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Important note - the dog is huge (Newfie-Bernese-Poodle) and the child is small (< 30 pounds). Also, the dog has a very mild temperament, is familiar with the child (same household,) and has proven to be extremely safe with this child, even to the point of ignoring fingers in mouth and near eyes.

My understanding is that the primary risk of a child riding a dog is that the dog freaks out and/or the rider falls off. That is not my main question.

What I am concerned about is the physical stress of having even a diminutive rider - dogs were not bred as mounts (citation needed), and I'm uncertain how well their body structure will react to a concentrated weight on the back. I figure that time and activity level could also have an effect: what may be fine to carry for 30 minutes could be dangerous to carry for 5 hours.

What harm could come to a dog from having a weight < 1/5 its own body weight placed on its back, and is there a way to mitigate this?

The only halfway-credible resource I've found says that most dogs can handle ~10% of their body weight without much of a problem, with the number varying significantly based on breed. (Source = https://www.cesarsway.com/dog-training/training-tools/dog-backpack-dos-and-donts) Making or otherwise obtaining a saddle is within reason here, so a backpack seems like a decent comparison.

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    hm I'm not convinced that is a good idea. Dogs are not built to carry packs, like donkeys and horses, it's just not a good idea. The child is better being put in a back pack on an adult's back and the dog can have a small backpack - without human contents - if you really need to the dog to carry something
    – user6796
    Apr 13, 2018 at 19:37
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    Or make a sleigh up and let the dog drag the child. Vet bills for disc diseases ... Don't want to go there Apr 13, 2018 at 20:30
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    I found this this site saying adult dogs can carry 25% of their body weight with training. wolfpacks.com/products/dogpacks/guide.html I searched for {dog goat pack load} as goats are also an alternative pack animal where I have previously found good references. P.S. It is ok to answer your own question if your research continues and find solid references to share. Apr 14, 2018 at 9:42
  • Depending on how much of whom is in your dog, I'd expect him to be around 50, maybe 60 kg. 1/5 of that is 10 - 12 kg, i.e. the kid will be too big even for the trained dog sometime between 2 and 4 years of age, without considering any weight for a saddle. In other words, too small a kid to be really riding is already the limit for the dog. Plus the Newfie + Bernese ancestry won't make the dog happy at above freezing temp with such an additional load which moreover is warm itself. I guess there's a reason why dogs have been used for pulling carts and sleds, but not for carrying packs. Sep 16, 2019 at 11:42
  • Oh, and when we were kids (> 3 though), our biggish Newfie (75 kg) would sometimes carry us for a few steps before sneaking out under our legs just like he'd take the garden table for a walk. But we're talking here really a few steps where the dog would show his strength (and was not encouraged to have a rider), not minutes, half hours or many hours. Sep 16, 2019 at 11:46

1 Answer 1

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I was not able to find anything 'scholarly'. However, I ran into enough enthusiast sites and reddits to be confident that the general guidelines are followed without problem.

Summarizing the main points of the sites I found

  1. 10% is safe for almost any breed. 25% is safe for most breeds. 25+% can be reached by some breeds with proper conditioning.
  2. Age and overall health condition can lower this number.
  3. Proper fitting and balance (loose enough to put in a finger or two) is very important
  4. Never put a burden on a dog that's less than 2 years old (not yet fully-developed.) Doing so risks serious joint damage.
  5. Be wary of over-heating. A pack or saddle will hold in some heat and increase effort, putting the dog at greater risk of heat exhaustion.
  6. Do not sharply increase the load - increase weight gradually.
  7. If carrying weight in "rough" territory, consider getting a pack with a handle on top so that you can easily pick up your dog.

Sources:

https://www.peacebonepet.com/blogs/news/rei-hiking-or-backpacking-with-your-dog

You should also start with lighter loads. It’s safe to work to up to one-third of your dog’s weight if your dog is in healthy physical condition. For dogs who are older or in poor physical condition, consider leaving them at home with friends, They’ll be much happier… and safer, too.

https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/hiking-dogs.html

A maximum of 25 percent of body weight is a rough guideline, but factors like age, size and strength will alter that up or down.

http://dogsaholic.com/training/how-to-put-weight-on-a-dog.html (talking about using weights as a workout tool to bulk up a dog, so the max % is in terms of starting.)

Generally, a weight vest is not meant to stress the dog and to get him into submission which is why it should be no more than 10 – 20% of the dog’s bodyweight. Dogs under two years are not yet fully grown and should not be burdened with weights. Overworking dogs that are still at puppy stage can damage their joints.

Talking specifically about riding like a pony

Riding bareback could pose issues with weight balance, which is a big no-no for dog burdens. A well-balanced and well-fitted saddle shouldn't be any different than a regular pack. Standard weight limits would then apply.

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