#one time a friend picked up Sparta and went: :O Holy Shit! and ive been chasing that high ever since

[fjordfolk]

Hello, I was just wondering if you could share more about the kind of training and preparation you did with your girls at home/on shorter walks to get them ready for long hikes. And out of curiosity, what were the traits you looked for in potential breeds/puppies to suit long hikes? 💜

Oof, I wish I had a good and technical system to present here, but the truth is that we live in a rural part of Norway where nothing is flat unless it was dug out and the asphalt cracks so fast the main roads count as mild terrain, so a lot of it just comes with the territory.

From early on I've pretty much just tried to let them learn and grow as naturally as possible and to not limit them too much, and all of our puppies have been active and come on short hikes since they were ~3 months old. Not like heavy, static, structured activity - but little off-trail mountain or forest treks focused on play and exploration. Shaping the dog I want from the start, basically.

Our activity levels fluctuate with the season and weather, so we only do really long hikes in the summer and early autumn. But it's not unusual to spend 3-4hrs going mostly uphill on a regular walk, so doubling that for a hike isn't that big of an ask as long as they're healthy and in good base condition. And once hiking season starts rolling around in June after eight months of snow/sleet/rain, I'm usually in worse shape than my dogs anyway lol. I know my dogs well and we start the season with a few warmup hikes, to see where we're all at.

As far as breeds go, idk. I just tend to like a relatively neutral, balanced build. I'm not personally into very large or heavy dogs. I appreciate a little athleticism. I want less prey drive and more handler orientation. The ideal dog for me is one that maybe doesn't Have To, but Can and Wants To. Over the years I've also learned that I like a little moderation in body and angulation, and I prefer a slightly careful dog over an overconfident one.

#i hope this ramble answers maybe one of your questions #the overconfidence esp is a thing for me #i understand that a lot of ppl want a dog that throws itself into anything no questions asked - but not in an uncontrolled environment #and melis is adding another factor to that now where #shes SO sure of herself and confident she really feels NO urge to check in w us at all. getting none of that for free w this one #i take a lot of pride in my dogs being in good condition so thats also a thing that ties into this - i try to keep them lean and muscled #one time a friend picked up Sparta and went: :O Holy Shit! and ive been chasing that high ever since #and finally #for me hiking isnt so much about Going Places its just #being. existing. vibing. #being near and with ur dog. having fun with them and being kind to them and getting to know ourselves and each other #not in relation to other people or places just as is/are/am. #it doesnt really matter if we reach a summit or whatever. as long as we come back in the same pieces as we left in it was successful