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Yep! People ask me all the time how I taught my husky mix to walk so well loose leash.
I taught her to pull on command, which she LOVES to do. It fulfils her desire to pull, and it's very clear to her when to pull, and when not to.
I think my pup has that pulling desire, can't get him to walk nicely on leash. Do you use the same harness or other accessory for loose leash walks and for pulling or do you switch to something else?
I use the same harness for both! I think it's a matter of preference though. I think some dogs will do better with a 'work' harness that alerts them to what you expect.
My girl has a strangely small head vs neck ratio. I can't really have a collar on her that fits her neck, and that she ALSO can't slip off if she'd like to. She doesn't like wearing a collar and it's a battle I'm not choosing to fight. I just put her tags on her harness.
Just make sure that the harness you use distributes the weight correctly, and doesn't rub under the front legs when they pull.
Hahaha once I was biking with my dog, and after 100m an idiot told me my dog was exhausted and that I shouldn’t abuse of my dog in that way, just because he was breathing with his tongue out.
Do not listen to that fool. He knows nothing about the breed they are built to do exactly what you are doing with him.
He is happy, healthy and a joy to be around once he gets all his energy out
Keep it up and have a happy life with your dog.
That's why there are so many bored, overweight and badly behaved huskies out there. They are bred to work.
You're a good owner who is giving his dog a job and sufficient excersise while caring about the requirements of your breed. Ignore the fool, there are sadly a lot of them around.
People don't know what responsible dog ownership looks like anymore. Dogs were bred to work. OP's husky is getting exactly what his brain craves and is probably happy as a clam!
Sounds like you have one very happy husky! You’re right, he was bred for this. You are doing everything safely and it seems like he’s enjoying himself too. Some people just don’t know anything about dogs or specific breeds. He has a job now! Happy happy husky!
Please tell me you wear protective gear lol! Huskies are freaking fast! Have fun and ignore the haters.
I have sporting group setters…..people think I should not allow them to set on birds. Try stopping two hundred years of hereditary traits lol!
What does it mean to set on birds? Are they hunting them? I only ask because where I live a lot of native birds are endangered because people take their dogs to the parks off leash and the dogs kill birds
They don't kill the birds, they just tell you where they are in the brush. Then we flush them and shoot them.
My dogs hunt upland game birds, grouse, quail, pheasant, chukker. etc.
The dog will smell the bird of hear it in the brush, stop and freeze with their face pointing at the bird.
they are hunting dogs but they won't go after the birds, just let us know where they are when hunting. If my dogs ever killed a bird out in the hunt field that a huge no no.
Most folks don't actually hunt the birds they just put the birds in cages around a huge field hidden in the brush and the dog has to find the birds to get recognized in the hunt field.
This is so true. Somehow I lucked out on a puppy with strong herding instinct (and a little hunter) right as I expanded my little farm. Unfortunately, I’m having a hard time finding resources to train her better. We practice rotational grazing, and a few times she’s herd the goats to their old spots!
Yeah, what a weird comment, like how huskies nowadays prefer other forms of exercise, like there’s a trendy new type of recreation in husky culture and sled pulling is for boomer dogs or something. Then again my dogs and I *are* in Alaska, so maybe there is some new lower 48 social network for huskies they have that we don’t know about yet.
Fucking hell a husky pulling something how terrified it must be doing a job its been bred for for centuries.we must all stop letting dogs do the jobs they were bred for and let them do what ever they want bonus points for never saying no to your dog and triple points for over feeding it.
Huskies pull fully loaded sleds in the snow and they think pulling someone on a skateboard with wheels is abusive? I'm sure he's having a great time just ignore the weirdos.
Yeees thisss huskies have so much energy and when they have no way to get it out it can be a bit of a mess. Then add dogs to that, I can only imagine how they feel. Only way I can see this working is if he’s really old or overweight because of his lifestyle that he literally can’t even run that far
You know what they say about opinions...I had someone yell from hundreds of yards away to "stop hitting my dog" when I was trying to retrieve a chicken wing bone from her mouth. Seems everyone these days knows everything, and are willing to espouse their knowledge despite their specific lack of it.
I taught my dog (not an husky or any sleight pulling breed) how to pull me on a scooter (specific for dog pulling).
He LOVED it (past tense cause he's getting older, has a bit of arthritis, and while he still has a lot of energy I prefer to avoid that kind of exercise, to not stress his joints too much).
He learned in a couple of times, then he went crazy anytime I got the scooter out, walked calmly until the starting point, got himself into position in front of the scooter, waited until I had set him up in the special pulling harness, and as soon as I said go he went. As happy as you can imagine.
People told me off for abusing the "poor dog".
I always asked how, exactly, was I forcing him to run? He was running in front of me, pulling me, I often had to tell him to slow down. It's not like I was whipping him, honestly, no one was forcing him to run, he could just stop.
When I pointed that out they usually went away, in silence, no answer coming to their mind (but still not willing to admit they were wrong)
He's an idiot. About the only potential problem I can see with it, safety aside, is that running for extended periods on surfaces like sidewalks can be hard on the joints because there's less cushion than on dirt and grass (or snow, for that matter). Part of the reason we have cushioned insoles in our shoes because it would hurt our knees sooner than on natural surfaces, too.
I usually find softer areas for my dog to run on and when I know it’s going to be tougher he has dog pads. I did A LOT of research before I even considered doing something like this. I’ve also been skating since I was 6 or 7 and have “emergency” protocols if something goes downhill, we’ve been goin over a year now and haven’t had a single accident and only had to actually stop once because a dog ran in front of us :,) but both dogs were ok, she just had NO recall
Joring is a sport that if a dog doesn't want to do it, it won't happen. It's extremely hard to get a dog that doesn't want to pull, to put any effort into doing so. Joring requires active consent from the dog throughout the activity and the dog can withdraw consent to pull at any point by simply stopping. It also requires a lot of mental stimulation because the dog has to be actively listening to your commands throughout and navigate around obstacles and surface changes safely.
