What a great video, is this a series? I'm surprised that nine month olds are old enough. Is there any potential for damage to their skeletal structure or anything along those lines?
I'm quite excited to get a kick sled for this year's winter season. I'm looking forward to introducing a new activity to the dogs that I board here at my property. Thank you for the video!
I live in town and can't really leave my dog to not have any training for 9 months nor can I allow him to run ahead of me all the time. I need him to be able to walk calmly by my side with one leash and know the difference between leash and harness. Have you had any experience with this? I ride horses in 3 different styles and I drive and he knows the bits and what means what when I get on him, I would assume a dog knows the same but don't want to mess up training by then teaching him something else.
That was a really great video! Thanks for uploading it! We've got a Husky, and it's made SO much sense now why she's constantly pulling on the lead! Might have to try this. As we don't get snow here, would you think we could use a similar set up with a wheeled trailer?
THIS IS GREAT. i own one husky and she is three years old she is sooo lazy and i didn't realize i wanted her to be a sled dog until it was December. she is not weak or anything she is just so lazy :)
Training in general starts right away. Your interaction with the pup sets the relationship up. You ARE the Big Dog!! You need consistency on the rules and on always applying them. I'm sure you wanted to zero in on "pulling" type training. I start at 9 months with the concepts of harness, pull, go ahead of me = "lead the way". If you have other dogs, they can join in on the fun of pulling about 10-12 months old ... but don't go too long. With the other dogs there, the young can pull a light amount. But if they are the only dog, then you have to limit the weight and distance. One dog alone, I'd wait until they are a year old before full load and then watch closely so you don't over distance them. The Tricky balance then is not teaching them to slack off but not over working them. So that takes you planning an appropriate distance for them to pull full out. Then stop. That teaches them to pull the way they will later but doesn't over do their joints etc. The bigger part of all this is YOU. You will need to keep a close eye on your dog(s). You will need to recognize loss of attention, limp, tiredness etc. You are not the owner in Major League Baseball who will play his best guy until he throws his arm off. You are the "kids coach" who personally cares about "your kids" growth and development. And I'm sure you recognize that since you asked this type of question. Hope this helps. Have fun!
@@natorad oh man thanks for the elaborate answer. i am a cyclist. so program and routine is kinda my thing. im planning to go bikejoring with my husky when she gets old enuf so im trying to absorb every information i can. and yes i do not plan to hurt my pup, it should be fun, i treat my dogs as family, i have grown up with a dog companion. now shes 4months old, im taking her to hikes, around my trail backyard, around 1-2kilometers long, depending on which loop i take. the 2 other dogs i have are 6 year old chihuahuas which i take on my trail runs, off leach, they can join the hiking, they like to pull too, hehe.. but soon i want to take my husky out on adventures.. again thanks for the elaborate answer, i definitely appreciate it!
@@natorad i want to add, i actually tried to hook my dog to my bike and see if she instinctively pulls, on some parts of the village, she gets excited and pulls, but on other parts, she just heels with the bike. she is just 4months old, so im pedalling my bike so she doesnt have to work hard, i only encourage.
Ferrari!!! I wanted a puppy from her, but the actual owner told me she had her last litter. I have been tracking her origins and suddenly, when I wasn´t looking for her, found your video. Could you tell me more about her line?
You are so lucky to be able to skateboard! Look up Alpine Outfitters in Bend, Oregon. I am sure you need to have a shock absorber, a belt and a great harness for your dog. I've got an Urban harness for both my boys. The cross back I'll try later. Alpine has everything you need. The cues are literally anything you want but you have to be brutally consistent. The common cues are: to go Left is Haw, to go right is Ghee. To stop is Whoa. To slow is Slow. There are other cues for the dog/s to go to the side of the road in order to pass or stay out of the mud. I dunno what they are at the moment, sorry. Get the Haw and the Ghee and the 'on by' which means forward, and the whoa every time you walk your dogs. I think the skateboard is perfect for a dog to pull!! I've never seen happier dogs than those that are pulling and running full out.
What other dog breeds do you recommend? What are your recommendations about the length of dog ownership before beginning to train them? Do you recommend owning the dog soon after their born?
I noticed this is focusing on the husky. I have an Alaskan Malamute. How would you recommend going about training this breed? As they are larger and bred for more weight, would the training be essentially the same? Would carting be different than sledding? What if I only have her alone? I have another dog, but she is a little older and smaller. Fat little sausage can run like the wind after a rabbit, but not sure how much she is for pulling.
I want to train my dog, Pippa (not a husky, but idk what breed she is) And she is 1 years old. She is a medium sized pup, and is incredibly fast. Whenever she is excited, she runs in a circle across the yard, like lightning. She could be 1st lead. I have a harness, leash, and maybe i could build something like a sled. Its Summer here in Denver, but whens its Winter, it's time for a sled race with my BFF when I go to Delaware.
