces. It is a bit like us winching when walking barefoot on gravel and African bushmen walking barefoot on thorn bushes without ill effect!

I will not let my dogs drink from still/stagnant water but do let them drink from running streams. Their digestive system is not as sensitive as ours!

Ok the first trip into the mountains was overall a good one. Jara finds the "Ruff wear" harness and sadle bags comfortable, his tent discipline is excellent with him staying in the porch for sleeping etc.

Have invested in a jacket for him, for sleeping in only though as i think he'll run far too hot for it in the daytime.

He has an almost uncontrollable urge to chase sheep though (funny being a welsh border collie...who'd have thought eh!!)

He is also very keen on the downhill sections, to the point he almost pulled me over a few times.

He is also not very keen on fellow hill walkers who are wearing the hoods on their jackets done right up.

A few issues to work on but we'll get there.

Pic posted in gallery in my album.