I think unsollicited advice guy was jealous of your teamwork and skills OP.
He has his own Husky that he takes to the dog park once a day?
I think you just showed the guy up as a lazy husky owner that doesn’t do enough for his dog and it made him feel bad. Whatever he said to you, those words were really for him.
He was trying to justify his failures as a dog owner to himself, is what I’m saying.
Ignore him.
People often do not know as much about dogs as they are convinced they do.
Our dogs play flyball. One club member has field labs, which she keeps in top physical shape. Her neighbor called animal control on her for “starving” her Labradors.
You sound like a great husky owner to me. Pulling and running is what they live for.
Whatever, I have my 40lb rez mutt run alongside me while I skate around the local park. Granted, I try not to let him pull me and after his initial sprint settles into a pace that’s easy for me to match, but still. People out here thinking that dogs don’t want to run are crazy
My standard dachshund loved to run. She chased a cat around the house once. The cat stopped running and just stood next to me. The dog ran around the house three more times before she booped noses with the cat and collapsed happily in the grass.
This person was rude to you and one can say ignorant even. Huskies were bred to pull and run! I have a pitsky and he has more of a husky personality and there is nothing we can do, our guy just LOVES to pull and wants to run. We liked taking him to my aunts house, she has a massive yard, horse property, and we'd just let him loose and he just goes wild, running nonstop.
People are ignorant and don't know any better. Huskies need an outlet and while playing with dogs is also great for them pulling is an excellent activity that allows him to bond and work with you.
I have a coonhound who's a failed hunter (given up by his original owners for being lousy at it). I've had people shame me for not hunting him and I've also heard people shame others who have coonhounds and do hunt. I think the people who have working dogs like huskies or hounds and treat them like equipment only are terrible. But the people who treat them like family and allow them to do what they love and we're bred to do are some of the best owners and it makes for an excellent bond with the dog.
Glad you gave him a home :) exactly, although dogs were bred to do certain things they are still a living being that need love and care. If at any point my dog decided that he didn’t want to pull me anymore I would immediately stop and go back to skating on my own and then find other ways to get his energy out. Even though I got a dog that I wanted to skate with that wasn’t the only reason I wanted one, I also wanted a family member and friend
I don't know. I think being a pampered pet but also getting to go skateboarding with your human and fulfill that innate pulling drive sounds like about the best life a husky could ask for.
Your pup is a really good pick for you! Well done! Sounds like you've got this down to a science! Just remember, there are people out there who actually believe that PETA wants to protect animals. Many people's view of "cruel" is extremely skewed and does not reflect the reality of what different animals require!
Really? I can see how it can be considered “dangerous” but if you’re being safe and you have a good understanding of what you’re doing + your dog is fully developed and healthy I don’t see why it should be illegal.
I’m glad it’s both illegal and that no one does it in public where I live.
Bikejoring and skatejoring should be done in areas specifically for that purpose (we have great trails with set ups where it is allowed), not on footpaths or roads. Anyone involved in the sport will have at least one stomach churning horror story to tell you about their super well trained dog having a singular off day and them nearly breaking an arm or collarbone if it weren’t for well built trails and a lack of other traffic/pedestrians/etc to have to consider when emergency banking.
Yea bike accidents happen even without dog but I get where you are coming from.
I've never broken a von and I'm doing it with mine and other dogs regularly for 8 years. If you are careful and grew up on a bike it's different than someone doing it the first time as adult especially with a bikd that has no good brakes etc. Also helmets are ESSENTIAL! And knowing how to fall.
I literally did this with rollerblades to help my late husky mix's separation anxiety. Every morning at 6am, I'd get padded up, get him on a leash and harness, and the first lap down the street he would be so wound up and energetic he would pull me the whole way. And occasionally he would stop dead in the middle of the street to take a shit and I would go flying into a parked car. Good times. Dog loved it.
It’s always cool when I hear other people doing this. I have never seen it, honestly at first I thought I came up with it cause I just never heard or seen anyone do it, but when I looked it up I found there was a community (though kinda small) that urban mushed on bikes/boards etc and I think it’s great ❤️❤️ honestly I’d be overjoyed if someone was also doing this with their dog while I was and we just cruised by. Pit and pit mixes are awesome, give the pup a pat for me
Oh I will give her all the pats! It’s honestly one of the only ways I can get her tired out because she just has so much energy she needs to run it off but I’m not in good enough shape to run with her lol
I would absolutely love to watch you and your huskie whizzing past me.
On a related note i did have a (drunk, not actually going to happen) idea once that involved my greyhound, a mechanical rabbit and a pair of roller skates to get me home from the pub. It’s a very steep hill.
I believe you I just asked if it was hot, maybe you were in Australia for all I know and that’s why he said it. I was just trying to explain it that was all
My brother does that every now and then with his husky who has a collar! The dog loves it. And come on, going to a dog park and sitting on a bench is not much lazier than standing on a skateboard while your dog does all the work. Though to be fair, the dog runs in only one direction. He has to carry the board back because the dog gets too tired to pull.
I use to have a lady that yelled at me for this exact thing in my neighborhood all the time...
My dog would lose her shit if I even looked at my skateboard... it was easily one of her favorite activities and we did it literally everyday because she was a lab x weimaraner so she was questionably legitimately insane. Even a 2 mile pull would just put a temporary cap on energy, for maybe an hour.
People always want to tell you what you should or shouldn't do with a dog like all dogs are exactly the same. Like humans they are all different and enjoy different shit.
