To support your pup in an emergency or when SHTF, you need to have plenty of canine resources on hand. You could add them to your pack, lessening the supplies you can carry for yourself or slowing you down. That is where a dog bug out bag can come in handy. A large dog is perfectly capable of carrying its own supplies- reducing your own bug out bag weight and making your pet more useful. If you get a bag the right size for your dog and get them used to it, they won’t even notice it’s even there.

Most medium to large dogs can carry most (if not all) of their equipment. A smaller dog may require a pet carrier, but we will get to that in a moment. Saddlebags for dogs are the most widely used option, and there are several models and sizes to choose from. Making sure your dog is not overloaded and becomes used to the bag is important, so once you have selected one make sure you break it in on some hikes and walks before you need it for an emergency.

Just like us picking out backpacks, getting your dog to try on a saddlebag pack is the best way to get something that will work and is made with quality. There are a few options online if you’d rather try that out, but don’t be afraid to try different sizes and take advantage of free returns if they don’t fit well. Here are a few of our suggestions that cover two different capacities, but are not overly cumbersome.

Packing a dog bug out bag is pretty simple and a similar process to packing a “human” bug out bag, except there are fewer tools. The bare necessities include:

• Food – 72 hours worth. Different breeds vary in how much food they require a day, but a basic guideline is ½ cup of dry food for every 10 pounds they weigh. Puppies and more active dogs can require more. It is best to portion off so you can feed dogs multiple times a day instead of just once. Besides cans or dry foods, you may also want to include treats so you can feed your dog without breaking out a large portion or feeding on the go.
• Water – 72 hours worth. Plan to be on the move and more active than normal. Both you and your dog will likely need more water than you typically drink in a day. The amount of water you need varies but is generally based on your dog’s size. A well-hydrated dog drinks 9-17 ounces of water per day for every 10 pounds they weigh. You can add whatever amount of water your dog will require and add it to the supply you are carrying, but having them carry their own water is best for spreading out your resources- in case something happens to either water supply.
• Hygiene – Poor hygiene can cause disease. Pack some pet waste bags so you can keep your areas clean.
• Medical Supplies – Just like people, dogs are more likely to get hurt in emergency and disaster situations. Having first aid supplies for them is ideal, and be sure to add any medications they regularly take too.
• Tools – While a smaller dog may require a carrying case or cage, you need a way to account for medium and larger dogs as well. Pack a collar and leash at a minimum. Don’t rely on their training to stay by your side in an emergency. Dogs can act irrationally in stressful situations and a leash can make sure you are not separated easily.
• Paperwork – The boring requirements are often overlooked, and this is one of them. Having a copy of your dog’s information printed off and at least in a splash-proof container (ziplock) can come in handy. While you may not need it for an SHTF situation, it can definitely come in handy in an emergency or if you happen to become separated. Rabies vaccinations are especially important to have documented in emergencies since most people are not willing to gamble with an unaccompanied and unvaccinated dog.

While these are not completely necessary for a dog in an emergency, they are great to have around. If you have extra room and weight capacity in the dog bug out bag, you should consider these items.

• Toys – A toy is an underrated item that should always be considered when making a bug out bag for a dog. The Goughnuts indestructible chew toy is GREAT for dog bug out bags (although it’s a little pricey) While it is pretty easy to make anything a toy for a dog, having an indestructible chew toy around is pretty great for everyone’s entertainment- not just the dog. Use it to play fetch, or just to let your dog get out some energy. You could bring a bone for them to chew, but even the smallest dog can eventually wear out a bone.

• Collapsible Bowls – Bowls don’t take up much room when they are collapsed and make it easy to give your dog food and water on the go with less waste. While pouring bottled water out and letting a dog lap it as it comes out works okay on a hike, you don’t want to be that wasteful in an emergency situation.
• Dog Boots – If your dog is not used to walking long distances, you may want to check out dog boots to protect their paws. They would take some getting used to ahead of time but can offer better protection if there will be a lot of walking on asphalt or through rocky terrain. Most people don’t opt to use them, but there are a few who swear by them and won’t take their dogs on hikes through rocky terrain without them.

If you do end up keeping food and water in your dog’s pack, be sure to redistribute the weight as you go through them. You don’t want to let them eat all the food and water from one side of the pack without rebalancing. An unbalanced pack can cause extra stress over long distances and increase the chance of injury, so be sure to balance the pack before you harness them in.

Practice with your dog. We mentioned this in an earlier section about getting your dog used to a pack, but you want to go beyond just wearing the pack. Load it up as you would for a bug out situation and get your dog some practice. You can use it as an opportunity to test out your and your family’s packs and make an exercise of it.

Testing out plans and kits, and knowing how to use all the tools in your kit is just as important as having the kits in the first place. Take notice of how quickly your dog tires out with the pack loaded. If your dog cannot keep a good pace on a practice run, you may need to re-evaluate how much you have packed and what they are carrying.

source: https://trueprepper.com/dog-bug-out-bag/

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