Hi guys - I've been hiking with Chuck around 4 times now and for the most part he loves it. One thing that has come up on some of the more rough trails gong down hill - walking across rocks over streams, steep, rough, rocky hills - Chuck keeps pulling.

Chuck has a harness and I attach the 6 foot leash to the back ring on it, and then take the hand loop put my lower backpack strap through it. The pulling is just fine uphill - even on rough terrain getting pulled up doesnt really risk me losing my balance. Down hill it was a *long* hike back. Constantly, I had to choke up on his leash with one hand and physically muscle him from making me slip and fall during the rough terrain. It was not fun.

How have you experienced hikers handled this? Heel doesnt really apply - most wilderness trails aren't wide enough. Do people use other commands, or do you still use heel even though it's not strictly the correct situation?

Hiking downhill with a husky isn't easy haha. I have a pretty good handle on Korra now, but it has been very frustrating. Maybe someone has a better way, but there have been three methods I've used. 1-get a leash with a traffic handle or whatever you wanna call it. A second handle by the clip on their harness and just have them walk by you on the way down. 2-I've had Korra follow me down by using treats to distract her from pulling too hard. 3-Just bring a front clip in your bag and switch harnesses at the top. Not sure what did the trick, but as long as she's in front now she doesn't pull so bad.

On another note. This Sunday we will be headed to Whidbey Island to go to Double Bluff. It's an off leash (no fence) dog beach. PM me if you're free and want to come.

We got a Halti head collar for exactly these occasions and I keep it in my backpack until I need it. As it turns out we were also hiking with our sibe near Seattle (can't remember where exactly) and he was pulling downhill. Problem was we were on jagged rocks and one strong pull from my sibe could have sent both of us catapulting down a long sheer drop. Needless to say it was the scariest hike I've ever been on (thanks to my overly eager sibe) and right after that hike we invested in the head collar for those type moments when I absolutely must have complete control. Another "trick" I discovered accidentally was when the lead (when clipped to a harness on the dog's back) looped around the front of the dog. Picture the lead clipped to the back of the harness then wrapping around the chest. I noticed this accidental positioning curbed the pulling a bit so whenever I need a little more control while my only tool is a normal harness, that's exactly what I do. I just loop the lead around his chest and it instantly curbs his pulling. Now it doesn't completely stop the pulling but it does greatly reduce it. At least that's what works in a pinch with my sibe and doesn't require the purchase of a special front clip harness yet works in a similar fashion.

i let mine off leash if the terrain is very steep

Diz knows easy (slow down), and wait (stop and wait). He also knows up (pull up, go up stairs, or jump on object). Those are things I taught him while walking and are very handy for hiking.

You could also use either a pinch collar for the down hill, or just let him drag a long line instead of holding him on a 6' leash.

wpskier222 wrote:

Diz knows easy (slow down), and wait (stop and wait). He also knows up (pull up, go up stairs, or jump on object). Those are things I taught him while walking and are very handy for hiking.

You could also use either a pinch collar for the down hill, or just let him drag a long line instead of holding him on a 6' leash.

Ami, too has learned to respond to both easy and wait - never really taught him that, just picked it up. On our camping trip, hubby and I hiked the trails and the down hill was pretty gnarly with roots, rocks and a steep to vertical drop-off beside the trail. I was tired and had to be careful of my knee - all I had to do was repeat "eeaasy....eeeaaasy" and surprise, surprise - damn dog walked itsy bitsy steps, kept looking back almost as if to make sure I was ok  

And the wait - Ami frequently gets his leash on the wrong side of the collar with his head cock-eyed. I say "wait a minute", the slows down almost to a stop, then I say "Ami, head" and he lowers his snout and I flip the leash over to the other side...

Of course, hubby had some other ideas with the "ami, head" command...like changing the "i" to "y"...

He knows "jump" to - to cross ditches or go over guard rails...but I think this is contextual.