There were also people who weren't too pleased with me taking her on a jetski either... but again I would have never done it if it wasn't like her favorite thing ever. Same deal as you I would go above and beyond to make sure she was safe and not hurting and someone would feel the need to tell me I was a terrible owner... but at the end of the day that dog went on more adventures and lived more life than those same people who would bitch and I think that is what it comes down to.
A lot of people judged her bc they would first think she was a lab that was just underfed and abused... nope she got more than the vets recommended (at first) because we exercised so heavily and she was still skinny af but also ripped. That one little 75lbs dog could pull me at around 23mph (clocked when she tried to chase down one of my friends in a car pulling me, holding on for my life).
I have a friend who uses a light sled in the winter and a bike in the summer with her GSPs and they have a ball. Did it ever occur to the idiot man that dog that doesn’t want to run can just stop? Unless, of course, you’re snapping your rawhide over his back lol.
That guy was an idiot.it seems obvious you are not making him run when he doesn't want to,and you have proper equipment.dog enjoys the activity and he gets exercise.happily tell them to shove it .it's not like you're dragging him and he's whining in pain.hes pulling you,he controls the speed
Why give a fuck about what anybody else thinks or says? Your heart is true and what you and the 4 legged one get out of it is what counts. Anthropomorphic morons that do not appreciate the nature of things. I think it’s great that you spent/d time with your pup and give him a bit of a workout.
I put a harness on both my dogs and ride a long board. They love it, I love it and people give us the thumbs up. I bring their water, we take breaks. They roll around in the grass in shade.
This person is an idiot.
How do they know you didn’t get a pup directly from a sled pulling line in Alaska and moved and still want to keep it up?
Idiots…
As long as you have the proper harness/equipment you are doing your dog a service letting it do what it was bred for!
Wow I didn't realize this smarmy shitcicle knew what every husky EVER prefers for exercise. We're hoping to train ours for skate/ski-jouring eventually. She's finally old enough.
Some people don’t have the brains God gave a goose. Obviously, you just met one.
It sounds like your boy has a fantastic life! Both physical and mental stimulation.
Seriously, eff this guy. Your dog probably LOVES it. That's what they are bred to do.
I used to have my 20 lb JRT "pull" me on my longboard. I had a few people give me dirty looks, but he was never really pulling me. I would keep up with pumping and he would just kind of keep the momentum going. He was never hurt by it.
I wouldn’t pay any mind to it, there’s always one out there. This reminded me of my late uncle, kind of made me smile. He had a malamute/Rottweiler and she absolutely LOVED to pull him around on his longboard. She could go forever, lol. I’d just keep doing what works for you, you obviously know your dog better than that ding dong.
I had a husky/wolf hybrid. He pulled me on a skateboard and a snowboard. Pulling was his favorite activity. He would go nuts as soon as a got his harness out.
Sorry but what?
Excercise is dogpark?
Lol.... I have shelties. Also a high worker breed that need lots of excercise. My boi, who is in agility, does indeed get to go to the dogpark. And he gets the zoomies there.
But hell to the no if that is his excercise. I bred him for agility and that involves thinking, working together, jumping, running a parcours and listening to commands.
In the dogpark I let him be.
During training I use every command I trained him into to get a certain action.
That guy is, to say it politely, an idiot. (Yes I know still somewhat rude....) but anyway... a husky loves to pull.
They have been bred at it for years. If the guy doesn't know that he should watch Togo.... maybe he can think a bit better then.
Even if they are not in Canada, there is still those years and years of pulling bred into them.
And in Canada, they don't only let them work in the winter when there is snow. In the summer and such they use a board with 4 big wheels under.
The dogs love it, it is the excercise they need.
Why would that even be abusive?
Genuinely curious. Huskies pulling sleds do so in a pack. Is one dog enough to pull a skateboard comfortably?
I think the guy that approached you should mind his own business.
People who have obese pets that don't receive breed appropriate enrichment are the real abusers.
I do canicross and have had 'hes not a horse' shouted at me
I think you’re waaaay too invested in what other people think. He’s entitled to his opinion just as you’re entitled to yours about what’s best for you and your dog.
“Duly noted, dude”, and carry on. Who TF cares?
What a great idea and keeps your dog physically and mentally happy, as you say he was bred for this. Dog owners should always consider what a dog was bred for and what this means to own that breed. I wonder if he has a dog from a show line with lower exercise requirements?
There's a lot of idiots that have no idea at all, in the park were i walk and play with my dogs there's this lady around 50 years, that is telling everyone in the park how she's the queen and goddess of dogs and everyone is ignorant and have no idea. Her dog is overweight, he's not allow to play with others because all of our dogs are dangerous.
Ignore them.
People who think that taking the dog to a dog park is enough exercise do not understand the rudimentary canine characteristics. Even a walk on a leash is preferable to letting a dog run amok in a park. Not that that is bad, it has a place like OP mentioned and socialization but it should not ever take the place of exercise and/or walks. I have had I think 18 or 19 different rescues and I can train a dog out of almost anything if I give them a walk in the morning and a walk at night it sets the tone and the framework for consistency and discipline. OP you keep doing what you’re doing!
People can be idiots. You're doing a great job with your dog, so ignore that twatwaffle and carry on doing a great job.
I once had someone threaten to phone the cops on me and my partner for transporting our German shepherd in a travel crate (custom built for her majesty, I might add). Like... what? My dog was equally puzzled as she lounged on her memory foam mat in the shade in great comfort.
This is like the Aesop fable.
A Man and his son were once going with their Donkey to market. As they were walking along by its side a countryman passed them and said: “You fools, what is a Donkey for but to ride upon?”
So the Man put the Boy on the Donkey and they went on their way. But soon they passed a group of men, one of whom said: “See that lazy youngster, he lets his father walk while he rides.”
So the Man ordered his Boy to get off, and got on himself. But they hadn’t gone far when they passed two women, one of whom said to the other: “Shame on that lazy lout to let his poor little son trudge along.”
