Winter of Fun

Byker is still very young.  Barely 10 months, so I really do not do more than socialise him with the bike or any activity yet.  Instead, I still try to do that important thing to do with pups.  Have fun.

Today we had fun with the Staffies in Thetford Forest.

Line training with Byker

New gear day.  New canicross belt (the foam padded style that was popular years ago), new single towline, and even a running harness for Byker.  I'll have to do a bit more of this, canicross style line training just with Byker.  as he get's older, it's becoming more difficult to exercise the three dogs together:

Before anyone complains, yes I know that he's a young dog, and I'm certainly not thrashing him - I'm too out of condition for that to even be possible by Cani-X.  I hope to gradually get fitter, as he gets older and bigger.

But doesn't he look smart in his new rainbow running harness:

And it's not all work and training.  Because he's young, even during these sessions, I let him have a run around, and an explore, while practicing a little recall and basic training.  After all, that's the point of having a doggy dog like a pointer cross, rather than a siberian husky.  You can throw a stick for them, let them run around, and even expect them to safely recall.

So here he was today, having some fun with a er.. rather large staffie?  I'm sure that's what it was, but she was game for some fun with my little Kung Foo Fighter:

Letting dogs be dogs

Just dog walking today, through the woods, all three dogs.  I notice that they all perk up when we reach forestry.  They love running through the undergrowth.  At one point I saw Byker reaching up, sniffing the air, he had a scent.  Other times it's tag - usually Byker hunting down Dixie or maybe Dollar if he fails to keep his distance.

A part of growing up, of developing that pup, is just letting it explore, have fun, be a dog.

Early training for bikejor

The bike socialising / training continues.  Byker is acting a little less shy of the bicycle.  I walk through suburban areas with him on a canicross belt, while pushing the bicycle - pulling brakes, making noises, etc.  Then when we reach a more rural cycling train, after a little while, I let him off line.  Then I'll mount the bike -let him see me that way, and gently cycle, meeting people, him meeting other dogs.  I want him to keep friendly, and non-aggresive, so that's also good.

I do also put him on the towline, and even mount the bike - just short stints of bikejoring.  I have to be careful not to let him encourage me to go further - he's too young.  His skeleton and limb joints still have to strengthen before I let him exert.

Right, now I'll take the two Staffies out on the bike!

Introducing Byker ... to the Bike

I've started introducing Byker to the bicycle.  No, that doesn't mean that I'm thrashing the poor pup on the end of the towline.  I'm socialising him to the bike.  I had shown it to him as a tiny pup - and of course, he's seen hundreds of bikes up close, as we often walk on a local bike trail.  But he was a little reluctant, a little frightened - so I do have some work to do.

I'm mainly just walking and pushing the bike - sometimes though cycling slowly - getting him use to seeing me mounted on a bicycle.  I give him treats while I'm on the bike.

I took a few photos though, of my aspiring bikejor pup on the towline.