DS150 The Power of Pulling - Introduction to Dog Powered Sports

Got a dog with “big dog energy” (whether or not they’re a big dog)? Looking for an outlet?

Course Details

Got a dog with “big dog energy” (whether or not they’re a big dog)? Looking for an outlet?

Or, maybe your dog needs more exercise but cannot be off-leash. Dog-powered sports allow your dog to expel more energy over a shorter distance, while challenging both their bodies and their brains!

If you already hit the trails for walks and now are looking for a way to increase the challenge, to improve your dog’s fitness, or prepare for competition, these sports provide a natural outlet for the average dog’s desire to walk, trot, run and pull!

You’ll be busy too — don’t just plan on going along for the ride!

We humans are hardworking team-members too. If you’ve been looking to enjoy nature, to explore your local area, or if you’ve been looking for a new and interesting type of sport to compete in it — you’ve found it!

There is a special connection, a trust, and a thrill in letting your dog take the lead and knowing they have the skills and abilities to keep you moving.

As a bonus, dog powered sports help build confidence and perseverance for dogs who grow to love the teamwork of pulling.

Under the umbrella of “Dog Powered Sports,” we’ll include:

Cani-hike/canicross
Bikejorring
Skijorring
Scootering
Dog sledding

The foundation for each of these starts with groundwork skills, which this class introduces via cani-hike/canicross. Over the six weeks of class, your dog will learn:

Startline behaviors
Pulling
Directional cues
Speed changes
Passing distractions
Stopping

We cover the training, handling, and timing considerations for these skills.

Throughout class, we’ll also discuss equipment, harness fitting, best practices for training in public, competition options, and safety concerns such as trail conditions, conditioning, temperature, and hydration.

Whether your long-term goal is to run one dog or several, the teamwork is unlike any other sport out there. Join us this October to discover the Power of Pulling!

Note: This class will not cover the sports of weight pull, draftwork/carting, or sulkies, which each have their own specialized skill and equipment requirements.

Teaching Approach

Lessons will be released at the beginning of each week and will contain several subtopics with written lectures, demonstration videos, and specific homework to work on. Most videos are short- 30 seconds to 2 minutes, with the occasional longer video as required. Some videos have voice-over explanations. Some lessons include video examples of both a dog in the learning stages, as well as a more advanced dog in order that students can see how skills progress. Some lectures are more conceptual in nature but most will contain short homework assignments. Homework for each week is progressive, and so teams should expect to complete lessons in order, though the time that it takes to do so will vary greatly for each team. Feedback for gold students is a mix of written encouragement, photos/screen shots, and occasionally extra video instruction.

This class is heaviest with reading in the first two weeks; this class is intended as an introduction to dog powered sports, so a lot of background is provided early on. Reading tapers to a lighter load as the class progresses, so expect to spend more time training and away from the computer in later weeks!

This class has a TA! Teaching Assistant Shelby Anderton will be available in the class facebook study group to help bronze and silver students!

Syllabus

Pre-Class Lectures (available as soon as you register)

Harness Selection and Fitting
Other Gear Requirements
Gear Suppliers

Week 1

Trail Etiquette
Training Areas
Common Cues
Warm up and Pre-Run Routines
Skills:
- 3 -Step Release
- Line Out
- Introduction to Pulling

Week 2

Movement is Motivation
Safety & Success Considerations
- Age
- Trail Conditions
- Temperature
- Speed/Skill
- Distance
Skills:
- Distraction Groundwork
- Hit the Trails
- Speed Changes

Week 3

Communication
Preparing Your Rig
Skills:
- Introducing Your Rig
- Directional Cues - Left and Right Turns
  - Groundwork
  - Captured in action

