Q for dog owners-info please

[spazzdog]

treat train her...

put it on - give her a treat.

lead her around the house a bit - give her a treat.

get her to follow you while she's wearing it - give her a treat.

Soon she'll be beggin' for her helmet

spazz

(make them little treats or she'll also be beggin' for a jenny craig membership)

[xeney]

I don't think you should plan on being able to cycle with any dog, whether it's an adult rescue or a puppy. I'm not sure it's something you can count on, because you would need a dog with a very specific rock-solid temperament, and the dog would need to be incredibly well socialized, and the cyclist would also need to be a very steady and predictable rider. And even then I can envision scenarios that just wouldn't be safe for anybody.

People do it and seem to have a wonderful time, and I'm a little envious of those people. But I think there is probably quite a bit of luck involved, as well as very early training and socialization, and I would really not count on this working out with a rescue dog of any breed.

My niece has a Kelpie and he's a great hiking dog. I think dogs are more suited as hiking companions than as cycling companions, in general.

[sarahlou]

I would agree that you need a very good bond with your dog. We started Lou Lou on the bike when she was a puppy. I had a handlebar basket that she rode in. She has cycle-toured with us hundreds of miles riding in a BOB. Also she has spent a lot of time running along side the bike (or skis) in winter so we have a system down. Even then, we don't take her on the popular trails, and we have to tailor or rides to suit her. She loves everyone and everything so she is very happy to run up and say, "Hello". A dog with 'issues' might find it hard to be on a public trail and be expected to behave well while the owner is cycling. But it can be done and is very enjoyable.

[KnottedYet]

That pic of LouLou in the backpack is so cute!!!

[sarahlou]

Thanks, she really does love to ride in it.

[crazycanuck]

We've been approved to get the kelpie at the shelter. We'll pick her up on Saturday & do our best to be good doggie owners.

Any ideas on good sites for dog owners?

So many questions..i'll go and read the dog/cat food thread

We need help with doggie names. The dog in question is a light yellow colour. So far we have:
Sushi
tobin(the canucks might get this one)
flash
queen
curie
angua(terry pratchett followers will get this one)
spoke
goldie(nz rugby fans might get this one)
Alberta
Yukon

Thanks
C

[KnottedYet]

Angua!!!!!!!!!

[KayTee]

One suggestion - basic obedience training with a good instructor. Nothing helps bond a new dog to you like learning to train together, and believe me, these classes are so entertaining that they should charge admission to watch 'em! These classes help socialize the dog to people and other dogs, and even if you think you know all there is to know about training a dog, you (and your dog) will learn a few things anyway. The obedience clubs around here give a discounted rate for their classes to people who can document that their dog came from a shelter or rescue system.

[CyclaSutra]

CC- I've got an opinion about doggie names. I read somewhere in a dog training book (a google might help here but I'm late to get dressed for a bike commute) that the best dog names are two syllables and end in a vowel. Why? Because "Slate" and "Duke" sound too much like single-syllable commands: sit, stay, down.

Apparently, dogs can remember their name better if it is much different than the command.

That being said, my little Mojo is so smart, he opens his eyes from snoozing on the couch when you call him "boy," "dog," "bud," or just spell out his name.

And my other pup, Java, potty-trained really quickly when we hung a small cowbell on the door. When the door opens, the bell rings. Quickly she learned that when she wanted to go potty, she just rang the bell.

Good luck!

[Tuckervill]

My mother trained her cat to ring the bell when she wanted to go out. She rings it to come back in, too!

I loved the picture of the Jack Russell in the backpack! A rare thing happened in my house last week. A Jack Russell passed away of old age.

All the others I've known have been hit by cars, bitten by snakes, lost when they escaped, or in one of my cases, killed by a coyote. That was my 10 lb. JRT named Ladybug. She once jumped out of a boat going full speed on the lake, because she thought she really could walk on water. Luckily, she was on a leash and harness, and I just reeled her back in. You can see why I might find it hard to believe that Lou Lou stays where she's supposed to be at all times!

However, the Old Broad, Percy, had plenty of run-ins, but she was 20 when she died last week. So, you can see how I might think it's quite possible Lou Lou DOES stay where she's supposed to be, too!

May Lou Lou be as lucky as Percy.

Karen

[pooks]

We adopted our Jake (a yellow lab) from a shelter when he was 18 months old and have never regretted it.

I've seen people biking with labs. I don't know how difficult they are to train for that, though.

I would think in general that the best dog for this would be a breed that has a strong desire to please its human. I read that the best way to determine that desire in a puppy is to walk away and call the puppy and see if it immediately wants to follow you, or if it takes off in other directions. I wonder if the same test would work for a mature dog?

[LBTC]

We've been approved to get the kelpie at the shelter. We'll pick her up on Saturday & do our best to be good doggie owners.

Any ideas on good sites for dog owners?

So many questions..i'll go and read the dog/cat food thread

We need help with doggie names. The dog in question is a light yellow colour. So far we have:
Sushi
tobin(the canucks might get this one)
flash
queen
curie
angua(terry pratchett followers will get this one)
spoke
goldie(nz rugby fans might get this one)
Alberta
Yukon

Thanks
C

Or, playing on the gold theme:

Aurum (from which the elemental symbol for gold, au, is derived)

You know what? No matter what you call her, you will lover her and she will love you and your life will be richer!

Oh, and whoever said to see if your puppy would come to you? well....our 'Cuda did not care at all about pleasing us for the first 2 years, now he's a fabulous dog who loves his mommy... You can't always tell when they are puppies...

Hugs and bouncy butterflies,
~T~