Nice How much does she weigh? Looks to be about maybe 40lbs and Small-Medium build, bit bigger than my trail guy. Max I've done with him is about 7.5 miles and he never complains, in fact I think if I just kept riding he'd run until he dropped. His front legs are only about 7.5"-8" long since he has a deep chest and so he's not nearly as fast as his siblings of the same height with much smaller body - he has the body build of a Corgie. Have to remember to keep the speed down and stop frequently for water/rest breaks with our heat down here and his thick coat, doesn't hurt that the trail I mostly take him on runs right along the sea most of the way, so he jumps in every so often to cool down
Originally Posted by EMFC
Pippa was a trooper today, we did 10 miles and she didn't complain one bit.
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But I am such a responsible owner, I am denying myself. I know I am not in a position to give it the kind of home it needs. There are lots of dangers to a dog around here I can't do anything about, and I don't work from home. I also don't have enough extra money in case something bad happens and I need to take care of it.
What to do?! I am letting fate decide when it is right. If a dog falls in my lap, I am not going to say no. Dogs ownership sometimes happens that way Either way, it is going to puppy school! I need a pal to come on the trails with me too
How did you guys who take your dogs on the trails with you get them trained? The dogs I grew up with were brats who basically laughed at you when you tried to get them to come when called. Strict leash laws mean I would have to make sure they stay with me and would drop what they are doing to come right away if I call.
How did you guys who take your dogs on the trails with you get them trained? The dogs I grew up with were brats who basically laughed at you when you tried to get them to come when called. Strict leash laws mean I would have to make sure they stay with me and would drop what they are doing to come right away if I call.
I believe the most important thing is to spend as much time with them early on as possible, like the first couple months if you can. They learn best with constant easy correction, like a dog pack would provide. Leaving them home for 8-10 hours a day (can't do thet with a puppy though) leaves them to their own devices and they don't know if it's right or wrong. Plus you won't build that Alpha status very easily if you're not around.
Both of my labs are very, very well behaved, and except for the yellow with has a stubborn streak at times, don't ever cause me grief. And I take them everywhere.
I believe the most important thing is to spend as much time with them early on as possible, like the first couple months if you can. They learn best with constant easy correction, like a dog pack would provide. Leaving them home for 8-10 hours a day (can't do thet with a puppy though) leaves them to their own devices and they don't know if it's right or wrong. Plus you won't build that Alpha status very easily if you're not around.
Both of my labs are very, very well behaved, and except for the yellow with has a stubborn streak at times, don't ever cause me grief. And I take them everywhere.
Your first sentence is very true. The more time you spend with a young dog, the easier their training will be. You also have to make it so the dog has fun with you. If you are more important than other things going on around them, then they will be easy to call back. Lots of small treats makes a dog eager to please also.
I taught my older dog to sit whenever another dog came by while I was walking her. She learned this quickly and also helped to teach it to the dog that was acquired a year later. It's much easier to teach a 2nd dog when you have a very well trained 1st dog.
I don't buy into the "alpha dog theory" and there are dog trainers that will back me up on this.
When I started riding with my first dog, I went out with only her. We rode at her pace, and the ride was only about her having fun. Don't ever ride with others that are more concerned about their heat rate than they are about your dog.
I have taught my dogs to keep an eye on me. If they get out of sight, I'll go off the trail and hide. They always stop and come find me, but that's because I'm fun to be with, and I have beef jerky in my pocket.
Above all, find a dog that wants to listen to you. Some breeds are much better about this than others, but there is always the exception. And seriously consider a rescue. There are way too many unwanted, good intelligent dogs in the pounds and rescues.
Yeah, Dixie would split at the first small fury (or feathered) woodland creature she saw.
Just looked through this entire thread again and I am tearing up.
Almost two months now since we said "goodbye" to our beloved Dixie girl, my forum namesake and best friend, due to a very aggressive cancer.
I still miss the hell out of my girl, but I am glad she's not hurting anymore. And she felt good up until the end. She was running around like a crazy dog in the back yard 45 minutes before my wife (a veterinarian) and I had to "send her along" in her favorite sunspot. She crashed so fast. But that was Dixie. She did everything fast.
