Finding a good Dachshund carrier or backpack is not always easy. Especially not when you have a larger Dachshund or want to be able to carry them comfortably for longer periods of time. A regular Dachshund carrier can be perfect for shorter moments on the go and small Dachshunds, but for longer days and heavier Dachshunds, we were looking for something different.

That is why we developed the Wolf & Bear: a backpack especially for Dachshunds, designed around the long body of the Dachshund and with your carrying comfort in mind.

In this guide, you will read everything about the Wolf & Bear backpack, which size you need, how to adjust and use the backpack properly, and what the difference is from a regular Dachshund carrier.

Why we developed the Wolf & Bear Backpack
Many dog backpacks are tall and narrow, forcing a dog to sit upright or hang. This is not good for the spine. And once you want to carry a larger Dachshund of 8, 10, or even 12 kg, the options become even more limited.

That is why we developed the Wolf & Bear from scratch around two things: the unique physique of the Dachshund and the carrying comfort for the person wearing it. Not a modified standard dog backpack, then, but a backpack specifically developed for Dachshunds.

Wolf or Bear: which size should you choose?
The backpack is available in two sizes:

Wolf: for Dachshunds up to 8 kg
Bear: for Dachshunds from 8 to 12 kg

Always weigh your Dachshund before ordering. Still in doubt between the two sizes? Please contact us for size advice.

Dachshund carrier or Dachshund backpack: what is the difference?
A regular Dachshund carrier can be a very nice choice. Especially for a smaller Dachshund that you want to carry occasionally during a walk, a day in the city, or on public transport.

A carrier is usually worn over one shoulder or cross-body. It is designed for Dachshunds up to about 8 kg. After that, it quickly becomes too heavy to carry over one shoulder. The Dachshund carrier is compact, easy to put on, and ideal for shorter carrying moments. You can usually fold it up easily so you don't have to carry it around as a large bag all day.

Do you want to carry your Dachshund for longer or does your Dachshund weigh more? Then a backpack might be more comfortable. With the Wolf & Bear Backpack, the weight is distributed over a larger part of your body via two shoulder straps and a hip/waist belt.

The Wolf & Bear is also specifically designed for the long physique of the Dachshund, with enough length to lie horizontally and an orthopedic mattress as a base.

So: small Dachshund + short carrying moments? A regular Dachshund carrier can be fine. Longer trips, more carrying comfort, or a larger Dachshund? For that, we developed the Wolf & Bear Backpack .

How to use and adjust the Wolf & Bear Backpack
Proper adjustment is extremely important for your carrying comfort and for the position of your Dachshund in the backpack. Therefore, take your time the first time to go through all the steps.

Practice the steps below without a Dachshund in the backpack first. This way you know how all the zippers, clips, and straps work before you let your Dachshund in.

Would you rather see how it works? Watch our instruction video here soon for the Wolf & Bear Backpack.

Before you begin: let your Dachshund get used to it
Place the backpack open on the floor at home a few days before you use it for the first time. This way, the backpack will take on the familiar scents of you and your environment, and your Dachshund will have plenty of time to discover it on their own. Some Dachshunds will even go in on their own to have a look or lie down.

Place a snack or a familiar blanket inside now and then. Don't make it an exercise where your Dachshund *must* go in yet. The goal is for the backpack to become a familiar object first.

Step 1 – Place the backpack on a table

• Place the backpack on a sturdy table or other stable surface around hip height.
• Open the clips on both sides. This gives the backpack its full rectangular shape when viewed from above, creating as much space as possible for your Dachshund to enter.
  

Step 2 – Open the backpack fully

• The Wolf & Bear has a large zippered opening where your Dachshund enters and exits. Open this side completely.
• Then also open the viewing window on the other side. Roll up the flap and secure it with the two small clips.
• Close the roll-up mesh top.

You can now look right through the backpack: from the large entrance opening on one side to the viewing window on the other. The backpack is now stable, fully opened, and ready for your Dachshund.

Step 3 – Let your Dachshund enter

• Let your Dachshund walk into the backpack on their own via the large opening. Offering a snack through the viewing window or placing one inside the backpack can help with this.
• When your Dachshund is fully standing or lying in the backpack, close the large entrance opening completely with the zipper.

Take your time with this. Especially the first few times, there is no need to rush.

Step 4 – Attach the safety tether

• Now, from above, attach the internal safety tether to your Dachshund's harness by slightly opening the mesh panel at the top.
• Always attach the safety tether to a well-fitting harness and never to a collar.
• Adjust the safety tether so that your Dachshund has enough room to move to lie down comfortably, but cannot climb or jump out of the backpack through the viewing window.
• Then close the mesh panel at the top completely with the zipper and Velcro.

Through the open viewing window, you can keep an eye on your Dachshund, reassure them, and offer a snack if necessary.

