Hello, Nanuq is nearly 12 months old now and we are looking to get her a scooter to get her working, as we know she would really enjoy this and I think she is ready for a bit more action than just her walks. Does anyone scooter with their dogs and can you give us any advice to get her going. Thanks in advance. Lisa x
Does she know her Gee and Haw??? (left and right) I would stick a harness on her and hitch her up and see what she does first of all..some just KNOW what to do.. If she doens't run..maybe get someone to cycle in front of her so she has something to chase....
Thanks Louise. She does not know her Gee & Haw, but I will start working on that on walks now. I suppose it is all trail & error at first and I know who will be the prey to get her running ha ha!
definately try her first..she may just be a natural.. Cruiser knew what to do fromt he first time he had his harness on..it's better if they don't need something to chase..that way she can go at her own pace..
ooohhh Scootering we love Scooters. Louise is right Axel was like Cruiser knew what to do straight off, but my friends Mal had to be taught how to pull using a tyre at first now there is no stopping her. Enojy
I must admit my younger dogs were given something to pull behind them (tyre) at first, so they got used to the noise of something behind them, I didnt want to freak them out using my rig or scooter incase they associated the "vehicle" to their fright if you know what I mean, iot only took a couple of time of this and when they went onto the rig they were fine. Mo
Just to clarify: Gee - Right Haw = Left It is a good idea to let her get used to the harness and then to drag something light behind her before putting her on the scooter. Then if she is reluctant to run, do as Lou suggested and get someone to cycle in front calling her on. She will soon realise what she is supposed to do Is there anyone near you that you can run with? Do you have a harness for her?
One of our SHWA(UK) co-ordinators picked up a 15 month old Mal boy last week (he was going to be PTS for the crime of eating a Louis Vuitton briefcase!!!) - they brought him down to the forest where we train our sibes yesterday, to see whether or not he would take to running in harness. Luckily, a young couple running their Mal bitch offered to take him out. This was Wolfie yesterday (he's the one on the left with the big grin): As far as we know, he'd never had a harness on before.... just doing what comes naturally! The good news is that the young couple were so impressed with him that they now want to adopt him permanently! Mick
Mick that is the most depressing thing ever - he was going to be PTS for eating a Louis Vuitton bag?! Fcuking pathetic. I hope is previous owners are to be banned from ever having animals or children again. Glad it has a happy ending though
I didn't realise you trained at Swinley. Well he looks as though he has taken to it well and it sounds like a happy ending for all
Yes, mind you, we've only just started again this year as we don't work them during the summer months as we feel it is too warm for them. Mick
My advice starting letting a dog pull for the first time is not to have her/him chasing anything in the beginning! This will often result in a dog who later will not work up to it's potential working abilities! I've seen that when giving the dog something to chase, one amputates the phsycholigical urge to go forward by motivating itself, and then one get a dog who doesn't want to go forward over time unless it has something to chase. In my experience 80 % of the working dog lays between the dogs ears;=). And the dog must learn to go forward of it's own desire, not because it's chasing something. What I do when debuting with a fresh young dog, is either have them learn by working next to a calm good worker with good rutines, who knows it's job (best way). If there is only one dog to train, I use a belt around my waist (like skijorning) and x-back on the dog. I start with placing the dog between my feet with short line/rope. Then as the dog pulls the rope, I give more rope as I praise the dog giving the command "forward". This just for the dog to understand what's expected of him/her. Then give the dog longer and longer line as it pulls forward. After a short while we stop and repeat - then begin to stop standing still, until the dog get bored and start pulling in the line, while standing forward. Immeditately prais and commands forward. This we do regularly with several restarts on the way:=)! Then after a while going, the dog discovers the fun in pulling, and get even more eager - THIS IS GREAT AND IT ENJOYES ITSELF VERY VERY MUCH! When dog is on top and enjoys it big time (after 3-4km at most) we immediately stop and return to dogyard. Dog of course get frustrated at first, but what he last remember is the urge to GO GO GO, and how fun it was! So next day we repeat. Longer and longer, and then in the end you have a dog who have all reason to go forward, because it learned that this is really fun! Until this age most dogs has been taught to walk nicely in line and not pulling, so it has to understand that pulling now is expected and allowed;=). As mentioned above this tecnic I do just for a couple of times in th beginning to make sure the dog understand. Finally winter arrived here and had a windy snowy training trip yesterday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfNUPej60S0 It's not quite enough snow yet to use sled, but then there is to much snow to use the cart. So only option was using th car.
Hi I think the most important command that no one has mentioned is " whoa"... when and if a rabbit or whatever is spotted they find an extra gear and it's not so nice being a passenger..LOL
True. I use the command "rooooli" to calm them down (which rarely works;=)) but the command " gå frem" or forward works better in passing temptations like sheep cats loose dogs etc
