Best Dog Sleeping Bag

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A dog sleeping bag? Really? Believe it or not, yes, there are sleeping bags made to keep your canine comfortable and warm through the night.

“But, dogs are natural animals, with lots of hair to keep them warm. They can tough it out,” you think. Wrong.

While breeds such as Malamutes and Huskies are designed for cold, weather camping conditions like Montana, most dog breeds are not and need a dog sleeping bag.

Where to Find a Dog Sleeping Bag

Many camping stores, such as REI and backcountry.com provide compact, cold weather sleeping bags that are designed in shape and size for your dog. These are useful in many areas. In Boulder, CO, the town I have laid claim to as my home, dogs are a common fixture on the trails and the backcountry of Indian Peaks Wilderness.

However, in Glacier National Park, dogs are not allowed on the hiking trails, nor are they allowed to spend a night in the tent. And there’s one reason why: Glacier National Park is grizzly bear habitat.

Hiking With Dogs In Grizzly Bear Habitat

In almost any area of America, taking your dog on a hike or camping with your best friend is done as a means of bonding and protection. Your dog will keep other animals away from you and your campground, including humans.

However, a dog will do nothing against a grizzly bear except provoke a grizzly bear attack. You think a 600 pound monster is going to be scared of your dog’s bark? No way. In fact, the dog’s instinctual defense of barking will only trigger the grizzly bear’s instinct of attack. This is why northwest Montana has such a high dog mortality rate.

Unfortunately, if you’ve bought a dog sleeping bag in hopes of camping and hiking with it through Glacier National Park, you’re going to be disappointed to learn your dog must hang in the car while you explore Glacier National Park’s hiking trails.

Still Want A Dog Sleeping Bag?

Outside of Montana and northwest Wyoming, a sleeping bag for your dog is a great addition to your backpacking equipment. Even breeds that can stay warm naturally, like Huskies and Malamutes, can benefit from the added comfort of a sleeping bag.

Friends of mine who hike with their Border Collies need a sleeping bag for their dog when backpacking in the Rocky Mountains. While these breeds can hike for miles, they’re smaller and not as insulated as other more durable breeds.

Breeds that couple as good hiking partners and could benefit from a sleeping bag are:

• Border Collie
• Catahoula Leopard Dog
• Rhodesian Ridgeback
• Australian Cattle Dog
• German Shephard
• Retrievers
• Basset Hounds
• Spaniels
• German Short Haired Pointer
• And all sorts of mutts!

If it’s just you and your dog, another option would be purchasing double sleeping bags for the two of you.

More Sleeping Bag Information

Best Sleeping Bag: Don’t let cold weather or wet nights ruin your vacation — learn how to pick the Best Sleeping Bag for you

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Glacier National Park Travel Guide