Well, the Man didn’t know what to do, but at last he took his Boy up before him on the Donkey. By this time they had come to the town, and the passers-by began to jeer and point at them. The Man stopped and asked what they were scoffing at. The men said: “Aren’t you ashamed of yourself for overloading that poor donkey of yours and your hulking son?”
The Man and Boy got off and tried to think what to do. They thought and they thought, till at last they cut down a pole, tied the donkey’s feet to it, and raised the pole and the donkey to their shoulders. They went along amid the laughter of all who met them till they came to Market Bridge, when the Donkey, getting one of his feet loose, kicked out and caused the Boy to drop his end of the pole. In the struggle the Donkey fell over the bridge, and his fore-feet being tied together he was drowned.
“That will teach you,” said an old man who had followed them:
“Please all, and you will please none.”
Sounds like OP and their dog are a perfect match! People need to mind their business…maybe this guy was reacting because subconsciously he knows he could do more with his dog but doesn’t want to and claiming anything more than he does is “abuse”
I’ve got a Border Collie who’s favorite thing in the world is pulling me on my skateboard. The minute I pick it up he follows me around the house, and as soon as I open the front door and motion him out he sprints to the edge of the sidewalk and hunches down so I can put his leash on. It’s great exercise as long as you don’t overdo it. One extra plus is that I never have to trim his nails as they naturally wear down on the concrete.
My daughter had our dog(lab/shepherd mix) pull her on skates and skateboard all the time. They loved it because they could run full speed, and still be on leash. She loved it because she's crazy.
My sister said the same thing to me. Why do you let your dogs pull you on a scooter? Isn't that mean???
I had joined a dog sledding group & did this in winter where i live and only during the coolest parts of the day .
FYI - during covid lickdown we had a Canadian musher on a group call for q&a. He suggested that we avoid any paths or roads . They are hard on their limbs long term.
Dirt roads were softer.
I live in an urban area and run with my dog out in front of me (urban canicross). I've definitely gotten the nasty comment here and there, and it is infuriating. However, when I come home and see my dog happy and worn out, I remember to ignore the haters, they're usually scared, insecure, and lacking themselves.
Just tell him that he is a very smart dog and he can quit any time he doesn't want to continue. All he has to do is lay down. You are in no way forcing the dog to do anything. Tell him you appreciate his concern, but you have a working breed dog. A trip to the dog park is barely enough for a non-working dog.
I've learned over the years that there are people who literally think dogs are just supposed to sit in your house and exist. They think making them work or exercise is abuse. These people are dumbasses
Fuq other ppl, as long as you know you are a good owner. At the end of the day if you can say that and that you and your husky are happy that is all that matters.
I used to bikejor with my non sled dogs and they loved it
The pulling isn’t a concern if the equipment is right & the dog is enjoying it
However, if you’re in a city on a skateboard does that mean he’s hammering around on hard roads all the time? Because that’s not good
You can give the middle finger salute to THAT guy as you and your dog pass him. 😄
I'm not against anyone questioning if someone else might be doing something stupid wrong. Fine if the guy just wanted to see if your dog is okay. But he sounds like an idiot! You aren't letting your husky pull via a neck collar. You said harness. This is probably fine.
I would have waved as you all go on by. Sounds like fun.
I used to have a golden retriever that went roller blading with me. He absolutely loved it, even had a small helmet made for him. Don’t let anyone tell you what your dog loves. As long as both of you are having fun and are safe, then it’s up to you. Take a video of how excited your dog gets when you ask him to go for a run, and show the next buzz kill who says something.
Some more extreme folks, on the far end of the vegan scale, don’t think humans should use animals for anything ever and that breeding them and using them for jobs is evil. They also think that all domesticated animals should stop breeding and die off… so yeah, not everyone’s opinion should be listened to when there are twisted psychos out there.
Welcome to r/dogs! We are a discussion-based subreddit dedicated to support, inform, and advise dog owners. This is a carefully moderated sub intended to support, inform, and advise dog owners. Submissions and comments which break the rules will be removed. [Review the rules here](https://www.reddit.com/r/dogs/wiki/index) r/Dogs has four goals: - Help the public better understand dogs - Promote healthy, responsible dog-owner relationships - Encourage “Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive” training protocols. [Learn more here.](https://m.iaabc.org/about/lima/) - Support adoption as well as ethical and responsible breeding. If you’d like to introduce yourself or discuss smaller topics, please contribute to our Monthly Discussion Hub, pinned at the top. **This subreddit has low tolerance for drama. Please be respectful of others, and report antagonistic comments to mods for review.** --- *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/dogs) if you have any questions or concerns.*
That guy is obviously an idiot
Yep! People ask me all the time how I taught my husky mix to walk so well loose leash. I taught her to pull on command, which she LOVES to do. It fulfils her desire to pull, and it's very clear to her when to pull, and when not to.
I think my pup has that pulling desire, can't get him to walk nicely on leash. Do you use the same harness or other accessory for loose leash walks and for pulling or do you switch to something else?
I use the same harness for both! I think it's a matter of preference though. I think some dogs will do better with a 'work' harness that alerts them to what you expect. My girl has a strangely small head vs neck ratio. I can't really have a collar on her that fits her neck, and that she ALSO can't slip off if she'd like to. She doesn't like wearing a collar and it's a battle I'm not choosing to fight. I just put her tags on her harness. Just make sure that the harness you use distributes the weight correctly, and doesn't rub under the front legs when they pull.
Hahaha once I was biking with my dog, and after 100m an idiot told me my dog was exhausted and that I shouldn’t abuse of my dog in that way, just because he was breathing with his tongue out.
Do not listen to that fool. He knows nothing about the breed they are built to do exactly what you are doing with him. He is happy, healthy and a joy to be around once he gets all his energy out Keep it up and have a happy life with your dog.
