Friday, 9/8/06 at 12:54 PM
by Jenny Skorcz
by Jenny Skorcz
Must Love Dogs
In January 2006, I adopted a small, red Australian Cattle dog I named Sadie. In addition to her seemingly limitless capacity to show affection and gratitude, she displayed intense athletic capability. When I was having trouble shaking a dark mood and considered abandoning my ride altogether, the look on Sadie’s face convinced me to stick with the plan. Sadie and I quietly climbed up a long, winding trail under a big sky full of white clouds, the waning late afternoon sun warmed our backs, and a light breeze rustled through the dense carpet of wild flowers and grasses. Sadie trotted along ahead of me, disappearing and reappearing amidst dense scrub made thick by late summer rains. The lightness in her step as she continually returned to me was good medicine. I felt the weight of my mood drain into the single track below; ease flowed through my body and mind.
One of the advantages of trail riding is it provides dog owners the opportunity to share their love of this wonderful activity with a beloved pet. As I head up into the hills on my Trance my 14 year old long-haired Shepherd, Inu, dreams of the days when he would accompany me for hours on end exploring the many trails winding through Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. The benefits of sharing trail time with your dog certainly outweigh the costs; the joy, the thrills, the challenges that Inu and I experienced forged a bond that we will both take to the grave. For twelve years he was my constant trail companion and we both learned through trial and error what works and what is disastrous in terms of sharing trail time with a dog.
Although it is technically illegal to have a dog off-leash almost everywhere you go, riding with a dog on a leash is dangerous for you, the dog, and other trail users. Even the best dogs experience a lapse in attention. When the dog darts in front of the bike or tries to run off from it heading in the opposite direction, you and the bike are going down and the dog is going to experience, at the very least, severe whiplash. Therefore, your dog must respond well to voice commands and you must be willing to shoulder the responsibility of having your dog off-leash.
Your dog may appear to be voice trained in your backyard, but get her out in the woods and she will be distracted by hundreds of noises and smells. Spend some time with her off the bike and on the trail to develop better control before you take her riding. Consider other users when selecting which trails are appropriate for dogs. Avoid high traffic trail systems whenever possible, or you will find yourself yelling at your dog as well as receiving reprimands about your unleashed dog from other users. For emergency purposes, I recommend you pack a leash.
Riding with a dog is more physically demanding on the dog then hiking or running. Your dog may appear to be physically fit running after a ball in the park, but on a trail ride your dog has very little opportunity to rest. It is best to begin with short duration rides; just as a person has to build up endurance, so does a dog. Pick some short trail loops with modest technical obstacles to start and build to longer loops over the course of the season. If you cannot commit to regular rides with the dog, then it will take more time for her to achieve multi-hour ride conditioning.
Consider also that the dog’s pads need to toughen and callous. There are several products available at pet stores to help heal working dog’s pads that would improve your dog’s pad health, as well. The presence of water, such as a trail around a lake or a trail that crosses many streams will soften the dog’s pads and can cause blisters and tears to form even on hardened pads. When you choose a trail where water is present, it is best to have you dog wear booties to protect the pads. The best booties are made from Cordera or nylon with a rubbery base, rely on Velcro straps to synch the boot top around the ankle, and are available in multiple sizes. Boots with open toes or strings should be avoided. Your dog is naturally going to attempt to remove the booties. Wait until you are absolutely ready to ride, then strap on the booties and get pedaling. Finding the perfect strap tension can be tricky; too tight effects leg and foot circulation and too loose mans you loose at least one shoe per ride. It is better to loose a boot or two during the learning phase, as replacements are cheaper than treatment for gangrene!
Just like you and me, your dog is going to need to stay well hydrated on all excursions with the bike. When I hike in the backcountry my dogs wear backpacks designed specifically for dogs and are large enough for a couple days worth of dog food, snacks, and a water bowl. The packs are too cumbersome and restrictive when a dog is running with the bike. Therefore, on a trail ride I carry additional water and snacks for dogs in my hydration pack. I also carry a medium sized collapsible bowl for their water. They do not eat much when they are running, so I simply pack a couple biscuits or a doggy Power Bone just in case. The same rules apply to your dog as apply to you in terms of survival in the backcountry: don’t rely on a wild water source as your only source for hydration. Like people, dogs suffer from the effects of dehydration and exposure. Check the weather before you take off with the dog. Hours spent trekking home in freezing rain when you are tired and hungry is no fun for any creature.
