Training Your Dog to Pull: Run What You Brung Dog Sledding Programs

Two novice dogs running with the team during a Run What You Brung

Taking a novice dog and turning that dog into a dog that pulls, on command and is capable of participating in dog powered sports including dog scootering, bikejoring, skijoring, canicross, dog sledding, and dryland (wheeled) dog sledding can be a tall order.

After all, dogs, as you might expect, learn better from other dogs. Training a single dog from scratch can be tough simply because without an experienced dog to show your new dog the ropes, you (the human) must do all of the training from scratch and, let's face it, we humans simply don't speak "dog" as well as other dogs do. A trained sled dog can teach a new dog more in ten minutes than I alone can teach that dog in 10 months. To that end, Maryland Sled Dog Adventures LLC offers a very special training program, our Run What You Brung, for folks with high energy dogs, 30 lbs and over, who are interested in getting into dog powered sports with their own dog(s).

A novice dog running with the team

Over the years, we've frequently heard from folks who have approached dog powered sports from the stand point of pet owners thinking that because their dog(s) pull on leash that they will "naturally" pull well in harness. Generally, we hear from these folks when they are frustrated, complaining that their dog will run down the trail for a mile or two and quit, won't go past distractions, stops on the trail to relieve himself or herself, etc. And after nearly ten years of training sled dogs, I can definitively say that there is very little, if any, correlation between how well your dog pulls on leash and how well your dog will pull in harness for dog powered sports.

Dog powered sports require your dog(s) to pull on command, to stop on command, and to follow directional (gee, haw, on by) commands. While a dog that has excess energy and pulls on leash might run down the trail for a mile or two, it's also likely that same dog will stop when he/she grows tired or bored or distracted. A trained sled dog pulls on command, stops on command, follows basic dog sledding commands given by the musher, and will run singlemindedly down the trail even when there are distractions (squirrels, loose dogs, other dog teams, wild animals, etc), and will run even when tired. This is a very important distinction that very few novice dog drivers fully understand. Most think: My dog runs in front of me down the trail, end of story. As Lee Corso likes to say on College Game Day (we're big college football fans here at Maryland Sled Dog Adventures): "Not so fast my friend." The main difference between a sled dog and a pet dog with excess energy is drive and training. Drive is the dog's innate desire to go down the trail; to see what is around the next corner and over the next hill. Dogs are born with drive. Drive is not something that is trained.

Being passed by another dog team

It is training, however, that teaches a dog to pull on command, stop on command, and follow basic dog sledding commands. Training is also frequently misunderstood by novice mushers. Training is the act of showing your dog what you want him or her to do. Training is not just going out and running your dogs down the trail. To train a dog you must be able to control the dog as he or she runs down the trail (this requires good quality equipment with adequate braking power and the ability to be locked in place). When you give a command, either your dog follows the command in which case you should praise the dog ("good gee") or the dog does not follow the command. If your dog does not follow the command, you must get off the scooter, bike, rig, sled, etc. and show your dog what you want him or her to do. Failing to do this (or not being able to do this because of inadequate equipment) tells your dog that it is ok to ignore your commands. To this end, you need to have equipment that can be held in place (under any circumstances including in the presence of squirrels, loose dogs, other dog teams, etc) while you get off and show the dog what you want him or her to do.

Training "line out"

Multiple teams: All lined out

The musher's ability to stop on the trail and get off the rig is necessary to train the dogs

Command training with a double snapped leash

Side by side line out training: Note that the trainers are behind the dogs

Command training using a double snapped leash

Passing another dog team

Training is also frequently confused by novice dog mushers with conditioning. While training is the act of showing your dog what you want him or her to do, conditioning is putting mileage on your dog(s) over time at, hopefully, either increasing, or at least consistent, speeds. Conditioning should not be confused with training. Here at Maryland Sled Dog Adventures while we feel that conditioning is important, we feel that training is paramount. Thus, even training runs with conditioning objectives include training objectives as well. To us, a missed command or an unusual trail situation (horses, fox hunts, loose dogs, other dog teams, etc) are all training opportunities. In other words, these are opportunities to show your dogs what you want them to do.

