training a dog to pull a sled.

[brent]

Hi folks,

I have a Chesapeake Bay Retriever that is a sweet heart and a brute as well. I plan to bring her to Alaska with me but she is going to have to earn her keep. How, do I teach her to pull a load. She is not a sled dog but I figure with her muscle she should be able to pull a sled or cart to help out with hauling supplies and such. I think it would be much better to have her already adjusted to this before I make my move. I have trained dogs for a lot of stuff but not this. Thanks for any help you can give me..
brent

[Freeholdfarm]

I have a friend in Tok who has raised and raced sled dogs almost her entire life, and she's used Chessies in her teams. I could ask her to get in touch with you, if you want to give me your e-mail address to pass on. I'm sure she'd love to help you.

Kathleen

[Washkeeton]

First of all how old is she? and what kind of health is she in? You will need a freight harness if she is the only one (provides a better weight distribution and keeps the harness off her hips causing pain when she is working). You dont want to load her down heavy when you do. One of the most common problems with sled dogs as they age is their hips and spine go especially if they have a lot of miles on them.
Has the dog been trained in basic obedience? If so she probably will not run out infront of you if that is what your looking for.

Get a harness and start getting her use to that. hook either a rope or a line to that and start small with things like logs, motor cycle tires something with drag but not so big as to scare her. run with her or walk with her pullin this. make it at least a few feet behind her as not to make her feel it will run her over. Gradually move into things like a small sled for kids and maybe put a small load in it. You will have to control it as to not let it slide up and hit her can ruin all your training. If she is ok with all of this we use to get up to bikes. Ride behind her giving the command lets go and take off with the bike behind her. We got ours to where they would actually pull us for a comfortable 5 mile ride.
My dogs are the race vs the freight ones. Mine are averaging about 40 lbs per dog weight to pull. The freights dogs you can build up to 75 to 100 lbs per dog.

[brent]

Hi Wash,

She is 2 1/2 yrs. old and healthy as an ox. She weighs right at 85lbs. and is not fat at all. She is a duck hunting breed and they are built for stamina and endurance. When I picked her out of the litter, I wanted a female that would be as big as most Lab. males and that's just what I got. She has been trained for obedience but is also trained to hunt out in front of me. I'm not wanting or needing her to lead the way for me, I just want her to pull a load and follow along or behind me.
My biggest concern with bringing her with me (which I'm doing anyway) is that she looks just like a brown bear cub. In fact I thought about naming her "grizzly" but then thought that might not be so funny in the wrong situation... I mean, how would it sound me running around the woods yelling 'grizzly, grizzly', so I named her "susie" instead....not too many dogs are going to get shot named "susie"........
Thanks for the advice. Now, where do I find pulling harness' ? Can you recommend any stores or catalogs?

[Washkeeton]

But of course, Cold spot feeds in Fairbanks. You will have to either call them or look to see how they size them. They have a whole lot of new stuff on the market now and I just havent been in any where to get to look yet.

www.coldspotfeeds.com/

I just went through their harnesses and there is none listed for the freight ones. It is the ones that they use with the weight pull events when the dogs are pulling hundreds of pounds. I am sure they have them just not on the web page. They some that are for wheel dogs because the initial tug and movement actually falls on the wheel dogs. I know nothing about them or their design. Asking about that might help.

While your there you might look at head lamps also. Great thing to have instead of a flash light. Wouldnt ever go with out mine.

Gosh just reading about the adventure your starting makes me so jealous. I would love to be leaving society again for the woods. You will have to keep us posted the best you can. So cool.

[brent]

Thanks Washkeeton,
I googled and found some cart pulling type harnesses. I think that is what I want. I figure I can make a cart up there or travis or rig up a sled to the harness and it should work out. The sooner I start training and working with her the better things will do once I get there. I have 2 yrs. to get things in order.
I agree on the head lamp. Boy, I don't know what I did with out one. Best thing since sliced bread....
thanks again.

brent

[Washkeeton]

Not a problem, your welcome. While your doing some of your preps you might share some of what your doing. Would love to hear.

[Jenny]

My favorite dog (the one who hid behind me when there was a bear around) was a Chesapeake Bay Retriever. He was wonderful. He could and would sure pull a load, but he wouldn't pace himself. He'd go all out at full speed, then crash and have to rest. It was hard to keep up with him or slow him down. Wouldn't let you go in front either. He'd mow ya down!

Headlamps are great! Have either of you found one that lasts? We've tried several with the LED, but we're doing good to get a year out of them. What kind do y'all like?

Thanks,

Jenny

[brent]

Hi Jenny,
the head lamp I use is just a "rayovac". I bought it at wal-mart back in 2003 and it still works great. it has 3 different type lights on it, a red lamp/led lamp/ and a regular lamp. the whole light itself is quite small and only takes 3 AAA batteries but it seems to run forever. I use it trapping, fishing, bowhunting, camping. Mind you I don't use it everyday but I have only changed batteries in it three times (I think) since I got it. I usually just run the red lamp on it. I don't know why I just think it makes the area around me look cool... ;D. I think it is an led type lamp as well and that's probably why it goes so long on batteries. It costs under $20.00. I'm pretty hard on it and it seems like handle the abuse just fine.

brent

[Washkeeton]

I have 2 of the petzls off the cold spot feeds sites. I have one that has the 3 led lights. I hate mine cause it kills batteries quickly. I got my son one with out last christmas and it has been dropped and banged up. Since I dont have a front porch light I take it to open my front door and lock it when I go some where in the dark. I use about one of the 48 packs of energizers per winter per head lamp at 4 AA batteries per lamp. I have had mine for about 2 to 3 yrs and just love it. I use it to feed the critters and when we work outside in the dark.