Rollerblading with Ramone...
Awhile ago I got it in my head that it would be fun to teach Ramone to pull me on rollerblades. So I did some research of skijoring sites (thanks Glacier!!) and training tips...ordered him a sled dog harness... and yesterday we tried it out for the first time.
I put the harness on him and his prong collar on him. Cam grabbed a leash and hooked it up to the prong. I grabbed a leash and hooked it up to the harness. Cam started walking and I waited until they got the full length of the leash I was holding and I started rollerblading.
At first Ramone was unsure of why I was behind him, but Cam just kept encouraging him to stay beside him. Then he started jogging. Once Ramone settled in to a nice pace beside Cam I stopped helping and just let Ramone pull. It was a lot of fun. I am not the best rollerblader though (I can't stop of my own accord) and when Cam slowed down I went zooming beside them and Ramone did lunge at my blades (we do have some wheel issues). Once I slowed to a stop we let Ramone come up to me. He was frantically sniffing the wheels, but I didn't move. He tried licking the wheels, and I didn't move. He went to nibble on a wheel and I just gave him a verbal "AHHHHHH!" and he backed off.
I took the leash that was attaced to his collar and started rollerblading with him beside me. He did pretty good, but he was screaming and whining and putting up a fuss the whole time. Then Cam took the leash and we got him to pull me home and we ended the session there.
Tonight we went out again. This time we were armed with hotdogs. Cam would lure him along and I let him do more pulling and didn't help out as much. He did really really well. We went around the block twice. Then Cam and I switched. He put his blades on and I put my shoes on. Ramone was a little unsure when he felt more weight, but I just had Cam help him out. He caught on really quick and you could just see him buckle down and throw his weight into the harness. We did another two laps around the block. On the last stretch we stopped. I left Ramone in a sit stay and walked half way down the block. I turned around and called him and he just ran right towards me. I turned and ran the rest of the way home and he just gave it his all... Cam was almost scared at how fast they got going, lol. When he caught up to me I had his hotdogs ready. I caught him and Cam let go of the leash, and shot around the corner, lol.
I think we found a good summer exercise. 4 laps around the block and I have one passed out rottweiler. Woohoo!!! I will try and get some pics and vids during tomorrow's training session. :D
