Mushing GSPs in Ellensburg 12/21/08

This was a little training run out of the house. Usually we can only do this route a few times a year because the snow melts off, but thanks to the big storm we had more than enough today.

We had a handful of training things happening here... waiting and then pulling hard up the grade in unbroken snow, waiting for me to walk ahead and then catching up, gee-over practice (you'll hear me hit the sled brake to 'remind' everyone about that command)... and one point where *I* don't give a "gee" command in time. Oops! I'm being patient with these guys because they're tired after pulling that big steep hill, and I don't want to sour them.

Overall though you can see how quiet training runs usually are. IMO training sled dogs is largely about setting situations up, letting them go, and giving them a little positive verbal note when they do something right. The only correction usually required is bumping the brake- freedom to run is their highest reward.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• GSP
• mushing
• sled
• Ellensburg

[HPRgirl]

It so beautiful where you are - I'd love to be able to run in the snow one day but we really don't get much in Southern England. Is this the Rogan in the dog scootering book? (my bible by the way!) I run 3 GSPs and one Pointer in harness (not expert yet as we've only just started out) I love their working attitude!

[roganshorthair]

Yes, this is most likely the same Rogan since Daphne has used a few of my photos for this-and-that over the years. Daphne met us many years ago when she was still running her lovely Rott Rubro and we've done a few fun runs together since then.

[sheilamaclean]

that is really nice to see; dogs with a job, too many don't have that opportunity to do something useful and its not like these are huskies - well done the handler - and lovely countryside too even though its all white, looks pristine and it kills off any nasties in the soil, what we need in Scotland to kill off the grouse worm.

[roganshorthair]

Thanks! GSPs tend to be major troublemakers without hard work to keep then exercised and focused.

[OntarioUrbanMusher]

awesome video happy mushing!

[nealbowlen]

Very nice run with three!