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Climbing With Dogs

Picture a day spent at the crag, tackling bouldering problems or testing your lead climbing skills. The only thing that could make it better? Your furry companion joining in.

Rock climbing with your dog can be as relaxing or as adventurous as your pup is comfortable. It all comes down to having the right dog climbing gear. Check out leashes, beds, and bowls for keeping them comfy while chilling at the base of the crag. Or explore harnesses and boots for an exhilarating day of belaying them right alongside you.

However you like to get after it, having the right dog climbing gear means your companion can be a part of the fun too. And don’t forget to check out our tips, tricks, and how-tos for planning your best day at the crag together.

Top Tales For Climbing With Dogs

  • Six Tips for Crag Dogs (And Their Humans)

    Ruffwear Ambassador Laura Patton and her dogs Star and Colt are big fans of hiking, biking, and skiing through the endless terrain of their Pacific Northwest home. Here are Laura's top 5 tips for getting started when mountain biking with your dog.

  • Waypoints: Max & Billy

    There's no speedier duo than Tom & Hungarian Vizsla Ruby on the trails – Tom on his mountain bike and Ruby on her four paws. Here, Tom shares their favorite waypoint for biking and running, Wakerley Woods.

  • Connections Built to Last

    At a time when my life and my future felt like they had shattered into pieces and I was trying to pick them back up, Bernie was the furry, steadfast presence of love and thrill that allowed me to hold it together and eventually build something even better than I had. Bernie is always by my side. He’s my sidecar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Rock climbing with your dog can be a great way to get outdoors and enjoy some time together. So what is a crag dog— and what makes a good one? A good crag dog has basic trail manners, is content relaxing on the ground while their human is climbing, and is respectful of other climbers in the area.

Some dogs are good at scrambling, although the vertical rock climbing that humans do is not typically a strength of theirs. Oftentimes, rock climbing with your dog just means your companion enjoying some time hanging out at the base of the crag. Playtime between climbs and the walk to and from the crag can make climbing quite fun for our dogs.

Tethering your dog while you climb is usually a good call, since climbing areas can be busy. So bringing the right dog climbing gear includes a strong connection to keep your pup secure, like our rope leashes for dogs.

Yes, you can belay your dog — but only with the proper knowledge and dog climbing gear, including a dog lift harness. The Doubleback™ Harness is a full-body, strength-rated belay harness that opens up new areas for dogs to explore with their humans that would otherwise be difficult to access. Strength-rated to 2,000 lbf or 8.9 kN, the Doubleback™ is designed to be comfortable while aiding in lifting and lowering dogs in exposed areas, meaning your furry buddy can tag along when the climb gets steep.