Our Run What You Brung program is an opportunity for experienced sled dogs to show your dog the ropes and will provide you with the tools you need to train your dog to pull, on command, for dog powered sports. While you might think it is your dog that will receive the "training" during one of our Run What You Brung programs, it is not. Rather, it is you who will be "trained" as our Run What You Brung program is a "train the trainer" program. It is designed to give you the tools you need to train your dog to pull. And these tools are not dog scooters, lines, harnesses, bikes, and rigs. These are training tools because, as we like to say here at Maryland Sled Dog Adventures, training is "the gift that keeps on giving." No matter how nice your equipment, it will not train your dog to pull on command.

Drag training

Drag training

Dog sledding and other dog powered sports can be an expensive hobby (addiction) and while your bright shiny new equipment will not train your dog to pull, a basic level of equipment is necessary to safely run your dogs. Thus, if you find yourself unwilling or unable to spend money on your new found hobby, you have no business on the trails. The main factor to consider with any rig or vehicle used for running dogs be it a dog scooter, bike, rig, sled, or ATV is whether you can stop your dog(s) at any time (beginning, middle or end of the run) and under any circumstances (squirrels, loose dogs, leashed dogs, wild animals, other dog teams, etc.). If the answer to either of those questions is "no" or "not really" then your equipment is inadequate and is dangerous for you, your dog(s), and other users on the trails. Moreover, if you cannot control your team (be your team 1 dog or 20 plus dogs), you cannot adequately train (see above) your dog(s).

Fritz Dyck rig. Note the locking "digger" (earth) brake and that all four wheels have locking brakes

Not only is the ability to stop at any time under any circumstances a safety issue for you, your dogs and others, it is also a courtesy issue for other trail users. Mushers are a minority user group and most trails are multi use, shared with other users ranging from snowmobiles and quads to bikes, pedestrians, and dog walkers. Moreover, mushers are easily identifiable. Mushers must courteously share the trails with other users. This includes running your dogs on the right (at least here in the US), being able to stop your dogs, yielding to other trail users, cleaning up after your dogs, and in general keeping the trails a nice place for all types of users. Common courtesy and common sense go a long way towards keeping trails open to all uses and rude behavior and a general lack of common sense will close trails to mushers faster than anything else. To that end, you will frequently find us picking up other users' trash on our trails, always scooping our dogs' poop (very few pet owners clean up after their dogs), running early in the morning to avoid as much trail traffic as possible, rotating the trail heads we use, training our dogs to run on the right, yielding to other trail users, and running our dogs under control at all times.

Running on the right: All "gee'd over"

Sharing the trails with other users: Running right so a bicyclist can pass

Dog Powered Sports Clinic: October 17, 2009

Dog Scootering with one dog

Does your dog love to run? Does your dog love to pull? Do you have a high energy dog, medium size (30 lbs) or larger dog? Are you looking for a way to exercise with your dog? Tire your dog out? Are walks around the block just not cutting it? Have you always wanted to try dog sledding with your dog?

If so, consider coming to Maryland Sled Dog Adventures LLC's Dog Powered Sports clinic. This clinic will focus on training you and your dog for dog powered sports that are suitable for one to three dog teams including dog scootering, bikejoring, skijoring, and canicross. Not sure what these new and exciting sports are? Read on!

The clinic will be held on October 17, 2009 on the Northern Central Rail trail in northern Baltimore County. Cost is $100 per person. Limit one dog per person, please. Space is limited. Contact catherine@marylanddogsledding.com to register or for more details.

Pawtrekker dog scooter

What are dog scootering, bikejoring, skijoring, and canicross?

Dog Scootering: Dog scootering is scootering while one to three dogs pull you while you ride on a non motorized scooter. It is similar to mushing and dog sledding but is done in when there is no snow on the ground (perfect for Maryland), usually with fewer dogs. Your dog must learn basic dog sledding commands including, "gee," "haw," "on by," and "line out."

