A dog carrier backpack for a dog up to 10 kg is picked by back length. The number on the scale only tells you the bag can take the load. At Homies, a back of 36 to 43 cm takes size S of the Homies Dog Carrier Backpack, and all sizes are tested up to 20 kg.
Below: how to measure in a minute, which dogs our size guide names for S and M, and what to check when your dog is a solid 10 kg. Want to see the colours first? The whole dog carrier backpack collection is one click away.
Dog carrier backpack up to 10 kg: the short answer
Measure your dog's back from the base of the neck to the base of the tail. Then match the number to the chart.
| Size | Back length | Dogs named on our size guide |
|---|---|---|
| S | 36 to 43 cm | Standard dachshunds (not oversized), maltipoos, similar small dogs |
| M | 44 to 53 cm | Small to medium labradoodles and similar |
Between two sizes? Take the larger one. A back shorter than 36 cm points to a smaller bag, and our guide to a dog carrier up to 5 kg covers that.
Why weight alone can't pick the size
Put two dogs on the kitchen scale. Both read 10 kg. One is long and low, the other short and stocky.
Same scale, different bag. The long dog needs more room from neck to tail, and the stocky one needs a bag that doesn't squeeze its shoulders.
That's why we size on back length. It decides whether your dog can sit in the bag with its chest supported and its head out. Since all sizes are tested up to 20 kg, a 10 kg dog is nowhere near the limit. The question is fit.
How to measure your dog
You need a soft tape, a flat floor and a treat. A sewing tape works fine.
- Let your dog stand on all four paws.
- Find the base of the neck, where the neck meets the back.
- Run the tape along the spine to the base of the tail.
- Leave the tail out. It doesn't count.
- Read the number in centimetres and compare it with the size guide.
Sitting right on the line between two sizes? Go up one. A bit of extra room beats a bag that pinches.
Which dogs fit size S?
Our size guide names standard dachshunds (as long as they're not oversized) and maltipoos for S. Dachshund owners can read the full story in our guide to a dog backpack for a dachshund.
A little labradoodle? Moos, The Netherlands, writes: “My little labradoodle fits perfectly and looks so adorable peeking out of the bag.” The size guide puts small to medium labradoodles in M, so the tape still has the last word.
For other breeds, breed alone doesn't settle it, because build varies inside one breed. Measure first. More ideas are in our guide to small breeds that fit a carrier.
Carrying a puppy that is still growing? The puppy carrier guide is the better place to start.
What to check in a carrier for a heavier small dog
You carry the bag, and 10 kg is felt on your shoulders by the end of a walk. These are the details we'd look at:
- Padded straps. Soft straps spread the load. The Homies carrier has them.
- An internal safety clip. Clip your dog in on each trip, including the short ones.
- Breathable panels, so air reaches your dog.
- Nylon twill outside and a 50% recycled nylon lining, which you can hand wash or run at 30 degrees.
Torn between a backpack and a sling? We lined them up in dog backpack vs sling.
Going by bike with a 10 kg dog
Homies is designed in Amsterdam, so the bike matters to us. Eva Ten Doeschate writes on our size guide: “I commute by bike to work, and bringing my basset fauve de Bretagne along used to be a hassle. The backpack has completely changed that.”
Before your first ride, wear the loaded bag around the house and see how it sits on your back. Our dog backpack for cycling guide walks through the rest.
Let your dog get used to the bag
Give your dog time. Open the bag on the floor, add a treat, and build up in short sessions. Our step-by-step guide to getting your dog into a dog backpack lays it out.
Worried about safety? We answered it in is a dog backpack dangerous.
FAQ: carrying a 10 kg dog
Which size does a 10 kg dog need?
The tape decides. A back of 36 to 43 cm is size S, and 44 to 53 cm is size M. Between two sizes, take the larger.
Is 10 kg too heavy for the backpack?
No. All Homies backpacks are tested up to 20 kg. What matters is whether the bag fits your dog's back and whether your shoulders are happy with the load.
What if my dog is heavier than 10 kg?
Measure the back the same way. All sizes are tested up to 20 kg, and our guide to a dog carrier backpack up to 20 kg goes through the bigger dogs.
Can I return the bag if it doesn't fit?
Yes. Returns are open for 14 days, and you pay the return shipping.
Pick the size, then the colour
Measure your dog, check the number against the chart and choose olive green or black in your size. Each bag sold donates a meal to a dog shelter.
Not sure which size? Check the size guide and compare your dog's number.
