Don't Make These 2 Mistakes When Driving Your Dog Sled Team!: Muschachusetts Episode #19

Welcome to Mushachusetts, part of the Baystate Backcountry series! This video series will document 6 months of recreational dog mushing, sledding, and dryland mushing with Bob and his two huskies, Bandit and Shiva. Learn how you can enjoy mushing with your own pets as Bob shows you how to train sled dogs, how to transport them, what equipment to use, hazards to be aware of, and places to go!
“Baystate Backcountry” is an outdoor adventure show that introduces viewers to the wild landscapes, remote places, hidden gems, highest points, and forgotten history of the backwoods areas of the state of Massachusetts.

[@LauraEllen999]

Oh poor doggies. But thank you for being honest and letting us learn from your mistakes! We all make them, and the best thing we can do is warn others not to repeat the same mistakes.

[@baystatebackcountry686]

We learn from mistakes and hopefully we learn from other's mistakes as well. Thanks for watching!

[@LauraEllen999]

Those 2 look ike the happiest dogs ever. Makes me want to pack up and move to a place with lots of snow, just so I can do this : D. Thanks for letting us go dogsledding vicariously through you1

[@baystatebackcountry686]

We are very proud of the quality life we provide for our dogs and they clearly enjoy it. Thanks for watching!

[@HogansHuskies]

I like how honest you are and how authentic your videos are compared to most on sledding/bikejoring etc. I too make similar mistakes with my two huskies when we’re out mushing sometimes so it’s good to see a video from someone who tells it like it really is. Keep up the good work 👍

[@baystatebackcountry686]

Thanks so much! I really appreciate the comments. I do try to just say it like it is.

[@mantis_monk]

Awesome turning skills!

[@baystatebackcountry686]

Thanks so much. This video is one of our older ones. You should check out our latest that we posted just yesterday. They really know their turning commands. Thanks for watching!

[@charmjasmi]

I’m completely awed by these 2 amazing dogs and their strength. They can pull a sledge with one grown up man on it! The husky I had only sit on sofa and did not even bother to catch a ball 😂

[@baystatebackcountry686]

They really are amazing. When I kept malamutes we used to look down on huskies but now that I have two, I have tremendous respect for them and I really believe that pound for pound Siberian Huskies are stronger than Alaskan Malamutes. Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching!

[@thomaskowalcky4553]

My dogs would poop on the fly! This video brings back such wonderful memories. Been there, done that!

[@baystatebackcountry686]

When I had a team of 12 malamutes, I would sometimes run all 12 at a time, other times 8, 6, or even 4. When I had a team like that, they all learned to poop on the fly simply because there was no other choice, but running two side by side, they know they can stop so they do. So it goes!

[@007flyguy1]

I just want to say you have a great video and your dogs are very well trained I see a lot of other mushers out there where their dogs don't even listen to them and they're a little more wild and don't take the time to actually teach their dogs the proper techniques and commands and end up in dangerous situations. I really enjoy your videos If possibly you have a video that shows the different types of harnesses that you use as well that would be amazing. Again great video. Thank you

[@baystatebackcountry686]

Thanks for watching. I'm glad you enjoy the video. I have many others on the channel and generally try to post 2x a week. I only use x-back style mushing harnesses and have many of various sizes and brands but they are all pretty much the same. I do have a couple old freighting harnesses from when I had my malamutes but I never used them much. I'll try to do one on harnesses at some point this winter.

[@skso8403]

amazing video! your videos are so educational and amazing

[@baystatebackcountry686]

Glad you like them! I really enjoy making them and sharing the joy I experience with my dogs. I hope you subscribe and let us know if there are any things you like us to cover in future episodes!

[@JW-kv5ie]

Great video! We are just getting started this year - we own 2 Airedales and are looking forward to winter. We’ve been training on the local cross country ski trails.

[@baystatebackcountry686]

Good luck!

[@kicksleddogscallofthewild5158]

Great video, beautiful dogs and really cool sled you have!

