If your dog is at least 9 months old,
you can move on to actually using your new dog pack. Go for walks with
it empty at first. Then practice your stand stays while you place crumbled
newspaper ( not alot. He's still a baby) in the bags. You are going for
volume here not weight. He needs to get used to the feel of 'stuff' around
him and also how much room that 'stuff' takes up on the trail. Again, walk
him in familar surroundings first before taking him on long walks away
from home.
Slowly through the weeks add more weight.
I use rolls of TP and down jackets at first, still going for bulk, not
heavy things. When your dog approaches 12-15 months ( depends on your breed)
begin to add more weight. (A full grown dog can safely carry 25-30% of
their weight on an average trail. More weight or difficult trails take
extra training and care.) Take him to the store and let him carry some
of your groceries home for you. When you get home, take out the items,
then the pack (he should be at "stand") release him and make the biggest
fuss over him. Let him know how helpful he was. What a good dog!
Position:
Our dogs' usual hiking position is just behind the lead person ( or sole
hiker as the case may be) with their head just peeking around our side.
No leash straining or reaching danger before us. We start this with the
puppies. When just starting out, I carry a long (maybe 6')bamboo pole horizontally
in front of me. When the dog tries to go ahead I lower that end of the
pole and lightly bump them with the pole or block there way with it.At
the same time I say "stay back".
You can also put a treat in your hand
and keep your hand down by your side. He should get into just the right
position to keep an eye on that treat. As time goes by, lessen how many
treats you use and switch to praise instead. We try to go on narrow trials
that help the puppy learn to stay back without alot of correction. Later,
when they are trained to the pole, we switch to a hiking staff or ski pole.
Once the dogs see me grab that pole they hussle to get in position and
are all business, leashed or not. That way they never confuse obedience
work with hiking work.
This also works with two dogs, but one
should be an experienced hiker. Once you have one dog going great (we have
found that it takes about 300-500 miles of actual tral work to get a dog
to the veteran, fully integrated stage) you can use thatone to help train
the younger dog. It is amazing how much they pick up from one another.
They usually will pick one side or the other after the first few miles
and then calmly hike behind you. This is a big help if they are on lead
constantly because this way the lines won't get tangled but stay on each
side.
Try to always use a hand signal when giving
your dog commands so that later he will respond to only them when you need
or want to stay quiet, like when you spot wildlife and don't want to scare
it.
Don't take a bitch in heat out on the
trail if possible, especially in coyote or bear areas.
Adapting to new things:Each
camp, whether campground or wilderness spot, has it's own smell and feel.
Take the dog around the perimeter of your site ( You choose what that perimeter
is. Then bring the dog into the center. If there are neighbors, get him
used to their sounds and smells. If THEY are willing, introduce your dog
to them. More than likely, one good intro and your dog will settle down
and accpet all their activity without barking endlessly and gaining enemies.
Your dog must learn to be a good neighbor. The future of dogs in parks
and in the wilderness depends on it.
