Basic Dog Sled Commands 

Good luck, I’m sure they will love it!

That is exactly why I made this video! I am hoping to do some more in depth videos on each command in the future, but wanted to post one that briefly covers the basics. I help run a local mushing group, and because there aren't many videos on techniques, I took the initiative to make one!

@@ChasingTheWolves thank you for that, where I am there's not a lot of groups that are into mushing/carting. Then again dutch laws make it a bit more difficult to just try it out (only specific breeds with papers are allowed or you need a specific exemption per pet per vehicle you plan on using)

@@dodopson3211 it’s interesting to me that there are laws about working dogs in other countries. I’m lucky to be in a state in the US where dog sledding is still very much alive and several races are held here every year. But even here there is pushback.

@@ChasingTheWolves yea because "those poor dogs" are being worked to death or something 😅 Although for the netherlands it's an archaic law from before there were cars; dogs were cheaper than horses so they were often used for carts but they were indeedly abused, hence we got a law. The addition that with an "exception" for mixed breeds you can use them is actually quite recent (2000s something) but of course as with everything the Dutch government just loves to make that into a cash cow

If you don't already know, buy a low pull harness for that kind of work if close to the ground. Just imagine the log on the ground 😅 maybe you used something with wheels ai dont know.

You dint have to use reins if you train a horse well either

It's and option to use reins of one wanted too I might combo reins with commands so that I know I have full control since I'm be on shit like concrete running my dog so since I'd be useing wheels I'd want to know I have control over the dog

You acctually don't need to use reins at all on a well trained horse, I have ridden without a bridle multiple times and even if with reins, horses aren't steared with them. Reins are more of a break, than a steering wheel. But I agree, dogs are very intelegent.

Oh man, I hope both of you were okay! I have a friend who does wheelchair mushing and is hoping to get a wheelchair mushing circuit started. Look up Team Dash if you’re interested!

Ah good! I’m so glad we could help!

That’s awesome!! I love seeing small dogs participate in pull sports!

Nice job!

Yes, on occasion. If they aren’t listening then we stop the run. It’s annoying, but they always listen better on the next run!

She’ll build confidence through this sport for sure. My best advice is just really make sure she knows her commands and you’ll be all set! If you plan on getting on any sort of rig I highly recommend a helmet and any other protective gear you feel you need! Have lots of fun 🙂

@@ChasingTheWolves Thank you so much! I'll definitely look for the right gear. You're so right about the commands! Working on that now!

Oh I definitely sound like an idiot a good chunk of the time lol. You’ll get there! Take it slow with a young pup and make it fun!

Thank you

I’ve seen a full team of border collies doing dryland mushing! I’ve seen solo ones doing sledding and skijoring as well. They are hard workers and love to run! Im hoping to do the Beargrease within the next 10 years. We will see what happens!!

@@ChasingTheWolves Thanks 😊 New sub!

Yesss do it!!

So as much as I’ve tried, she really isn’t a great sled dog haha. She will pull for shorter distances at much slower speeds than the other dogs and can enjoy that. Naya is a senior dog so I really don’t push her if she isn’t having a good time on runs. She will do solo runs beside the bike with me now, which she seems to enjoy more than group runs since she can set the speed. With your dog it may just take some patience and waiting for your dog to pull, or it may take running with other trained dogs. And some dogs just don’t want to pull and that’s okay too!

Yeah, my purpose bred sled dogs naturally pull, no instructions needed 🤣

My recommendation is the easiest way to train a sled dog is to get them with another trained dog, they’ll pick up the commands much faster. Depending on where you’re located there may be local groups that get together for runs! I know there are lots based on Facebook.

Absolutely! Any dog can do pull sports!

That's exactly what you want out of a sled dog! If you're working on basic directional commands, I'd for sure work them one on one. They can also learn the difference between a collar and a harness too, that one just takes a lot of time and a lot of repetition, even as they're older.

Each dog will be a little different, but id teach them the same way as any other dog to start!

I train mine not to, they’re focused on forward motion so it’s not really an issue for us. But for folks to do have that issue, you can get a belly band strap that goes around the belly and keeps the harness in place so they can’t back out of it. I believe Alpine Outfitters sells one.

As long as you train for pulling only in harness and loose leash only on a flat collar and stay consistent with training, it’s possible to do both. There may be some confusion in the beginning, but dogs are able to associate with gear and differentiate the activities. Just stay consistent with training, and you’ll do great!

I've taught a dog to pull in X-harnesses and not to pull in Y- or H-harnesses, as long as you are consistent and clear with the dog that they can only pull in one kind they can learn the difference pretty easily. It might help if the harnesses don't look alike, but you can still teach pull, walk without pulling and heel commands so it's clear what you want from them.

Nope, you can teach them to know the difference between a collar and a harness!

Keep following along and hopefully my videos can help you out! I’d also recommend finding a local mushing club to help teach in person.

I’d advise you to work with a trainer first and and see if you can work on building that communication with your dog! And sometimes it’s easier to hook your dog up to an experienced team and they learn faster that way, but that requires you to find a local club or group in your area.

Don’t pedal/walk/go forward until HE is pulling you. Honestly the best thing is to find another team to go in front of you, that gets them to understand that forward motion the fastest.

@@ChasingTheWolves before I adopted him he was professionally trained to walk in a perfect heel, lol who would’ve thought I’d be training my dog to pull me down

@@Swayeeleigh you can absolutely still have both! Just takes a lot of extra work lol.

