Roading harness
Posted: Sat May 07, 2016 7:55 pm
I am looking for suggestions on a roading harness for a 35 lb Brittany. Will be running off a quad and doing 1/2 to 1 hr runs
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Out of curiosity.... why do you (and other's) keep your dog's harnessed to a quad? I run my Brittany a couple fast miles off my quad every day and he stays right with me, or I'll stop and let him roam around (with his bell on), as soon as I whistle and move the quad he comes running back to me. I'm assuming most people on quads are in a similar situation that they have land around them to let the dogs run. The purpose to my response here is to see if I'm making a mistake that will affect my dogs bird training in any way. This is my first go-round training a dog. My dog is 6 months so I exercise him a lot like this. I've wondered to myself if teaching him to fly through the fields like this has any ill affect.oldbeek wrote:I am looking for suggestions on a roading harness for a 35 lb Brittany. Will be running off a quad and doing 1/2 to 1 hr runs
I can't answer for others, but I only road my dogs slowly...against resistance. I want to build muscle, especially in the back end and I want to build heat tolerance and endurance. I believe that slow roading against resistance accomplishes those objectives. In addition, since they are attached and have limited options, I use the opportunity to reinforce handling commands like turn commands , stopping, starting and changing gears.BuckeyeSteve wrote:Out of curiosity.... why do you (and other's) keep your dog's harnessed to a quad? I run my Brittany a couple fast miles off my quad every day and he stays right with me, or I'll stop and let him roam around (with his bell on), as soon as I whistle and move the quad he comes running back to me. I'm assuming most people on quads are in a similar situation that they have land around them to let the dogs run. The purpose to my response here is to see if I'm making a mistake that will affect my dogs bird training in any way. This is my first go-round training a dog. My dog is 6 months so I exercise him a lot like this. I've wondered to myself if teaching him to fly through the fields like this has any ill affect.oldbeek wrote:I am looking for suggestions on a roading harness for a 35 lb Brittany. Will be running off a quad and doing 1/2 to 1 hr runs
Free running and resistant running are two completely different exercises that a dog needs to be in top condition, hence, the Quad for it to pull against.birddogger2 wrote:I can't answer for others, but I only road my dogs slowly...against resistance. I want to build muscle, especially in the back end and I want to build heat tolerance and endurance. I believe that slow roading against resistance accomplishes those objectives. In addition, since they are attached and have limited options, I use the opportunity to reinforce handling commands like turn commands , stopping, starting and changing gears.BuckeyeSteve wrote:Out of curiosity.... why do you (and other's) keep your dog's harnessed to a quad? I run my Brittany a couple fast miles off my quad every day and he stays right with me, or I'll stop and let him roam around (with his bell on), as soon as I whistle and move the quad he comes running back to me. I'm assuming most people on quads are in a similar situation that they have land around them to let the dogs run. The purpose to my response here is to see if I'm making a mistake that will affect my dogs bird training in any way. This is my first go-round training a dog. My dog is 6 months so I exercise him a lot like this. I've wondered to myself if teaching him to fly through the fields like this has any ill affect.oldbeek wrote:I am looking for suggestions on a roading harness for a 35 lb Brittany. Will be running off a quad and doing 1/2 to 1 hr runs
I have found that a dog that will steadily pull against resistance for a full half hour will run for an hour in front of a horse and have gas left in the tank at the end. I have found that it also tends to enable the tail to come up a bit, possibly due to the effect on the dog's back end musculature.
RayG
I just saw this question. sorry about that.nevermind wrote:RayG….. do you attach any weight to the harness or just let yourself be the resistance for the dog to pull?
Good tip. I'm gonna get a length of welding cable and do this.birddogger2 wrote:I just saw this question. sorry about that.nevermind wrote:RayG….. do you attach any weight to the harness or just let yourself be the resistance for the dog to pull?
When I was younger, I attached the dog's harness via a rope to a weightlifters belt that I was wearing and let the dog pull against me.
Now that I have a horse, I loop the rope end to the back of the saddle and the dog pulls against the walking horse.
There are sled dog exercisers which I understand operate like a big tricycle, but with a brake.
The only time you might need weight is when the dog is free running. I have done that also. About 20 ft. of heavy gauge welding cable, doubled over and taped together, with a steel eyelet at the loop so that you can attach a snap and not have the pressure on the snap cut through the soft copper welding cable should be plenty of weight . I like welding cable because it lays there and does not pose a danger to the dog. Some folks use steel chain which can snap around and seriously injure a dog either by striking it or getting the dog tangled up. Even if the welding cable somehow hit the dog, the copper cable is covered in plastic and the short length will not tangle.
RayG
I use the harness to keep the dog on the dirt roads during warmer seasons. My area is over run with Mojave Green rattle snakes and I don't want her bit. These snake bites are usually fatal.BuckeyeSteve wrote:Out of curiosity.... why do you (and other's) keep your dog's harnessed to a quad? I run my Brittany a couple fast miles off my quad every day and he stays right with me, or I'll stop and let him roam around (with his bell on), as soon as I whistle and move the quad he comes running back to me. I'm assuming most people on quads are in a similar situation that they have land around them to let the dogs run. The purpose to my response here is to see if I'm making a mistake that will affect my dogs bird training in any way. This is my first go-round training a dog. My dog is 6 months so I exercise him a lot like this. I've wondered to myself if teaching him to fly through the fields like this has any ill affect.oldbeek wrote:I am looking for suggestions on a roading harness for a 35 lb Brittany. Will be running off a quad and doing 1/2 to 1 hr runs