[@baystatebackcountry686]

Thank you very much! We really enjoy our dogs and sharing the fun we have with them through our videos. Thanks for watching!

[@tinamarles1035]

Wish you could come here and help me train my dogs! Just got my kicksled and harnesses today :) Love your videos!

[@baystatebackcountry686]

We're so glad you enjoy the videos. I hope they are helpful and that you are having as much fun with your dogs as we are having with ours. Thanks for watching!

[@RsCupid]

Awesome video

[@baystatebackcountry686]

Glad you enjoyed it! We hope you'll consider subscribing so you don't miss a single episode. Be sure to let us know if you have any suggestions or ideas for future episodes you'd like to see.

[@ericlemelin3215]

'' Allons-y''

[@baystatebackcountry686]

I've often heard that it's a good idea to train dogs to understand a "working language" for when they are being taught to a specific job so they can differentiate between "serious time" and normal, every day casual time. I know a lot of police dogs are taught various commands in German just so the bad guys can't call them off from an attack or whatever. So I use a lot of French words with my dogs while sledding including "Allons-y", "vite, vite", "attention", "mechant" and a maybe a sprinkling of a few others. Thanks for watching!

[@andymacmahon1452]

Hey what a great video thanks very much! What type of camera are you recording on? How do you get past battery issues in the cold weather? I’m moving to the Yukon in 2 weeks to live with dog sledders and would greatly appreciate any recommendations for video recording. Thanks again 😁

[@baystatebackcountry686]

I use two different cameras when I shoot my episodes. I have a Go Pro that I mount on my sled/bike/scooter to catch video while the dogs are pulling and I have a Nikon CoolPix that I carry with me and use when I shoot something that has been in frame. The Go Pro is great and I've never had problems with it in cold weather but the battery just doesn't last long and it seems I can shoot maybe a full hour of footage before the battery needs to be recharged. I could carry a second battery, but I've never felt the need to as the one I have lasts as long as I need it to. My Nikon goes with me in the field all the time (I lead extended outdoor trips as a college professor teaching wilderness guides). I regularly have my Nikon out for 8 and 10 days at a time on expeditions with temperatures often being below 0 degrees farenheit with nights often going to -20 and -30 and the camera never has a problem and I shoot ice climbing and mountaineering, and backcountry skiing footage with it for hours and the battery holds a very long time. I do carry extra batteries for my camera when I am out on an extended expedition. I hope this is helpful. Thanks for watching!

[@Taiphyr]

How do you teach a newer dog the ‘haw’ and ‘gee’ commands. I’m thinking about becoming a musher, and I wanna be ready when I start training dogs.

[@baystatebackcountry686]

Check out our very first Mushachusetts episode where I show how to train the basic commands for your sled dogs by just walking them on a leash. A big part of it is training yourself to know the commands! Thanks for watching and good luck with training your dogs. Let us know if we can be of any help!

[@Taiphyr]

@@baystatebackcountry686 Alr! I’ll watch it later!

[@65BAG]

How would your pups react if a snowmobile came up on them while pulling

[@baystatebackcountry686]

Our dogs have no trouble with snowmobiles. When I hear them coming, I pull to the side and they pass by and the dogs barely react. When I had my large team of 12 malamutes, I had a few dogs who would really cower when snowmobiles passed by. At least one of our episodes from last winter highlights snowmobiles passing us by. I'll see if I can post a direct link for you. Thanks for watching!

[@65BAG]

@@baystatebackcountry686 thanks for the reply...I have a 5 yo Malamute I want to start kick sledding with (just waiting on sleds to be available)

[@baystatebackcountry686]

Here is the link to the video I mentioned above: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bprdhYdjZZt0nZI

[@baystatebackcountry686]

@@65BAG Here is a link to a playlist we just recently created that shows how you can build your own very inexpensive kick sled: kzbin.info/aero/PLdwh2TV3ljR9IFvQoLHIVsBlKk03BRajW It would make for a great starter sled for you and your malamute.

