Our First Class
Scott and I decided we should both be a part of the training process. Maybe both of us were too scared to take on such a big challenge alone. Or, maybe (and more likely) neither of us wanted to take on all that responsibility alone. Either way, it was determined we would drop off our daughter, Faye, at Kid Spa (I could write a whole other blog about that place, but let’s stay focused) and head on over to Tara’s for our first training session.
A couple of highways and a toll road away (yes, we actually have toll roads in Austin now) and we were at Casa de Training by Tara. This may have been the first time since having a child that we were not just on time, but early. Maybe things will go our way….
a continuation about our journey to regain control of our dogs (see part 1 here)
Observation Day
After filling out a bunch of questionnaires on Brinkley and Parker, it was time for Tara to come over and observe their behavior. Great, here it is. We’re about to be exposed as the bad doggy parents we are- or at least Scott will b/c its his dog that is causing all the problems.
I could bore you with the details (a problem I often have) but I’ll spare you and just get to the guts. Tara was easily able to pin point our biggest problem; our pack is all messed up. Brinkley thinks she’s the Alpha Female and Parker is quite certain he’s the Alpha Male.
Parker has self proclaimed himself as leader of the entire pack. What? No, wait, what?!?! We would have put money on Brinkley thinking she was the leader and being the cause of all our problems. Apparently Parker thinks he’s alpha, but he’s not a very stable leader so that freaks Brinkley out and causes her to be very anxious. When Scott is around, Parker is constantly fighting for top dog status and as far as me? Well, I guess I forfeited any power I had a long time ago.
Please be aware that Parker is a pound puppy that was separated by his own pack way too young so he’s probably never been taught the correct pack manners like Brinkley (you see how I’m trying to deflect the responsibility here?). But still, how could I have been so wrong? I instantly looked at Brinkley and saw her in a new, innocent, You’re-My-New-Favorite-Dog kind of way.
Problem Parents
To give myself and Scott a little credit, we were headed on the right track with many things we were already doing, but we were wrong in how we did them. When the UPS guy comes, we would yell at the dogs to “Get Out” and “Quiet” as we grabbed Parker by the collar and picked up Brinkley to bring them into the other room. To a dog, touch is often a sign of affection/play. You can imagine how confused our dogs were. How serious would you take your parents if they were tickling and hugging you while requesting you please make your bed? Another no-no was the yelling. They simply figured we were barking too. Yaaaaaay! Lets all get the UPS together!
There are a great number of things Tara enlightened us on, but the main idea is; Dogs can’t talk so they’re strongest form of communication is through body language and mannerisms. We were promised to learn how to better communicate to our dogs. Specifically, we want to know how to communicate that WE ARE THE BOSS. As soon as Tara left, we scheduled our first training for the soonest available time slot.
Hiring a dog trainer is something Scott and I have been wanting to do for a very long time but life (like a new baby and a new business) has gotten in the way. Okay, maybe we just haven’t wanted anyone to know that we have bad dogs. I mean, we sell dog products so our dogs should be perfect- oh, how I felt like a hypocrite. Don’t get me wrong, our dogs aren’t complete terrors, but they are far from perfect and, many times, down right annoying. We’ve decided its time to take back control of our household!
The Amateur Assumption
It’s well known amongst our friends and family that Parker is my dog and Brinkley is Scott’s dog. This is for no particular reason; things just gravitated that way, and well, voila! This being said, I was certain that Brinkley was our problem. Clearly she has little dog syndrome and Scott probably raised her to be a prissy punk. It seemed pretty simple to me; Brinkley is the brains and Parker is the brawns. Brinkley was telling Parker to do the bad things he was doing (ie. getting into trash, harassing the UPS guy, etc). Poor Parker never had a chance. If we could just fix Brinkley, then they’d both be much better dogs.
Wanted: Dog Training Super Hero
Who in the world could we trust to fix our dogs and not take us for complete idiots? Now, Brinkley is a miniature schnauzer that needs to be groomed on a regular basis. I can’t tell you how many groomers we have taken her to. She’s just so darned emotionally unstable (Scott’s fault) that she freaked out with every one. That is, until we found Tara a couple years ago. To our surprise, we found out Tara is a dog trainer for (drum role) Training by Tara. How have we missed this? We already loved Tara and affectionately referred to her as “The Lady” (short for “The only lady in the world that Brinkley likes other than me”). So there she was: Our Dog Training Super Hero (we hope).
