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Julia and her pooch Iroh have been hitting the bush trails and coastal adventures to put the full range of DOOG gear for dogs (and their humans) to the test.
Adventuring with a four-legged friend brings about a lot of joy – but also a fair few of its own unique challenges.
Where a weekend microadventure would normally entail a bit of planning (how’s the weather looking?, are there campsites available to book?, which bakery will we stop at for a pie?), this ramps all the way up with a dog in tow. Is it dog friendly? Does the track include any steep stair sections or vertical climbs? What about ticks and snakes?
And planning includes gear, which is where DOOG comes in. DOOG (short for Dog Owners Outdoor Gear) is a local Aussie brand designed by dog owners, for dog owners. The gear is crafted with the outdoor environment in mind, and stands out from your standard pet store fare in its suitability for real-deal adventures.
Read more: Packing List For Road Trips With Your Dog
Harnesses are designed with stainless steel and neoprene (in case of impromptu, or planned swims), belt bags and stash pockets for leads mean handy access to poo bags (useful to ensure you’re leaving no trace on the trail), and a chunk of the range is designed for hands-free use. Doesn’t hurt that it’s stylish as hell, either.
Why am I the right person to do this review?
Do I adventure? Check. Do I adventure with a dog? Also check. Jokes aside, I quickly became second mum to Very Good Boy, Iroh, a few years back when my best mate/housemate brought him into our lives. And it’s been three years of learning how to adapt exploring to a pooch since then.
We’ve done a lot of trial and error in that time, both across the adventures themselves, and with the gear we take. With every hike, ocean swim, and campsite stay, I’ve learnt what works (both for us and Iroh), and what doesn’t.
Quick Specifications
First Up, Iroh
English Cocker Spaniel, 17kg, roughly medium-sized, looks like he’d say ‘Surf’s up’ if he could speak. I’d be remiss getting into this all without noting that (as for humans), gear for dogs is highly subjective. Iroh’s short legs mean we don’t head on crazy long hikes (3-5km is the max), and he’s got some specific behaviours which have influenced how I’ll be reviewing the DOOG range.
Now For the Gear
- A Neosport ‘Clip It’ Neoprene Dog Lead, approx. 160cm with adjustable handle and length – RRP $34.99
- A heavy-duty Neotech Harness – RRP $59.99
- A Car Restraint, adjustable from 38cm – 60cm – RRP $19.99
- A Neosport Hip Belt – RRP $54.95
- A Walkie Pouch, attachable to lead – RRP $19.99
- Large Car Seat, 100cm W x 40cm D – RRP $159.99
DOOG Dog Products Reviewed & Tested
1. Neosport ‘Clip It’ Neoprene Dog Lead
As soon as you start regularly walking a dog, you quickly find out that all leashes are not created equal, and hand comfort and adjustability play big roles in how you feel by the end of the adventure. The Neosport ‘Clip It’ Neoprene Dog Lead is pretty darn ergonomic, in every regard. A winning feature is the extremely handy hands-free function, with the adjustable handle and buckle clip, meaning you can clasp the lead around your waist.
This was one feature I loved in concept. When I first unfurled it, I almost immediately exclaimed to my best mate, ‘How good is this, no hands!’. Excited by all the prospects of hands-free walking (just think of how many pics we could snap on the trail), we put it to the test – only to realise that this was one better in theory than practice for Iroh. Anyone who owns a cocker spaniel will know they pull, often in spite of (sometimes years) of training.
Despite all that, this lead is a winner. The clip function is equally useful for securing the lead quickly around a tree, bench leg, or pole. And even when relegated to holding the lead in hand, the material and stitching make for a nice soft feel. The only other drawback we found for the trail or campsite was the length, which didn’t allow much leeway for exploration (maybe we’ll just have to try the Extra Long leash from the DOOG range).
2. Neotech Harness
Harnesses are a first necessary step for a safe walk with your pooch, especially for adventuring. The Neotech Harness is on the heavy-duty end of the scale, designed for stronger dogs or those who are quick to pull on the lead. It’s got all your standard bits for comfort and walk style, with two places for size adjustment and lead attachment points on chest and back.
At first look, the Neotech Harness was perfect for Iroh. There’s plenty I love – the reflective webbing is a nice safety feature for evenings at the campsite, and the stainless steel loops and neoprene padding make for a decently water-friendly piece of gear. Iroh loves to launch himself into puddles, creeks, streams, and the ocean, so having something that dries well and without stinking is super important.
