I don't think Hunter would back up from his tail, but I also think, since I "tail" him when I get tired of hiking, that he might be confused if sometimes I wanted him to pull me along with his tail and sometimes I wanted him to come back toward me.
What do you think? We were all out walking our horses after an endurance ride - helps keep them limbered up - when I fell back and started letting Hunter pull me. Bev, our trainer friend, was surprised that he could do it. It' s never been a problem. He just does. Nancy
