A (b)log of Natural Resources Info

‹ Back

Recreational Skijoring     

(Pictured right) TFT educator and author Bethany Heft with one of her favorite sled dogs - Blossom. Working with sled dogs requires both the dogs and musher have mutual respect and trust. Bethany definitely has worked hard for that relationship with all of the dogs in the kennel.

 

One of my favorite things about living in the Northwoods is the large number of recreational opportunities available all year round! I’m a “silent sports” fan myself, so I partake in the popular hobbies of hiking, canoeing/kayaking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.

 

During winter, I get the privilege of participating in a more unique silent sport as well: I run sled dog teams with Top of the Hill Huskies in Phelps, Wisconsin. I grew up with a sled dog team, so when owners Diane and Amelia were looking for a musher to help with their tour rides, I was all in! Not everyone gets the opportunity to fly through the woods pulled by a team of Siberian huskies. I love that not only do I get to spend time doing something I love, but I get to share that experience with those who book dogsled rides as well! The customers' faces light up when the dogs take off!

 

A Pawsitively Thrilling Silent Sport 

So, is there a way that the average Joe (or Janet) could give this sport a try without committing to owning their own racing kennel and all the supplies that go with it? You betcha! All you need is one dog that has at least a little working drive, some basic equipment, and time to practice! May I introduce to you Recreational Skijoring. 

 

Skijoring is when an individual on cross-country skis is pulled by one or more dogs (or horses or vehicles). Skijoring has been around for hundreds of years, and was even exhibited at the 1928 Olympics but these days it’s mostly for fun and not travel. Popular in the sprint racing community of dog mushers, it’s becoming more and more common to see dog-approved loops on cross country ski trails as the sport grows.

 

Let’s take a closer look at the equipment:

The skier, on a pair of cross-country skis, wears a hip harness with a tug line attaching them to their trusty pup. Beginners can get away with any type of cross-country skis, belt, and tug line. The dog should be wearing a properly-fitting harness to avoid injury when pulling. There are many places online to purchase the equipment needed to get you started but it is important to make sure you have a quality harness for your dog if you intend to try this sport! See photos of proper fit at the end of this post.

 

(Pictured left) Top of the Hill musher Ellyn competes in a two-dog skijor race

 

How about the training:

You’ll noticed the tug line is a soft line and not a solid rod. This means that your dog must have some desire to run ahead of you or your attempts at this new sport will likely be met in vain. As the saying goes “you can’t push a rope.” You cannot force a sled dog to run. They run for the love of it and the same will be true for your dog as well.

 

To begin training at home, you should start with getting your canine companion used to the harness they will wear. Once they are comfortable having the harness on, you can tie some item with a small amount of weight to the back of the harness to get the dog used to the idea that they are supposed to pull. Growing up with our team of Alaskan Malamutes, we used a piece of firewood or a spare tire. Walk next to your dog as they begin to learn to pull an item behind them, making sure to keep initial training sessions short and fun. As your dog learns that pulling is his job, you can begin to walk further back with the end goal being that you walk behind them.

 

(Pictured at right) A young Top of the Hill husky tries out her first pull with a light milk crate. She's a natural!

 

Your dog must also learn some basic commands from verbal cues. Spend time teaching your dog “gee” (pronounced jee) to turn right and “haw” for left. You can work on this by hiking trails with many trail intersections and giving the command for your turn as the dog approaches the intersection. If the dog turns the correct way, reward him/her and keep hiking. If your dog attempts to turn the wrong direction you can patiently stop and repeat the command, waiting for your dog to turn the correct direction (and helping a bit at first if necessary) so that you can praise and continue. Repetition of turning commands is key!

 

Other important commands are “whoa” to slow down and “on by” to pass something distracting. While you’re out working on your turning skills, make sure to spend plenty time working on the most important command- WHOA! You will notice quickly while skijoring that there are no brakes. Your dog needs to stop when asked and then you can snowplow your skis to stop yourself. It is very important that you stop yourself quickly to avoid bumping into your dog and possibly injuring them. When in doubt you can attempt to use your “emergency brake”- your bum. 😉“On by” is another good one because nothing is worse than a dog running off trail with you pulled along behind. Practice with obstacles and fun smells. Say “on by” and when your dog moves past the distraction, provide praise and reward.

 

Be sure to make all training sessions on the ground fun and full of positive reinforcement! You want your partner to want to run with you. Once the basic commands have been learned, all you need is a little snow and you are ready for your first attempt! It is advised that you are somewhat comfortable on cross country skies prior to hooking up a dog. Please also note that it is perfectly normal for your canine companion to be nervous the first time you ski behind them. Having them around skis prior to your first run can help them understand that they aren’t scary at all.

 

With a little bit of training, the proper equipment, and some of our Northwoods winter weather, you have all you need to try your hands at the sport of skijoring!

________________________________________________________________________________________

Additional Notes:

• Not all ski trails allow dogs! Be respectful of trails that are not meant to have canines on them and pick a different location. Tara Lila permits dogs (Ripco Unit) and is a good trail to practice in Eagle River. Razorback Ridges Trails in Sayner, Wisconsin often offer one night a week where skijoring is permitted on the trails.
• The first several times I went out with my dog I had my husband ski ahead of us so that she had something to follow. It really helped her understand what we were doing!
• Traditional skijoring is done with skate skis. I use my classic skis (because they are all I have!) but I make sure my tug line is long enough so that my skis are nowhere near hitting the back of my dog’s legs.
• Your dog does not have to be a “sled dog” breed to enjoy skijoring. I go skiing with my hound mix. When I was competing in sled competitions at a young age I more than once got beat by a team of poodles, German shepherds, mutts, etc.
• Thank you to Top of the Hill Huskies (https://www.topofthehillhuskies.com/) for allowing me to use their dogs as models for this post!

________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

(Left) These harnesses fit properly. They front sits on the dog's breast bone with a neck hole that sits high enough to not impede the dog's shoulders. The last key part of harness fit is that the red line running across the dog's side sits over his/her ribs and not behind. This prevents pinching when the dog engages in pulling. You need to check harness fit while there is tension on the harness to ensure proper fit.

 

 

 

 

(Right) This harness sits too low on the dog's breast bone and will not properly/safely distribute the weight being pulled.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Left) This harness sits too heigh on the breast bone and thus will put pressure on the dog's neck when they pull.