I don't want my buddy to freeze.
December 18, 2010 3:54 PM
Winter backpacking with the dog. With a hammock. How do I keep him warm?
I intend to go backpacking in early January, in Pennsylvania USA, weather permitting. We've been getting temperatures in the 20°F to 40°F range. I expect more of the same.
I very much want to take my dog with me (OPP (you down with it?): shaggy. high and tight. I know y'all you want a puppy picture). I'm specifically looking at hikes on land where off-leash dogs are tolerated, so don't worry about that. And while we're moving, he seems plenty comfortable down to about 30°F. Below that... well, I have a rather fashion-tragic jacket for him.
But, at night, I sleep in a hammock instead of a tent. So, inviting him inside is not really an option. How can I keep him warm? A tiny doggie tent? Please remember that I'm backpacking, so every pound counts. I want him warm, but I can't be dragging around his dog house.
I intend to go backpacking in early January, in Pennsylvania USA, weather permitting. We've been getting temperatures in the 20°F to 40°F range. I expect more of the same.
I very much want to take my dog with me (OPP (you down with it?): shaggy. high and tight. I know y'all you want a puppy picture). I'm specifically looking at hikes on land where off-leash dogs are tolerated, so don't worry about that. And while we're moving, he seems plenty comfortable down to about 30°F. Below that... well, I have a rather fashion-tragic jacket for him.
But, at night, I sleep in a hammock instead of a tent. So, inviting him inside is not really an option. How can I keep him warm? A tiny doggie tent? Please remember that I'm backpacking, so every pound counts. I want him warm, but I can't be dragging around his dog house.
He really needs to sleep with you for body heat, unless you can find a battery-powered heat mat in addition to a pup tent to keep him warm. Please also have a plan in place for unforeseen circumstances.
Practice in the hammock with him in your back yard, neighbors be damned.
posted by vers at 4:01 PM on December 18, 2010
Practice in the hammock with him in your back yard, neighbors be damned.
posted by vers at 4:01 PM on December 18, 2010
Smallest one-man tent you can find, and pile your clothes and non-food gear inside with him.
Consider that he might whine if he's separated from you like this, and scratch at the inside. You can do some dry runs at home to get him used to the idea.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:05 PM on December 18, 2010
Consider that he might whine if he's separated from you like this, and scratch at the inside. You can do some dry runs at home to get him used to the idea.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:05 PM on December 18, 2010
Yeah, totally sleep with him. I cuddle my dog all the time and she sleeps in bed with us. Nothin' wrong with that!
posted by two lights above the sea at 4:06 PM on December 18, 2010
posted by two lights above the sea at 4:06 PM on December 18, 2010
If he's sleeping in the hammock with you he'll keep you warm too. You could start training him now to jump in.
Or if you really don't want him up there, what if he slept under you? He would get a tent, and you would be the roof. A blanket going over you and down to the ground could be the sides. And then a little blanket on the ground for him to sleep on.
posted by amethysts at 4:14 PM on December 18, 2010
Or if you really don't want him up there, what if he slept under you? He would get a tent, and you would be the roof. A blanket going over you and down to the ground could be the sides. And then a little blanket on the ground for him to sleep on.
posted by amethysts at 4:14 PM on December 18, 2010
Should've originally included it. But, this is what I'm sleeping in.
posted by Netzapper at 4:16 PM on December 18, 2010
posted by Netzapper at 4:16 PM on December 18, 2010
He's adorable. I too vote for him sleeping in the hammock with you...just keep his nails clipped short and filed so that they don't rip the nylon of the hammock. Practice at home!
posted by whalebreath at 4:48 PM on December 18, 2010
posted by whalebreath at 4:48 PM on December 18, 2010
Mr. Aetg has been hiking with backpacking hammocks although not with dogs. He suggest that you put the dog in with you as long as the dog isn't particularly fidgety. He has hiked it about 40 degree weather in the hammock and declared it super cold and suggests that you may wish to have a dog with you in the tent so you don't freeze.
posted by aetg at 4:50 PM on December 18, 2010
posted by aetg at 4:50 PM on December 18, 2010
Perhaps a little off topic, but have you ever tried sleeping in a hammock at 20 degrees? Unless you can get some foam insulation on the bottom you are going to be quite cold because the hammock will crush your sleeping bag on both the bottom and the sides.
You might consider a GoreTex bivy sack like this or this that you can use with an insulating sleeping pad. Then the dog can snuggle right up to you.
posted by JackFlash at 5:04 PM on December 18, 2010
You might consider a GoreTex bivy sack like this or this that you can use with an insulating sleeping pad. Then the dog can snuggle right up to you.
posted by JackFlash at 5:04 PM on December 18, 2010
Feel free to ignore this if you've done this before, but one of the most miserable nights I've ever spent was winter camping in a hammock. I was dangerously cold, and eventually bailed and put my bivvy/pad/20F bag combo directly in the snow, which was noticeably warmer but still pretty much abject suffering since I was very cold by then. Conditions were more extreme than what you're talking about, but the point is that the hammock was way worse than being on the ground.
So yeah, you may want to leave the hammock behind on this one, borrow a tent, or use a bivvy, and share body heat with the dog.
If you're married to the hammock.... whatever you're going to try, why not try it in the back yard first so you can bail if it's not working? That's what smart camping parents do with kids.
posted by richyoung at 5:23 PM on December 18, 2010
So yeah, you may want to leave the hammock behind on this one, borrow a tent, or use a bivvy, and share body heat with the dog.