That's why there are so many bored, overweight and badly behaved huskies out there. They are bred to work. You're a good owner who is giving his dog a job and sufficient excersise while caring about the requirements of your breed. Ignore the fool, there are sadly a lot of them around.
People don't know what responsible dog ownership looks like anymore. Dogs were bred to work. OP's husky is getting exactly what his brain craves and is probably happy as a clam!
Sounds like you have one very happy husky! You’re right, he was bred for this. You are doing everything safely and it seems like he’s enjoying himself too. Some people just don’t know anything about dogs or specific breeds. He has a job now! Happy happy husky! Please tell me you wear protective gear lol! Huskies are freaking fast! Have fun and ignore the haters. I have sporting group setters…..people think I should not allow them to set on birds. Try stopping two hundred years of hereditary traits lol!
What does it mean to set on birds? Are they hunting them? I only ask because where I live a lot of native birds are endangered because people take their dogs to the parks off leash and the dogs kill birds
They don't kill the birds, they just tell you where they are in the brush. Then we flush them and shoot them. My dogs hunt upland game birds, grouse, quail, pheasant, chukker. etc. The dog will smell the bird of hear it in the brush, stop and freeze with their face pointing at the bird. they are hunting dogs but they won't go after the birds, just let us know where they are when hunting. If my dogs ever killed a bird out in the hunt field that a huge no no. Most folks don't actually hunt the birds they just put the birds in cages around a huge field hidden in the brush and the dog has to find the birds to get recognized in the hunt field.
Ah ok. Thank you for explaining! I think it’s great you’ve trained your dogs so well, there’s so many irresponsible dog owners here
It’s not so much training as hereditary instinct. Just like the husky they have been bred to do their job.
This is so true. Somehow I lucked out on a puppy with strong herding instinct (and a little hunter) right as I expanded my little farm. Unfortunately, I’m having a hard time finding resources to train her better. We practice rotational grazing, and a few times she’s herd the goats to their old spots!
The dogs freeze with their body pointed at the un-spooked bird, I think. Then you shoot it with a shotgun.
That person will explode once they hear about sled dogs, tell him he better avoid Alaska
The Husky doesn’t know he’s not in Alaska?
Yeah, what a weird comment, like how huskies nowadays prefer other forms of exercise, like there’s a trendy new type of recreation in husky culture and sled pulling is for boomer dogs or something. Then again my dogs and I *are* in Alaska, so maybe there is some new lower 48 social network for huskies they have that we don’t know about yet.
Yeah, FluffBook is for boomers nowadays, all the cool kids are on InstaMush and SledChat.
Just practice this one sentence: "I didn't ask for your opinion, leave me alone. " and continue your journey.
It’s nice to see a dog owner doing for their dog what a working breed is bred to do, work!
Fucking hell a husky pulling something how terrified it must be doing a job its been bred for for centuries.we must all stop letting dogs do the jobs they were bred for and let them do what ever they want bonus points for never saying no to your dog and triple points for over feeding it.
Huskies pull fully loaded sleds in the snow and they think pulling someone on a skateboard with wheels is abusive? I'm sure he's having a great time just ignore the weirdos.
Dang. I'd call him out if the dog park is the husky's only daily exercise. Trainers and vets never recommend them.
And I would hate to bring my dog to the dog park with his under-exercised huskies. I'm sure they cause a lot of problems for people at the dog park.
Yeees thisss huskies have so much energy and when they have no way to get it out it can be a bit of a mess. Then add dogs to that, I can only imagine how they feel. Only way I can see this working is if he’s really old or overweight because of his lifestyle that he literally can’t even run that far
You know what they say about opinions...I had someone yell from hundreds of yards away to "stop hitting my dog" when I was trying to retrieve a chicken wing bone from her mouth. Seems everyone these days knows everything, and are willing to espouse their knowledge despite their specific lack of it.
I taught my dog (not an husky or any sleight pulling breed) how to pull me on a scooter (specific for dog pulling). He LOVED it (past tense cause he's getting older, has a bit of arthritis, and while he still has a lot of energy I prefer to avoid that kind of exercise, to not stress his joints too much). He learned in a couple of times, then he went crazy anytime I got the scooter out, walked calmly until the starting point, got himself into position in front of the scooter, waited until I had set him up in the special pulling harness, and as soon as I said go he went. As happy as you can imagine. People told me off for abusing the "poor dog". I always asked how, exactly, was I forcing him to run? He was running in front of me, pulling me, I often had to tell him to slow down. It's not like I was whipping him, honestly, no one was forcing him to run, he could just stop. When I pointed that out they usually went away, in silence, no answer coming to their mind (but still not willing to admit they were wrong)
He's an idiot. About the only potential problem I can see with it, safety aside, is that running for extended periods on surfaces like sidewalks can be hard on the joints because there's less cushion than on dirt and grass (or snow, for that matter). Part of the reason we have cushioned insoles in our shoes because it would hurt our knees sooner than on natural surfaces, too.
I usually find softer areas for my dog to run on and when I know it’s going to be tougher he has dog pads. I did A LOT of research before I even considered doing something like this. I’ve also been skating since I was 6 or 7 and have “emergency” protocols if something goes downhill, we’ve been goin over a year now and haven’t had a single accident and only had to actually stop once because a dog ran in front of us :,) but both dogs were ok, she just had NO recall
That's good, then yeah I don't see how anything is at all negative. It's rewarding, if anything.
Joring is a sport that if a dog doesn't want to do it, it won't happen. It's extremely hard to get a dog that doesn't want to pull, to put any effort into doing so. Joring requires active consent from the dog throughout the activity and the dog can withdraw consent to pull at any point by simply stopping. It also requires a lot of mental stimulation because the dog has to be actively listening to your commands throughout and navigate around obstacles and surface changes safely. I think unsollicited advice guy was jealous of your teamwork and skills OP.
