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| Snow Dogs
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| It’s a toss-up as to who loves it more—the dogs or the people involved in the fast-paced thrill of skijoring, the latest in cold-weather activities.
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Dog days take on a whole new meaning when you skijor, a fast-growing winter sport that features the best elements of cross-country skiing and dog sledding.
“You can't go near the harness unless you’re going to take the dogs out,” says John Thompson, owner of Skijor Now in Shoreview, Minnesota.
“They go nuts if they see you anywhere near the gear. Dogs absolutely love skijoring.”
Teamwork is a mainstay of this unique sport, with participants on both ends of the harness in a constant state of exertion. Skiers aren’t passive passengers, working with the dogs to increase speed, rather than being pulled along.
Two dogs, the normal complement, and a well-conditioned skier, together can reach speeds of 40 kilometers per hour.
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photo credit: R. Briggle, courtesy skijornow.com
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It’s an exhilarating moment when all facets of the sport are mastered. With proper instruction and equipment, proficiency can be achieved in just a single season.
And the potential exists for almost any dog to excel at skijoring.
“The sport isn’t restricted to northern breeds,” comments Thompson, fifth-place finisher at the 2001 World Skijoring Championship. “If your dog likes to pull on walks, then it’ll love to skijor. So if you have a pet Lab, German Shepherd, Sheep Dog, or any other breed that wants to be in front, you’ll be able to teach it to skijor. They learn very fast.”
Ideally, training begins before the first snowfall, so that your dog becomes accustomed to the harness. Skijoring requires minimal equipment, just belt, towline and harness.
The belt, which fits around the skier’s waist, and the towline attached to the dog’s harness, must elongate and retract to accommodate the opposing rhythm and gaits of the skier and dogs. Skijor Now manufactures and sells a system utilizing bungee cords, and a quick-release mechanism so that the skier can detach from the dogs in the event of a fall.
“Begin by walking or running with the equipment on,” advises Thompson. “This gives the dog a feel for the harness. They’ll know exactly what to do when the snow comes. It’s more difficult to teach a dog when you’re on skis because there are more things that can get tangled up. If you attempt to train your dog on skis they’ll probably come back and circle around you, wrapping the line around your legs. So teach them on foot in November, and begin issuing commands right away, but don’t overload them.”
According to Thompson, the greatest challenge is teaching your dog to ignore distractions on the trail. A rabbit or squirrel will lure them away if they’re improperly trained.
The ‘on-by’ command is the most important one if you want to maintain control.
“It takes a season before you and your dog form a real cohesive team,” says Thompson.
“The biggest step is getting your dog to run dependably in front. Once that happens everything else just falls into place. The basics can be learned very fast. The vast majority of dogs will skijor at an acceptable level, meaning they keep the line taut enabling the skier to move forward without running over the line.”
Thompson recommends skijoring in a group, with one team following behind the other.
Chasing is instinctive to dogs; they perform better while engaged in pursuit. They’re not as easily distracted when their attention is riveted ahead, and are inclined to pull harder.
The sooner they’re paired with another team the better—it increases their understanding of what to do.
“The best part about skijoring,” comments Thompson, “is that it’s truly a team sport. Your dog is one part of the equation, and you’re the other. You ski as fast as you can, and your dog runs as fast as it can. Coordinating these efforts is a real thrill, and a very rewarding experience.”
Tail End
The maximum number of dogs on a skijoring team is three, anymore would be too difficult to control. Thompson never races with more than two, and offers these tips for those new to the sport:
- Ski the trail before you hook up the dogs. Know exactly what lies ahead of you.
- Avoid narrow, winding trails.
- Practice releasing and reconnecting the towline.
- Never pass the dogs, which can easily occur when skiing downhill. Slow your progress by snowplowing rather than overtaking the dogs.
- Always be consistent with your commands.
- Shower the dogs with praise, but use treats sparingly.
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