2 replies to this topic

[ZEN12many]

The video below is at the request of my friend, Gunnslinger8, who wanted a video that showed more of Sky. Here she is mostly rolling in the grass.

In this video, Sky already knows that we are going the wrong way (and that is why she is not pulling well). I don't know we are going the wrong way yet. Her GPS is much better than mine.

The video shows a couple of mushing tips (from my experience with Sky). When Sky started heading for the shady grass, I didn't fight her but instead went with it hoping to make her think it was my idea in the first place. It would have been futile to fight her, at this point. Pick your battles (the ones you can win).

The video also shows how I get Sky to pull in a direction that she doesn't want to go. I used to try to physically turn her in the right direction but she was just too heavy and strong and that proved futile. We would both be upset after the wrestling match and she would still be facing the wrong direction. So now, if she is reluctant to pull in the direction I want, I simply start leading. In this particular video, I only had to lead for a few seconds and she quickly moved to the front and started pulling. When I first started with this technique, it was not so quick. I would have to "lead" for a considerable distance before she gave up on the idea of going the other direction.

[Bethann]

ZEN12many, on 25 December 2011 - 11:00 PM, said:

The video below is at the request of my friend, Gunnslinger8, who wanted a video that showed more of Sky. Here she is mostly rolling in the grass.

In this video, Sky already knows that we are going the wrong way (and that is why she is not pulling well). I don't know we are going the wrong way yet. Her GPS is much better than mine.

The video shows a couple of mushing tips (from my experience with Sky). When Sky started heading for the shady grass, I didn't fight her but instead went with it hoping to make her think it was my idea in the first place. It would have been futile to fight her, at this point. Pick your battles (the ones you can win).

The video also shows how I get Sky to pull in a direction that she doesn't want to go. I used to try to physically turn her in the right direction but she was just too heavy and strong and that proved futile. We would both be upset after the wrestling match and she would still be facing the wrong direction. So now, if she is reluctant to pull in the direction I want, I simply start leading. In this particular video, I only had to lead for a few seconds and she quickly moved to the front and started pulling. When I first started with this technique, it was not so quick. I would have to "lead" for a considerable distance before she gave up on the idea of going the other direction.

Thanks for sharing. Sky is a beautiful dog and that is a great idea!

[ZEN12many]

Here is another video showing Sky doing everything right. As I maneuver my wheelchair in the direction we will be going, she keeps in front of the wheelchair and keeps the tug line relatively tight without pulling me. She just happened to get it right here. I still have to teach her to do this on command. Here it was easy because we are heading back to our Van. I have found that the Van is a "target" for Sky. Whenever we head back to the Van, she is on her best behavior and is most focused and goes faster.

The most important thing she did right was not chase the squirrels (about 1:43 into the video). Lots of walking Sky with my electric scooter taught her to stay on the sidewalk/pathway even if she sees a distraction.

This was a bumpy road and I would never go this fast without having a Freewheel on my wheelchair.