Co-operative Canine Control Project

Reb requested some dog stories so we typed up our experiences with the CCCP (Co-operative Canine Control Project). Enjoy.

Co-operative Canine Control Project

After one leash session through the Lost Highway trail Wilson proved he would not need to be leashed but the youthful Max could not have this freedom. So to make walks more enjoyable for both him and ourselves we decided to experiment with tethering Max to another dog, a kind of dual-leashing that would give Max increased mobility yet prevent him from running off. This is a summary of our results.

For our first experiment Max was tethered to Wilson and allowed to run down the Lost Highway towards the car which had driven ahead. We thought that a straight path would be best and Wilson was chosen as he seemed that his frame would best withstand the stresses of controlling Max. Unfortunately during the 500m run Wilson could not maintain even a quarter of Max's speed and soon Max's vigorous straining against the lead began to asphyxiate Wilson and repeated neck yanking disorientated him. Rob, who had released them toward the car, ran to rescue Wilson, who looked back pleadingly for help. Attempts to free Wilson resulted in a rope burn on Rob's hands.

The first trial was not a success but we hoped that securing the dogs with a better lead might help. On the second walk a sturdy skijoring lead was used to harness Max to Minnow. We decided to test it on the walking trail instead of the highway to slow Max down. The two dogs proved promisingly adept at keeping their mutual tether free from obstacles while they explored, often working together to avoid tangles. Unfortunately Max's straining vigour was the deciding factor and less than 1/3 of the walk completed Minnow had to be replaced. She spent most of the walk bracing for Max's lunges and yanks, her pleading eyes and foaming mouth were the deciding factors.

Wilson was coupled with Max but it went no better than their first pairing. Halfway through another strangulation session, Wilson stopped resisting and deftly nodded his head to allow the collar to slide over his ears. He had only completed another 1/3 of the walk. We retrieved the collar and Max. Cricket's turn came at the end of the walk, I drove the car ahead with Wilson and Minnow aboard, Rob stayed behind and leashed Cricket to Max. It was hoped that Cricket would be a good partner for Max as she had a similar build and was quick but Cricket was skeptical from the beginning. She refused to run and would only stare at Rob, Max stared uncertainly too. With enough encouragement Cricket began to run towards the car and immediately her fears proved well founded. Max's yanking has a way of keeping a dog (and people) unstable once it begins. The moment Cricket began to move she found herself dangerously off-balanced, if she did not race forward she was strangled but once in motion she could not brace to resist the pulling and was dragged. With Max clawing himself forward at full force even running Cricket could not keep up.  Again Rob had to race after them. They were untethered and allowed to run the rest of the way.

It was agreed by all involved that the cooperative canine control project should be abandoned as it was too cruel for the tethered dog who had to control Max. Later highway runs proved that Max did not need to be tethered but would run to the car of his own volition.