Dog Scootering with two dogs

Dog scootering in a race with two dogs

Dog scootering

Bikejoring: Bikejoring (literally meaning bike driving) is biking while being pulled by a dog. Bikejoring can be done with one to three dogs and is a shared adventure between you and your dogs. Bikejoring allows you to go further (and faster) than might otherwise go by yourself and is great way to get out and explore new trails while exercising you and your dog.

Bikejoring with one dog

Bikejoring with one dog

Skijoring: Skijoring is cross country skiing while a dog pulls you. It is an exhilarating and fast growing winter sport which combines dog sledding and cross country skiing. Literally meaning ski driving in Norwegian, skijoring allows a dog and owner to exercise together while enjoying the outdoors.

Skijoring with two dogs

Skijoring with one dog

Canicross: Canicross is cross country running or hiking while a dog pulls you. It's more than just jogging with your dog on leash and it requires, as all dog powered sports do, that your dog understand basic commands, including "gee," haw," "on by," and "line out." Canicross is an excellent way to get out and explore new trails with your canine companion.

Canicross Hiking

Canicross hiking with Zoe

Scootering in Maple Valley

Today, while vacationing in Seattle I met up with Daphne Lewis and Donna Morton from the Dogs Love to Run email list that I'm on. While we've conversed via email, we've never met in person.

Arriving at the trail head

Daphne and Donna were kind enough to invite me to go dog scootering with them. So after a brief mistake on my part (wrong McDonalds), I finally met up with Daphne, Donna and their pups. Shortly thereafter, we arrived at the trail. Now for those of you who don't run in the Pacific Northwest or have never visiting the PNW, this is a gorgeous part of the country. As some of you know, I was raised in Seattle and lived her for 18 years before leaving to go to college at the University of Michigan. I returned for another two years after graduating to get my law degree from UDub (that's slang for University of Washington). The trails were nothing short of gorgeous and there was a huge variety of trails to choose from with plenty of opportunities for gee, haw, on by training on various looping trails.

Donna with Brett and Donna with Ellie and Rogue

Starting out, I borrowed Donna's DSK (disc brake model) Diggler dog scooter and Donna's Alaskan Husky, Holly.

Holly and the Dog Scooter (note she is pointing the wrong direction down the trail)

Holly is an awesome little Alaskan Husky with a fair amount of hound in her judging by her appearance. She is mostly black with a little white and nice blue eyes. And she's very sweet.

She ran great as a lead (and only) dog with a wonderful understanding of gee, haw, and on by. In fact, every time we would go through an intersection with another trail, her little head would come up and she would clearly be asking, "Ok lady, so which way are we going here?" Holly's only short coming (which is also an asset in a way) is that she is incredibly busy (all the best sled dogs are) and she constantly wants to go. Constantly wanting to go, for Holly, translates to not a lot of desire to line out. Having a strong desire to stay in motion, Holly does lots of circling back when stopped. (Somehow, however, she manages to do it without getting tangled, though, which is nice). But with this eager to please little lady is a great all around sled dog.

Brett demonstrates line out

The DSK is a very nice dog scooter with disk brakes and a 20 inch back wheel. The foot board is wide enough to accommodate two (at least my two) feet placed side by side and once I figured out where to put my feet, it was quite a comfortable ride. It did take me about a half a mile to figure out how I wanted to place my feet. After I got the hang of balancing and became comfortable with the brakes and the handling abilities of the dog scooter, I LOVED this scooter. It was nicely balanced, handled very well and had plenty of braking power. I think I could probably run two of my hard charging Maryland Sled Dog Adventures Siberian Husky sled dogs on this scooter. This scooter is also tall enough to comfortably accommodate Eric's six foot height.

