As vacation plans shaped up, it looked as if we were settling out to a destination I had longed to visit - the Porcupine Mountains in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. My friend Nick (who is from Alberta) was coming to visit and I was excited to share the hiking adventure with him and of course my trusty K-9's Etan and Eli.
To prepare for the trip I basically had two goals beyond making campsite reservations and not forgetting to pack something into the truck. The first was to keep Eli going in a straight-ish line (as she tends to "orbit" around me as if we are both part of an erratic solar system) and the second was to prevent either dog from dragging us down the trail at every step, all day long.
When Eli orbits, it means I must switch the leash from one hand to the next, to the next, to the next... It can get annoying if nothing else. I think she does this partly because as an outside dog she may have kept busy in her off time by circling around on her tether, and also partly because we humans are just too darn slow for our dogs. It likely doesn't help I that I make her wear an Easy Walk anti-pull harness to prevent her from strangling herself as she tries to pull me down the street water ski style. Etan used to circle around me too, although now he is a pro and walks by my side, no anti pull harness needed (only took 3 years).
My real fear for not getting this whole walking thing under control prior to the trip was the possible mounting frustration day after day - us pulling backward and the dogs pulling forward, each partner cursing the other as we stumble over rocks for 8 hours a day. Certainly this would not be fun. So I laid out a three tier plan: walk more, refine basic manners, and even the playing field.
We went from two walks to three walks each day. Two of them lasting an hour or more (sometimes far more), and the third coming in around 30 min. I tried to think of the three of us as a walking team, and we were just practicing basic team coordination. As for basic manners, Eli and Etan both these - the standard: sit, down, come, and stay - but we rehearsed them all the same. This included practice inside/outside/with distractions/with or without treats/etc. Etan is well versed in these and more, especially since passing his Canine Good Citizen test. Eli is a bit newer. That said, both benefit whenever we spend time training together. It builds each of our focus and our collective bond. I know it seems corny to say that, but when we you spend time communicating with each other, even the same old stuff, it just brings everyone closer. The final part, even the playing field, proved to be key. What you may ask was this key - well the doggy packpack. Yes, I did feel like a city dweller at this point, purchasing the backpacks and making my dogs wear them around town. Uhg, I shudder at that sight a bit. But I have to say it was the critical component to keeping the dogs in control and the humans happy over the course of many long days of hiking. Not to mention hauling water for yourself is heavy, no need to carry dogs water in your own backpack. The dogs did not seem to mind either as we set out on the trails....To be continued.
To prepare for the trip I basically had two goals beyond making campsite reservations and not forgetting to pack something into the truck. The first was to keep Eli going in a straight-ish line (as she tends to "orbit" around me as if we are both part of an erratic solar system) and the second was to prevent either dog from dragging us down the trail at every step, all day long.
When Eli orbits, it means I must switch the leash from one hand to the next, to the next, to the next... It can get annoying if nothing else. I think she does this partly because as an outside dog she may have kept busy in her off time by circling around on her tether, and also partly because we humans are just too darn slow for our dogs. It likely doesn't help I that I make her wear an Easy Walk anti-pull harness to prevent her from strangling herself as she tries to pull me down the street water ski style. Etan used to circle around me too, although now he is a pro and walks by my side, no anti pull harness needed (only took 3 years).
My real fear for not getting this whole walking thing under control prior to the trip was the possible mounting frustration day after day - us pulling backward and the dogs pulling forward, each partner cursing the other as we stumble over rocks for 8 hours a day. Certainly this would not be fun. So I laid out a three tier plan: walk more, refine basic manners, and even the playing field.
We went from two walks to three walks each day. Two of them lasting an hour or more (sometimes far more), and the third coming in around 30 min. I tried to think of the three of us as a walking team, and we were just practicing basic team coordination. As for basic manners, Eli and Etan both these - the standard: sit, down, come, and stay - but we rehearsed them all the same. This included practice inside/outside/with distractions/with or without treats/etc. Etan is well versed in these and more, especially since passing his Canine Good Citizen test. Eli is a bit newer. That said, both benefit whenever we spend time training together. It builds each of our focus and our collective bond. I know it seems corny to say that, but when we you spend time communicating with each other, even the same old stuff, it just brings everyone closer. The final part, even the playing field, proved to be key. What you may ask was this key - well the doggy packpack. Yes, I did feel like a city dweller at this point, purchasing the backpacks and making my dogs wear them around town. Uhg, I shudder at that sight a bit. But I have to say it was the critical component to keeping the dogs in control and the humans happy over the course of many long days of hiking. Not to mention hauling water for yourself is heavy, no need to carry dogs water in your own backpack. The dogs did not seem to mind either as we set out on the trails....To be continued.