I have a Black Lab/Great Pyrenees mix who I've been considering doing something like this with, do you recommend it?He's turning 3 in March and tbh, we really don't do much of anything with him, which I feel bad about because he's very intelligent, so I've been considering doing this or some sort of nosework/SAR type thing but not actual SAR (he loves using his nose). But anyways, without going into too much detail about the other sports, one of the things I was considering was actually joring, either with a bike or skis. I actually hadn't considered using an actual sled but I think I like that idea too. Do you think this would be something good to do with him and if so, which one do you think would be better, joring or getting an actual sled? He's also pretty lazy but he can have a lot of energy when he wants to and he loves getting out and doing things, another reason I feel bad. He's about 130 pounds. Although, he also has sort of bad hips and had what we suspect was a ligament injury or sprain over the summer.. is that an issue? The injury seems to have cleared up 100% as of last month but he didn't fully recover at first so he would get better then get worse but again, seems to be fine and fully recovered now, though we have yet to go back to the vet. As for the hips, he was x-ray'd and didn't see anything (hence why it was suspected to be ligament) but he did say that one hip is a little loose and that it's genetic. That's what I meant by "bad hips" though and is what I am worried about. Also, another thing is that he's finally learning how to heel the last few months, would allowing him to pull confuse him or make him pull on walks? Or do dogs know the difference? I do bring a longer leash with us for when we go "off road" (cranberry bogs, pond, etc.) and he roams ahead but I still don't allow him to pull. I'm worried this will affect that. But he's smart so I'm sure he'll figure it out? I'm sorry this got so long and if it made no sense but it's pretty late here and I'm just really curious about this. Sorry I didn't space it out either but yeah. Thanks in advance for any help or insight you might be able to give and great video :)
My dog is trained in guide work and she only wants to pull very slightly, I'm trying to teach her a pull hard command so she will pull me faster lol, I'm on skates not a sled lol
TALANGENI If you only have 1 dog, that might be something you can't fix. If you put this dog on with others who have more drive, you will find out if this dog has the capacity for more drive or you will find out that this dog will refuse... at which point, you have found out the nature and the capability of this dog and you have to make a decision or two for your team.
We use X-Back Harnesses and for training like on the video, we use 6' and 10' long leash or line... or both. Nothing special. For Pulling a sled, we sell various lines for different situations... number of dogs, position on the team etc. We have all the choices shown on our web site : affordabledogsleds.com
Okay. I am seeing that training ONE dog first when you have two makes sense, the first dog ummm sort of passes on a bit of experience or at least keeps the newbie dog focused? We've got two big babies! They look like chocolate labs except for their tail which is curved and out of the way of the lines...I thought that was cool. Blue Heeler/lab mix. They are two years old. One is alpha of course and one is beta of course. I've been training the beta (Jack) the biggest and strongest of the two. (Zip) smaller yet the alpha between the two is brilliant but I've not been training him. Who should I start with? The beta that understands the lingo or the alpha who is brilliant but doesn't understand Hee and Haw? I am so very very happy to find your videos, I am not kidding!
I would start with Jack. You've indicated that he already knows more and it shouldn't take you long to get him going. Then add Zip. He'll catch on very quickly. The part I can't accurately advise you on has to do with alpha and beta... that pretty much depends on their breed and you have said they are mixed breed. So, that part you will have to play by ear on your own. With Siberians, Alaskans etc. Alpha and beta doesn't matter. A lead dog is a personality trait. Alphas will gladly let a lead dog go first. Lead dogs simply have the attitude that the greatest thing on earth is to go over the next hill and around the next turn. Others may want to play, investigate, mark their territory etc. but lead dogs want to go up the trail. Now, other breeds may not function that way and you will have to determine that for yourself with Jack & Zip. However, only using two dogs means they will be side by side no matter what. I would also say that you don't need a dog to be completely trained in commands before he/she starts pulling a sled... even if they are in the lead. Just so they get the idea that we're here to go forward. Commands for turning etc. will come with time for some dogs, others may never learn more than your commands for go and stop. Or they may just go along with doing what the other dogs do. Go with Jack if he is already taking commands and get him pulling. Then add Zip. You should be OK unless the Alpha urges are too great for him to co-operate!
@@natorad You addressed a question I've had and forgot to ask; side by side not one in front of the other...right? Side by side, I am looking at a tricycle to pull that I can stand up on...Arctic dog sleds? I sure wish there were classes for this stuff, and not by just anyone. This is not something one does by hooking up one's dogs and doing it. Ugh. I purchased a training collar so that I have 'contact' with my dogs when off leash. Never to use willy nilly. In fact, the more I think about it this collar has to come in much much later and again, I want some real classes. Not at all for power over my dogs just a way to nudge them once they under stand what they are being nudged for...Jack and Zip are powerful boys that NEED exercise and I am not the super woman I once was! We've great roads and trails for this purpose. My bike is in storage far far away. Any help at all is appreciated! Thank you so very much for replying!! Is there a way to secure the two dogs so they aren't interacting with each other at the beginning? Such as a stiff bar? I know this will work just fine once I get their harnesses; do you recommend X back or the thick urban harness that is also meant for pulling?...have you heard about Alpine Dog Outfitters in Bend Oregon? Their store is 45 minutes away. Arctic is the company that makes the tricycle I'd like to use to be pulled. I can go on...thanks again for replying! Great info!
Running dogs side by side as compared to front & back is a matter of how your dogs function as a team and a difference of length and width. Your team is longer front & back / wider side by side. How do your dog's respond is the most important aspect. In other words, "reading your dogs" is more important than any preconceived ideas we might have. " Is there a way to secure the two dogs so they aren't interacting with each other at the beginning? Such as a stiff bar? … do you recommend X back or the thick urban harness that is also meant for pulling?...have you heard about Alpine Dog Outfitters in Bend Oregon?" You can rig up a tie out that will hold the one dog away from the other while attaching them. I have not worked with a stiff bar... so I can't give good advice on that. I also don't have any experience with "the thick urban harness" nor "Alpine Outfitters" so I can't offer any worthwhile comments. I haven't heard anything negative on either of them.
