Trail dogs

will2

Likes Dirt
Kids named her, she'll just be known as fig or figgy which is OK, the other name may have been Rosie so I'm happy with figtree!

Hope you don't have Korean friends. May want to make Figgy pudding.
She is going to be a great family dog, how are labs running? Not super familiar with that aspect of them.
 

will2

Likes Dirt
Giving this old thread a bump. We are getting destroyed by the pet thread which started as a cat thread. So obviously that can't happen. Surely some beautiful young pooches were gifted over Christmas.
 

DJninja

Likes Bikes and Dirt
I think I stunted my dogs growth taking him on trails to young. It is something I'd heard of but it was to fun to not do.
 

thatsnotme

Likes Dirt
So we picked this girl up today, and she is just gorgeous

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She's a 1yo-ish Kelpie, possibly crossed with cattle dog? The only hint is that she's got dappled tan and white socks, which isn't a normal kelpie pattern.

Dropped off in the surrender box at Lithgow pound, she was picked up by a local rescue group. Pretty sure she'd been abandoned by a local farmer as a shithouse working dog, and showed all the signs of being belted for her failures. We drove from Canberra and camped overnight to meet this girl, because she seemed perfect - and she was. Absolutely loves our 4 and 6yo, totally chilled out girl, didn't bother chasing the magpie who was telling it to F-off when it got to our backyard for the first time this afternoon, was a bit curious about the chooks but didn't look at all like she was viewing them as a meal...I reckon this girl could be an awesome trail dog.

We're planning to take her to obedience training, and I reckon she'll excel - she's just so damn eager to please, is sitting and staying when asked, and is already displaying some good recall traits.

So for those who've got trail dogs, how did you train them up, particularly when it came to riding with a bike? I know that she's got another year of growth before she can do anything serious, but I'd love to be able to exercise her locally while I'm riding. Is on-leash riding an option? Or is the combination of a dog, leash and pedals/wheels a recipe for disaster?

Any hints or suggestions appreciated. Our last couple of dogs were handbag sized, so I'm pretty excited to have something that can keep up in the family!
 

Knuckles

Lives under a bridge
So we picked this girl up today, and she is just gorgeous

View attachment 327596

View attachment 327606

She's a 1yo-ish Kelpie, possibly crossed with cattle dog? The only hint is that she's got dappled tan and white socks, which isn't a normal kelpie pattern.

Dropped off in the surrender box at Lithgow pound, she was picked up by a local rescue group. Pretty sure she'd been abandoned by a local farmer as a shithouse working dog, and showed all the signs of being belted for her failures. We drove from Canberra and camped overnight to meet this girl, because she seemed perfect - and she was. Absolutely loves our 4 and 6yo, totally chilled out girl, didn't bother chasing the magpie who was telling it to F-off when it got to our backyard for the first time this afternoon, was a bit curious about the chooks but didn't look at all like she was viewing them as a meal...I reckon this girl could be an awesome trail dog.

We're planning to take her to obedience training, and I reckon she'll excel - she's just so damn eager to please, is sitting and staying when asked, and is already displaying some good recall traits.

So for those who've got trail dogs, how did you train them up, particularly when it came to riding with a bike? I know that she's got another year of growth before she can do anything serious, but I'd love to be able to exercise her locally while I'm riding. Is on-leash riding an option? Or is the combination of a dog, leash and pedals/wheels a recipe for disaster?

Any hints or suggestions appreciated. Our last couple of dogs were handbag sized, so I'm pretty excited to have something that can keep up in the family!
Training to heal, recall, remote drop (stop dead in its tracks) and to stay behind you, are the bare minimum to have down pat before trail training.

Here's a few resources I've been using that seem to work well:

http://m.pinkbike.com/news/how-to-train-a-trail-dog-2015.html

http://www.mtb-oz.com/index.php/faq/dogs_mtb

http://www.themountainbikelife.com/2014/10/10-steps-create-trail-trained-k9.html
 

thatsnotme

Likes Dirt
Training to heal, recall, remote drop (stop dead in its tracks) and to stay behind you, are the bare minimum to have down pat before trail training.

Here's a few resources I've been using that seem to work well:

http://m.pinkbike.com/news/how-to-train-a-trail-dog-2015.html

http://www.mtb-oz.com/index.php/faq/dogs_mtb

http://www.themountainbikelife.com/2014/10/10-steps-create-trail-trained-k9.html
Thanks for that, appreciate it. She already seems like a really fast and willing learner, so I'm looking forward to getting her along to some training - we'll be learning this stuff together!
 

