Choosing your pack - Most American Alsatians can carry 25% to 30% of their body weight. That will need to be adjusted according to the fitness of the dog and the difficulty of the terrain.
Make sure the pack you buy places the bags over the shoulders and ABSOLUTELY NOT over the back.
Make sure the pack is non restrictive, water proof and brightly colored.
Decide what "kind" of trips you & your AmAl will be taking - and purchase accordingly. The best kind are the detachable bag and separate harness system. Different weight and size bags are available for light urban hiking to weeklong backcountry needs - so you can interchange. Also keep in mind your regions seasonal tendencies. Colorado's Western Slope is generally drier and will need more water carry, as where the eastern slope is and plains - water can be obtained on hike usually, so just a filtering system carry is needed. Seasonal weather changes are abrupt in the Colorado, so be prepared for all four seasons in one day. You will NEED on all weather pack.
Your pet professional and sales associates can help you get the right fit. Keep two fingers sliding in comfortably between the straps and avoid any looseness especially on the back, which can cause irritation.
Have your American Alsatian elevate it's front - don't let the pack slide off the shoulders. Watch on the "down" on stairs for instance, the pack mustn't slide into the neck.
The Carriage of the pack should allow more space on top and toward the front. You will want to pack heavier more awkward items ON TOP and IN FRONT of the bag, closest to the shoulder as possible - allowing for a more balanced carry.
Teaching the American Alsatian to bring objects
Teaching a "Soft Mouth"
This term is familiar with bird dog enthusiasts, who beleive a good bird dog is born with a "soft mouth". The intention is not to have the dog puncture or rip the bird upon retreival. American Alsatians are born without much prey drive, and they have a good sense of their oral abilities, so they too are born with a "soft mouth". The AmAl, being a comapnion dog, can be easily conditioned OUT of a soft mouth - according to what its' very foundation of handling. Most of that involves play....the AmAl learns at a much faster rate what works and what doesn't - than many other breeds. It is therefor quite essential from the very beginning to NEVER play tug with an AmAl intended for a soft mouth. As a foundation, it is necessary to interact with the AmAl in such a way that does not cause the dog to pull back or apply pressure onto objects it carries.
DO NOT ask for objects or to fetch - unless in a SESSION to do so.
DO NOT manipulate the muzzle or open to examine unless in a session to do so.
DO NOT muzzle pay. Never allow teeth on skin, play biting, batting the muzzle for "fake biting" response or any of the like
DO NOT pull on objects in the mouth in play.
DO stroke the muzzle when petting - back of hand, from nose to cheeks and ears, especially when dog is carrying an object.
DO acknowledge when dog picks up an object. Smile and laugh and encourage them to carry it.
DO hand objects to dog often, and trot away from them in a playful manner, encouraging dog to follow.
DO stop all play and petting if dog drops object. resume within 5 minutes.
