How does it work?
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Getting your dog into the K9 Sport Sack can be a breeze!
With the right method, practice, and a treat or two, you and your dog will soon be on to endless adventures together.
Scroll through the images above to see each safety, sizing, and comfort feature and its description is found below. -
Watch this video here to learn how to do the Walk-In Method.
Have your dog stand or walk onto the bag.
Place front paws through the arm holes.
Clip the top collar enclosure buckle.
Place back legs in and zip up.
Feed collar enclosure buckle through zipper loop.
Tighten side cinches, collar enclosure, and back lumbar straps.
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Be sure you are using the features found on the K9 Sport Sack as they help you and your dog have the best experience using the carrier.
Carabiner Collar Clip: Prevents your dog from getting out of the bag
Side Cinch Straps: This helps keep your dog in a forward position and not lean backwards. Be sure to tighten these down as much as they can.
Collar Enclosure: This will ensure that your dog doesn't force itself up and out of the bag and helps prevent leaning as well. Be sure to tighten this enough.
Lumbar Back Straps: This supports the Zipper and helps size the bag.
Zipper Loop: Thread collar enclosure buckle through the zipper loop found on each of our models (except for the Urban model) to ensure that the zipper stays fastened.
All of our carriers come equipped with non-slip zippers, but this is an additional feature we recommend using.
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By wearing the bag correctly you will maximize you and your pet’s comfort and experience.
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If you find yourself needing to put the carrier on alone, check out this video here.
Once your dog is on your back, pull down on both shoulder straps to lift the bag up(circled in red on second photo above).
Your dog should be able to see over your shoulders and rest paws there as well.
This will be more comfortable for you and your dog as well as give your dog an incredible view!
Clip and tighten chest clip and/or hip belt if your carrier has one.
Scroll through the rest of the images above to get a good idea of how you and your dog should look while using the K9 Sport Sack.
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Nothing will help you and your dog get used to the carrier more than practice.
This will help you and your dog have more success in future adventures together. -
As you get your dog into the K9 Sport Sack, help your dog associate the bag immediately with a positive experience.
Using treats, praise, and patience goes a long way to helping your dog get into the carrier.
Do something nice and easy the first few tries in the carrier to get used to carrying the extra weight of a live animal on your back.
If you find yourself in a location or environment where there are a lot of distractions, take your dog alone to a calm and quiet place and try there.
Listen to the queues your dog is giving you while in the carrier to determine how long you should using it each time.
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We recommend using the carrier between 30-45 minutes at a time and at least 20 minutes before going back in to allow your dog to stretch their legs, use the bathroom, etc.
Use the carrier ONLY for activities you feel 100% comfortable and safe to participate in.
Please be aware of your own physical strength and the additional weight of your dog on your back before doing any activities.
K9 Sport Sack does not assume any liability for accidents of any kind.
FAQ
Questions and answers
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Our carriers were designed under the close supervision of multiple veterinarians to ensure maximum comfort and safety.
If the K9 Sport Sack is used properly, you should not have any issues with your dog.
Each model (except for the Urban 2) is equipped with a lumbar strap for extra back support. However, if your dog has pre-existing health concerns we recommend consulting your veterinarian before purchasing.
During the consultation, it will be important to know your dog may stand on the base of the bag at first, but will settle in to sit in an upright position on their bottom like they are in the begging position. Their front paws will be exposed and resting on your shoulders.
We recommend using the carrier for 30-45 minutes at a time.
Learn more about health and safety information here.
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Most customers go with these two options.
Option 1. Try to get an idea for how big your dog will become weight wise, length wise from collar to base of tail, and chest girth wise based off of breed or parents.
Then, purchase that sized carrier along with a booster block or two found here.
If we're out of booster blocks, you can use pillows, towels, yoga blocks, or other similar items.
Customers even go to craft stores, purchase a 3 inch foam block, and cut it to fit the carrier!
Option 2. Purchase the Trainer model found here. It's our most affordable, entry level bag that work great for puppies and growing dogs.
When full grown, upgrade to another carrier!Then, purchase that sized carrier along with a booster block or two found here.
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Pull down on both shoulder straps to lift your bag up. If you are with another person, have them gently lift the base of the carrier up as you pull down on the shoulder straps.
Shoulder straps are circled in red in the second picture in the "How Should I Be Wearing the K9 Sport Sack?" section above.
Your dog should be able to see over your shoulder and rest their paws there as well.
If you’ve done this and your dog is still sitting low in the carrier, please call 385 515 8908, send us a message on social media, or email info@k9sportsack.com for additional support.
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Some dogs really love to lean back into the K9 Sport Sack.
This is completely normal and natural.Please make sure you have tightened your collar enclosure and side cinch straps to help your dog stay forward in the bag.
The new Air 2 and Plus 2 models have a changed design to the side cinch straps and collar enclosure to help ensure this problem is fixed.
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If you have the right size and are wearing the carrier correctly, it’s not a problem if your dog prefers to ride in the K9 Sport Sack with their paws inside of the carrier.
If your dog is too small for the bag and isn’t able to put their paws through the arm holes, you need to either exchange the bag out for the right size or get a booster block to give your dog a lift inside the carrier.
You may also need to pull the collar enclosure a bit tighter and make sure the carabiner clip is clipped to your dog’s collar.
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This problem usually happens when your dog is riding too low on your back. Refer to FAQ #1, which explains how to raise the backpack higher up on your shoulders. This will distribute the weight more evenly.
To relieve the pressure, grab the webbing from both shoulder straps and pull down.
If you have the assistance of another, have them lift the backpack up from the base while you pull down on the webbing of the shoulder straps.
Another helpful tip is to tighten the chest clip and/or hip belt if your model comes with one. If this is still causing discomfort, we recommend loosening the shoulder straps slightly to alleviate that pain.
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Before making the decision to exchange, make sure your dog is sitting in the bag and not standing. It’s common for a dog to initially stand in the carrier, but with time it will settle into the carrier resting on its hind legs and rear.
Once your dog is settled in, a clear indicator of the carrier being the wrong size is where your dog’s collar is in relation to the carrier. If your dog’s collar is sticking out 6+ inches outside of the bag, the carrier is too small. If your dog seems low and drowning in the fabric, the carrier is too big.
Instead of an exchange, consider getting a booster block if your dog is riding too low in the carrier.
Please call 385-515-8908, email info@k9sportsack.com, or send us a message on social media for additional support before exchanging or returning. We will help as best we can!
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This issue generally occurs when people use the wrong method of getting their dog into the bag.
Ensure you start with the dog's paws first instead of their bottom. Click here to watch a helpful video of the walk-in method.
Using treats, praise, and patience goes a long way in helping your dog get into the carrier.
If you find yourself in a location or environment where there are a lot of distractions, take your dog alone to a calm and quiet place and try there.