Knuckles

Lives under a bridge
Thanks for that, appreciate it. She already seems like a really fast and willing learner, so I'm looking forward to getting her along to some training - we'll be learning this stuff together!
She's already getting to the end of her puppy period, so training should take pretty quickly. My border Collie picks up training quickly, walked well from the first time a lead was attached, had great recall straight away, but at 10 months gets distracted ver...squirrel...y easi...im gonna piss on that woman's leg...ly.

And obedience training is as much about training the owner, as the dog. As soon as you lapse, the mutt will take full advantage.
 

MtbDjRidaSachaz66

Likes Dirt
My bundle of joy.

IMG_0805.jpg

Amstaff breed, named Waffles. Soooooooo cute. Picked him up just a week ago from the pound, he was rescued and found as a stray dog.

Considering him as a potential trail dog... unsure, anyone else here worry about their dog getting hit by others or even yourself on the trail?

EDIT: Oops, didn't realise the pic comes out sideways. Oh well, you can use the pic to get some neck exercise.
 

pink poodle

気が狂っている男
You should get a blue collar for waffles.

My dog is too stupid to trust in public off the leash. Tyres, legs, kids, people, trucks, other animals, other dogs...too many things she would like to attack.
 

MtbDjRidaSachaz66

Likes Dirt
Shame he's not blue....
Wait what

You should get a blue collar for waffles.

My dog is too stupid to trust in public off the leash. Tyres, legs, kids, people, trucks, other animals, other dogs...too many things she would like to attack.
Blue collar? The local pound left the black colour on him and I thought it looked good so left it on him.

Haven't tried my dog off the leash in public, but on the leash he already gets somewhat easily distracted with other smells, human legs, etc. May just be about training perhaps.
 

Knuckles

Lives under a bridge
Wait what


Haven't tried my dog off the leash in public, but on the leash he already gets somewhat easily distracted with other smells, human legs, etc. May just be about training perhaps.
Good luck with that, we had an American staffy (prior to the MIL murdering her while we were in Europe). She had a bit of blue heeler in her, and what she didn't try to eat, she rounded up. Years of obedience school achieved diddly squat. I suggest starting as soon as possible, and lots of socialisation.

#hashtag
 

pink poodle

気が狂っている男
Socialisation...supposedly a key to overcoming a range.of aggressive tendencies. With my current dog it just accentuated them. Her former house mate was quite the alpha in public and I think it rubbed off on her. Only where she likes to bight, he liked to fuck...it did make for some comical moments.

Bike riding adds a whole new level of complexity to having your dog off leash. I personally wouldn't as I like to be able to focus on not dying on the trail, or keeping the dog under some level of control. If you can have a high level of trust in your dog then it might work, but...well personally I get pretty shitty with people who think their dog can do as they wish and not keep an eye on things. I love dogs. It may just be a jealousy towards your well behaved hounds...

Now a shuttle dog...that is a whole new Story! We took the overly friendly dog from the bottom of Ourimbah Dh on a lap once. Stinky bastard didn't want to hop out when he got back to the bottom. Haven't seen that guy for many years now.
 

MtbDjRidaSachaz66

Likes Dirt
Good luck with that, we had an American staffy (prior to the MIL murdering her while we were in Europe). She had a bit of blue heeler in her, and what she didn't try to eat, she rounded up. Years of obedience school achieved diddly squat. I suggest starting as soon as possible, and lots of socialisation.

#hashtag
Aw sorry to hear :( But yeah, think I'll see to obedience school with this one. It was only today that Waffles showed me he can jump... the bloody fence, into the neighbours, right in front of me and the neighbour as we were talking about Waffles... So alot of my efforts to contain him in our property has somewhat gone to waste. He just loves other dogs and people, and loves the neighbours border collie, they hang about together a fair bit. Socialisation won't be a problem. So far hasn't shown any aggresive behaviours - fingers crossed none surface.
 

Wellsey

Likes Bikes and Dirt
Good luck with that, we had an American staffy (prior to the MIL murdering her while we were in Europe).
#hashtag
I'm assuming you're currently on remand awaiting trial for the revenge murder of your mother in law? Do the screws know you're on here?
 

Knuckles

Lives under a bridge
I'm assuming you're currently on remand awaiting trial for the revenge murder of your mother in law? Do the screws know you're on here?
Home detention. The judge believes in cruel and unusual punishment, hence doing 20+ with the wife....

#hashtag
 
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