If you're married to the hammock.... whatever you're going to try, why not try it in the back yard first so you can bail if it's not working? That's what smart camping parents do with kids.
posted by richyoung at 5:23 PM on December 18, 2010
Seconding JackFlash. Sleeping in a hammock in the wintertime flouts the laws of physics. Get down on the ground with yer doggie.
posted by bricoleur at 5:26 PM on December 18, 2010
posted by bricoleur at 5:26 PM on December 18, 2010
I have been winter camping with dogs. I would definitely sleep in the snow on the ground, out of the wind. If you have a good sleeping bag, and a tarp underneath, you will fine. Snow is comfy to sleep on.
I have never slept with my dogs. I make them a dug out in the snow. Line it with a blanket. On really cold nights, just after the dog lays down - boil water, put the boiling water in a nalgene bottle, put the bottle in a REALLY thick sock, and lay it with the dog. It will serve as a heater over the night. The dog will be fine.
posted by Flood at 5:46 PM on December 18, 2010
I have never slept with my dogs. I make them a dug out in the snow. Line it with a blanket. On really cold nights, just after the dog lays down - boil water, put the boiling water in a nalgene bottle, put the bottle in a REALLY thick sock, and lay it with the dog. It will serve as a heater over the night. The dog will be fine.
posted by Flood at 5:46 PM on December 18, 2010
Sleeping in a hammock cold weather is a really bad idea. Ever see those signs that say "Bridge freezes before road?" Your ass is the bridge and the ground is the road.
If you insist (wrongly, IMHO) to sleep in a hammock, take your pup in with you. In all likelihood you'll both be tired from hiking and pass out just fine together.
posted by InsanePenguin at 6:46 PM on December 18, 2010
If you insist (wrongly, IMHO) to sleep in a hammock, take your pup in with you. In all likelihood you'll both be tired from hiking and pass out just fine together.
posted by InsanePenguin at 6:46 PM on December 18, 2010
For those of you trying to derail into winter/hammock land. I do have an insulation system. And I will be trying dog-acclimation in the basement before we go.
Sadly, my backyard is suburban-Philly-issue, small, and has no trees or vertical structures from which to hang a hammock. But, I've done a lot of cool-weather hammocking, and I think I know how to extend the comfortable temperature downward.
Let's not discuss whether or not hammock camping in and of itself is feasible in winter. Let's talk about keeping the dog warm (which, I've come to accept might involve bringing him up with me, or leaving him home).
posted by Netzapper at 6:47 PM on December 18, 2010
Sadly, my backyard is suburban-Philly-issue, small, and has no trees or vertical structures from which to hang a hammock. But, I've done a lot of cool-weather hammocking, and I think I know how to extend the comfortable temperature downward.
Let's not discuss whether or not hammock camping in and of itself is feasible in winter. Let's talk about keeping the dog warm (which, I've come to accept might involve bringing him up with me, or leaving him home).
posted by Netzapper at 6:47 PM on December 18, 2010
Also, snow is a no-go condition. Yes, it might happen. But, if it's expected to snow, I'm going to drink beer and play videogames instead of backpacking. So, digging the dog into the snow isn't going to work.
posted by Netzapper at 6:49 PM on December 18, 2010
posted by Netzapper at 6:49 PM on December 18, 2010
Also, while Flood mentions making a dugout for the dog, this is fine for dogs that are made for cold weather, like Shiba and Akita Inus, Huskies and Malamutes. Springer Spaniels are not made for cold weather because they have hair, not fur. This is especially bad if there is snow on the ground.
Please, leave your (adorable) spaniel home before you leave him outside by himself.
posted by InsanePenguin at 6:51 PM on December 18, 2010
Please, leave your (adorable) spaniel home before you leave him outside by himself.
posted by InsanePenguin at 6:51 PM on December 18, 2010
I can't speak to one over another but there is such a thing as a dog tent. It's a place to start.
posted by scalefree at 8:39 PM on December 18, 2010
posted by scalefree at 8:39 PM on December 18, 2010
And if you want to provide extra warmth for him, you might consider some type of chemical body warmer. WARNING: carefully consider the risks involved in placing a body warmer near your dog. Perhaps hanging the warmer from the top of the dog tent could provide warmth without endangering your dog. Consult a Vet or other specialist before trying this yourself.
posted by scalefree at 8:51 PM on December 18, 2010
posted by scalefree at 8:51 PM on December 18, 2010
Dog's going to need a tent.
Or a tested insulation system as good as yours.
Otherwise, give a shit and fuckin' leave him home.
posted by the Real Dan at 10:23 PM on December 18, 2010
Or a tested insulation system as good as yours.
Otherwise, give a shit and fuckin' leave him home.
posted by the Real Dan at 10:23 PM on December 18, 2010
I've winter camped several times with my short-haired dog. We've got a sleeping bag for her similar to this one. However, we have a tent and keep her in the tent with us (on our feet ideally) and she still seems cold sometimes in the winter. It's not particularly heavy, so we can stick it on the outside of our packs, and the dog has her own pack to carry her food and water, so that helps save some weight off my shoulders. We've also got this dog coat to help keep her warm.
posted by ghharr at 11:19 PM on December 18, 2010
posted by ghharr at 11:19 PM on December 18, 2010
Alright folks, you've convinced me that I need to teach the dog to sleep in the hammock with me. He sleeps with me at home, and he passes right out if he's tired, so I think it'll probably work out just fine.
Thanks, y'all!
posted by Netzapper at 8:14 AM on December 19, 2010
Thanks, y'all!
posted by Netzapper at 8:14 AM on December 19, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Meatbomb at 3:58 PM on December 18, 2010