help with dogs at events

MotherOfChickens

MotherOfChickens

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sorry, couldn't think of another title! As you know, I have two dogs-recently taken up canicross. I generally leave one dog at home but there's a couple of events on that are a bit of a drive and at venues I'd like to take both of them too (nice beaches and estates).

I put up a post on FB on a canicross group to see if anyone wanted a dog for a day and one person offering seems very nice-but it turns out she's only 16. Legally she's not a minor in Scotland and the event she'd like to come on is a 2.5 hour hike rather than a run but not sure about it really. What do people think?

eta this isn't a competition, just an outing. there could be anything up to 30 dogs and owners going. She's also done some canicross before and anyone borrowing Fitz will have an introduction to us all beforehand and a practice!
 
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Wouldn't bother me - it's only walking your dog; you'll be there and if she's done it before she'll know the ropes. Why don't you do it with both dogs at the same time?
 
wouldn't bother me either, its a nice gesture to let her take part when she doesn't have a (suitable) dog of her own :)
 
I think as it is a walk and you will presumably be walking alongside and keeping an eye on things then it would be fine. Where is the hike (sounds like fun!)?
 
My son is 16 and I would be ok with such a situation if I had met you, to make sure you weren't a dodgy middle aged man posing as a dog owning woman!
 
Nicnac said:
Why don't you do it with both dogs at the same time?
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I do walk and run with both dogs simultaneously at home and I could walk with both at this event I suppose but think I would enjoy it more with just one-two are a bit much especially in lots of company. am definitely not fit enough or strong enough to run with two off the belt in a pack of twenty dogs at the moment!
 
WorkingGSD said:
I think as it is a walk and you will presumably be walking alongside and keeping an eye on things then it would be fine. Where is the hike (sounds like fun!)?
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Hike is at/around Dundonald Castle.

I am sure she's more than capable of both the walk and most likely the dog handling it was just being responsible for a teenager I was thinking about!
 
I wouldn't worry as she obviously has some experience too, I would meet up for a trial 'run' meet of parents and see what you think then.
 
MotherOfChickens said:
I do walk and run with both dogs simultaneously at home and I could walk with both at this event I suppose but think I would enjoy it more with just one-two are a bit much especially in lots of company. am definitely not fit enough or strong enough to run with two off the belt in a pack of twenty dogs at the moment!
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I can understand that - I find it hard enough with two on normal leads when one decides to go in one direction and t'other in t'other!
 
Nicnac said:
I can understand that - I find it hard enough with two on normal leads when one decides to go in one direction and t'other in t'other!
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its hard to know what is worse-them going off in the same direction as one or the little one getting spooked and trying to go in the other :D

they are pretty good joking aside (the retriever checks I am ok, the collie is convinced I may fall on him) but we are a way off doing it tandem in company and retaining any sort of dignity (I am already the slowest with the reddest face).
 
I imagine she'll probably be fine, but i think i'd want to try to meet up with her beforehand for a trial run/handling session in a quieter environment if possible, especially if you've never met her before. I have quite a few folk run my guys, both in training & competition (they do canicross after the sled dog season but i'm no runner!) but i do like to get to know them & let them meet my dogs in a small calm group first. I'm (admittably) very choosey about who runs them, but it can work really well for everyone if you meet someone who really gels with your dog.
 
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eatmyshorts said:
I imagine she'll probably be fine, but i think i'd want to try to meet up with her beforehand for a trial run/handling session in a quieter environment if possible, especially if you've never met her before. I have quite a few folk run my guys, both in training & competition (they do canicross after the sled dog season but i'm no runner!) but i do like to get to know them & let them meet my dogs in a small calm group first.
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oh yes, definitely-hopefully meeting up this weekend :)

it was someone like you who let me run their huskies (on a rig) back in the day, I was always so honoured they let me! this young woman has a family dog she used to run but he's a bit past it now-happy for her to try with one of mine.
 
MotherOfChickens said:
sorry, couldn't think of another title! As you know, I have two dogs-recently taken up canicross. I generally leave one dog at home but there's a couple of events on that are a bit of a drive and at venues I'd like to take both of them too (nice beaches and estates).

I put up a post on FB on a canicross group to see if anyone wanted a dog for a day and one person offering seems very nice-but it turns out she's only 16. Legally she's not a minor in Scotland and the event she'd like to come on is a 2.5 hour hike rather than a run but not sure about it really. What do people think?

eta this isn't a competition, just an outing. there could be anything up to 30 dogs and owners going. She's also done some canicross before and anyone borrowing Fitz will have an introduction to us all beforehand and a practice!
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What is canicross?!
 
Motherofchickens I didnt know this was a thing you could go to! I often run with mine and they love it, do they have regular meets/competitions, and also how fit are you people that do it!? Do you have to run with a harness and the dog pulling in front? 5 miles is enough running for me, including dog poo/swim stop!
 
Rupertthebear said:
Motherofchickens I didnt know this was a thing you could go to! I often run with mine and they love it, do they have regular meets/competitions, and also how fit are you people that do it!? Do you have to run with a harness and the dog pulling in front? 5 miles is enough running for me, including dog poo/swim stop!
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Hi

yes, quite a popular thing, there's even Ruff Duggers and the Fur Nations Cup :D

some people that do it are very fit and very fast. then there is me :D The idea is that the dog pulls yes-generally they don't run 5 miles, competitions are generally 2k, training (that I've been to) is 5km. I've seen everything from JRTs to Malamutes do it but popular breeds are beagles, pointers, huskies and boxers, collies etc.