(On a side note, Tara no longer grooms b/c she’s so busy training, but life goes on)
Is Tara Our Hero and Will Our Dogs Improve? The answer, tomorrow…
I got an email yesterday that really made my day and helped confirm that we are selling the best dog bike leashes on the market. One of our Bike Tow Leash customers, Amanda and her dog Ranger are competing in the United Kennel Club Top Ten Invitational right now. Amanda writes:
“Last year my dog Ranger was ranked #8. In March of 2010 I got the Bike Tow Leash from you and started running him to improve his physical condition, for the show ring, for his competition in weight pull, and just for fun.
Well, today Ranger not only got 5 points toward his advanced Weight Pull titles, he won the Best of Breed Top Ten–the best of the best. I know he would not have gotten this without the conditioning he got by running with my bike. The Bike Tow Leash has made our training easier, safer, and a lot of fun. I get a lot of comments and questions about the BTL while I’m out in the park, and people regularly stop to watch us as we go by.
Ranger is one win away from his UKC Grand Champion title, and we have three tries at it this weekend. Hopefully all the running will pay off and he’ll get that last win.”
Biking can be an extremely enjoyable activity for both dog and owner. We recommend biking for dogs that are at least 20 lbs. Your dog needs to be in good health and it is ideal to get a checkup with your dog’s vet before beginning any serious exercise. Dogs with slight builds will be able to bike for longer distances than heavier or more muscular breeds so keep this in mind when deciding how far to bike your pup. Breeds such as Bulldogs and Pugs that have flat faces are not designed for distance running because they can become overheated very quickly. Biking is not an activity for puppies. Your dog should be at least a year old and a minimum of 20 lbs to start biking. They should be closer to a year and a half before biking long distances.
What Equipment Do I need?
Below are my suggestions based on biking my dog for the past couple of years starting with the essentials:
If using the WalkyDog, a non-restrictive comfortable dog harness is recommended – preferably with padding. Using a dog harness with the Bike Tow Leash is a personal preference. If using a harness with the Bike Tow Leash, it is important to make sure that it doesn’t allow your dog to get too far forward on the bike. This will make it harder for your dog to determine when you are turning towards him/her.
Paw pad protection. It is important to monitor the wear on your dogs paw pads. They will toughen up over time, but products such as Musher’s Secret can help condition, protect, and toughen your dogs pads in all types of environments.
Cooling vests for summertime heat. I strap a large thermos with ice water to my bike and take Parker’s cooling vest along for the ride with us.
A dog bike trailer. A great way to go on extended rides so your dog can rest when tired. Or you can bring your small dog along for a bike ride in complete safety.
Getting Started
Some dogs take to this type of exercise right away and others need to be acclimated a little more slowly. The best way to start is to attach your dog to the bicycle and just walk alongside your bike on the opposite side of your dog. You want them to understand that this is no different than taking a normal walk. Once they have going straight down, practice turning left and right and then u-turn to either side. If your dog is nervous being close to the bike you may want to extend the cord some to give them a little more space. You could also add a leash extension or create your own custom length line if using the WalkyDog. Once your dog seems confident, hop on your bike and ride slowly at first practicing the same maneuvers. It is best to begin in an area with few distractions so that your dog will focus on you. It is best to bike at a trotting pace, just make sure you never go beyond your dog’s pace. If your dog gets nervous and freezes up DO NOT attempt to keep pulling them along. Immediately stop and start walking next to the bike again.