As we headed out, I had Alaskan Husky, Holly, hooked to Donna's Diggler DSK scooter. Daphne had Chinook (and all around Love Bug), Brett, on her Alpha Dawg dog scooter while Donna was bikejoring with her Chinook pup, Rogue, and her other female Chinook, Ellie. After about a mile out with several stops to water the dogs and take photos, we turned the dogs around (come haw) and headed back to the vehicles. Since the dogs had not run recently, it was warm and humid (mid 50s) and this was Rogue's first run, we wanted to keep the run short and positive. As we headed home we let the dogs run loose down to the creek and cool off (don't try this with the Maryland Sled Dog Adventures dogs; never off leash except when fenced our dogs would have been half way to Portland if we cut them loose to swim). After passing three Weimaraners out for a walk, we arrived back at the vehicles and the trail head. Approaching the trail head, I bravely decided to scooter down the steep hill that lead back to the trail head with Holly pulling like a little demon. As we headed down the steep hill, the DSK handled the rocks, ruts and exposed roots with nary a second thought.

Brett and Daphne

After a water break and rest back and the vehicles (plus of course a lot of talk of dogs since this is what dog drivers do when they get together), Daphne and I headed out for some biking and dog scootering with Brett while Donna headed off to a meeting. Hooking Brett to Daphne's Alpha Dawg (16 inch back wheel; also available with a 20 inch back wheel), I rode the dog scooter with Brett while Daphne road her bike. Heading back out the narrow gauge rail trail we had just run, we turned off on to a single track.

Scootering with Brett

At about a mile out, we paused to rest and give Brett some water, handing the camera off to Daphne, I (not so intelligently) decided this would be a good place to take some photos. I also, not so smartly, decided to hold on to the poly eth scooter line while Daphne headed down the trail. Not happy that Mom had ridden off and thinking he had been released to run when Daphne called out from down the trail that she was ready (Daphne's go word is "pull" but it's often proceeded with the word "ready) for the photo shoot to begin. (in Mushing Boot Camp parlance, "ready" along with words such as "ok" is a verbal tick; a word that is not the go word but that the dog driver inadvertently speaks each time he or she gives the "go" word. The dogs become accustomed to hearing this verbal tick and come to associate it with the command. Inadvertently using these verbal ticks in conversation can result in the dog(s) thinking it is time to head out down the trail). In any event, having not yet dropped the line, I was left with a small rope burn and a reminder of why I don't grab onto poly eth lines when they are moving. Ouch! In any event, we did get some good photos as we scootered

down the trail so the small rope burn was probably worth it.

Continuing down the single track, the Alpha Dawg handled the trail like a champ. Moving over the rocks and tree roots. Just as we approached our "gee" turn, Brett almost "on byed" a loose dog but I was two seconds too late with the "gee" command (not knowing where I was headed) so Brett decided a bit of socialization was in order. As soon as I gave the "gee" command, however, Brett made his gee turn and we came out on a nice wide dirt road in a lovely pine grove. As we rounded the corner into the pine grove, I think the temperature dropped by about 5 degrees. Heading down hill, we eventually reached Brett's favorite swimming hole. Cutting him loose, Brett (and Daphne) enjoyed a nice game of fetch with a giant stick as Daphne and I chatted. We also met a nice little Corgi and her dog friends out for a walk, a golden, and a boxer, all who stopped to swim in the nice little swimming hole right off the trail.

Brett retrieves his stick

Another dog out for a walk dropped by to swim

Brett cools off in his swimming hole

Brett swimming with his stick

Bringing the dogs back around, we headed back to the cars the way we had come with Brett maintaining a nice steady trot, despite the warming afternoon temps.

Both the DSK and the Alpha Dawg dog scooters handled great. Both easily passed over the ruts, rocks and roots littering the trails. Neither bogged down in the patches of deeper gravel that we went through. The Alpha Dawg handled a wash board rough section of trail (although I did feel as if I had double vision from the vibrations at one point). The only issue I had with either scooter is that because of their height from the ground and my short legs, both are a little harder to pedal than the rigs and dog sleds that I am used it. I thought the DSK was slightly harder to pedal than the Alpha Dawg and seemed a bit higher off the ground although Daphne thought that both were about the same height.

All told, I enjoyed dog scootering so much (and it's such a different feeling from bikejoring) that I think we will soon be investing in a dog scooter.