Beginning Training Tips
Training
Your Dog & Trail Etiquette
General Training Tips
Beginning Training Tips
Advanced Training Tips
Summer Training Tips
Basic Dog Care and Skijoring Tips
Beginning Commands for the Lead Dog
The following are commonly
used commands for Lead Dogs. What term you use to give your dog a command is not important, as long as you are consistent. But the advantage to using the common terms is that someone else can give commands to your dog, also.
- Whoa or Stop Snowplow to slow down and stop. Hold your dog stopped until you give the command to go (see below). It is a good idea to teach and practice wait also.
- Hike, lets go," ok; begin skiing and verbally encourage your dog. Though used by many mushers, "ok" can be a risky word to start your dogs. If you stop to talk with someone and the word "ok" comes up in conversation, you may be surprised by how responsive your dogs are.
- Gee (turn right) and Haw (turn left). These are easier to practice on your feet than on skis. Give the command in advance of the upcoming turn. If your dog even looks in the right direction start praising him. If you have the dog on a leash you can pull or lead him the correct direction praising him as you go. If he tries to go the wrong direction, correct him with a firm no and/or a sharp tug on the leash or tug line. Give the command repeatedly while physically encouraging him to go the correct direction.
- On by or straight ahead, use this to go straight down the trail where there are choices of direction or to go past something (other dogs, moose, people) on or near the trail. "On by" is easier to say when you are out of breath from hard skiing.
- Come is very important when you have a tangle or your dog accidently gets loose.
- Good dog Praise your dog often, especially after correctly following a command.