When an extreme sports enthusiast adopted a high-energy Belgian Malinois, he worried his paragliding hobby would keep them apart. Instead, he found a way to bring his best friend along for the ride.
A "Crazy" Kind Of Dog
Belgian Malinois are known for being intense, high-energy dogs that require a lot of physical and mental stimulation.
To keep up with a dog like Pickles, an owner has to be just as active.
His wife even joked that he had to be a "crazy person" to have a dog like that.
She lovingly called him a "Malinois human," and he fully embraced the title.
A Very Specific Lifestyle
Despite his love for Pickles, the owner still faced a major hurdle in their daily routine.
He spent countless hours paragliding, a hobby that usually leaves dogs waiting safely at home.
He realized he had a pretty silly requirement for any dog to truly be a part of his life: the dog would have to paraglide, too.
Instead of leaving Pickles behind, he decided to see if his adventurous pup was up for the challenge.
Starting On Solid Ground
The process of getting Pickles airborne didn’t begin in the sky.
The owner had a framework in his mind and knew they needed to start slow.
They spent time rollerblading, ice skating, and skijoring together.
These fast-paced activities helped Pickles get comfortable wearing a harness while moving at high speeds.
The "Cover" Command
Teaching a dog to fly is really just a series of little tricks added up together.
The most important trick was teaching Pickles to come in between his owner’s legs on command.
Using the word "cover," Pickles learned to sprint at full speed and position himself perfectly between his dad’s rollerblades or skis.
This fundamental move was the first real step toward taking flight.
Safety Above All Else
Before they could ever leave the ground, the equipment had to be absolutely flawless.
They spent a lot of time fitting and adjusting Pickles’s specialized flight harness.
The setup was meticulously designed with one strict rule in mind.
The owner’s feet had to leave the ground last and touch the ground first, ensuring Pickles never had to absorb the impact of takeoff or landing.
The Mountain Top Zoomies
Not every hike ends in a flight, as the weather conditions dictate their plans.
But Pickles knows exactly what it means when they reach the top of a mountain and his dad opens his backpack.
The sight of the paragliding gear gives the high-energy dog an instant case of the zoomies.
His dad notes that if Pickles didn’t show this level of pure excitement, they wouldn’t do it at all.
Waiting For The Perfect Wind
When it comes time to fly, they only go in the safest possible conditions.
It’s a time to be calm, not a time to push limits, as they wait patiently for a good gust of wind.
Even when hooked up and ready to go, the owner knows he can’t afford for his dog to misbehave.
Amazingly, when they are strapped in and waiting on the edge, Pickles honestly behaves better than his human.
Soaring Over Alaska
Once the wind catches the chute, the duo lifts off into the sky.
Together, they glide over endless mountain peaks, serene lakes, and breathtaking alpine tundra.
It is the most beautiful Alaskan scenery imaginable, and Pickles takes it all in stride.
For his dad, having his best friend by his side makes it the most carefree and fun form of flying he has ever experienced.
Stopping To Smell The Roses
Taking Pickles on these wild adventures has deeply broadened the bond between man and dog.
But surprisingly, adding a high-energy Malinois to his extreme lifestyle had an unexpected effect on the paraglider.
It actually slowed him down.
Sharing the sky with Pickles has taught this thrill-seeker to finally stop and smell the roses a little bit more.