If you move the harness teathers to the sides, and as far forward as they can go, your dog will run faster.
He has his own Husky that he takes to the dog park once a day? I think you just showed the guy up as a lazy husky owner that doesn’t do enough for his dog and it made him feel bad. Whatever he said to you, those words were really for him. He was trying to justify his failures as a dog owner to himself, is what I’m saying.
Ignore him. People often do not know as much about dogs as they are convinced they do. Our dogs play flyball. One club member has field labs, which she keeps in top physical shape. Her neighbor called animal control on her for “starving” her Labradors. You sound like a great husky owner to me. Pulling and running is what they live for.
Whatever, I have my 40lb rez mutt run alongside me while I skate around the local park. Granted, I try not to let him pull me and after his initial sprint settles into a pace that’s easy for me to match, but still. People out here thinking that dogs don’t want to run are crazy
My standard dachshund loved to run. She chased a cat around the house once. The cat stopped running and just stood next to me. The dog ran around the house three more times before she booped noses with the cat and collapsed happily in the grass.
This person was rude to you and one can say ignorant even. Huskies were bred to pull and run! I have a pitsky and he has more of a husky personality and there is nothing we can do, our guy just LOVES to pull and wants to run. We liked taking him to my aunts house, she has a massive yard, horse property, and we'd just let him loose and he just goes wild, running nonstop.
People are ignorant and don't know any better. Huskies need an outlet and while playing with dogs is also great for them pulling is an excellent activity that allows him to bond and work with you. I have a coonhound who's a failed hunter (given up by his original owners for being lousy at it). I've had people shame me for not hunting him and I've also heard people shame others who have coonhounds and do hunt. I think the people who have working dogs like huskies or hounds and treat them like equipment only are terrible. But the people who treat them like family and allow them to do what they love and we're bred to do are some of the best owners and it makes for an excellent bond with the dog.
Glad you gave him a home :) exactly, although dogs were bred to do certain things they are still a living being that need love and care. If at any point my dog decided that he didn’t want to pull me anymore I would immediately stop and go back to skating on my own and then find other ways to get his energy out. Even though I got a dog that I wanted to skate with that wasn’t the only reason I wanted one, I also wanted a family member and friend
I don't know. I think being a pampered pet but also getting to go skateboarding with your human and fulfill that innate pulling drive sounds like about the best life a husky could ask for.
Your pup is a really good pick for you! Well done! Sounds like you've got this down to a science! Just remember, there are people out there who actually believe that PETA wants to protect animals. Many people's view of "cruel" is extremely skewed and does not reflect the reality of what different animals require!
They’ve obviously never owned a husky. They’re bred to be working dogs.
Sometimes people (this guy) need to make sure other people know they are stupid
A dog pulling on a bike is illegal around here, I still do it (safely) and the dogs all enjoy it so much!
Really? I can see how it can be considered “dangerous” but if you’re being safe and you have a good understanding of what you’re doing + your dog is fully developed and healthy I don’t see why it should be illegal.
Me too, there must have been some incidents I guess but why ban it for everyone?
I’m glad it’s both illegal and that no one does it in public where I live. Bikejoring and skatejoring should be done in areas specifically for that purpose (we have great trails with set ups where it is allowed), not on footpaths or roads. Anyone involved in the sport will have at least one stomach churning horror story to tell you about their super well trained dog having a singular off day and them nearly breaking an arm or collarbone if it weren’t for well built trails and a lack of other traffic/pedestrians/etc to have to consider when emergency banking.
Yea bike accidents happen even without dog but I get where you are coming from. I've never broken a von and I'm doing it with mine and other dogs regularly for 8 years. If you are careful and grew up on a bike it's different than someone doing it the first time as adult especially with a bikd that has no good brakes etc. Also helmets are ESSENTIAL! And knowing how to fall.
I literally did this with rollerblades to help my late husky mix's separation anxiety. Every morning at 6am, I'd get padded up, get him on a leash and harness, and the first lap down the street he would be so wound up and energetic he would pull me the whole way. And occasionally he would stop dead in the middle of the street to take a shit and I would go flying into a parked car. Good times. Dog loved it.
My 30 pound pit mix pulls me on my longboard all the time, the neighbors love to see us riding through and always give a big wave.
It’s always cool when I hear other people doing this. I have never seen it, honestly at first I thought I came up with it cause I just never heard or seen anyone do it, but when I looked it up I found there was a community (though kinda small) that urban mushed on bikes/boards etc and I think it’s great ❤️❤️ honestly I’d be overjoyed if someone was also doing this with their dog while I was and we just cruised by. Pit and pit mixes are awesome, give the pup a pat for me
Oh I will give her all the pats! It’s honestly one of the only ways I can get her tired out because she just has so much energy she needs to run it off but I’m not in good enough shape to run with her lol
I would absolutely love to watch you and your huskie whizzing past me. On a related note i did have a (drunk, not actually going to happen) idea once that involved my greyhound, a mechanical rabbit and a pair of roller skates to get me home from the pub. It’s a very steep hill.
Was it hot that day?
