I am planning on buying my dog a pack to carry his own water, extra leash, and perhaps some of my stuff, like a flashlight, small first aid kit, and etc on our hikes. Probably only about 10-15lbs worth of stuff (I may increase the weight as he grows accustomed to it). Just wondering if he will need boots to protect his pads from sharp rocks and things. Are dog's pads not designed to support more than the dogs own weight?
Some background: My dog is an (approximately) 18 month old male, 80lbs, Doberman/German Shepherd mix. He is on the active side, goes for long, brisk walks daily, and has been hiking several times with me before (without a pack), and it was a breeze for him. We usually do a 4-5 mile trek.