@@natorad You are wonderful to write me back and give such personalized information! Oh you can expect to be bugged by little old me from time to time. Reading my dogs...every night part of their training is 'cuddle' time. One at a time. Working on small space instructions with no distraction. Hey, I've got 'Felix and Oscar' of the Odd Couple. I am not kidding. These two are great dogs! Intelligent, powerful...all phenotype of chocolate labs except for their tail; it curls up like a husky's tail. I lost my pure bred chocolate lab a few years ago, a gnarly gal out of Kody this major choc bird dog. Blew the bird doggers away with our communication. They were bummed I had had her fixed! Anyway, I'll stay in touch. When I get a goal that goal always happens! A win-win-win situation. They need heavy duty exercise! They will love pulling. I am not able to jog 10 miles anymore, I think this is the coolest thing ever and my two boys are perfect for this... Thank you so very much, Nathan!
And my imagination has them side by side. They might not need a bar to keep them from fighting. They hang together all the time except for night night time. They have their own fenced paddock, a big one. Alpha and beta is very apparent. Zip is the alpha and can be caught humping Jack (yes they are neutered!), standing over Jack while this big boy is on his back squealing. I've got two geldings and their job descriptions are the same; one is the leader and the other the follower. Jacque the alpha is getting old and I am watching the baton being passed to the beta. Beta's have to test the alpha to make sure they can rely on the alpha to do their job. Dogs, horses, cats do this to US because we are the alpha and that is why they test us yet we think they are stupid? Beta's as animals have absolutely no problem with being a beta like us humans do. They have their role to do and that alpha needs to do their job! So they test the alpha all of the time. That is why the alpha and beta part of my question...thank you again, Nathan.
Hi I got a ddr gsd mix amd I want to teach him to pull a sled but he is scared of the sled what can I do he will move his body to keep an eye on it and avoid being close to it
In our "Beginners Manual for Dog Sledding", we make it clear that the Worst thing you can let happen is to let the sled slide up and hit a dog from behind because that is an "Attack". If this has already happened to your dog, let me know... the correction will be different from what follows. Hopefully, your dog has not been hit from behind and only has the "Natural" fear of something following so closely. 1. have someone walk your dog on a leash NEXT TO the sled as you push it over the snow, making noise etc. 2. Use a 10 ft long line to connect the dog to the sled, walk next to him and have someone on the sled to make sure it doesn't "sneak up on him." 3. Let him look and reassure himself that this thing is always following - but never attacking him. 4. Try running pretty fast this way … it makes him pay more attention to what is up front and not what's behind. 5. See if at a run he is "running away from the sled" or paying attention to where he is going 6A. Once he is OK with "that thing back there", shorten the line. OR 6B. Run him next to another dog (2 dog team) on longer lines. And then shorten the lines as you can. 7. If he still has "looking over the shoulder" problems, get more dogs and run him up front... that is... if he isn't afraid one of them won't attack him from behind :-) !! 8. Still a problem? Option A: Decide whether it has improved or not and whether you want to spend the time Option B: You want him to pull a sled, he does not. He wins... unless you can change his inner motivation (Treats, Praise, T-Bone Steaks on a string, chasing a person or vehicle etc.) If you cannot change his inner desires (positive reason to run) or get rid of his fears (his negative reason for not pulling), change your own desires …. I want a dog to pull this sled, not necessarily this dog. You may need to concede that the inbred nature of this dog is not in alignment with pulling a sled. (If I wanted my Siberian Huskies to freeze in a Pointing Position every time they saw a Pheasant or a Partridge, I would end up at Option B ) Good Luck. Take your time. All of a sudden the light may go on and he will realize how really super enjoyable this is to work with you at dog sledding and away you go.
Nathan Radtke thanks. He is scared that it will hit him, he doesn’t like anything following him from behind. I realised the sled rope is too short maybe that’s why, but can the rope be shorter I’m not using him to pull me but a kid he will be walking next to me on a leash. We also live in an area where people don’t really socialise their dogs therefore I can’t really have anyone help me. The only thing that would cause him to run without hesitation is when the rabbit it let out and she tries to escape his herd but I won’t let the rabbit out cause it’s freezing outside. Also what else can I use instead of a sled it is -5 degrees and it’s suppose to be snowing yet no snow so I can’t really practice with him
A 35 lb Aussie could pull you ... IF you are on a packed, flat trail. If you "peddle" a lot, you can go a lot further. But you'd have to run all the uphills for her.
@@lingyic3549 I don't think I can actually answer the question you asked. It doesn't really go by "pounds". A dog pulling a sled is only pulling against the resistance of the sled. If you have 8 inches of new snow on a trail as compared to an Icy trail, there's a huge difference in the resistance the sled will create. That's why I said, if you're on a flat, packed trail she will do fine. Another view of this would be if your dog was to pull a 220 lb person or a 120 lb person. A 220 lb person can actually peddle (push the sled with one foot... like a skateboard) enough so that the dog isn't really pulling much of anything. The 120 lb person who doesn't help at all will be more difficult for your dog to pull. That's all on the Flat. Once you get to an incline, the dog is actually pulling your weight unless you help. On the flat, it's only the resistance. Up a hill, it's all your weight. Your Aussie can pull someone under 150 lbs on a packed, flat trail for a couple miles once she's in shape.
