Equipment for dogsledding

[darkchild16]

LOL thats what i thought i was just wondering. Walker has the endurance i knwo that much lol. That dog will pull me up hills and stuff for 5miles and pull me back and then want to play when we get home lol i swear hes the energizer bunny in disquise. And he knows directional commands and all that from when he pulls me on my skates lol. What do you start them out pulling?

 

[oc_spirit]

Sounds like he''s a great candidate to get into this!!! Thats great its tons of fun!

If I''m training a puppy or a green dog I just have them pull a tire or small light wagon around and encourage them to be out in front of me while having a leash attached to the collar and go along controling the pup with the leash. When they are confidently pulling I throw in commands and use the leash to direct the pup. Throughout all training they always get lots of praise and encouragement but NO FOOD REWARD until the session is over. I dont want them to get used to getting praised with food in the middle of working because then they''ll expect it during runs too. It''s actually mostly verbal too. when they''re doing good I hook them up with experienced dogs and let them learn by experience and example. When on regular walks I use mushing commands to control the pup, and continue using it all their life and use the leash if I need to to guide. If I ever need to give out a correction its voice only. No leash pops because the pup needs to get used to reacting and respecting to just the tone of my voice. When out on a trail I''m not gong to stop a whole team, hook down, go out and physically correct the dog (leash pop) and then resume going.

 

[darkchild16]

ok kool. we have a tire i can use getting ready to go to the dump lol so ill just take that and use that. Thanks i may have more questions with it.

 

[oc_spirit]

Always willing to help out! Feel free to post as many questions as you think up!!

By the sounds of it though, walker has been trained enough that you can by-pass doing the tire thing. I mean you say he pulls you on the rollerblades already and knows his directional commands? So you''re all set up to hook him to a sled now and GO!

 

[darkchild16]

you want to send me some snow lol. ill prolly get one of the scooters when i get the money.

 

[oc_spirit]

Hahaha well I would if we had any of our own *pout*

The scooter is great!!!! Costs roughly $250-500 I believe. BTW dont go less than 12 inch diameter for your wheels and the bigger the better because it rolls nicer so is easier for the dog to pull, and I find they have better balance.

 

[dogstarsleddogs]

Or can use use a bike. I myself find scooters to be death traps. I am wayyy more comfortable on a bike! Plus I tend to go thru bikes pretty fast. Seems I have to buy a new one every 3 seasons. Dont really want to spend a bunch on a scooter, or expensive bike, only to get trashed. (My current bike is missing the chain and back brake, front brake is bout done with, about 1/4 the seat is missing, both reflectors, and half the pedal on the left side.) Need to find that happy medium between afordable and good quality. Dont want something thats too expensive, or something thats the worst quality bike. My price range is usally around $125-$150.
But really, its what you're most comfortable. If you fall over every time you get on a bike, Dont use it!

 

[darkchild16]

i havent ridden a bike in years so im not trying to ride one with a dog pulling it lol. plus i can balance better on two feet lol.

 

[oc_spirit]

I like scooters WAY better than bikes because of their lower center of gravity, theres better balance and its easier for newbies who are brave enough to try. But to each their own

 

[dogstarsleddogs]

It might also be what you first start out with. I imagine those who start off scootering be more comfortable on a scooter, while those who start off with the bike (like me) be more comfortable on a bike. I could be totally wrong, just a guess.
Like I have no problem hooking up 2 of my strongest non leaders, to the bike, and go off at 20+ mph, but if I was to start scootering, I'd have to start off with Babylon, a bit slower, and knows the commands. This could just be me....

 

[darkchild16]

oh if i went that fast on a bike id land on my butt lol

 

[dogstarsleddogs]

:lol-sign: I've crashed a few times, (ok, only like 3) thankfully never at those high of speeds. Just a few drops of blood and some nasty bruises....not fun! But I consider this very lucky, I've come close so many times.
So, you should probably wear a helmet, atleast when you're starting out. I dont wear one, so you could call me a hypocrite on this issue, but it could come in handy. All dryland races (atleast in scooter and bikejoring classes) I know of require one, and I think some JR sprint races require them too?? I thought I heard something about that, I could be wrong though.

 

[lakotasong]

Great post and excellent pictures.

Are your harnesses Chatmac?

One thing I want to add is that, for added protection, I use cable-filled ganglines. I also use harnesses with reflective sections on them so the dogs can be seen easier by snowmobilers and such at night. I use Alyeska x-back harnesses. And somewhere I have collars that flash red - the whole collar! All it takes is a little watch battery and they work for quite a while. I've put these on my lead dogs at night, again to help snowmobilers and such see my dogs.

 

[lakotasong]

Or can use use a bike. I myself find scooters to be death traps. I am wayyy more comfortable on a bike!

I find scooters, bikes, rollerblades and skis to be death traps! I use an ATV in the fall and a sled in the winter. I have a bad ankle and I think I'd die trying to run dogs on anything else!! :lol-sign:

I watch people skijor and it gives me the heeby-jeebies, I am a snowboarder myself and have never touched skis. The thought of connecting myself to sled dogs, while wearing skis, terrifies me!!

 

[darkchild16]

lol i love being pulled on my skates and walker loves it so much i feel bad for not being able to do it here lol

 

[dogstarsleddogs]

I tried the being pulled in rollerblades once. Nope, never again! Now, I've been rollerblading as long as I can remember. But that terrifed me! And I was using a pup! (Ranger)
I would skijor if I had a bit more reliable leaders. I'm not that good at skiing just quite yet, still mastering turns and good stops. I've done it before, and it was great, but it still kinda scares me. (It was so beautiful one of the times I went skijoring. I had Ranger and Aurora, and it was on this trail that goes though all these trees, and the wind was blowing just right, that the snow was being blown off the trees, making it seem like glitter was floating down. It was so amazing!)
Also, a great site to check out is: www.sleddogcentral.com It has helped me tons!

 

[oc_spirit]

Yup one is deffinately comfortable with the familiar LOL What is familiar to me is the scooter so it is what I''m comfortable with. IF I do decide to bike I only use one dog and I keep him beside me, not in front.

Dogstar, I have heard of that too but have never used one. Then again I''ve never entered a JR race either LOL To me its either go big or go home (within moderation of course!) I like a challenge

Summitview, yes I use Chatmac harnesses. Actually all of my equipment is Chatmac. I was so sad when Mrs. McNeill got cancer and Doug closed the shop Although I got an e-mail the other day saying that Doug is thinking about firing up the sewing machines again and possibly also making a few sleds. Nothing as what Chatmac once was but probably supplying for anyone local. Woohoo!

I''m with you on no skijoring! LOL I tried it once and lets just say it was a very failed attempt...LOL