There is a page on FB called Canicross Trailrunners-on there they will point towards a local club if there is one. It is worth going to a club to borrow some gear and get some pointers in the first instance as there are certain dos and don't when attached and running. My local club allows three non-member runs to get you going and run twice a week as well as organsing other runs/trips.

http://www.canicross.org.uk/Welcome_to_Canicross_Trailrunners.html



We also in this part of Scotland have an enterprising group who run canifit classes-you book a four week block of training sessions with the aim of improving fitness and technique over the block. They also run special events such as this hike at the weekend.
 
Nicnac said:
HOw did it go MoC?
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great thnks-seems like a nice young woman-met her dad and her mum is coming with her at the weekend (she's taking their dogs to the beach). She's dog mad, volunteers for kennel cleaning at the local DT. Fitz was blissed out on games and fuss-think they will have a ball :)
 
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That sounds great, I hope you and your dogs benefit from the help and really nice for her to get to have a go.
 
MotherOfChickens said:
Hi

yes, quite a popular thing, there's even Ruff Duggers and the Fur Nations Cup :D

some people that do it are very fit and very fast. then there is me :D The idea is that the dog pulls yes-generally they don't run 5 miles, competitions are generally 2k, training (that I've been to) is 5km. I've seen everything from JRTs to Malamutes do it but popular breeds are beagles, pointers, huskies and boxers, collies etc.

There is a page on FB called Canicross Trailrunners-on there they will point towards a local club if there is one. It is worth going to a club to borrow some gear and get some pointers in the first instance as there are certain dos and don't when attached and running. My local club allows three non-member runs to get you going and run twice a week as well as organsing other runs/trips.

http://www.canicross.org.uk/Welcome_to_Canicross_Trailrunners.html



We also in this part of Scotland have an enterprising group who run canifit classes-you book a four week block of training sessions with the aim of improving fitness and technique over the block. They also run special events such as this hike at the weekend.
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Thanks, I think I am definitely going to look into this :-)
 
MotherOfChickens said:
great thnks-seems like a nice young woman-met her dad and her mum is coming with her at the weekend (she's taking their dogs to the beach). She's dog mad, volunteers for kennel cleaning at the local DT. Fitz was blissed out on games and fuss-think they will have a ball :)
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Sounds great! :-)
 
MotherOfChickens said:
great thnks-seems like a nice young woman-met her dad and her mum is coming with her at the weekend (she's taking their dogs to the beach). She's dog mad, volunteers for kennel cleaning at the local DT. Fitz was blissed out on games and fuss-think they will have a ball :)
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Excellent news. Am currently looking into it - sounds great fun and the flatties would love it. Think I'd need a girl like you've found as with two I could be cut in half quite quickly!
 
Nicnac said:
Excellent news. Am currently looking into it - sounds great fun and the flatties would love it. Think I'd need a girl like you've found as with two I could be cut in half quite quickly!
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give it a go! it is fun. and I've had a fair few people come forward for various reasons so worth asking about :) I am really looking forward to Saturday now I've researched the route a bit-nice castle, ancient woodland-should be lovely!
 
Just an update-the hike was yesterday. We all had a lovely day-was mostly in damp Ayrshire woods with lots of river stops so the dogs were fine. they both behaved really well (I'd say impeccably but Quarrie did find a muddy pit to throw himself in before I saw it and could stop him-luckily he could wash off in the river) and A was really great with Fitz who was working solidly off voice commands by the end and going out front in turns quite happily. The dogs slept for much of the day after that, always a bonus :D
 
Sounds good fun. I think it is such a good thing all these sports developing for dogs to do, maybe outside their traditional roles but utilising their brains/energy/whatever.
Tawny's great uncle (or something like that!) won gold in 2013 doing canicross. Pic of him on the home page...http://www.garrethallgundogs.co.uk/
 
Clodagh said:
Sounds good fun. I think it is such a good thing all these sports developing for dogs to do, maybe outside their traditional roles but utilising their brains/energy/whatever.
Tawny's great uncle (or something like that!) won gold in 2013 doing canicross. Pic of him on the home page...http://www.garrethallgundogs.co.uk/
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there you go-perfect reason to give it a go with her championship breeding! :)

I've been really struck by how much all the different breeds, not just the sled dogs, really love it but then dogs love to work in a pack-even sharpeis and puggles ;)

Both dogs do a bit of everything, each are slightly better are different things. I've found it much easier to teach Fitz directional commands for example and he's less of a headbanger canicrossing than Quarrie. Quarrie will just tackle any obstacle i.e. really figure it out whereas Fitz lacks confidence with that sort of thing. Both are great with scentwork and tracking although Quarrie is a bit more easily distracted by girls!. Quarrie loves retrieving (who da thunk!) especially from water and he loves to carry stuff so he gets to fulfil that bit of hardwiring. I'm not sure what Fitz is hardwired to do lol, mostly be a little weird and be groomed/have his nails done-which he loves!
 
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