How Far To Ride
You cannot just start biking miles on your first time out. You need to gradually increase your dog’s stamina. According to canine expert Christine Zink, D.V.M., Ph.D, you should gradually increase the distance you travel by 5 to 10 percent every four to six exercise sessions. She recommends that once you reach a distance of 2 miles, you should limit biking to every other day providing a day of rest for rejuvenation of the muscles. Extremely fit dogs can run a maximum of 10 miles per day if the sessions are broken up (less if riding on pavement, which can be tough on the skeletal system). Personally I even feel that 10 miles is too far. In the summer months this is much too far in one setting. Parker and I usually ride 2 to 3 miles everyday or every other day. Obviously, be sure to stop to rest occasionally and always monitor your dog for signs that nature is calling. Also monitor your dog’s pads for cuts or scrapes. Consider using a good paw pad wax or even protective booties if riding on rough terrain often.
Dealing With Summer Heat
During the summertime when temperatures spike, it is very important to only bike your dog during cooler parts of the day and for shorter distances. If biking on pavement be sure to check the temperature of the pavement before biking. Make sure to bring water along for the ride and take frequent breaks. Consider bringing along a dog bike trailer to give your dog a rest on the way home. You may even consider looking into a dog cooling vest. Keep an eye out for signs of heat exhaustion such as if your dog’s tongue becomes very wide and curls up at the end.
Want more help deciding?
We have answers to all your questions about biking with your dog and if it is the right activity for you and your pup/s. Browse through our dog bike leash buyer’s guide and if you can’t find an answer to your question, email us and we will promptly get you the detailed answer you are looking for.
I will miss your slobber and nose butts to the chest. You were one HUGE dog, but always a puppy at heart. I’m glad you didn’t have to suffer.
Diesel was our good friend Ross’s Russian Great Dane that lost a battle to cancer yesterday. He was a goofy sweet dog that wagged his tail until the end. We will all miss him so much.
Just recently we started carrying the new 2010 HoundAbout dog bicycle trailers. I came across these bike trailers that are specifically built for dogs after wanting a way to extend my bike rides with Parker. I tried out several different models looking for just the combination of price, features, and durability. Well I found it in this new dog bike trailer. This is now my favorite way to take Parker biking. Now if he gets tired along the ride, he can hop in the trailer and relax in style and comfort. Since it has been hotter lately, I have been riding during cooler parts of the day and also bringing along a dog cooling vest that I keep iced down in a large thermos. Sometimes my smaller dog (that is not big on biking – and really not big enough to enjoy it anyway) comes along with us for the ride too. This is a way, I can take both my dogs riding with me and don’t have to feel guilty leaving one at home. Check out the video below to see how much they enjoy it. We are carrying these trailers at an all-time low introductory price – AND shipping is FREE. Check them out here.
The other day one of our customers, Stephanie Ash, contacted me to tell me that she had just finished making a video of the WalkyDog bike leash in action. She said it was a killer video, but I had no idea it would be this cool. Stephanie is an extremely talented photographer in Winnipeg Canada. She also took some great pictures of the WalkyDog mixed in with some of her dog Babe’s favorite toys; check the video and pics out below. Thanks Stephanie! Note that we ideally suggest using a comfortable dog harness with the WalkyDog (Stephanie let me know she is planning to get one for Babe soon).
The skies were ominous… The roads were wet… What better time to try biking a nearly 200 pound Russian Great Dane named DIESEL!
I’m always trying to explain to people how much stability our dog bike leashes give the rider. Usually the first thing people say when I tell them the business I am in is: “You sell what?! That would never work for my dog. He/She would pull me over instantly”. The thing about the 2 dog bike leash models we sell is that they are designed with the laws of physics in mind to give the rider the most control possible while also making the ride safe for your dog. It is hard to understand this until you actually get on the bike and try it. That is why I try my best to convey this through the many videos on my website. My dog Parker is an extremely strong 75 lb Lab mix and I try to push the limits constantly with him – testing every scenario I can think of to see how well the WalkyDog and Bike Tow Leash perform.
75 lbs is one thing, but what about the largest breed on the planet – the Great Dane…. (Hit Continue Reading Below)
My new favorite all purpose dog leash – the EzyDog Vario 6 leash. Check out the video below reviewing the leash and its many functions. The Vario 6 is a hands free dog leash with 5 other functions as well.
Benefits of a hands free dog leash:
Great for moms with a stroller
Keep hands in pockets when it is cold
Text message or talk on the phone
Excellent control and less stress on hands and arms
Other functions of the Vario 6 hands free dog leash
