[ Post a Response | Ask Cheryl Carlson ]
Posted by Kathy W
on 11/4/2009, 5:22 pm, in reply to "Re: Drives of Dogs"
24.56.244.47
Great points by both Cheryl and Howard. I decided to take Howard's initial post and allow Ace to walk freely pulling a small amount of weight. Initially he was pulling an old tire from the farm Sandy lived on. All winter that was fine. Then I bought a wooden sled from Big Mike and he said it weighs about 30 lbs. Immediately, started with that in the spring and that's when the wheels feel off with Ace so to speak. So initially I did make him pull it home even after the alligator roll, but I never took him out after that without Sandy watching. Used the same sled at Cheryl's place in the parking lot at the CGC test and he did the same thing. Sandy and I both made him work through it. But then I stopped doing any work with the dogs because of moving and stuff. Honestly, I was afraid of making it worse because I'd really like Ace to love this, he used to.
After reading Howard's post I decided to use the 7 foot of pulling chain attached to the back of the harness. I let Ace watch as Hope and I took off. His interest to get outside and be with me was my ploy. After Hope was done I brought him outside attached his harness, attached the chain, put him on a long line and he just took off. His nose to the ground following the exact path Hope and I had just been on. We've done that for the last couple days and it seems to be working. No problems at all. His tail is wagging, his nose is working the sound of the chain on the pavement is bothering him nothing is going wrong at all.
I'm not sure if he is preoccupied with following our scent or if the long line so he can go at his own pace have made the improvements, but I thought I would keep this up for awhile. I'm really nervous to pull out that hand crafts sled since that's were all the drama began. That maybe a memory issue for me... lol.
I would love for you to be able to watch Ace and see what you think Howard. Any time that you are free let me know and I'll bring him up. I appreciate your thoughts on this because it is very new to me and I'm not completely convinced that Karen understand Ace like Cheryl or you would if you met him.
If you have any other suggestions on things I should be trying I would love to hear them. I was looking forward to snow since that's when he does the best and I can do that out in the snow without everyone in the apartment complex hearing me drag things around. I'd like to get the dogs to a point that they can drag my garbage to the dumpster.... lol. They might as well make themselves useful... lol. Sorry that strikes me funny.
Thanks again for your input.
Kathy
Oh, I had his harness made by Alaskian Dreams.
36
Message Thread:
« Back to thread