[@missysmith1691]

You and your dogs are amazing 😍 I've been working with my own dogs a siberain and a maleamute for about a year they take voice commands separately but I can't get them to run together I have to have my one infront of the other so my maleamute doesn't over power the other, (my maleamute doesn't listen at all while pulling with his brother but listens when alone my husky will still listen even with his brother being a dork and take commands thank god while my maleamute seems to be more worried about dominice and playing while pulling) my dogs look horrible and out of sync how can I get them to run together like yours? They get along fine otherwise eat together sleep together ect. I had them pulling me on skis one at a time to learn commands, I was never daring enough to hook both up to me at the same time on skis for fear of being over powered and hurt. my husband just bought me a real dog sled so I can take them both out at the same time but it's not going so well. I love watching you and your dogs you given lots of great information in your videos to help me as well, do you have any ideas that could help me get my 2 to work together as a team like yours???

[@baystatebackcountry686]

Yeah...I had a team of 12 malamutes for many years so I'm familiar with both mals and huskies. When I had my mals, I didn't have any huskies and now I just have the 2 huskies and no mals. I can imagine mals and huskies would be a mismatch to run in tandem. My mals were physically much stronger than my huskies but my huskies are much faster and like to maintain a fast trot between sprints. I suggest you walk them on a double leash attached with a neckline whenever you walk them and even when walking be sure to use gee/haw/whoa/on by commands. This will at least get them in synch with your commands but you may want to run them with the mal in wheel and the husky in lead when you have them pulling. Be consistent with whatever you do....it's a learning process for you as well as for the dogs. In time everything will start to click for the entire team..yourself included!

[@missysmith1691]

@@baystatebackcountry686 I can't thank you enough I realized my mistake with them which was truly my fault.... I watched the video you posted when you taught the dogs to walk together..... I tried to do this in the past and was hurt I'm phisically unable to hold them both back at the same time..(they saw a fox and gave chase dragging my on the ground behind) so I've only done one on one with my dogs I should have started them both together when my mal was small and I could hold on to him, and that's totally my fault I've worked with my mal since I got him in commands I know allot of his issues is he's still a pup and young he just turned 1 at 95lbs so far if I tie him back and allow my husky infront he just follows my husky but they look so goofy he hops over the line sideways zig zags and my husky ignores him lol so should I keep them with one in front .... How do I fix my mistake?

[@adventuresquad9975]

Awesome man! I've been working with my 2 Huskies also. Have them pull my 10 year hope to have them pull me when they get a little older one is 11months and the other 1 is 10months . Curious how many miles your dogs are capable of pulling your on the sled? Feel free to check my son and I out on our KZbin channel Adventure Squad

[@baystatebackcountry686]

One good snow, that's been packed by snow mobiles and temperatures in the single digits or colder, they can easily pull me 8 - 12 miles and we even did 15 once, with just my 2 dogs. I'm amazed. When I had my 12 malamutes, we used to routinely run 16 and 20 mile days, with me and up to 2 adult passengers, but they were a lot bigger and there were a lot more of them!

[@adventuresquad9975]

@@baystatebackcountry686 That's cool man. Thanks for the response. My wife and I enjoy all your informational videos. Thanks again. Mush appreciated Mush on Mush Master!

[@SouthernCaliforniaMalinois]

wish i watched this first before i wrecked my scooter the same way.

[@baystatebackcountry686]

So sorry to hear about your scooter. What happened? Thanks for watching!

[@SouthernCaliforniaMalinois]

@@baystatebackcountry686 Well she showed me the sign to go off to side like yours. I corrected her to hike on straight. She was running great and stopped and pooped in two seconds. I slammed brakes on and went over handle bars. Lol im good scooter is okay. Just my pride and couple of scraps. Thanks

[@baystatebackcountry686]

@@SouthernCaliforniaMalinois , I can relate! Glad you are all ok! It's the kind of thing only another musher can understand/appreciate!