Backpack
Grooming & Handling · 19 steps · by Push Drop Stick
Your Dog will learn to enjoy having a backpack put on and taken off.
**Important!** Dogs should never carry more than 25% of their body weight; however, even that can be too much. Consider how comfortable you would feel carrying 25% of your body weight on a hike. A good pack weight to aim for is 10% of Your Dog's total body weight. For example, if Your Dog weighs 50 lbs, then they should not carry more than a 5 lb load.
**Puppies:** Getting your puppy happy about wearing a backpack is wonderful socialization during the puppy window (around 4 to 16 weeks), when puppies learn what is safe and normal in their world. Because a young puppy usually has no fear to undo and soaks up new experiences fast, you can often run this plan in **proof mode** (proof levels 1 and 2, the harder review steps) so your puppy breezes through it faster than an adult dog might need. Keep every rep positive and let your puppy set the pace.
**Split:** If Your Dog is frightened of their backpack, start the plan on the first split. It can also help to start with a new backpack they do not have a negative history with.
Training steps
Pair the sight of the backpack with treats at a distance
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
When Your Dog is not expecting it, show them the backpack from a distance and then toss a generous handful of tasty treats toward them so they can get the treats without getting close to the backpack.
Success: Your Dog eats the treats.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Pair the sight of the backpack with treats
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
When Your Dog is not expecting it, show them the backpack, then surprise them with a generous handful of tasty treats. Do not approach Your Dog with the backpack. Stay where you are and let them choose to come get the treats, so they are always approaching the backpack on their own terms. Between reps, sit with Your Dog without feeding them and keep the backpack hidden. This contrast will have Your Dog thinking “where is that backpack? I want to see it again because it makes great stuff happen!”
Success: Your Dog approaches and eats the treats.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Put the backpack on the floor and sprinkle treats around it
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
When Your Dog is not expecting it, pick up the backpack, put it on the floor, and sprinkle a generous handful of tasty treats onto and around it. Back away so Your Dog can approach and find the treats without any social pressure.
Success: Your Dog approaches and eats the treats.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Lure to approach the backpack
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Hold the backpack high enough for Your Dog to walk underneath it and lure them to approach. Feed treats for 3 seconds before pulling it away.
Success: Your Dog approaches the backpack.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Lure head under the backpack
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Hold the backpack high enough for Your Dog to walk underneath it and lure them to put their head under one end. Feed treats for 3 seconds before pulling it away.
Success: Your Dog puts their head under the backpack.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Lure under the backpack
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Hold the backpack high enough for Your Dog to walk underneath it. When they are directly underneath, feed treats for 3 seconds before pulling it away.
Success: Your Dog walks under the backpack.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Touch back with the backpack for 1 second
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Lure Your Dog to walk underneath the backpack, feed the lure and then touch it to their back for 1 second before quickly feeding another treat.
Success: Your Dog stays still and eats the treat.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Touch back with the backpack for 3 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Lure Your Dog to walk underneath the backpack, feed the lure, then touch the backpack to their back for 3 seconds without letting go. Feed treats continuously the whole time.
Success: Your Dog stays still and eats the treats.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Lure toward the head hole
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Hold the backpack as if you will put it over Your Dog's head, but instead put your hand through the head hole and feed Your Dog treats through the opening continuously for 3 seconds before pulling it away.
Success: Your Dog approaches your hand and eats the treats.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Lure head into the head hole
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Hold the backpack as if you will put it over Your Dog's head, but instead put your hand through the head hole and lure their head into the opening. Feed treats continuously for 3 seconds before pulling it away.
Success: Your Dog puts their nose into the hole.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Lure head through the head hole
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Lure Your Dog's head through the hole and feed treats continuously for 5 seconds before pulling it away.
Success: Your Dog puts their head through the hole.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Put nose into hole
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Hold out the backpack as if you will put it over Your Dog's head but instead wait and see if Your Dog approaches and puts their nose through the hole on their own without seeing food first. Feed through the backpack opening from the other hand.
Success: Your Dog puts their nose through the hole.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Fade the lure
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Hold out the backpack for Your Dog to put their head into, then wait to see if they approach and put their head through without seeing food first. Feed through the backpack opening from the other hand.
Success: Your Dog puts their head through the hole.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Drape it over their back for 5 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Hold out the backpack for Your Dog to put their head into. When they do, drape the backpack onto their back and feed treats for 5 seconds before taking it off.
Success: Your Dog stays still and eats the treats.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Put the backpack on with a loose fit
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Adjust the backpack to a loose fit before holding it out. When Your Dog approaches, put it on and feed treats while fastening it, for 5 seconds while it is on, and again while taking it off.
Success: Your Dog approaches and allows the backpack to be put on.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Put the backpack on with a proper fit
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Adjust the backpack to a proper fit before holding it out. When Your Dog approaches, put it on and feed treats while fastening it and for 5 seconds while it is on. Instead of taking it off, Push to the next step and try walking around with it on.
Success: Your Dog approaches and allows the backpack to be put on.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Walk around with it on empty, feed every 2 steps
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Put the backpack on Your Dog and walk around your house, feeding a treat every 2 steps.
Success: Your Dog is relaxed in the backpack.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Walk around with it on empty, feed every 4 steps
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Put the backpack on Your Dog and walk around your house, feeding a treat every 4 steps.
Success: Your Dog is relaxed in the backpack.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Walk around with it on empty, feed every 6 steps
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Put the backpack on Your Dog and walk around your house, feeding a treat every 6 steps.
Success: Your Dog is relaxed in the backpack.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Congratulations! You now have a dog who loves their backpack and happily volunteers to put it on.
Use plenty of high-value treats and go extra light on the weight load the first few walks. Keep the positive association strong by giving Your Dog a treat every time they put it on for a few weeks.
If Your Dog starts avoiding their backpack, that's completely okay! Simply Drop back to a step they're comfortable with and work through the plan again or restart the plan with proof steps. Go at Your Dog's pace and do as much training as they need.