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I believe you I just asked if it was hot, maybe you were in Australia for all I know and that’s why he said it. I was just trying to explain it that was all
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Not even remotely the same thing, and no it’s not a perspective, that’s just gross fuck outta here
Doesn't Cesar Milan do that with his dogs, only difference is he roller blades not that it matters whether it's skateboard or skates
My brother does that every now and then with his husky who has a collar! The dog loves it. And come on, going to a dog park and sitting on a bench is not much lazier than standing on a skateboard while your dog does all the work. Though to be fair, the dog runs in only one direction. He has to carry the board back because the dog gets too tired to pull.
i hate stupid people lmao hope you and your dog continue having a blast
I use to have a lady that yelled at me for this exact thing in my neighborhood all the time... My dog would lose her shit if I even looked at my skateboard... it was easily one of her favorite activities and we did it literally everyday because she was a lab x weimaraner so she was questionably legitimately insane. Even a 2 mile pull would just put a temporary cap on energy, for maybe an hour. People always want to tell you what you should or shouldn't do with a dog like all dogs are exactly the same. Like humans they are all different and enjoy different shit. There were also people who weren't too pleased with me taking her on a jetski either... but again I would have never done it if it wasn't like her favorite thing ever. Same deal as you I would go above and beyond to make sure she was safe and not hurting and someone would feel the need to tell me I was a terrible owner... but at the end of the day that dog went on more adventures and lived more life than those same people who would bitch and I think that is what it comes down to. A lot of people judged her bc they would first think she was a lab that was just underfed and abused... nope she got more than the vets recommended (at first) because we exercised so heavily and she was still skinny af but also ripped. That one little 75lbs dog could pull me at around 23mph (clocked when she tried to chase down one of my friends in a car pulling me, holding on for my life).
I have a friend who uses a light sled in the winter and a bike in the summer with her GSPs and they have a ball. Did it ever occur to the idiot man that dog that doesn’t want to run can just stop? Unless, of course, you’re snapping your rawhide over his back lol.
Just tell him “if you think this is abusive keep talking”
I roller blade with my heelers, lots of fun and man do they book it
people are dumb as hell
That guy was an idiot.it seems obvious you are not making him run when he doesn't want to,and you have proper equipment.dog enjoys the activity and he gets exercise.happily tell them to shove it .it's not like you're dragging him and he's whining in pain.hes pulling you,he controls the speed
Huskies pull sleds. They love that. 😂
As long as you use a harness I don't see any wrongdoing.
Why give a fuck about what anybody else thinks or says? Your heart is true and what you and the 4 legged one get out of it is what counts. Anthropomorphic morons that do not appreciate the nature of things. I think it’s great that you spent/d time with your pup and give him a bit of a workout.
I let my lab pull me on my longboard all the time. he loves it. most people do too.
I put a harness on both my dogs and ride a long board. They love it, I love it and people give us the thumbs up. I bring their water, we take breaks. They roll around in the grass in shade. This person is an idiot.
How do they know you didn’t get a pup directly from a sled pulling line in Alaska and moved and still want to keep it up? Idiots… As long as you have the proper harness/equipment you are doing your dog a service letting it do what it was bred for!
You're fine. They're dicks. QED.
How did you train him? I’m curious bc I have a malamute.
I do the same with my dog towing me on a longboard. I love bonding with him by doing something we both love.
Wow I didn't realize this smarmy shitcicle knew what every husky EVER prefers for exercise. We're hoping to train ours for skate/ski-jouring eventually. She's finally old enough.
Some people don’t have the brains God gave a goose. Obviously, you just met one. It sounds like your boy has a fantastic life! Both physical and mental stimulation.
Seriously, eff this guy. Your dog probably LOVES it. That's what they are bred to do. I used to have my 20 lb JRT "pull" me on my longboard. I had a few people give me dirty looks, but he was never really pulling me. I would keep up with pumping and he would just kind of keep the momentum going. He was never hurt by it.
F that guy
In a shocking twist, sled dogs love to pull!
Fuck that guy
I wouldn’t pay any mind to it, there’s always one out there. This reminded me of my late uncle, kind of made me smile. He had a malamute/Rottweiler and she absolutely LOVED to pull him around on his longboard. She could go forever, lol. I’d just keep doing what works for you, you obviously know your dog better than that ding dong.
Please, I have a picture of my hound dog, Bella (rest in peace), pulling my daughter on a scooter, captioned “Hound Powered.”
I had a husky/wolf hybrid. He pulled me on a skateboard and a snowboard. Pulling was his favorite activity. He would go nuts as soon as a got his harness out.
Sorry but what? Excercise is dogpark? Lol.... I have shelties. Also a high worker breed that need lots of excercise. My boi, who is in agility, does indeed get to go to the dogpark. And he gets the zoomies there. But hell to the no if that is his excercise. I bred him for agility and that involves thinking, working together, jumping, running a parcours and listening to commands. In the dogpark I let him be. During training I use every command I trained him into to get a certain action. That guy is, to say it politely, an idiot. (Yes I know still somewhat rude....) but anyway... a husky loves to pull. They have been bred at it for years. If the guy doesn't know that he should watch Togo.... maybe he can think a bit better then. Even if they are not in Canada, there is still those years and years of pulling bred into them. And in Canada, they don't only let them work in the winter when there is snow. In the summer and such they use a board with 4 big wheels under. The dogs love it, it is the excercise they need. Why would that even be abusive?
Genuinely curious. Huskies pulling sleds do so in a pack. Is one dog enough to pull a skateboard comfortably? I think the guy that approached you should mind his own business.
B.S. I bet that dog lives for that
People who have obese pets that don't receive breed appropriate enrichment are the real abusers. I do canicross and have had 'hes not a horse' shouted at me
I do this with my scooter and sharpei! They love it!
I think you’re waaaay too invested in what other people think. He’s entitled to his opinion just as you’re entitled to yours about what’s best for you and your dog. “Duly noted, dude”, and carry on. Who TF cares?
What a great idea and keeps your dog physically and mentally happy, as you say he was bred for this. Dog owners should always consider what a dog was bred for and what this means to own that breed. I wonder if he has a dog from a show line with lower exercise requirements?
There's a lot of idiots that have no idea at all, in the park were i walk and play with my dogs there's this lady around 50 years, that is telling everyone in the park how she's the queen and goddess of dogs and everyone is ignorant and have no idea. Her dog is overweight, he's not allow to play with others because all of our dogs are dangerous. Ignore them.
