Tag: Bikejoring

If you don’t use it, you lose it. That’s the case with today’s Dog Care 101’s featured Dog Sport, Lure Coursing. This fast-paced, high-energy event was created to keep dogs on their toes and off the couch. This sport shows off the sheer speed and athleticism dogs are born with and BestBullySticks.com wants to share it with you. Read on to learn more about Lure Coursing!

What is Lure Coursing?
This Dog Sport consists of sighthounds chasing or coursing an artificial lure around an open field. If you’re unsure what qualifies as a sighthound, think Whippets, Greyhounds, or Rhodesian Ridgebcks (full list later in post). This purpose of this sport is to preserve the abilites and skills of sighthounds.

History
The inception of Lure Coursing is in ancient times. Sighthounds have been hunting live prey as far back as ancient Egypt.  People have used sighthounds for hunting throughout history to catch game because they hunt by sight, not smell, thus their name. Not only do they have sharp eyes but sighthounds are known for their sleek forms and extremely fast legs. However, the athleticism shown by these amazing dogs wasn’t always good for the dogs. Many fanciers of these hounds risked their dog’s safety because of barbed wire fencing and running in harsh elements. A better way was needed. Read more

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! What is that flying through the air!? Why, it’s a dog with a disc in its mouth! BestBullySticks.com continues in the great realm of Dog Sports this week with a look into Disc Dog!

What is Disc Dog?
A game of high intensity fetch with a flying disc. You throw. They catch. That’s the basic concept.  However, the details of this dog sport do get a bit more complicated. This sport is all about teamwork and training. But more on that later!

Why aren’t we saying “Frisbee?” The word “Frisbee” is actually a trademarked word for a specific brand of flying discs. In this Dog Sport the term “disc” is preferred.

History
The rise of Disc Dog goes hand-in-hand with the rise of flying discs in the early 1970s. However this sport was popularized after a very smart and gutsy college student jumped the fence at a nationally televised baseball game. Alex Stein, then 19, hopped over the outfield fence at a Los Angeles Dodger and Cincinnati Reds game in 1974. He and his dog, Ashley Whippet, immediately dazzled the crowd with their high intensity, fast-moving routine. Some of Ashley’s stunts included 9 foot leaps into the air!  After performing for eight minutes, Stein & Ashley were finally escorted off the field. But it was too late. His exploitation of the national audience paid off and Disc Dog was a new national phenomenon. Stein & Ashley preformed at many high profile venues and events after their publicity stunt including the White House and the Super Bowl.

Ashley Whippet is still a legend in the Disc Dog sport today. He is the standard by which all other competitive Disc Dog’s are measured. Today, at least four continents organize Disc Dog competitions to enjoy this great way to bond with their dogs!

Play
There are two basic types of play. Each is a one dog/one person competition. Read more

Did you miss any of BestBullySticks.com BARK-tastic blogs this week?  If you did miss any of the Bikejoring/Deaf Dog Awareness/Peanut Honey Surprise/Bluetick fun catch up before Monday with all of this week's great BBS Blogs!

So snuggle up to your favorite pooch (or pooches) and read the BBS Healthy Dog Blog! Happy Weekend Reading! Click the links below to find out more about:

Dog Sports: Bikejoring • Deaf Dog Awareness Week • Peanut Honey Pupcakes • Bluetick Coonhound

Also in your free time this weekend, check out our fun Pinterest Page! We've got TONS of great dog videos, adorable dog photos, funny dog photos, DIY dog project and more!

Bikejoring: it’s a funny word, but it’s an exciting and fun way for you and your dog to exercise and enjoy the outdoors together. If you don’t know anything about bikejoring, the first part of the word should clue you in to this great dog sport. Best Bully Sticks actually stumped Google when searching for a better understanding of “joring” but from what we can understand you can “jor” with pretty much any combination of “leading” animal and across-land vehicle. You can skijor, which is a dog or horse pulling a person on ski’s or even scooterjor, which is another dog-mushing sport with a non-motorized scooter. Just like the word, these sports may seem weird, but they are becoming increasingly popular across the U.S. and not to forget, dogs love it! Let’s talk more about Bikejoring!

Bikerjoring is similar to dog sled mushing, but instead of a sled, a singular dog or team of 2 to 3 dogs is helping propel a person on a bike. This sport is sometimes used to train sled dogs out of season. The dog/dogs are attached to the front of the bike by a length of leash and a then a harness on the dog. As the dogs run in front of the bike, the cyclist pedals. Bikejoring is best for Fall and Winter seasons because dogs run best during the cool weather months. Bikejoring takes place on soft, dirt trails. Generally, dogs used for this sport are American Pit Bulls, Huskies, Malamutes and Pointers, but really any dog over 30-35 pounds can be a good fit. But is Bikejoring right for you and your dog? Consider:

Equipment:
A Bike – Nothing too special, but your bike does need good brakes and good tires.

A Harness – Most Bikejorers suggest an x-back harness. Never use a standard collar for this sport. Comfort and safety is key.

Bike Attachment – If your dog is going to pull you and your bike, you’ve got find a safe way to attach your dog to your bike. A length of climbing rope about 5 feet long is a good place to start. A swivel snap is needed where the rope attaches to your dog’s harness. This allows the rope move unhindered at the dog’s end of the leash.

Another important thing to consider is the way the rope will interact with the front of your bike; namely, making sure the line doesn’t get caught in the gears or wheel. Many bikejorers have different ways to control this by using plastic piping, antennas or bayonet-type fixtures, which help suspend the rope at a safe distance outside the wheel or gears. Read more