Tyson's latest stunt

For the last week or so, when we have been walking for about 15 minutes (1.5km) especially around the lake, Ty stops and falls over like a dead dog. He looks at me with one eye asif to say 'we rest ok?'. A gentle tug on the lead gets him up and going again only to try it again 3 or 4 minutes later.

The first time this happened he had his back pack on for the first time on a walk. So I thought ok, the boy is taking strain. The next time I figured it was very hot and he was over heating. After making excuses for him I have figured out this is just a ploy and I am not biting. Remember Tyson is used to walking at a fair pace for at least 35 minutes without rest and usually does an hour at a time.

Ha ha... Sounds like he figured out it was a great way to get some attention Whenever Gummi isn't figuring out what I want, or is getting bored, he'll roll over on his back and wiggle around making smiles... it always makes someone laugh.. Clever little guys, huh?

They do know how to get attention. Are you putting anything in the backpack or is it just the pack itself?

He had been walking around the house with the empty back pack for a few weeks about an hour at a time. On the walks we started with250g in each side.

Doesn't sound like too much weight at all since if I'm doing my conversions right that's like 1/2 lb per side. I think this is a great form of exercise espically when you only have a little time to take them out or it's raining.

I'm wanting to do this with Suki as well and actually bought the backpack about 6 months ago. I am going to wait until she is 18- 24 months to start adding any weight though. It takes a bit for their tendons, ligaments and bones to fully devolp so I am going to err on the side of caution to try to avoid any arthrities, hip displecia or other issues in the future. I'm overly cautious by nature though.

whats the back pack all about, is it a muscle builder ?

Supposed to make them work a little harder on walks and, and in theory, tire them out more. A tired Staffie is a calm Staffie. Well like I said that is the theory.

Lola is the same she just ramdomly rolls onto her back wiggling around for attention smiling!


Where did you get the backpack?? xx

I ordered it on line but the site was not international so a friend had it sent to his office in the US and it was brought back here for me when someone went over for business. The make is Outward Hound