Prelim: Hike!

We could have waited, but no, we really can't  because this is going to be great. We put the order in for the equipment yesterday, downloaded a basic training guide, read a few chapters, and we are ready. We don't need to wait for the tether, special harness (in purple), and the bike attachment, we just need to go. Plus, a little prep is always a good idea.

Our biggest concern today is how we compartmentalize the new activity. We have been working hard on the obedience stuff, making some progress, but this is something new. The guiding principle so far has been to not pull on the leash. Now, we are going to pull on the leash--as hard as we can, eventually. They told me at the kennel that dogs lead much different lives there than at home, kind of like kids at daycare versus home, and do just fine. So, bikejoring is going to be a new world for us, separate from hang around the house, running on the beach, or following the standard obedience commands.

Well, we did not do all that much, granted. The book said to be really careful about making the first few experiences good one. I changed out of my slip-ons into running shoes, which was of great interest to Harry. We walked into the orchard surrounding the house, and found a road--just a two-track path really.

Luckily, Harry always wears a  harness, not a real dog sled harness like the one ordered, because, well, we don't need to go into all that now, but it made things easier.  I just unclipped from his chest ring and reclipped to the ring on the back of the harness. I thought this would help make this a new thing for Harry. That, and a new set of commands. I got Harry pointed down the road and gave out the first of his incipient repetoire, "Hike!"

Fifty yards later, we did a whoa. This dog likes to run. No problem there. Granted the whole session was only a couple hundred yards down the path and back, but it went okay. Harry needed a few straight-aheads, but did just fine.

I clipped his leash back onto his chest ring. This is going to be great.