I started with a Black Lab myself. If your dog weighs 40 lbs or more and likes to pull or you can get him/her to pull, you’re in luck. I’ve seen poodles, Australian Shepherds, labs, hunting dogs, hounds, and lots of bigger dogs all pull sleds. You should try it. Can I guarantee it will work? No. Some dogs just won’t pull... especially if they have been taught to “heel” or to “not pull” for years. Teaching an old dog new tricks is difficult. But, it’s worth a try and I certainly won’t say that a Golden Retriever won’t work. It has been done before... you can do it again :-) How old is your dog? Size/weight? And as a Golden Retriever, has he/she been trained for hunting? If you are starting out from scratch and your dog is not too set in his ways, you’re probably better off. If you have any questions, be sure to ask. Nate Affordable Dog Sleds
I would only say... try it. Your dog may get sore in the hips, your dog may not pull having already been trained not to pull, your dog may love it. You can train dogs to pull the harness but not pull on their collar/leash. Your dog is plenty big to pull a sled and you as the driver can assist as much or as little as needed. As far as Sled or bikejoring etc., that depends on you and your weather. I'd just say that if you are interested in sledding with this dog, there's nothing stopping you at this point. Only after you get going with it will you be able to know for sure if your dog likes it, is physically sound enough for it and whether you go for it.
I understand that when you put an ADULT dog in harness for the first time, what you get is a very unamused look. Who was that guy in the nineties who ran a team of standard poodles every year in the Iditarod?
Sage Pankau If you don't have another command lead dog to help you train a new lead dog, you may choose to put a harness on your dog and have them "Pull" you while you also have a line to their neck so that you can "pull" them in the right direction on command. Gee = right and Haw = left are pretty common commands (used for horses also). "Repetition is the mother of knowledge" ... do it over and over and over again until they catch on and start turning all on their own on command. Some people use treats with their dogs - works great ... but if you can't wean them off the treats to carry out the commands, you are stuck: either they won't take your commands or you have to haul 150 lbs of treats along everywhere you go :-) and how do you get the treat up to the correct dog(s) while they are running.
My dog freaks the fuck out before we even move THEN WHAT??? you can't even attempt this. (ive done it without the "sled") and he's a husky. He's not a pure puppy but he's barely a year old. and ive been working with him since 8mo (when i got him)
When he "Freaks out", is he on a leash? What does he do? Does he pull against the collar like as if to back out of the collar? Does he get all excited or lie down, put on the brakes or bite at the line? Can you get a harness on him? Does he run alongside you if he's on a long leash? Hope I can help with a little more information.
Apparently not. We only went short distances, they didn't show any signs of being tired, they didn't get sore, they loved doing it and would get all excited to go again every time afterwards. All in all, pretty good result.
Nathan Radtke oh short distances okay. I just know overworking a puppy isn’t too good. My pups a retired sled dog. It’s amazing to let these dogs run. Many say it’s abuse but a dog won’t run if it’s abused. And mine loves to run! Amazing and beautiful dogs you have!
***** No. That is not my profession. What I present is just "one way you might train a sled dog." I do however have 40+ years of amateur status :-) and only wish to help in any way I can those who would also like to get their dog to pull a sled.
Nathan Radtke "Send Fido and Rover to sled camp! Slots available. Give us six weeks and we'll have em' pulling like champs!" "Don't delay, sign up today!"
Thank you! It’s been surprisingly hard f8nding a sled dog training vid that’s actually informative and in layman’s terms
What a great video, is this a series? I'm surprised that nine month olds are old enough. Is there any potential for damage to their skeletal structure or anything along those lines?
Omg thank you so much I've watched many videos but non were step by step like this thank you
Excellent in every way. Thank You.
I'm quite excited to get a kick sled for this year's winter season. I'm looking forward to introducing a new activity to the dogs that I board here at my property. Thank you for the video!
I trained my dog to bikejor. I watched your video and it helped my training, thankyou
Nice job! Looks like it's positive reinforcement and no negatives, just great
Good video, but this pup cracks me up!! 🤣❤️
Thank you so much! I've been waiting for a video like this! I'm trying to train my husky pup to pull alone, but many say I can't
wow really helpful, I'm going to start training my two huskies Luna and Mika!! So excited thank you for the help!!
Love the dogs' names!!
I live in town and can't really leave my dog to not have any training for 9 months nor can I allow him to run ahead of me all the time. I need him to be able to walk calmly by my side with one leash and know the difference between leash and harness. Have you had any experience with this? I ride horses in 3 different styles and I drive and he knows the bits and what means what when I get on him, I would assume a dog knows the same but don't want to mess up training by then teaching him something else.
That was a really great video! Thanks for uploading it! We've got a Husky, and it's made SO much sense now why she's constantly pulling on the lead! Might have to try this.
As we don't get snow here, would you think we could use a similar set up with a wheeled trailer?