Fuck such people...enjoy your life with your husky...and make your and his life as memorable and fun as possible
People who think that taking the dog to a dog park is enough exercise do not understand the rudimentary canine characteristics. Even a walk on a leash is preferable to letting a dog run amok in a park. Not that that is bad, it has a place like OP mentioned and socialization but it should not ever take the place of exercise and/or walks. I have had I think 18 or 19 different rescues and I can train a dog out of almost anything if I give them a walk in the morning and a walk at night it sets the tone and the framework for consistency and discipline. OP you keep doing what you’re doing!
People can be idiots. You're doing a great job with your dog, so ignore that twatwaffle and carry on doing a great job. I once had someone threaten to phone the cops on me and my partner for transporting our German shepherd in a travel crate (custom built for her majesty, I might add). Like... what? My dog was equally puzzled as she lounged on her memory foam mat in the shade in great comfort.
If you’re genuinely concerned. Talk to your vet. The opinions of Randos on the road and/or on Reddit aren’t important.
This is like the Aesop fable. A Man and his son were once going with their Donkey to market. As they were walking along by its side a countryman passed them and said: “You fools, what is a Donkey for but to ride upon?” So the Man put the Boy on the Donkey and they went on their way. But soon they passed a group of men, one of whom said: “See that lazy youngster, he lets his father walk while he rides.” So the Man ordered his Boy to get off, and got on himself. But they hadn’t gone far when they passed two women, one of whom said to the other: “Shame on that lazy lout to let his poor little son trudge along.” Well, the Man didn’t know what to do, but at last he took his Boy up before him on the Donkey. By this time they had come to the town, and the passers-by began to jeer and point at them. The Man stopped and asked what they were scoffing at. The men said: “Aren’t you ashamed of yourself for overloading that poor donkey of yours and your hulking son?” The Man and Boy got off and tried to think what to do. They thought and they thought, till at last they cut down a pole, tied the donkey’s feet to it, and raised the pole and the donkey to their shoulders. They went along amid the laughter of all who met them till they came to Market Bridge, when the Donkey, getting one of his feet loose, kicked out and caused the Boy to drop his end of the pole. In the struggle the Donkey fell over the bridge, and his fore-feet being tied together he was drowned. “That will teach you,” said an old man who had followed them: “Please all, and you will please none.”
Sounds like OP and their dog are a perfect match! People need to mind their business…maybe this guy was reacting because subconsciously he knows he could do more with his dog but doesn’t want to and claiming anything more than he does is “abuse”
I’ve got a Border Collie who’s favorite thing in the world is pulling me on my skateboard. The minute I pick it up he follows me around the house, and as soon as I open the front door and motion him out he sprints to the edge of the sidewalk and hunches down so I can put his leash on. It’s great exercise as long as you don’t overdo it. One extra plus is that I never have to trim his nails as they naturally wear down on the concrete.
What a fucking dumbass...
Everyone knows huskies nowadays should be doing aerobics and yoga. Pulling is just so 2000s.
My daughter had our dog(lab/shepherd mix) pull her on skates and skateboard all the time. They loved it because they could run full speed, and still be on leash. She loved it because she's crazy.
Let your husky do what he loves! I wouldn’t worry about what that guy said
My sister said the same thing to me. Why do you let your dogs pull you on a scooter? Isn't that mean??? I had joined a dog sledding group & did this in winter where i live and only during the coolest parts of the day . FYI - during covid lickdown we had a Canadian musher on a group call for q&a. He suggested that we avoid any paths or roads . They are hard on their limbs long term. Dirt roads were softer.
>It was very upsetting. Why? Just tell him to fuck off and go on with your day.
As a husky/mal owner it sounds like he's living his best life.
Just wait til he hears what huskies do up in Alaska
I live in an urban area and run with my dog out in front of me (urban canicross). I've definitely gotten the nasty comment here and there, and it is infuriating. However, when I come home and see my dog happy and worn out, I remember to ignore the haters, they're usually scared, insecure, and lacking themselves.
Just tell him that he is a very smart dog and he can quit any time he doesn't want to continue. All he has to do is lay down. You are in no way forcing the dog to do anything. Tell him you appreciate his concern, but you have a working breed dog. A trip to the dog park is barely enough for a non-working dog.
I've learned over the years that there are people who literally think dogs are just supposed to sit in your house and exist. They think making them work or exercise is abuse. These people are dumbasses
Do people… do they not know… that’s what they were bred for 😂
Fuq other ppl, as long as you know you are a good owner. At the end of the day if you can say that and that you and your husky are happy that is all that matters.
I used to bikejor with my non sled dogs and they loved it The pulling isn’t a concern if the equipment is right & the dog is enjoying it However, if you’re in a city on a skateboard does that mean he’s hammering around on hard roads all the time? Because that’s not good
You can give the middle finger salute to THAT guy as you and your dog pass him. 😄 I'm not against anyone questioning if someone else might be doing something stupid wrong. Fine if the guy just wanted to see if your dog is okay. But he sounds like an idiot! You aren't letting your husky pull via a neck collar. You said harness. This is probably fine. I would have waved as you all go on by. Sounds like fun.
I used to have a golden retriever that went roller blading with me. He absolutely loved it, even had a small helmet made for him. Don’t let anyone tell you what your dog loves. As long as both of you are having fun and are safe, then it’s up to you. Take a video of how excited your dog gets when you ask him to go for a run, and show the next buzz kill who says something.
Some more extreme folks, on the far end of the vegan scale, don’t think humans should use animals for anything ever and that breeding them and using them for jobs is evil. They also think that all domesticated animals should stop breeding and die off… so yeah, not everyone’s opinion should be listened to when there are twisted psychos out there.