The Dog Bug Out Bag
Dogs are a man's best friend, and if you ask me, a woman's best friend too! I recently adopted a golden retriever puppy named Butters and have fallen absolutely in love with him. I adore him to bits and want to take care of him however I can. With this is mind, I found myself thinking one day, why not make a Bug Out Bag for him too? He's an important member of our family and shouldn't be forgotten while prepping. Unless the circumstances prevent it, he will come along with me in an emergency situation, and he has specific needs to the point where it's helpful for him to have his own bag.
Butters with his Bug Out Bag
This bag was put together under the assumption that the dog will be traveling with humans, and therefore, the bag isn't nearly as extensive as a human Bug Out Bag. It has the essentials and dog-specific supplies, while any other needs will be covered by a human's care. If you are like me and wonder, "what happens if my dog gets separated from me?", don't worry! I've considered this too and taken precautions. There are a few items in this bag that can help your dog be found if lost, help someone return your dog to you, and help someone care for them in your absense.
The Bag
I purchased a large Outward Hound DayPak for Butters. It's not the fanciest dog backpack you can buy, but it's affordable and does the job well. It has enough room for his supplies, has reflective strips for visibility, and is lightweight, so he has no problems carrying it. We tested it on a hike recently and he seemed to like it!
Supplies
Food & Water
Just like with the human Bug Out Bag, I've packed Butters' bag to hold 72 hours worth of food. The meals are slightly less than the amount in a typical meal due to space constraints, but it's still enough to get him through 72 hours without going hungry.
As for water, you will notice there is not a 72 hour supply in here. The reasons for this are a) space constraints and b) dogs' flexibility for drinking water. Although I would not encourage anyone to let their dog drink out of a tepid, stagnant puddle of water, drinking from a stream or other moving water source will likely be perfectly safe for them. If you're not comfortable with this, you can provide water to your dog by using your own Bug Out Bag's purification methods.
Pre-filled collapsable water bottle
3 Day supply of food, including:
Dry food
Meal patties
Firm Up Supplement – This supplement works wonders, especially if you have a dog with digestive problems. Butters is prone to diarrhea, and as soon as I started adding this to his diet regularly, his movements went right back to normal. This is a wonderful addition to food for a Bug Out Bag or for everyday use.
Collapsable food/water bowl
Treats – Great as a snack on a long journey and to keep morale up.
First Aid
Although some human first aid supplies can be used for your pet, dogs do still have some unique needs. I've compiled a small first aid kit that includes extras of some essentials (for both humans and dogs) and some supplies specific to dogs.
Canine Friendly Pocket Pet First Aid Kit – Comes with many of the items listed below.
Pet first aid manual
Wound plasters
Wound pads
Disposible gloves
Antiseptic swabs
New-skin liquid bandage
Medical adhesive tape
Styptic powder (clotting powder that works well with fur)
Musher's Secret
Gauze bandage
Vetrap
Aspirin (meat flavored)
Pepto Bismol chewable tablets (safe for dogs)
In addition to the items mentioned above, make sure to include any medications your dog takes regularly or as needed. I also encourage bringing along any flea, tick, and heartworm medication, especially if it hasn't been administered to the dog recently.
Other Supplies
Leash (not pictured)
Tie-out
Squeaky tennis ball
Bandana
ID and information card – This is something I came up with to use in addition to the tags on Butters' collar. It includes the following information:
Name
Breed
Address
Owners' names and phone numbers
Birthday
Known commands
Dietary needs
Small microfiber towel
Nite Ize Clip-On LED
Poop bags
Lighter
Bear bell – Great for keeping track of where your dog is if they are off leash. This works extremely well when camping too!
Tissues
Mylar blanket
Emergency poncho
It's a tight squeeze, but all of the items listed above fit. Although it seems like a lot, the final weight on this bag is only 7 pounds! Butters is roughly 60 pounds, so this is just over 10% of his body weight, which is a much lighter ratio than that of a human Bug Out Bag (20% to 30%). It's a breeze for him to carry.
Packing Considerations
I understand that this example pertains to a large breed of dog. However, this doesn't mean that smaller dogs can't have bags as well. Thankfully, the amount of food required for 72 hours in relation to the size of your dog is proportionate, so the amount they have to carry will automatically scale in that way with what the can carry. As I always say, pack your bag to fit your (and your dog's) individual needs.