Runnin' with the Big Dogs
Denali and Chasseur (Chase), in lead, Legolas (Leggy) in port wheel, have been my recreational team for a few years. We gallop for a few minutes then trot happily down park trails pulling a three-wheeled rig... or a sled if it happens to snow here in southcentral PA. Max joined the team in 2012. Leggy (SiberianxShepard) is about 75 pounds, Denali and Chase (Siberian) about 45.
Max is a 16 pound Schipperke. He's 11 or 12 years old, and has lived in a house all his life. He's also a tough, sturdy energetic example of his breed, best exemplified by the Yoda quote: "judge me by my size, would you?" Max trots out nicely, and we keep the big dogs' speed to that trot (rigs have brakes). For longer runs, and when the big dogs like to gallop, Max sometimes rides in the rig bag. Here, he is wearing a basic walking harness (since the big dogs are doing most of the work, it's fine), I'm looking for a sledding harness or "siwash" like the other dogs'.
Here's a few pics from his first rig run. These are screen caps from the video I was shooting (I added a handle to the camera so I can hold it in my teeth... bringing new meaning to the old saying "sailing with a bone in her teeth"), so the pics are not the highest quality. Video, on youtube, to come.
Note that we do not, in all photos, show the incredible perfection of straight gangline and tight tugs of a team like, say, Karen Ramstead's Iditarod Siberians. Max did a few Schipperke Spins, Leggy got nose glue (what's that smell?!) veering off to port or starboard, and the girls in lead sometimes didn't... lead. I got these dogs as adults, Chase and Leggy of unknown background and training, and they have shown that Siberians are adaptable and good natured. Fun was had by all. You can too, with a sledding harness and a bike or scooter. (I have some video on youtube that can help you learn how).
Max is a 16 pound Schipperke. He's 11 or 12 years old, and has lived in a house all his life. He's also a tough, sturdy energetic example of his breed, best exemplified by the Yoda quote: "judge me by my size, would you?" Max trots out nicely, and we keep the big dogs' speed to that trot (rigs have brakes). For longer runs, and when the big dogs like to gallop, Max sometimes rides in the rig bag. Here, he is wearing a basic walking harness (since the big dogs are doing most of the work, it's fine), I'm looking for a sledding harness or "siwash" like the other dogs'.
Here's a few pics from his first rig run. These are screen caps from the video I was shooting (I added a handle to the camera so I can hold it in my teeth... bringing new meaning to the old saying "sailing with a bone in her teeth"), so the pics are not the highest quality. Video, on youtube, to come.
Note that we do not, in all photos, show the incredible perfection of straight gangline and tight tugs of a team like, say, Karen Ramstead's Iditarod Siberians. Max did a few Schipperke Spins, Leggy got nose glue (what's that smell?!) veering off to port or starboard, and the girls in lead sometimes didn't... lead. I got these dogs as adults, Chase and Leggy of unknown background and training, and they have shown that Siberians are adaptable and good natured. Fun was had by all. You can too, with a sledding harness and a bike or scooter. (I have some video on youtube that can help you learn how).
