dog training dog

One thing that I've heard over and over from mushers is that the only way to really teach a lead dog is with another lead dog. No matter how good a trainer you are, there are some things dogs just have to learn from each other.

Pico has horrid passing manners. If there is another team or a skijorer or loose dog around he descends into a state of near hysteria and will go to great lengths, usually involving tangling up the team, to get as close as possible to the other party. On O'Brian Road (part of the mostly flat nine mile loop we did again today) there are two loose dogs that we have encountered a few times. On each occasion, Pico has launched into his antics, going so far as to turn all the way around on the trail and get DRAGGED by the rest of us while he tries to make contact. All the yelling I can do from the sled has no effect whatsoever on him in his crazed state. As far as he's concerned, there is nothing else in the world but the object of his attention. I might as well be the moon.

Today, Leo finally had enough of this unprofessional behavior. As soon as Pico started to get out of line in the direction of the loose dogs (and before I had a chance to start my ineffectual yelling) Leo lit into him. Leo skipped a step and jumped up a bit, then came down snarling and clamped his jaw over Pico's nose at just the instant he started to break stride and turn. It was over in less than a second, but the message was crystal clear. Pico gave a barely audible yelp and fell right back into line. He never looked back once at the loose dogs howling on the trail behind us.