Mushing Tips: Creating Forward Focused and Responsive Leaders Part 1

There are two types of Lead dogs, those that are born to it and those that are trained to it.  I have had both but I find that in either case, how we work with our leaders can make the difference between a good leader and a great one!   For me the words in the title represent the two main characteristics that I look for and work to “shape” in my leaders.    My leaders need to be forward focused, that is they need to direct their attention ahead and down the trail, keeping the mainline tight.  My leaders also need to be responsive, that is they need to be able to not only focus their direction forward but be listening and sensitive to my commands coming from behind them.

To create a forward focused leader, I spend a significant amount of time with my leaders in three different aspects.   This starts in the beginning as the team is lining out and is waiting to go, it continues while the team is moving or stopped on the trail, and finishes when the team has returned to or has reached the finish.   I am trying to build a calm, confident, comfortable dog that is unconcerned about the hub bub around them, whether that is the dogs behind them or other dogs on other teams nearby.   In this article I will focus on that first phase, training a dog to be forward focused at the beginning of the run.  In future segments I will cover the other phases. 

The very first thing to do is not just to start doing it, rather *think* about what you would like your leaders to do at hookup?   We have already started with the premise we want them forward focused and responsive, but what does that mean for you?   Is it surging forward in their traces, leaping with forward momentum, is it leaning into their harness and applying tension on the tug and mainline?  Is it something else?   Now think about that behavior you desire in different situations, at a race, in a training run, in a training run with handlers, in a training run by yourself without help, in a race by yourself or with handlers?  Out on the trail after a stop?   How about after a long stop but with your hook stuck in the snow and you are struggling to get it out?   What would you like them to be doing as you are leaning down to pull your snow hook and before you release that team?  Do you want them to be lunging then?   So after thinking of these situations and more, picture again what that desired behavior or set of behaviors are before you start training!
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In the very beginning when you are getting stated with new dogs and working with new leaders, I find it helps to reduce the team size, perhaps even working with just one or two dogs.  Eliminate the distractions of other dogs tugging on lines, pulling back on the mainline, barking, leaping etc.   Take one or two dogs out by themselves so that you and they can focus only what it means to be in lead but without additional distractions.  You can start by hooking them up to a scooter, bike or small cart which is snubbed to a fixed object.  

Now remember the behaviors that you wanted to see in the dog in this position.  I like to see my leaders calmly leaning into their harnesses with their attention focused ahead on the trail.   I prefer this to jumping up and down, surging or slamming on the tuglines etc.    I feel this behavior wastes less energy and keeps the dogs “in their heads” and focused on the task ahead.   For me my dogs are less likely to tire themselves out or to start chewing on everything in sight if I can instill this calm forward focused behavior in them.   It makes the team easier to handle for me regardless of the situation when I am starting.  The leaders do help set an example so it starts with them!  Not everyone wants this particular behavior, many want to see the dogs surging forward or leaping.   In general though we all look to see the dog’s energies projected forward, not looking back or moving to the side, turning around etc.  

Whichever behavior you want, identify it and reward it.   Now here is one of the most important things you can learn from this article, behaviors that are rewarded will be repeated!  Let’s say that again:   Behaviors that are rewarded are repeated!!  The second most important thing to understand is what is a reward?  The reward is not necessarily what we identify (a treat, a pat on the back or a “good dog”).  Think about what your dogs want most when they are lined out?  What is it?  Yes to Run!!!!   Whatever behavior they are exhibiting when you tell them to go, that is the behavior they are going to associate with getting to run!
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Keep in mind the phrase I used in the last paragraph, “behaviors that are rewarded will be repeated”.    If you want your leader to be calm and leaning forward into their harness as they wait during hookup, release the dog to move down the trail WHILE they are exhibiting that behavior.  Again for most sled dogs, their ultimate goal is to go; it serves as its own reward.    Don’t let your dogs go until they are behaving the way YOU want!    If you release them when they are not exhibiting that targeted behavior, they will assume that whatever it was that they were doing WHEN you released them was/is what you want!   They got their reward, they got to run!
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So another key here is to think about how and when you will reward your new leader for their desired behavior!   Dog trainers using positive methods such as clicker training refer to this as establishing “criteria”.   No we are not going to use clicker training here, but we can use some of the tenets of that training and apply it to mushing.  The basic tenet of clicker training is to “mark” the desired behavior so that behavior will be repeated.  When doing clicker training the desired behavior is marked with the click of the mechanical clicker followed by a reward (usually a small treat).   Here we are going to “mark” that desired behavior by simply letting the dogs DO what they most want to in this circumstance….run! 

In the beginning it is easiest to start with short periods of the desired behavior before releasing the team.   That might be 10 seconds; it might be longer depending upon your dogs.   In the beginning remaining calm and leaning calmly forward in their harnesses for 10 seconds might be the best “minimum” that you will see and then be able to reward BY releasing that team while they are exhibiting that behavior!    You can always revise and extend your criteria over time, say the dogs need to be calm for 30 seconds before being released.   I have no problem with using training “aids” in this process, whether that is in the beginning having someone else there helping you or if by yourself, using a front line on the dogs to help them maintain their position.  Just remember your ultimate goal is that the dogs will remain calm and ready on their own before you call them up to go.  Build on your leader’s successes, as they are exhibiting the desired behaviors for longer periods of time then increase your criteria!   But always remember what I said earlier, “What is rewarded is repeated”!!!   I hope this article has been helpful in getting started in training your leaders to be more forward focused and responsive!