My brother doesn't have a husky but he trained his dog to pull him on his bike lol
Thanks for the video. Been wanting to learn for some good old cascade sledding
THIS IS GREAT. i own one husky and she is three years old she is sooo lazy and i didn't realize i wanted her to be a sled dog until it was December. she is not weak or anything she is just so lazy :)
hey great video. at what age do we start the husky and train to pull. or at least encourage it
Training in general starts right away. Your interaction with the pup sets the relationship up. You ARE the Big Dog!! You need consistency on the rules and on always applying them. I'm sure you wanted to zero in on "pulling" type training. I start at 9 months with the concepts of harness, pull, go ahead of me = "lead the way". If you have other dogs, they can join in on the fun of pulling about 10-12 months old ... but don't go too long. With the other dogs there, the young can pull a light amount. But if they are the only dog, then you have to limit the weight and distance. One dog alone, I'd wait until they are a year old before full load and then watch closely so you don't over distance them. The Tricky balance then is not teaching them to slack off but not over working them. So that takes you planning an appropriate distance for them to pull full out. Then stop. That teaches them to pull the way they will later but doesn't over do their joints etc. The bigger part of all this is YOU. You will need to keep a close eye on your dog(s). You will need to recognize loss of attention, limp, tiredness etc. You are not the owner in Major League Baseball who will play his best guy until he throws his arm off. You are the "kids coach" who personally cares about "your kids" growth and development. And I'm sure you recognize that since you asked this type of question. Hope this helps. Have fun!
@@natorad oh man thanks for the elaborate answer. i am a cyclist. so program and routine is kinda my thing. im planning to go bikejoring with my husky when she gets old enuf so im trying to absorb every information i can. and yes i do not plan to hurt my pup, it should be fun, i treat my dogs as family, i have grown up with a dog companion. now shes 4months old, im taking her to hikes, around my trail backyard, around 1-2kilometers long, depending on which loop i take. the 2 other dogs i have are 6 year old chihuahuas which i take on my trail runs, off leach, they can join the hiking, they like to pull too, hehe.. but soon i want to take my husky out on adventures.. again thanks for the elaborate answer, i definitely appreciate it!
@@natorad i want to add, i actually tried to hook my dog to my bike and see if she instinctively pulls, on some parts of the village, she gets excited and pulls, but on other parts, she just heels with the bike. she is just 4months old, so im pedalling my bike so she doesnt have to work hard, i only encourage.
Ferrari!!! I wanted a puppy from her, but the actual owner told me she had her last litter. I have been tracking her origins and suddenly, when I wasn´t looking for her, found your video. Could you tell me more about her line?
I know the troubles of trying to get a dog from a certain line and I wish you the best of luck with getting a relative of ferreri
how do you teach your dogs the commands for left,right stop,etc. I have my dog pull me on my skateboard and wanted to teach him these.
do you have any other tips that might be helpful?
You are so lucky to be able to skateboard! Look up Alpine Outfitters in Bend, Oregon. I am sure you need to have a shock absorber, a belt and a great harness for your dog. I've got an Urban harness for both my boys. The cross back I'll try later. Alpine has everything you need.
The cues are literally anything you want but you have to be brutally consistent.
The common cues are: to go Left is Haw, to go right is Ghee. To stop is Whoa. To slow is Slow. There are other cues for the dog/s to go to the side of the road in order to pass or stay out of the mud. I dunno what they are at the moment, sorry.
Get the Haw and the Ghee and the 'on by' which means forward, and the whoa every time you walk your dogs.
I think the skateboard is perfect for a dog to pull!! I've never seen happier dogs than those that are pulling and running full out.
thx my teacher made me learn more im now happy i learnd this
Nice video, could you also make on on wich commands you use?? Thanks for the effort on this vid :)
Awesome. My pup is 8 months old and I was looking for advice on it
What other dog breeds do you recommend? What are your recommendations about the length of dog ownership before beginning to train them? Do you recommend owning the dog soon after their born?
Great video!
Love the "taking a header" part at 0:37 LOL!
great video, just what I was looking for! Im gonna train my husky pup.
I noticed this is focusing on the husky. I have an Alaskan Malamute. How would you recommend going about training this breed? As they are larger and bred for more weight, would the training be essentially the same? Would carting be different than sledding? What if I only have her alone? I have another dog, but she is a little older and smaller. Fat little sausage can run like the wind after a rabbit, but not sure how much she is for pulling.
I want to train my dog, Pippa (not a husky, but idk what breed she is) And she is 1 years old. She is a medium sized pup, and is incredibly fast. Whenever she is excited, she runs in a circle across the yard, like lightning. She could be 1st lead. I have a harness, leash, and maybe i could build something like a sled. Its Summer here in Denver, but whens its Winter, it's time for a sled race with my BFF when I go to Delaware.
Thank you Nathan!
At what age do you recommend to start training?
About how much should I expect to pay for a quality work/companion dog? How much money should I expect on food per month per dog?