Step 5 – Close the backpack

• Now shape the backpack into its final form: first close the clips on both sides. This makes the backpack narrower at the top. You can no longer look into the bag from above.
• Next, close the clips that run over the top panel. These help give the backpack its stability and shape.
• After that, close the large flap and secure it with the two clips.

Check one last time that all zippers and clips are fully closed before lifting the backpack.

Step 6 – Put on the backpack

• Stand with your back facing the table.
• Grip the backpack firmly and put on the shoulder straps like a regular backpack. Because the backpack is already at approximately hip height, you don't have to lift the full weight of your Dachshund from the floor.
• First, close the hip/waist belt.
• Then, close the chest strap.

Now comes the most important part: adjusting.

Step 7 – Adjust the hip belt

• The hip/waist belt takes on a significant part of the weight. Therefore, tighten it securely around your hips/waist.
• The strap should be snug without pinching uncomfortably.

A well-adjusted hip belt helps prevent the full weight of your Dachshund from hanging on your shoulders and lower back.

Step 8 – Tighten the shoulder straps

• Afterward, pull both shoulder straps tight. The Wolf & Bear should sit quite high and close to your back. Do not wear it low like some regular backpacks.

The bottom of the backpack should be about level with your lower back. If the shoulder straps are too loose, the backpack may hang too far away from your body. This not only feels heavier for you but can also cause the base your Dachshund is lying on to no longer hang perfectly straight.

Step 9 – Adjust the chest strap

• Finally, adjust the chest strap properly. This helps keep the shoulder straps and the back panel of the backpack tight against your body.
• Then look at the overall position: the backpack should sit high, close to your body, and stable, with the base your Dachshund is lying on as straight as possible.

Take your time for this during the first few occasions. Every body is different, and a small adjustment to one of the straps can make a big difference.

A poorly adjusted backpack can cause pressure points and cause the bag to hang too low or too far back.

Step 10 – Walk a few steps first

Walk a few steps quietly at home before you actually head out.

Feel how the weight is distributed. Have someone look from the side to see if the backpack hangs straight and high enough, and adjust the hip belt, shoulder straps, or chest strap accordingly.

Does your Dachshund find it exciting? Have someone stand by the viewing window to reassure them while you walk the first few steps.

It may sound contradictory, but some Dachshunds actually become calmer when the viewing window is completely closed. So, experiment to see what your Dachshund prefers.

You can easily give a snack through the viewing window. This way, your Dachshund knows you are still nearby, even though he or she is behind you.

Step 11 – Build up the walking gradually

Start with a few minutes the first time and build up the carrying time gradually. You need to get used to carrying the extra weight, and your Dachshund needs to get used to lying in a moving backpack.

Regularly check if the backpack is still sitting correctly during the first walks and adjust the straps when necessary.

During longer walks, or when you are walking uphill, for example, it can be pleasant to rest your hands in the loops at the front now and then. This allows you to temporarily take some of the strain and weight off your lower back.

How to take off the Wolf & Bear
It is also preferable to take off the backpack at a sturdy table at approximately hip height.

With the Wolf and a Dachshund up to 8 kg, you might be able to manage easily without a table. For the larger Bear with a Dachshund of 8–12 kg, we strongly recommend using a table. Bringing a filled backpack from your back all the way to the floor is unnecessarily heavy on your lower back.

Step 1 – Stand with your back to the table

• Stand with your back as close to the table as possible.
• Grip the backpack firmly by the sturdy loop at the top before loosening the straps.

Step 2 – Loosen the chest strap first

• First open the chest strap clip.
• Leave the hip belt closed for now. It is currently holding the weight of the backpack in place.

Step 3 – Then loosen the hip belt

• Hold the backpack firmly by the top loop and then loosen the hip belt.
• Carefully step out of the shoulder straps while continuing to hold the backpack, and place it directly onto the table.

This way, you don't have to lower the full weight to the floor from your lower back.

Step 4 – Open the large exit

• Once the backpack is stable on the table, open the large zippered entrance that your Dachshund used to get in.
• Then detach the internal safety tether from the harness.

Step 5 – Let your Dachshund exit backwards

• Let your Dachshund exit the backpack backwards via the large opening. Never let your Dachshund climb out of the backpack via the viewing window.

This is important. If your Dachshund learns that the viewing window is also an exit, he or she may try to climb out that way during a subsequent outing.

The viewing window is intended for looking out, staying in contact with you, and potentially receiving a snack. Entering and exiting should always happen through the large zippered opening.

Check before every walk
Before you leave, always check that all zippers and clips are fully closed, the safety tether is attached to the harness, and the hip belt, shoulder straps, and chest strap are properly adjusted.

Also, look at the position of the backpack: it should sit high and close to your back, with the bottom about level with your lower back and the base your Dachshund lies on as straight as possible.

Take your time, especially the first few times. Once you know how to adjust the Wolf & Bear properly and your Dachshund is used to it, the whole process will become easier and easier.

And then it's time for what we ultimately made the Wolf & Bear for: hitting the road together. Running into any issues? Ask us!