Husky Owners.

TheresaW

TheresaW

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 January 2006
Messages
9,322
Location
Nottinghamshire
Visit site
Luna is finally allowed out and about from Monday, cannot wait.

Have been looking into what we can do with her as she gets older, canicross etc. Now, I dislike running with a passion, but I do love cycling. Am thinking that this could be a good way to let her have her long runs. I haven't cycled as much recently as I usually do, so will get me back into it too.

Good or stupid idea?
 
even with huskies you need to wait at least a year before doing something like bikejor or exercising off a bike. we used to start the young huskies off on very short runs-attached to a side of a team so no pulling-under a year old but it would literally be a hundred yards or so at the end of the other dogs' run.

bikejor will not come under your normal insurances for either you or dog and you need a licence to do it at any forest (or so I believe). Best to find a local club for some advice. from what I've seen of bikejor clubs tend to want you doing canicross first, so that you and dog know commands as obviously wiping out on a bike is more serious than wiping out on foot (and it happens)

I wouldnt recommend running a husky off a bike that isnt properly set up for bikejor tbh ie off the side-they have a massive prey drive and even on a rig, you can end up chasing deer/squirrels :D as they really pull very powerfully-not just like a dog that doesnt know how to walk on a lead. you also need to be careful of the surface you bikejor on-feet/pads need condition and rough tracks/tarmac quickly blister a dogs feet. most people here dont run husky types much in the summer unless they get up very early.

you could start cani-hiking at about 10 months if a local club does it.
 
I used to run my dobie x dog off my bike in Australia, he used to stop to pee on mailboxes and I used to fall off! I see where you are coming from on the training, MOC!
There is a display of huskies pulling bike/trike things at shows sometimes, one took its 'driver' straight into the crowd after a gobby JRT. Was very scary but funny as a spectator, not so much for the people involved. When I saw it again the next year they requested evertyone with dogs to keep them back from the ropes.
TW - remember the 5 minutes a month rule. :-)
 
Clodagh said:
I used to run my dobie x dog off my bike in Australia, he used to stop to pee on mailboxes and I used to fall off! I see where you are coming from on the training, MOC!
There is a display of huskies pulling bike/trike things at shows sometimes, one took its 'driver' straight into the crowd after a gobby JRT. Was very scary but funny as a spectator, not so much for the people involved. When I saw it again the next year they requested evertyone with dogs to keep them back from the ropes.
Click to expand...


well there's a reason mushers strap themselves to rigs and dog teams lol. its a long time since I did it, I would only run 4 dogs alone tops and one of those, Chewy, was huge and on race days it was all I could do to just hold him while waiting to to hook him up. Some people also use big scooters-not sure if they are safer than bikes or not-they are lower to the ground.

cani-hiking would be a good start, you'll use the commands and you'll have that option to exercise her even in the summer. there are usually cani-crossers lacking a dog for various reasons and they seem to be a nice bunch of people-it might be that you can get someone to run her for you. I've had others take Fitz out for me and its worked out well :)
 
Fantastic idea but, as above, with some caveats. 12 months plus before starting, canicross first before moving to bike (I loathe running with every fibre of my being but it's far safer to start out on foot and get the commands utterly reliable first) and take great care in where and when you train due to insurance and liability issues. With those in place, do it, it's brilliant. :D

Lots of clubs put on teach-ins at this time of year for newcomers, that or spectating/helping at a race would also be a great introduction, I'd be happy to make a recommendation if you let me know whereabouts you are.
 
Thank you blackcob. We are in Nottinghamshire. It is something we're planning ahead for, I know she needs to mature physically and mentally. I like MoC's idea of someone running her for us in time as well. Just said to OH it would be like Charlotte D riding one of the horses.

Sniffles, 100%, or as I call her much to OH's disgust Luna(tic).

We just accidentally shut her in the garden. Aled had come in, and she's usually hanging off his tail. She came in the cat flap. That will be fun to watch in 6 months :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top