Sledding - Part II
Siberians at age of six months training.
Siberians at age of six months training.
By this time, having gone through the basic introduction of training with the four basic commands, and proper nutrition and "exercise". They are now ready to start runs of short distances. This means that you should start out, running as a team mixture, with other older experienced team dogs. This will usually mean, running in harness for the younger Siberians; No more than a mile (out and back), for two mile runs; for at least their first two weeks. During this time, making short stops, using the four commands, and in some cases, straightening our their portion of the tug line, if they had accidentally crossed over or under the mainline, in their excitement.
During this same time, you are watching how straight they maintain their pull on their tug lines. As some will have a "favorite side". Just as a human is either left handed or right handed; Siberians will work best either on the right side or left side of the mainline. Or they will work best next to certain Siberians on the gang line.
During these short runs, if using a dune cart, or an ATV, it is best to have a "shot gun" rider on the ATV or someone following your cart, with an ATV. In case of serious tangles, it will take (one person) to ride the brakes, or "snub line" off the cart, to a tree. Two pairs of hands on rookie runners and straightening out of their tangled tug lines, and the crisscrossing over/under the mainline, can be Very Helpful and less frustrating.
In some cases, it may require that you do short lengths, repeated stop and starts; of that mile run. You can more quickly see whom the violators are and stop their bad habits more quickly. Again best rule of discretion is, "don't let them strain or over-work". As they gain experience every few weeks, you can increase their running time, by adding a mile farther; going from two miles out and back to two miles out, making it four miles roundtrip. In the spring, and parts of the cool Summer, you have "plenty of time", for the training and conditioning.
Another rule of thumb, if training with a cart: don't hookup more than four Siberians at a time; on any logging roads, dirt roads, or blacktopped roads. Better control and "safety" for you.
Running with an ATV, you can "safely" hook-up more than four Siberians at a time; but use TWO factors. One - have a "shotgun rider", or another following on another ATV. Two - run with the motor ON, in lowest gear, and at times depending on the "grade of the incline", use the gas pedal to decrease any chance of the straining or over-working.
As many of the arctic breeds, really aren't mature until "sometime in their second or third year".
Types of harness' to be used?
The basic two types of harness's that I used were either the H-back or the X-back. Now days, there are several more varieties available, with the racing equipment suppliers. For the cost, and less chance of the Siberian backing out of the harness. Which at times they could do in the excitement or become afraid of something and start "balking". I did prefer the X-back harness.
More info on different equipment and suppliers, I will provide at a later segment.
More important still at the training and conditioning phase though is of importance to you. As they increase in miles and running time, they will be "toughening up". Meaning their muscles are getting stronger; and not only in their rears, but in their front legs.
So, when you harness up your Siberians, and go to move them over the Gang line, for hooking up. It is BEST for you to pick up the Siberian, by the harness where that portion of the harness goes around the neck, at the top of the shoulders. You then "walk" the Siberian on its "hind feet", over to the gang line. Better control and less chance of being pulled or dragged on your face.
To be continued...in Part III