I just learn a lot🐾
I have a Black Lab/Great Pyrenees mix who I've been considering doing something like this with, do you recommend it?He's turning 3 in March and tbh, we really don't do much of anything with him, which I feel bad about because he's very intelligent, so I've been considering doing this or some sort of nosework/SAR type thing but not actual SAR (he loves using his nose). But anyways, without going into too much detail about the other sports, one of the things I was considering was actually joring, either with a bike or skis. I actually hadn't considered using an actual sled but I think I like that idea too. Do you think this would be something good to do with him and if so, which one do you think would be better, joring or getting an actual sled? He's also pretty lazy but he can have a lot of energy when he wants to and he loves getting out and doing things, another reason I feel bad. He's about 130 pounds. Although, he also has sort of bad hips and had what we suspect was a ligament injury or sprain over the summer.. is that an issue? The injury seems to have cleared up 100% as of last month but he didn't fully recover at first so he would get better then get worse but again, seems to be fine and fully recovered now, though we have yet to go back to the vet. As for the hips, he was x-ray'd and didn't see anything (hence why it was suspected to be ligament) but he did say that one hip is a little loose and that it's genetic. That's what I meant by "bad hips" though and is what I am worried about. Also, another thing is that he's finally learning how to heel the last few months, would allowing him to pull confuse him or make him pull on walks? Or do dogs know the difference? I do bring a longer leash with us for when we go "off road" (cranberry bogs, pond, etc.) and he roams ahead but I still don't allow him to pull. I'm worried this will affect that. But he's smart so I'm sure he'll figure it out?
I'm sorry this got so long and if it made no sense but it's pretty late here and I'm just really curious about this. Sorry I didn't space it out either but yeah.
Thanks in advance for any help or insight you might be able to give and great video :)
"nosework/SAR"
huh?
KDOGG331 I've never heard it called "nosework" before. Kinda funny.
Ohhhh okay. Yeah, I never have either until recently. I think it's actually a sport now but I'm not sure
KDOGG331 Offhand, I think there are scent recognition events in obedience contests.
My dog is trained in guide work and she only wants to pull very slightly, I'm trying to teach her a pull hard command so she will pull me faster lol, I'm on skates not a sled lol
Thank you very much. This video is so helpful :) I'm going to try to teach my huskies to pull a sled :) again THANK YOU! ;)
Nice harness! I just use a Horse halter, it works perfectly. And plus I'm cheap
Vanz AndKatz .... how do you use a horse halter on a dog?
How do you improve the drive on a low drive puller?
TALANGENI If you only have 1 dog, that might be something you can't fix. If you put this dog on with others who have more drive, you will find out if this dog has the capacity for more drive or you will find out that this dog will refuse... at which point, you have found out the nature and the capability of this dog and you have to make a decision or two for your team.
Which harness and tug line do you use? Looking to purchase. thanks!
We use X-Back Harnesses and for training like on the video, we use 6' and 10' long leash or line... or both. Nothing special. For Pulling a sled, we sell various lines for different situations... number of dogs, position on the team etc. We have all the choices shown on our web site : affordabledogsleds.com
Okay. I am seeing that training ONE dog first when you have two makes sense, the first dog ummm sort of passes on a bit of experience or at least keeps the newbie dog focused? We've got two big babies! They look like chocolate labs except for their tail which is curved and out of the way of the lines...I thought that was cool. Blue Heeler/lab mix. They are two years old. One is alpha of course and one is beta of course. I've been training the beta (Jack) the biggest and strongest of the two. (Zip) smaller yet the alpha between the two is brilliant but I've not been training him. Who should I start with? The beta that understands the lingo or the alpha who is brilliant but doesn't understand Hee and Haw? I am so very very happy to find your videos, I am not kidding!
I would start with Jack. You've indicated that he already knows more and it shouldn't take you long to get him going. Then add Zip. He'll catch on very quickly. The part I can't accurately advise you on has to do with alpha and beta... that pretty much depends on their breed and you have said they are mixed breed. So, that part you will have to play by ear on your own. With Siberians, Alaskans etc. Alpha and beta doesn't matter. A lead dog is a personality trait. Alphas will gladly let a lead dog go first. Lead dogs simply have the attitude that the greatest thing on earth is to go over the next hill and around the next turn. Others may want to play, investigate, mark their territory etc. but lead dogs want to go up the trail. Now, other breeds may not function that way and you will have to determine that for yourself with Jack & Zip. However, only using two dogs means they will be side by side no matter what. I would also say that you don't need a dog to be completely trained in commands before he/she starts pulling a sled... even if they are in the lead. Just so they get the idea that we're here to go forward. Commands for turning etc. will come with time for some dogs, others may never learn more than your commands for go and stop. Or they may just go along with doing what the other dogs do. Go with Jack if he is already taking commands and get him pulling. Then add Zip. You should be OK unless the Alpha urges are too great for him to co-operate!
@@natorad You addressed a question I've had and forgot to ask; side by side not one in front of the other...right? Side by side, I am looking at a tricycle to pull that I can stand up on...Arctic dog sleds? I sure wish there were classes for this stuff, and not by just anyone. This is not something one does by hooking up one's dogs and doing it. Ugh. I purchased a training collar so that I have 'contact' with my dogs when off leash. Never to use willy nilly. In fact, the more I think about it this collar has to come in much much later and again, I want some real classes. Not at all for power over my dogs just a way to nudge them once they under stand what they are being nudged for...Jack and Zip are powerful boys that NEED exercise and I am not the super woman I once was! We've great roads and trails for this purpose. My bike is in storage far far away. Any help at all is appreciated! Thank you so very much for replying!! Is there a way to secure the two dogs so they aren't interacting with each other at the beginning? Such as a stiff bar? I know this will work just fine once I get their harnesses; do you recommend X back or the thick urban harness that is also meant for pulling?...have you heard about Alpine Dog Outfitters in Bend Oregon? Their store is 45 minutes away. Arctic is the company that makes the tricycle I'd like to use to be pulled. I can go on...thanks again for replying! Great info!