We still have our hound Duke, and he didn't do well as an only dog, so three weeks after Dixie passed we added another family member, Lady (a 6 month old 60 lb. at the time dutch shepherd mix), to the crew. She's 7 months old now and almost 70 lbs. She's a big ol baby. Doesn't make the pain of losing Dixie hurt any less, but she sure is fun to laugh at.
Duke on the trail saying "Come on fat man, hurry it up."
Duke and Lady running in the back yard.
Duke is 7 now, and I am working him up to being a good trail dog. We've done runs, and some short rides, and he's great.
Just looked through this entire thread again and I am tearing up.
Almost two months now since we said "goodbye" to our beloved Dixie girl, my forum namesake and best friend, due to a very aggressive cancer.
I still miss the hell out of my girl, but I am glad she's not hurting anymore. And she felt good up until the end. She was running around like a crazy dog in the back yard 45 minutes before my wife (a veterinarian) and I had to "send her along" in her favorite sunspot. She crashed so fast. But that was Dixie. She did everything fast.
Sounds like hemangiosarcoma (cancer of the lining of the blood vessels). Typically you find out they have it when a massive, vasculated tumor ruptures and they go into shock from internal bleeding. They call it the "silent killer" since until the very end, there are no symptoms.
It's been ~2.5 years since it got Virgil. *sniff*
If there's one thing to be thankful for, it's that quality of life was 100% until the end... no drawn out misery.
Ugh... your post brought back memories. I still miss him.
Originally Posted by pointerDixie214
We still have our hound Duke, and he didn't do well as an only dog, so three weeks after Dixie passed we added another family member, Lady (a 6 month old 60 lb. at the time dutch shepherd mix), to the crew. She's 7 months old now and almost 70 lbs. She's a big ol baby. Doesn't make the pain of losing Dixie hurt any less, but she sure is fun to laugh at.
Duke is 7 now, and I am working him up to being a good trail dog. We've done runs, and some short rides, and he's great.
We got another pretty quickly... as soon as we found the right one. Rocco's a great dog, but I still miss V.
Rocco likes to ride my Dummy to Home Depot or wherever.
He's too big for the wide loader now, so I just got a sidecar for him.
Originally Posted by pvd
Time to stop believing the hype and start doing some science.
Just looked through this entire thread again and I am tearing up.
Almost two months now since we said "goodbye" to our beloved Dixie girl, my forum namesake and best friend, due to a very aggressive cancer.
I still miss the hell out of my girl, but I am glad she's not hurting anymore. And she felt good up until the end. She was running around like a crazy dog in the back yard 45 minutes before my wife (a veterinarian) and I had to "send her along" in her favorite sunspot. She crashed so fast. But that was Dixie. She did everything fast.
My sympathies, I also lost a dog to cancer , a 7 year old female Shepard so my wife and I can relate the your sorrow.
Lost my first search dog in 2005 to bone cancer at age 5. Amputation wasn't an option since it had spread undetected for so long, that by the time she showed a limp it was too late. Great dog, Lexi, miss her big time.
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How much does she weigh? Looks to be about maybe 40lbs and Small-Medium build, bit bigger than my trail guy. Max I've done with him is about 7.5 miles and he never complains, in fact I think if I just kept riding he'd run until he dropped. His front legs are only about 7.5"-8" long since he has a deep chest and so he's not nearly as fast as his siblings of the same height with much smaller body - he has the body build of a Corgie. Have to remember to keep the speed down and stop frequently for water/rest breaks with our heat down here and his thick coat, doesn't hurt that the trail I mostly take him on runs right along the sea most of the way, so he jumps in every so often to cool down 
Originally Posted by EMFC
What breed were her parents? I would guess a Rottweiler and something smaller like a Corgi?
I am letting fate decide when it is right. If a dog falls in my lap, I am not going to say no. Dogs ownership sometimes happens that way 
Either way, it is going to puppy school! I need a pal to come on the trails with me too 