Finally, give your dog healthy meals and a nice massage after her rides to flush toxins from her body and strengthen her muscles and bones. In exchange, she will associate trail time with treats, petting, and freedom – and that you make all those good things possible.
Best regards,
Jenny
One of the advantages of trail riding is it provides dog owners the opportunity to share their love of this wonderful activity with a beloved pet. As I head up into the hills on my Trance my 14 year old long-haired Shepherd, Inu, dreams of the days when he would accompany me for hours on end exploring the many trails winding through Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. The benefits of sharing trail time with your dog certainly outweigh the costs; the joy, the thrills, the challenges that Inu and I experienced forged a bond that we will both take to the grave. For twelve years he was my constant trail companion and we both learned through trial and error what works and what is disastrous in terms of sharing trail time with a dog.
Although it is technically illegal to have a dog off-leash almost everywhere you go, riding with a dog on a leash is dangerous for you, the dog, and other trail users. Even the best dogs experience a lapse in attention. When the dog darts in front of the bike or tries to run off from it heading in the opposite direction, you and the bike are going down and the dog is going to experience, at the very least, severe whiplash. Therefore, your dog must respond well to voice commands and you must be willing to shoulder the responsibility of having your dog off-leash.
Your dog may appear to be voice trained in your backyard, but get her out in the woods and she will be distracted by hundreds of noises and smells. Spend some time with her off the bike and on the trail to develop better control before you take her riding. Consider other users when selecting which trails are appropriate for dogs. Avoid high traffic trail systems whenever possible, or you will find yourself yelling at your dog as well as receiving reprimands about your unleashed dog from other users. For emergency purposes, I recommend you pack a leash.
Riding with a dog is more physically demanding on the dog then hiking or running. Your dog may appear to be physically fit running after a ball in the park, but on a trail ride your dog has very little opportunity to rest. It is best to begin with short duration rides; just as a person has to build up endurance, so does a dog. Pick some short trail loops with modest technical obstacles to start and build to longer loops over the course of the season. If you cannot commit to regular rides with the dog, then it will take more time for her to achieve multi-hour ride conditioning.
Consider also that the dog’s pads need to toughen and callous. There are several products available at pet stores to help heal working dog’s pads that would improve your dog’s pad health, as well. The presence of water, such as a trail around a lake or a trail that crosses many streams will soften the dog’s pads and can cause blisters and tears to form even on hardened pads. When you choose a trail where water is present, it is best to have you dog wear booties to protect the pads. The best booties are made from Cordera or nylon with a rubbery base, rely on Velcro straps to synch the boot top around the ankle, and are available in multiple sizes. Boots with open toes or strings should be avoided. Your dog is naturally going to attempt to remove the booties. Wait until you are absolutely ready to ride, then strap on the booties and get pedaling. Finding the perfect strap tension can be tricky; too tight effects leg and foot circulation and too loose mans you loose at least one shoe per ride. It is better to loose a boot or two during the learning phase, as replacements are cheaper than treatment for gangrene!
Just like you and me, your dog is going to need to stay well hydrated on all excursions with the bike. When I hike in the backcountry my dogs wear backpacks designed specifically for dogs and are large enough for a couple days worth of dog food, snacks, and a water bowl. The packs are too cumbersome and restrictive when a dog is running with the bike. Therefore, on a trail ride I carry additional water and snacks for dogs in my hydration pack. I also carry a medium sized collapsible bowl for their water. They do not eat much when they are running, so I simply pack a couple biscuits or a doggy Power Bone just in case. The same rules apply to your dog as apply to you in terms of survival in the backcountry: don’t rely on a wild water source as your only source for hydration. Like people, dogs suffer from the effects of dehydration and exposure. Check the weather before you take off with the dog. Hours spent trekking home in freezing rain when you are tired and hungry is no fun for any creature.
Finally, give your dog healthy meals and a nice massage after her rides to flush toxins from her body and strengthen her muscles and bones. In exchange, she will associate trail time with treats, petting, and freedom – and that you make all those good things possible.
Best regards,
Jenny
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