Dogsled Guy. :D

[Dirt]

I’ve met up with Dogsled guy a few times over the last week or so. This is sooooo far beyond cool that I had to post. All 3 get a pretty dang good workout because dude ends up running next to the scooter between 30 and 50% of the time. They put in some pretty good distance too.

[GuyContinental]

Ahhh another local character (that I forgot on my list of “encounters”)! I see him many mornings on WO&D EB often diligently removing the signs of his passing (bag in hand). That scooter is something else- big platform, dual discs and meaty tread and the dogs always look like they are having a heck of a good time.

[Mikey]

I saw him last week coming down the W&OD hill just past the I-66 overpass on Virginia Ave in Idlewood. hope he has good brakes.

[KLizotte]

I’m beginning to think there are enough “characters” in the DC area to warrant some kind of picture book (or blog).

[KLizotte]

How does this guy control the dogs though from getting in the way of other cyclists though? That would be my biggest concern, esp given the long “leashes”.

[eminva]

@KLizotte 21383 wrote:

How does this guy control the dogs though from getting in the way of other cyclists though? That would be my biggest concern, esp given the long “leashes”.

I have seen him a few times on the W&OD, too, but I’m not sure about the answer to your question — he was either going the opposite direction, or in one case, I encountered them at the Gallows Road crossing, so I passed just as we were all getting going.

[Dirt]

@KLizotte 21383 wrote:

How does this guy control the dogs though from getting in the way of other cyclists though? That would be my biggest concern, esp given the long “leashes”.

They run side by side and never really stray. I’ve never seen them get in the way of anyone. They’re extremely well trained.

[MCL1981]

That’s awesome. I wonder if he actually uses a sled in the winter.

[Dirt]

@MCL1981 22294 wrote:

That’s awesome. I wonder if he actually uses a sled in the winter.

I’ll ask the next time I see him. If he winters here, he’d probably laugh and ask “what winter?”.
@Deonte 22287 wrote:

Well I never saw such scene but wish to do so. Actually, dogs are my love and its not strange. Hopefully everyone
do it. Now I’m intending to do it artificially. Do you think that Siberian Huskies are suitable for this play.
I’m really curious about it.

I’ve got relatives that train and race sled dogs. It takes YEARS of training and regular work with them to keep a team of dogs working well together so that you could go out and run on a multi-use trail like this. My guess is that it would not work too well without the whole training and exercise side of it.

[americancyclo]

saw this guy the other night headed westbound on the W&OD at the Shreve Rd Crossing. Awesome sight in the dark with multiple blinkies on all the dogs. Brought a big smile to my face.

[consularrider]

@MCL1981 22294 wrote:

That’s awesome. I wonder if he actually uses a sled in the winter.

I saw him on the W&OD at the Hunter Mill Rd crossing in December and January, so my assumption is that he does “winter” in the area. No snow either time, so it was the wheeled contraption.

[krazygl00]

@KLizotte 21383 wrote:

How does this guy control the dogs though from getting in the way of other cyclists though? That would be my biggest concern, esp given the long “leashes”.

If you’ve ever walked more than one dog at a time you quickly learn there is a “Wrong Way” and a “Right Way”. The wrong way is by holding a leash for each dog. You’ll quickly find just how many different directions they can all run at once and how tangled they (and you) can get). The Right Way is with a double (or multi-) lead, which is one leash that splits off to two or more very short leads to each dog. The dogs learn that if they try to scatter in every direction they only pull against each other. It is surprising how quickly they learn this, and I guess maybe their natural inclination to run as a pack emerges and they are pretty well-behaved. At least that is what I’ve found from my limited experience. That looks to be the setup this guy is using, so a little bit of that and probably a good amount of training probably means they are pretty easy to manage on the trail.

Of course I’ve also seen professional dog walkers out with 4-5 dogs leashed the “Wrong Way” and they seem to manage…I have no idea how.

[vvill]

I passed someone this afternoon going westbound on the W&OD not too far before Banneker park being towed on roller blades – probably was this guy.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@vvill 46183 wrote:

I passed someone this afternoon going westbound on the W&OD not too far before Banneker park being towed on roller blades – probably was this guy.

This guy?

[vvill]

Ha, I should’ve mentioned being towed by (2?) dogs. I don’t remember.

[Author]

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