Quote:
Originally Posted by Blackdog22
That looks like so much fun, your very lucky to be able to participate in such a neat doggy sport. I truly envy you.
I always thought it would be neat to build a fancy sleigh and have my GSD's pull me around in golden harnesses......like a snow queen.
Alas, I dont think my sheps will ever get the opportunity to do such a thing as I am too concerned about the potential damage to their hips.
|
I remember being on a collie breeder's website where they had pictures of their dogs in parades hooked up to some pretty neat looking wagons or sleds, pulling the family's little girl. I just went looking for the site and here's a link to their photos. Check out the stagecoach and the Santa sleigh!
http://www.geocities.com/glenrichcol...andidpics.html If you wanted to try getting your dogs into pulling but avoid possible hip problems you should check out the BH model harness at
http://www.akkosports.com The first dog we did any pulling with was a very tall great dane and I also had concern about causing hip problems. An x-back sledding harness would have put the tug loop over his tail and I was afraid of creating downward pressure on his hips. I searched the internet for a long time until I came across AKKO's website and found the perfect harness for him. That harness has nothing over the hips at all, instead there is a lower point of pull on each side of the dog and as with all sledding type harnesses it's the shoulder's that are doing the actual pulling. There are other breastplate style carting harnesses around too that offer a similar point of pull, I was just interested in a sled type harness. I think the other carting harnesses may be available at places like Pet Smart or Super Pet.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hazelrunpack
How cool! Looks like he's doing a great job! 
I think I have enough dogs to make a couple of teams...only they all believe in moving in different directions...so I don't think we'd get very far   |
Mine all move in different directions too when they're not hooked up. All you need to do is teach them to "line out" i.e. stay facing forward and keep the line taut. The necklines help because it keeps them from being able to move too far out from the main gangline and once you get moving the ones that keep moving forward help to keep the others focused and going the right way. It's funny to watch a new dog hooked up beside an experienced one the first few runs. The newbie will be looking around, drifting in and out a bit (or as much as the neckline and tugline will allow) and when they get out a bit to far they get pulled back in and play "bumper dogs" with their running mate. It doesn't take long for them to figure out how to run straight and keep moving.