Trail Tested: Kurgo K9 Rucksack Dog Carrier
I love bringing my dachshund, Rocket with me
whenever possible because my day is always better with him by my side! I'm sure
many of you that share a house with a dog would agree.
To properly pull this off I need the right
gear. Besides Rocket's harness and leash, I have a plane approved dog crate, a
crash approved car harness and a few dog carrier backpacks. These
necessities pretty much cover me for any situation and ensure Rocket can join
us.
I recently tried out Kurgo's new K9 Rucksack Dog Carrier. I'm no stranger to
Kurgo's products, let alone their dog backpacks. Most of my travel gear comes
from Kurgo.
I was particularly excited to try out the K9
Rucksack Dog Carrier because of how stylish it is.
The K9 Rucksack Dog Carrier is designed to take your dog everywhere in style safely. It's
durable enough to take on a hiking trail yet functional enough for an urban
lifestyle. In addition to your pup, it can fit your small belongings as
well as a laptop and handheld devices.
The first thought that came to mind upon
receiving the dog carrier is that I would use it with or without Rocket. It's a
multifunctional bag that is primarily used to carry your dog but can also be
used as your daily backpack.
The K9 Rucksack Dog Carrier is sturdy and
durable. The exterior is made of thick, water-resistant fabric and
features a hard shell base making it a breeze to stand up on its own. The
interior is roomy with soft padding and features side and top ventilation for
proper air circulation.
Trail Tested
Whether you want to hit the trail or hop on
the subway, this bag truly allows you to bring your dog everywhere. My
primary use for a dog backpack is for hiking and traveling. Rocket loves to hike and has accompanied me
on many mountains and trails over hundreds of miles.
Occasionally, we get overly ambitious and do a
little more than his short legs can handle. I always bring a dog carrier
so that I don't have to hold him while hiking back down the
mountain.
My husband and I decided to try the bag on a
few different hikes as well as around town.
I found the K9 Rucksack Dog Carrier very
comfortable. The back of the bag is padded, which alleviates back
discomfort and eliminates any jabbing that can come from thinner backpacks. The
bag includes a sternum strap which helps disperse weight and provides
additional support. Unlike the Kurgo G-Train dog backpack, this bag does not have a hip strap which was slightly concerning
at first. To my surprise, I found the
bag performed quite well, and my husband found it more comfortable than the
G-Train backpack.
When using the bag with your dog, you have to
roll the top flap back as it is not ventilated. Once rolled, it easily
hooks into two loops keeping it tidy and out of the way. If using the bag without your dog, roll the
top flap down to secure your belongings.
K9 Rucksack
Characteristics
The K9 Rucksack Dog Carrier features
a large zippered front mesh panel. This panel gives you the ability to
fully contain your dog inside the carrier while still allowing air to
flow. If your dog prefers to stick their head out, you can partially
unzip the mesh or tuck the entire panel inside the bag.
I chose to tuck the mesh inside the bag so
Rocket could stick his head out. I think the only time I would leave it
zippered up is in the winter when it's cold or hiking on a steep incline where
there was a chance of Rocket falling out. It is worth mentioning that the
bag does include an interior tether strap that hooks onto your dog's collar or
harness for added security.
In addition to the front mesh panel, there is
a reinforced, ventilated mesh on either side of the dog compartment for air to
flow. A soft pad at the base of the bag keeps your dog comfortable and is
removable and washable.
The Rucksack carrier has an interior zippered
pocket meant for a laptop. Two exterior zippered pockets can securely fit your
small belongings like keys, phone, and wallet.
This bag is excellent for day hikes and taking
your dog to public places. If you are looking for a dog backpack
primarily for long hikes or want to fit more extensive accessories in addition
to your dog, I would probably recommend the G-Train backpack because it has more
room for your gear as well as water bottle holders.
Where this bag excels is in its unquestionable
versatility. This backpack is practical, and it looks good. It can keep
up with the demands of an urban lifestyle but is comfortable enough for hiking
and traveling. It's a bag you can use with or without your dog eliminating the
need for multiple backpacks.
Rocket seems very content in the K9
Rucksack. The roomy interior allows him to comfortably lie down in a
"donut" shape or sit with his head sticking out the bag to take in
the view.
I did put a small pad in the bottom of the bag
to boost Rocket up because he isn't quite tall enough to stick his head out. I
have also used a small blanket folded up, which works well, especially in the
colder months!
The K9 Rucksack Dog Carrier can hold dogs up
to 25 pounds, and the dimensions are 12.5" w x 9" d x 18.5"
h. To give you some framework, Rocket weighs 12 pounds. He is about 18 inches long and 10 inches
tall.
Additional Features
Kurgo is known for its
high-quality products. Should there be a manufacturing defect, they offer
a lifetime warranty and will repair or replace the product free of charge.
The Rucksack dog
carrier is comfortable and stylish enough to be used without your dog.
The base of the bag
has a hard shell made from waterproof Armorsole and can easily stand up on its
own. The waterproof material makes it very easy to clean.
Tips For Acclimating
Your Dog To The K9 Rucksack Dog Carrier Backpack
To get your dog into the bag, place the
backpack on the ground, roll up the top flap, and unzip the front mesh
panel. Let your dog sniff the pack and give them a treat.
Once they become comfortable around the
backpack, place a treat inside the bag and let them jump into it on their
own. If your dog is too small to jump into the pack or if they suffer
from joint problems, lay the bag flat and let them walk in.
If your dog seems anxious, take a break and
come back to it later. You don't want to force anything, or else they
will associate the bag with a negative experience. Once your dog is
comfortable with the bag, you can also pick them up and quickly place them
inside.
The K9 Rucksack Dog Carrier is a
multifunctional bag that is primarily used to carry your dog, but practical
enough for an everyday backpack. The spacious design ensures your dog
will be comfortable while traveling everywhere you go.
Elizabeth McGrath is the founder of Bark and Biscuits, a
website that strives to make the relationship between you and your dog
exceptional. Before devoting her work full-time to Bark and Biscuits,
Elizabeth was a professional ballerina for 13 years. Outside of the office,
you’ll find her hiking or traveling with her husband and dachshund, Rocket.
Follow her adventures @rocket_the_dachshund on Instagram and visit her
blog: https://barkandbiscuits.com