Week 4

Increased Challenges
Skills:
- Straight Ahead
- Trail Stops & Duration Stops

Week 5 -Beyond Groundwork

Multi- Dog Teams
Switching Vehicles
Skills: Left and Right Overs

Week 6

Competition Overview
Progressing Beyond Class
Skills:
- Passing
- Heel or Follow

Prerequisites & Supplies

No training pre-requisites, but these sports are most suitable for a dog who like to move- foundation exercises in this class can be done by dogs of any age. This training is fairly demanding on the human. Speed is negotiable but handlers will need to be comfortable walking at a brisk pace, or jogging with their dog- with the dog pulling.Equipment (specifics can be found in the Pre-Class lectures which are available as soon as you register) Proper fitting harness for your dog, specifically designed for harness sports. A typical walking harness or no-pull harness is not what we are after here. For most mid or large sized dogs, the best type of harness is a typical x-back sledding harness. There are many size and maker options. Smaller dogs doing canicross or bikejorring may be better suited to a half harness. Check out this blog post for fitting instructions: https://labtesteddogtraining.com/harness-fitting-for-dog-powered-sports/ Canicross Belt (strongly suggest one with leg loops). I like the Non-Stop DogWear and Nahak brands, but there are many good options! Bungee line - connects canicross belt to the dog's harness, 4-6 feet long. Access to space- backyard or park for initial training, natural surface trails for progressing Gold students will need access to a video camera (cell phone, go pro, etc) that they can use for filming sessions. It can be helpful for video of your training runs to have some sort of hands-free option whether that is a tripod or an attachment that attaches to your chest, hat, or vehicle in order to let you film a stretch of running hands-free. Some assignments can be filmed by a stationary helper or with a tripod, but many will require ‘in motion’ video to get the best feedback (or your camera pre-placed on the trail in a strategic location with the ability to let it run or turn it on remotely).

Sample Lecture

The 3 Step Release

The 3 Step Release is a startline strategy that you can use on foot, or on skis, until your dog knows a line-out skill well, or in situations where you are not able to use a line-out... such as at the startline of a group run or canicross race where you want to keep your dog in closer proximity or if you've pulled off the side of a trail to let other users go by.

Before you can do a 3 Step Release, you need to be able to gather your dog and line in such a way that you can both hold them safely, and release them safely, without a risk of getting your hands caught up. I definitely recommend practicing first without a dog, then with a stationary dog, and then add in movement after that.

Your start position will be with your dog at your side, or between your legs facing forward. One hand is on the dog's collar or harness. That hand will control the dog. Your other hand holds the folded line and will regulate the release so that there is minimal slack as your dog moves ahead and into their pulling position.

In the hand that gathers the line, you'll want to fold it such that your securing hand is not caught up in any line- in other words, don't wrap it around your hand. Simply fold the line at about the length that you can reach with your extended arm, but hold it 8-10 inches closer to your body. The folded part of the line will form a small loop beyond your hand and you don't want to have too much length there. Grab this folded line such that you'll be able to let go of each portion of the line one at a time.

It is probably easier to see this, than read about it:

For the actual 3 Step Release, your goal is to allow the dog to have gradually more room away from you to ease into pulling. Releasing the dog/line in 3 stages helps minimize the amount of slack in the line which in turn minimizes the jerky feeling as your dog gets into position AND minimizes the likelihood of a tangle.

**** Note**** - do not let the line slide through your hands as your dog pulls. That will burn! Instead release each stage distinctly. For the 3rd release stage, you can hold the line close to your body and gradually extend your arm out before letting to go make it a little more gradual- do not let the line itself slide. Wear gloves while you are learning to be safe if you like.

Practice first by hooking your harness up without your dog, and then with your dog stationary. The 3 steps, in order:

1. Release the dog (first hand)

2. Release the line closest to the dog (2nd hand)

3.Release the rest of the line. (2nd hand)

When that feels smooth, start adding in motion. You can do this when you take your dog out on the trails in the coming weeks, or you can practice using the target plates in your out of context practice scenario. When your dog is just learning, you may find that it takes some time to get enough tension so that you can release step 2 and 3. Don't keep releasing line if your not able to get line tension. Troubleshoot if your dog needs some sort of added motivation to pull (go back to lesson 1.4 to look for ideas in the Pulling section).

When you are working in motion, the idea is that both you and the dog start moving together. Tension on the line is the criteria you need to be able to get to the next release stage.

1. Release dog as you give forward cue and start moving.

2. Once the dog has started pulling, release the line closest to the dog.

3. Once the dog has added tension to that section of line, release the final portion.

3 Step Release In Motion:

Instructors

Erin Lynes

Faculty

Erin (she/her) is a lifelong dog enthusiast from Quesnel, British Columbia, Canada. Erin is certified as a Karen Pryor Academy Training Partner, a Certified Professional Canine Fitness Trainer, a Licensed Family Dog Mediator, and as a Cani-Fit Leader, ...

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