Sled Training for Husky

Vince32

I'm Starting to look at getting my 15 week old bitch used to pulling and sledding. But I'm having a hard time locating certain items;

3 wheeled racing rig >=€400
Harness >=€40
Tugline >=€20

I've got about €500 to spend in January, So I'll be wanting to get some decent gear that will last for awhile. But Where in Dublin can a chap like me find gear to start training, and more importantly Is there anyone willing to meet me and help me get this right from the start.

I'll be start to teach the Driving Commands soon, but I don't want to have her confused with leash commands and driving commands.

Gee - go right
Haw - go left
Line out - Take up the slack
go-by - ignore the distraction
Hike! - Run like the wind

So Please If anyone has tips for a complete novice, or is willing to give me a couple of free lessons let me know.

Thanks

RitaW

Vince there's a site called www.tailsandtrails.ie which is directly focused around the sport of dog mushing. There's a forum there that contains all the information about getting started with the commands etc..

If you post in the Dog Meet Up section I'm sure some of the members will take the time to meet up with you and show you some equipment.

I'm in Donegal so couldn't offer to show you the ropes.

I'd always recommend starting with a bike to see if you dog takes to the sport or not. You only need a line and harness to get started which would cost around €60. I know people who have spent a fortune on equipment and realised there dog wouldn't pull.

For one dog you'd be looking at a scooter, the 3 wheeled rigs are designed for 2 dogs or more. A malamute can pull the rig on it's own but it would be alot of work for a Siberian and not recommend.

Shanao

Please dont start a 15 week old pup pulling now, you'll do irreperable damage to her growing joints!! She should be over a year at least before doing any pulling/sledding

RitaW

Shanao wrote: »

Please dont start a 15 week old pup pulling now, you'll do irreperable damage to her growing joints!! She should be over a year at least before doing any pulling/sledding

Thought it was 15 months

Shanao is right 15 weeks is far to young, you'll need to wait until the dog is at least a year old to do some light training.

Irishchick

I agree with the above posts you could do real damage especially as the breed is prone to hip dysplasia.

Let her fully develop first.

Vince32

yes. I really need to word my posts properly:

4-6 months is the best age to start with a puppy to learn commands. At nine months you can start with short runs (a mile or less). Work your dogs' endurance up, especially if they have been sedentary for a while. However, any dog under a year of age should not be doing any pulling, as it may hinder proper bone development.

taken from http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Started-Dog-Mushing

I have also read "Siberian huskies for dummies" and have "The Siberian Husky" ordered at my local book shop, It seems the breed is somewhat specialised and there is very little information (apart from the general breed info) available anywhere.

I'm not rushing into anything, or trying to kill the dog or wreck it's life.... I'm just trying to find a place in Dublin that sells the gear I'll need, Since I'll Have access to 500+ E in January, I'll spend time gathering the gear I'll need, talking to owners and sleders and going to meets.

If I can get a couple of the expensive bits once a month, I can spread out the expense over the year. But I can't start making preparations until people stop assuming the worst, and actually answer my questions.

Where in Dublin can I get a scooter/dry sled, harnesses and lines. The reason I want to go to the store is so I can talk to the clerk, and maybe some other people who like sledding too

cookies for the first person to tell me:

not too worry about that right now
my puppy is too young for sledding
the joints wont form properly if you stress them at such a young age
etc
etc
etc
EDIT: I know the dog is far too young to pull anything, and that over exercising can do more harm than good, and that you guys are doing your bit to try help me understand that.
What I don't know is where to get the equipment from a store in or around Dublin, if there are people willing to help me train the dog to respond to the driving commands and I'm starting to think that the people on these boards are alarmists and worriers. So let's assume I now understand all the above and I won't actually put the dog into the harness or attempt to have it pull until it is at least 14 months old.

Now can someone answer my question or should I stop posting here and find another forum to get the info I want?

Gran Hermano

Vince, easy on the attitude. People are only trying to help and have both your and the pups best interest in mind. ISDW already pointed you towards a mine of information. Why not go to one of the meets in a casual capacity and ask those actually using sleds where they source their gear? Could be a fun day out for you and the pup.

ISDW

As far as I am aware, there are no stores in Dublin that sell sled dog equipment. If you find one, please let us all know.

However, there is a brilliant one in Donegal that does mail order www.countryhounds.ie, they have everything you need, and are very helpful.

Vince32

Thanks again ISDW it seems your always there to help me out, if I can ever return a favor just shout.

Your info is always spot on, and to the point.
Cheers.

Vince32

Scooters - €400
Rigs - 600
harness and lines €60

Backpacks, personal supplies, dog supplies, first aid (human + dog) repair kit, food + water.

The initial cost of this sport is going into the thousands, not that I mind, since I have a year or so to save a few pound and get it all together.

At least now I can spread the expense, and consider all I might need for a weekend in the forests or a trek around the park.

Thanks again

Cherry Blossom

Harness and lines €60
Second hand mountain bike from local ads etc. >€100

- sorted

That's all you need to get started and I would assume that you couldn't just start off with a scooter, with a bike you can 'help' the dog while it builds up muscles etc.

Why are you buying this in January? I wouldn't even bother looking until next January otherwise all this kit is going to end up sitting there collecting dust for the next year.

Vince32

Well AJ, it's like this I'm on a fixed income, like most other people, and I like planning and getting the info I will need.

I can easily squirrel away €40 a week without it pinching too much, and get all the gear in 12 months, but in Jan there will be sales and stuff to get cheaper, I won't be getting the rig or scooter until closer to the First Event, but all the other stuff needed for a weekend in the wild, personal safety gear, first aid and other needed for the sport.

By the end of Jan I can have enough saved to get 2-4 pieces, and end of feb 2-4 more, until eventually I'll have the full kit and I won't be in a situation where I forgot something important, like disinfectant and gause or what ever. not to mention travelling expenses. Basically I want to get as much done as I can while we're maturing and waiting for the Big day.

I could get it all at once, but I need to feel like I'm building toward something, and I'm prepared for the worst, while expecting the best. or this year will go far too slowly for me She will get a rig or scooter for her 1st b-day, sep 1 '2012, and maybe we'll met on the track in the spring

Good thinking about the Bike, I can't expect a champion first time out :P, she'll be off her puppy food in 2.6 months and I'll be looking into raw vs cooked food too, I know some people swear by bagged food and others raw, and others cooked, I'll really need to think about how I want to feed her.

Right now she just sleeps eats and poops, and we walk twice a day for 15 mins, do 10 mins of obedience training, and play 3-4 times a day for 20 mins. That's the routine we are in at the moment and its working. Still have alot to learn admittedly but andrea, irishchick, ISDW and yourself are all great, and now I'm joining T'n'T this week thanks to Rita for the reminder link, and I'll be out at the meets having a poke around and seeing what other people are doing.

Irishchick

Sounds very exciting! Great to see a dog doing what it was bred to do.

As for the food vince you can find info on google or if you want a book I would recommend unlocking the ancestral canine diet.

Some people choose raw, others choose cooked and others prefer the prey model where the dog only gets meat and bone.

I think ultimately it will be trial and error until you find a food that suits your dog and lifestyle.

P.s : are there any videos on the net of sledding in Ireland I'd like to see it!

Vince32

hmmm tons I bet, let me see if I can find something, brb lol

a few short clips from N.Ireland

but this is more what I have in mind, can't find a clip from Ireland, but it looks like alot of fun.
Urban Sledding

ISDW

This was Nationwide on RTE:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knnoY6nZsjg

Vince32

lots to look forward too