Running dogs side by side as compared to front & back is a matter of how your dogs function as a team and a difference of length and width. Your team is longer front & back / wider side by side. How do your dog's respond is the most important aspect. In other words, "reading your dogs" is more important than any preconceived ideas we might have. " Is there a way to secure the two dogs so they aren't interacting with each other at the beginning? Such as a stiff bar? … do you recommend X back or the thick urban harness that is also meant for pulling?...have you heard about Alpine Dog Outfitters in Bend Oregon?" You can rig up a tie out that will hold the one dog away from the other while attaching them. I have not worked with a stiff bar... so I can't give good advice on that. I also don't have any experience with "the thick urban harness" nor "Alpine Outfitters" so I can't offer any worthwhile comments. I haven't heard anything negative on either of them.
@@natorad You are wonderful to write me back and give such personalized information! Oh you can expect to be bugged by little old me from time to time. Reading my dogs...every night part of their training is 'cuddle' time. One at a time. Working on small space instructions with no distraction. Hey, I've got 'Felix and Oscar' of the Odd Couple. I am not kidding. These two are great dogs! Intelligent, powerful...all phenotype of chocolate labs except for their tail; it curls up like a husky's tail. I lost my pure bred chocolate lab a few years ago, a gnarly gal out of Kody this major choc bird dog. Blew the bird doggers away with our communication. They were bummed I had had her fixed!
Anyway, I'll stay in touch. When I get a goal that goal always happens! A win-win-win situation. They need heavy duty exercise! They will love pulling. I am not able to jog 10 miles anymore, I think this is the coolest thing ever and my two boys are perfect for this...
Thank you so very much, Nathan!
And my imagination has them side by side. They might not need a bar to keep them from fighting. They hang together all the time except for night night time. They have their own fenced paddock, a big one. Alpha and beta is very apparent. Zip is the alpha and can be caught humping Jack (yes they are neutered!), standing over Jack while this big boy is on his back squealing. I've got two geldings and their job descriptions are the same; one is the leader and the other the follower. Jacque the alpha is getting old and I am watching the baton being passed to the beta. Beta's have to test the alpha to make sure they can rely on the alpha to do their job. Dogs, horses, cats do this to US because we are the alpha and that is why they test us yet we think they are stupid? Beta's as animals have absolutely no problem with being a beta like us humans do. They have their role to do and that alpha needs to do their job! So they test the alpha all of the time. That is why the alpha and beta part of my question...thank you again, Nathan.
"Marchons"!
Oh well thats really cool, thanks alot :D
Hi I got a ddr gsd mix amd I want to teach him to pull a sled but he is scared of the sled what can I do he will move his body to keep an eye on it and avoid being close to it
In our "Beginners Manual for Dog Sledding", we make it clear that the Worst thing you can let happen is to let the sled slide up and hit a dog from behind because that is an "Attack". If this has already happened to your dog, let me know... the correction will be different from what follows. Hopefully, your dog has not been hit from behind and only has the "Natural" fear of something following so closely. 1. have someone walk your dog on a leash NEXT TO the sled as you push it over the snow, making noise etc. 2. Use a 10 ft long line to connect the dog to the sled, walk next to him and have someone on the sled to make sure it doesn't "sneak up on him." 3. Let him look and reassure himself that this thing is always following - but never attacking him. 4. Try running pretty fast this way … it makes him pay more attention to what is up front and not what's behind. 5. See if at a run he is "running away from the sled" or paying attention to where he is going 6A. Once he is OK with "that thing back there", shorten the line. OR 6B. Run him next to another dog (2 dog team) on longer lines. And then shorten the lines as you can. 7. If he still has "looking over the shoulder" problems, get more dogs and run him up front... that is... if he isn't afraid one of them won't attack him from behind :-) !! 8. Still a problem? Option A: Decide whether it has improved or not and whether you want to spend the time Option B: You want him to pull a sled, he does not. He wins... unless you can change his inner motivation (Treats, Praise, T-Bone Steaks on a string, chasing a person or vehicle etc.) If you cannot change his inner desires (positive reason to run) or get rid of his fears (his negative reason for not pulling), change your own desires …. I want a dog to pull this sled, not necessarily this dog. You may need to concede that the inbred nature of this dog is not in alignment with pulling a sled. (If I wanted my Siberian Huskies to freeze in a Pointing Position every time they saw a Pheasant or a Partridge, I would end up at Option B ) Good Luck. Take your time. All of a sudden the light may go on and he will realize how really super enjoyable this is to work with you at dog sledding and away you go.
Nathan Radtke thanks. He is scared that it will hit him, he doesn’t like anything following him from behind. I realised the sled rope is too short maybe that’s why, but can the rope be shorter I’m not using him to pull me but a kid he will be walking next to me on a leash. We also live in an area where people don’t really socialise their dogs therefore I can’t really have anyone help me. The only thing that would cause him to run without hesitation is when the rabbit it let out and she tries to escape his herd but I won’t let the rabbit out cause it’s freezing outside. Also what else can I use instead of a sled it is -5 degrees and it’s suppose to be snowing yet no snow so I can’t really practice with him
Very helpful video.
problem i have with my guys is they keep stopping to sniff things, i feel so bad when i run into him!
any suggestions for mature dogs?