Unfortunately, this one didn’t end up being for us. The heavier-duty aspects of the harness included a couple of quite firm points on the chest, which didn’t gel with Iroh’s broad-chested build and tendency to yoink on the lead at times.
That being said, this would be a terrific harness for a dog with a less chesty frame, especially one who needs a firmer harness. As with all the DOOG products we tested, the quality is top-notch, and this harness feels like it’ll withstand scrubby bush, salty water, and muddy pools over the long term.
3. Car Restraint
Quite possibly one of the most important pieces of dog gear you will own – consider it your dog’s seatbelt in the car as you pack up the rig and head for the wild. The DOOG Car Restraint does all it must with no fuss, clipping easily into the seatbelt and onto the harness.
The material feels nice and durable, and the connection points are all very solid when tugged. It’s also great peace of mind knowing that DOOG’s car restraints are Volvo-tested and approved. The adjustable length helps as well, especially if you’re feeding it through a dog car seat. Of course, we colour-matched ours to Iroh’s harness, collar, car seat, and lead (sage green is absolutely his hue).
4. Neosport Hip Belt & Walkie Pouch
There are many things you need within easy reach on an adventure, with poo bags and treats being priorities. Leave no trace means leaving the trail clean and clear for other hikers – and sometimes means completing the last couple of kilometres with a stinky parcel in your pocket. With all this, access is huge (you don’t want to be rummaging through a backpack when also trying to hold a leash), and made very easy by the nifty accessories in the DOOG range.
The Neosport Hip Belt is both stylish and practical. It can be worn in true bum-bag style around the hips, or in the more ~fashionable~ cross-body sling.
Either way, it keeps walk essentials handy and protects your essentials in turn – I particularly like the interior plastic zippable sleeve for popping my phone, and the neoprene is quick-dry and anti-microbial. Realistically, it’s probably not that different to any other bum bag, but it is fun to colour match with the rest of the gear.
In a similar vein, the Walkie Pouch is epic. It’s essentially a small pouch that attaches to the leash with a small hole (just like a box of tissues) for pulling out poo bags. Having this permanently on the leash was huge – not once did I hit the trailhead, beach, or campsite and realise I’d forgotten to bring the necessities.
5. Car Seat
Easily the most luxe item in the range, and one of our most-loved. Doggy car seats do a ton of heavy lifting when it comes to adventures – a comfy ride on longer drives, a seat protector post-swim, a cozy spot to curl up in at the campsite.
The DOOG Car Seat did all this and more. The design is both comfy and simple, with the inner pillow being nice and cushy, and the loops easily securing to the car seats. We got the large size, which has been super useful both in and out of the car.
The size means the seats are (mostly) protected when bringing a sandy and wet dog home from the beach, and it doubles as a familiar bed for overnight stays at campsites or tiny homes. The whole thing is washable too, with a removable cover on the inner pillow. Saving the best for last, this is easily our fave from the whole set.
Read more: The Best Gear Picks For Adventure Dogs
Price
Overall, pricing was pretty darn reasonable across the range. Almost everything feels like very solid value, especially considering the quality, perhaps with the exception of the hip belt (while handy, you may not notice that much of a difference from a bog-standard bum bag). The car seat is the only item that clocks in above $100, but the make, materials, and utility feel well worth it.
Sustainability
There’s unfortunately not a huge amount of sustainability info handy for the DOOG products, and it’s not clear where or how they’re made.
That being said, it’s a brand with plenty of homegrown flavour. DOOG was born on the Northern Beaches, co-founded by passionate dog lovers Jamie and Jessica Knight off the back of their own experiences in the outdoors with pooch Wilbur – so big ticks for authenticity.
The range is also rigorously tested in Aussie conditions, and the quality of the gear feels very durable – it’s early days, but these don’t show any signs of wearing out.
Final Thoughts
Consider me a DOOG acolyte. I was already familiar with the brand (we’d made a few small purchases already, and had heard good things during chats at the dog park), and giving the full range a spin really showed me the care put into the products, with any issues mostly coming down to personal/pooch preference.
It’s well-made gear, designed specifically for Aussie conditions by folks who really get out there with their pups – couldn’t ask for much more.
Iroh was compensated for his modelling work in handshakes and treats!
People & Dogs in the Great Outdoors
- Meet the Dogs That Helped Turn Pet-Sitting Into a Worldwide Adventure
- Overnight Hiking With My Dog on the Hume & Hovell Track
- 10 Ways to Adventure With Your Dog That Aren’t a Walk Around the Block
- This Woman Walked the Overland Track With the Help of Her Assistance Dog Lenny
