CaniX/Bikejouring/mushing people?

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muttandpony

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Hello,

Lurker Alert!

I have seen posts in here about CaniX etc, and so thought it was time I asked, I hope some of you can give me some pointers...

I have a collie x (that's a guess), approx 7 (another guess), in full health and although his attitude is more 'sensible' now, he has plenty of energy!

I've always, always watched caniX/bikejouring videos and articles with interested, and would love to train my own dog to do so. He is responsive and quite well trained :o but this is my problem - his training has involved HEEL work and NO PULLING. He doesn't pull whatsoever, will trot next to me if I run, and will run next to my bike off-lead. So I need to reverse this, and teach him to pull ahead....

HOW?

Do I tie something to a harness that he can pull along while I run ahead? To I chuck toys infront of us while I brace myself and just run along? Should I convince other dog walkers to call him over to them so he can pull me forward? Then of course a reward when the line goes tight.

I am a one-human team. As I'm already considered 'The Weird Dog Woman' :o no one is massively interested in helping me out. Which makes life more difficult.

Also - I was wondering about directional changes - how do you begin these? I normally point to the pathway I'm going to go down, and he'll go down it. Should I start yelling rights and lefts during our walks?

Any tips appreciated, I've had a look online, but training advice is limited? Everything tends to go on the assumption that you already have a trained pack that will teach a new dog, or that you have millions of friends that want to help (I don't, they're boring :p ;) )
 
Where are you based? There are lots of cani cross groups around and it does help if your dog follows another dog to start with. My dog has a special harness that she only ever wears for cani cross and has learnt that she is allowed to pull in it. Otherwise she's to heel on the lead on her collar.
 
Psst - it's canicross - Cani-X is a company who run canicross events and who have been involved in a bit of controversy of late. :p

Very best way, if you can bribe someone to help, is to have someone run or cycle ahead of you shouting the dog in as exciting a voice as they can manage. They soon learn that collar = heel, harness = PULL PULL PULL.

Shout your lefts and rights as you make them, again, they catch on quick when you're moving fast. :)
 
Echo BC - someone ideally running/cycling ahead to encourage - if they have a dog then even better. Perhaps see if you can find a local canicross group - Facebook is normally good for that kind of thing - just search canicross & your area - it's always good to have support when starting out. And yes, start using gee (right) & haw (left) while out on walks too - he'll soon get the hang of it.

Be warned - these sports are addictive!:D
 
i dont really bother with having mine Pull.... my afghans will pull me at the start of a race but then tire, so i just have em beside me... my collie again i let him pull a little n then i have him next to me... :)

im trying my Great dane on th 24th.. will be her first EVER attempt and its a race lol.....

Just giving the link to my JG page.. and you can see my 3 cani crossers.. :)
http://www.justgiving.com/canihounds
 
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