@@ChasingTheWolves I got a bike and an alpine outfitters bungee towline and so far I’ve taken him on 2 runs (writing this as I catch my breath from the last run..) I think when his x back harness comes in he will be now comfortable pulling. Right now he’s in a rinky dink fake service dog harness my mom bought 💀

@@Swayeeleigh he will definitely be more comfortable in an x back! Sounds like you had fun though 🙂

My house dogs can all loose leash walk, however the outside sled dogs have not been taught this. But all dogs *can* be taught the difference. I use collars for walks and harnesses for pulling. I do loose leash training as you would with any dog, and then just allow them to pull in harness. It just takes a lot of reinforcement, but they can do it 🙂

Me too!

I have run the dogs on a mountain board before 😉

@@ChasingTheWolves I dont have my husky yet, but I will soon, but I'm trying to learn how to train him before I get him

It means for them to tighten the line and hold it out tight.

It is from howlingdogalaska.com and I believe she was wearing a medium standard x back in this video!

I would recommend doing a custom harness for them! If you’re doing carting you’ll need a different harness than you’d need for sledding or bikejoring.

I think it’ll depend on each individual dog. But I’ve known some hounds who’ve made awesome sled dogs!

He’s actually a rescue! No idea on who he’s from.

@@ChasingTheWolves wow! that’s super cool :) I have a grey and a red, hoping for an agouti or black one next 🤣

@@gemuhcrayford1321 my newest addition is a dilute mostly black sibe. I don’t have him in any videos here, but quite a few pics of him up on our Instagram account!

I have a friend, Don, who has trained his service dog to pull him on his wheel chair! This is his channel if you’re interested. ru-vid.com/show-UCiZdDTOX4yaAlx_5SGPky_g

@@ChasingTheWolves Thx.

It’s because she’s a redhead 😂😂😂 No, actually, it may be because some older breeds of dogs don’t have the muscles in their eyebrows to be as expressive as other breeds. And with siberians, some have them and some don’t. I’ll have to try and find the article on it later when I get a chance, it’s an interesting breed! And fun fact, Siberians have NO wolf DNA in them! They’d only have sold DNA if they are cross bred with a wolf, making them wild dogs. As for your next dog, just make sure you either go through an ethics breeder or ethical rescue! Do your research. Most of those mixes won’t be ethically bred unfortunately.

Samoyed/German Shepard mix...... www.nairaland.com/attachments/6418910_dog_jpeg719d48dbaac739a23dc7a7cf17239d0e

Husky/German Shepard mix.....Not a huge difference....I'm in love with them ever since I saw one walking with his owner here in San Francisco.....qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-dc3a8f898f1d58fce94eb62ca6a01f34

@@edenblack206 you can find similar looking pet line siberians, look up wooly siberians. I don’t agree with them being purposefully bred but they do pop up in ethical breeding programs on occasion.

@@ChasingTheWolves Oh, thank you...See, now that's something I hadn't considered at all. I knew it was probably for a reason I didn't know about. I really do think it's something very cool. I just noticed for sure, some of them have that, and some of them really don't. Interesting to see it's definitely not just my imagination. Thanks for giving me the information about the wolves. Something else I've been very curious about. I had a friend who actually had a wolf as a pet, but she had to keep him in a cage outside. I just got a peek at him, but...whooo!...We had actually talked about the prospect of getting one, because I think they're so cool, to. You really gotta research though, and know what you're getting into with these pets. We have been thinking of moving up North for different reasons non-related, but it does seem, as he had said, that it's better to live in cooler climates for many of these breeds, even though San Francisco has a very moderate climate. The Husky/German Shepard I saw looked comfortable enough....Though I don't see many of them here. That may just be due to the price, and the fact of people living mostly in apartments here...Anyway, now I'm even more curious about the wolves, haha...Thanks again for all the info...Much appreciated, and quite interesting.... Cheers...

Zelda was 2, Ezio 2ish, and Naya 8.

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You can buy or make all natural treats if you wanted, I know plenty of folks who use cooked chicken! Some dogs take to it faster than others, and not every dog has the drive to be a sled dog unfortunately. My best advice would be to get together with other folks who do it and see if she will follow them!

Whatever works best and is safe for your dogs!

It was just for fun for her, and she got to do plenty of fun runs and a race! It’s never too late to be active with your dogs. Many purpose bred sled dogs are racing/working at 7-10 years old still!

I’d gladly watch your trained dogs. This video is meant for beginners, showing beginner dogs. Most people looking for videos are doing dog powered sports recreationally. As I continue to work with my dogs, their skills and drive builds. But they also are not from working lines, I honestly wouldn’t expect them to ever compare. I’m happy where they are at, and am happy to share the knowledge that I have gained with other beginners!

@From The Ground Up nobody cares, go spend some more time w/ your world-renowned dogs instead of writing pointless comments on free beginner content...

Danny g , l wasn't being rude l listened to her words and was under the impression her other dog was not a beginner as she was said, better. I understood the one was new and the video made out like the other was well trained. When she said they were new l left it alone and didn't need your imput. If l wanted to criticize l could, have nothing to do with as you said world renowned, just expected the 2nd dog to be day and night different when it was said she was better.

Some dogs just naturally don’t pull, and that’s okay! You can do a lot of counter conditioning with treats in front of them to try and get them to pull, but not every dog is made for these sports. That’s okay though, you can always get a bungee style leash and have them beside you as you roller blade!