That will depend completely on the dog's breed and previous training. Let me know a few details and I'll try to help.
i have a 35lb aussie, is she strong enough to pull me?
A 35 lb Aussie could pull you ... IF you are on a packed, flat trail. If you "peddle" a lot, you can go a lot further. But you'd have to run all the uphills for her.
@@natorad so how many lbs can she pull without my assistance?
@@lingyic3549 I don't think I can actually answer the question you asked. It doesn't really go by "pounds". A dog pulling a sled is only pulling against the resistance of the sled. If you have 8 inches of new snow on a trail as compared to an Icy trail, there's a huge difference in the resistance the sled will create. That's why I said, if you're on a flat, packed trail she will do fine. Another view of this would be if your dog was to pull a 220 lb person or a 120 lb person. A 220 lb person can actually peddle (push the sled with one foot... like a skateboard) enough so that the dog isn't really pulling much of anything. The 120 lb person who doesn't help at all will be more difficult for your dog to pull.
That's all on the Flat. Once you get to an incline, the dog is actually pulling your weight unless you help. On the flat, it's only the resistance. Up a hill, it's all your weight.
Your Aussie can pull someone under 150 lbs on a packed, flat trail for a couple miles once she's in shape.
@@natorad ok thanks!
I have a purebred gold retriever can I do this
I started with a Black Lab myself. If your dog weighs
40 lbs or more and likes to pull or you can get him/her to pull, you’re in
luck. I’ve seen poodles, Australian Shepherds, labs, hunting dogs, hounds, and
lots of bigger dogs all pull sleds.
You should try it.
Can I guarantee it will work? No. Some dogs just won’t
pull... especially if they have been taught to “heel” or to “not pull” for
years. Teaching an old dog new tricks is difficult. But, it’s worth a try and
I certainly won’t say that a Golden Retriever won’t work. It has been done
before... you can do it again :-)
How old is your dog? Size/weight? And as a Golden
Retriever, has he/she been trained for hunting?
If you are starting out from scratch and your dog is not
too set in his ways, you’re probably better off.
If you have any questions, be sure to ask.
Nate
Affordable Dog Sleds
I would only say... try it. Your dog may get sore in the hips, your dog may not pull having already been trained not to pull, your dog may love it. You can train dogs to pull the harness but not pull on their collar/leash. Your dog is plenty big to pull a sled and you as the driver can assist as much or as little as needed. As far as Sled or bikejoring etc., that depends on you and your weather.
I'd just say that if you are interested in sledding with this dog, there's nothing stopping you at this point. Only after you get going with it will you be able to know for sure if your dog likes it, is physically sound enough for it and whether you go for it.
I understand that when you put an ADULT dog in harness for the first time, what you get is a very unamused look.
Who was that guy in the nineties who ran a team of standard poodles every year in the Iditarod?
How do you train left and right
Sage Pankau If you don't have another command lead dog to help you train a new lead dog, you may choose to put a harness on your dog and have them "Pull" you while you also have a line to their neck so that you can "pull" them in the right direction on command. Gee = right and Haw = left are pretty common commands (used for horses also). "Repetition is the mother of knowledge" ... do it over and over and over again until they catch on and start turning all on their own on command. Some people use treats with their dogs - works great ... but if you can't wean them off the treats to carry out the commands, you are stuck: either they won't take your commands or you have to haul 150 lbs of treats along everywhere you go :-) and how do you get the treat up to the correct dog(s) while they are running.
Thanks.
what happens when a deer crosses the path?
You hold on! And if you see a moose you pray to god!
Been trying to teach my husky to pull me on my snowboard big she won't run straight
Bjt
But
err: sled dog are lovely dog
would pitbulls be okay to do this with? I have four and I'd want to do some activities with them
+Jacelen David Urban mushing im sure they'd do well however in cold weather with snow like this they'd need jackets and booties.
Jacelen David I have seen pitbulls do very well and outwork gsd at sled pulling.
Jacelen David pitbulls were ment to pull
Super😊
My dog freaks the fuck out before we even move THEN WHAT??? you can't even attempt this. (ive done it without the "sled") and he's a husky. He's not a pure puppy but he's barely a year old. and ive been working with him since 8mo (when i got him)
When he "Freaks out", is he on a leash? What does he do? Does he pull against the collar like as if to back out of the collar? Does he get all excited or lie down, put on the brakes or bite at the line? Can you get a harness on him? Does he run alongside you if he's on a long leash? Hope I can help with a little more information.
😏 3:22
BAHAH
Aren’t the puppies too young to be exercised that much?
Apparently not. We only went short distances, they didn't show any signs of being tired, they didn't get sore, they loved doing it and would get all excited to go again every time afterwards. All in all, pretty good result.
Nathan Radtke oh short distances okay. I just know overworking a puppy isn’t too good. My pups a retired sled dog. It’s amazing to let these dogs run. Many say it’s abuse but a dog won’t run if it’s abused. And mine loves to run! Amazing and beautiful dogs you have!
*ive *cant
Would you consider yourself a professional dog sled trainer?
***** No. That is not my profession. What I present is just "one way you might train a sled dog." I do however have 40+ years of amateur status :-) and only wish to help in any way I can those who would also like to get their dog to pull a sled.
Nathan Radtke "Send Fido and Rover to sled camp! Slots available. Give us six weeks and we'll have em' pulling like champs!"
"Don't delay, sign up today!"
*i've