Activities For A Pitsky

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Introduction

Here's a dog that's sure to motivate you to get out and get active. The Pitsky is a very friendly, energetic hybrid dog that results from mixing a Pit Bull with a Siberian Husky. Considering that both of the Pitsky's parent breeds are very physical and active dogs, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Pitskies naturally have tons of energy that their human companions will need to help them burn off in a constructive and consistent manner. To that end, we've compiled a list of activities that people and Pitskies can try out together. When all is said and done, both parties will have strengthened their bond with one another as well as their bodies.

Flirt Pole

Popular
0 Votes
Any Day
Cheap
Easy
20 - 30 min
Items needed
Flirt Pole
Activity description
Flirt poles are fun little tools that will help your Pitsky meet their physical activity needs for the day by coaxing them to jump up after the flirt pole. Flirt poles are essentially medium length fishing rod like devices that replace fishing bait with a lure. The idea is that you'll wiggle the lure in front of your Pitsky to get their attention and then you'll use the length on the pole to play keep away with your dog for as long as possible. Flirt poles come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and they're typically very cheap and inexpensive as well. You can either purchase one or go the DIY route.
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1
Flirt pole basics
Flirt poles are very basic devices to begin with, so it won't take you much time to learn how to work one of these fun devices; flirt poles are essentially small rods with lures attached to one of their ends, with some allowing you to adjust the length of the lure with a button or a reel. To get your dog to play with it, just wiggle it in front of them while encouraging them to "get it" or "get the lure".
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Short vs long
If you've found yourself in a position where you have to choose between a short length flirt pole or a long length flirt pole, we say go long; longer lures will be easier for a Pitsky to play with as they won't have to do as much jumping to try and reach the lure. Think of it like this; shorter = harder and longer = easier.

Swimming

Popular
0 Votes
Any Day
Moderate
Normal
30 - 45 min
Items needed
Dog Life Jacket
Activity description
Pit Bulls and Siberian Huskies are pretty good swimmers, so we're not all that surprised to learn that their Pitksy offspring also have the potential to become adept at swimming. We definitely encourage you to help your dog reach their latent potential by taking them out swimming on a regular basis and gradually helping them become more comfortable swimming in deeper bodies of water over time. If the Pitsky you're caring for is particularly young, or if you feel that your pup isn't as comfortable with the water as you'd like them to be, get a dog life jacket for your dog to ensure their safety while swimming.
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Start early
Start early in the day, as well as early in your dog's development. If you're planning on adopting a Pitksy while they're still a puppy, then you can help them learn how to swim at that young age by filling up a bathtub with water to the halfway mark and holding your puppy over it while they paddle their little legs in the water. Keeping the amount of water in the tub or pool low will ensure your dog's safety so that they can learn to like water rather than fear it. As for the "early in the day" bit, we've found that it's easier to teach a dog to swim while the sun's up, keeping everybody warm and visible.
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Practice often
No matter how old your dog is, they won't be able to become master swimmers unless they're allowed to practice swimming on a regular and consistent basis. If you can set aside at least one or two days a week to practice swimming with your Pitsky, they'll get the hand of the activity in no time. If you're feeling like your dog is ready to swim in deeper waters but want to keep things safe, get a dog life jacket for your Pitsky so that the both of you can practice with your minds at ease.

Urban Backpacking

Popular
0 Votes
Any Day
Moderate
Normal
45 - 60 min
Items needed
Leash
Backpack
Dog Backpack
Doggy Waste Bags
First Aid kit
Water and snacks
Activity description
Backpacking is an activity that is a lot like hiking in many ways, only calls for people to travel for long distances over the course of days, weeks, or even months. Backpacking can be a very fun and rewarding activity to try out with your dog, but it can also be fairly intimidating for folks who are used to city life. If you've always been interested in backpacking with your Pitsky but don't quite feel like the both of you are ready to rough it in the wilderness quite yet, then consider trying out urban backpacking to help the both of you get ready in the meantime.
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1
Location, location
For starters, you're really going to want to scrutinize the location you'd like to go backpacking through; cities like Los Angeles and New York are great places to backpack through if you'd like to stay in a more metropolitan area. Conversely, places like Houston, Texas or even Essex, England could suit your fancy if you live around a rural area like these.
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Urban backpacking best practices
The most important step in ensuring a successful urban backpacking trip is to set aside time so that you can adequately prepare for the trip ahead; decide how long you'd like the trip to be, where you and your dog will be sleeping each night, and what supplies you'll need to have handy. We encourage using every resource at your disposal during this phase but also being prepared to adapt during the trip. Tell others of your plans and expected date of return and always keep the comfort and safety of your Pitsky at the forefront.

More Fun Ideas...

Obedience Training

Pitskies tend to have pretty even tempered personalities by nature, giving them some of the calm, stoic qualities that Siberian Huskies are known for. This comes at the price of Pitskies sometimes being more stubborn and aloof than other dog breeds. To help a Pitsky see you more as a friend and the leader of their pack, complete a few obedience training courses so that you and your dog can better understand how to respect one another.

Agility Training

People tend to think that agility training is an activity that should only be attempted by folks who are looking to enter their dogs into shows. While agility training can certainly help a dog become ready for a show, it isn't the only purpose this activity serves; Pitskies can benefit from completing a few agility training courses to become better coordinated and nimble dog, raising their confidence levels and allowing them to engage in more kinds of activities in the future.

Conclusion

The Pitsky is a really cool breed of hybrid dog that is quickly making waves in the dog community because of their independent personalities as well as their willingness to try out new activities with their families. Pitskies can be a bit stubborn at times, but they aren't so difficult to live with that we'd dissuade someone from adopting one of these rascals; any kinks in a Pitsky's personality can be massaged out with enough training, caring discipline, and support. We feel that Pitskies have the potential to make great companions for both inexperienced dog caretakers and veterans of the dog owning game.