I am thankful for all of our snow here in Maine right now. My pup loves the snow. He runs/dances around, digs tunnels with my son, just plain loves it! And best of all, he isn't shedding right now!

It is nice to see that our pup loves winter as much as we do.

So, now we'd like to bring us along snowmobiling, when we go. Anyone do that here? Any tips?

Let's add that unless this is a thread about how to keep dogs safe while snowmobiling, then it doesn't really fit into this board's mission.

Just saying that a thread on snowmobiling could easily turn into a thread that has zero to do with dog training or dog health.

Just a preemptive heads up! :> SO much easier on the mods.

 Quote: Louanne Manter

So, now we'd like to bring us along snowmobiling, when we go. Anyone do that here? Any tips?

My dog and I snowmobile. Safety first! Who ever is driving should wear a helmet Mods forgive me

http://s161.photobucket.com/albums/t214/farwesttoller/?action=view&current=tophand045.jpg
http://s161.photobucket.com/albums/t214/farwesttoller/?action=view&current=Picture129.jpg

Okay about training...

We teach our dogs to ride on the snowmobiles. They ride in front of us on the seat. I do not have any good photo's of this, you may just be able to make out the dog in this tiny vid:

http://s161.photobucket.com/albums/t214/farwesttoller/?action=view&current=jenfarsnomo.flv

This could come in handy for you should you be going on a longer outing or should your dog become injured. You should train this before you go out on longer trips.

You must also teach a dog to run with snowmos. No getting in the way of the machine, no biting at it, none of that crap

I don't know how deep the snow gets out there, but the dog will likely want to stay in the track if snow is deep, that should facilitate the dog following nicely.

Start with small trips and work up, don't just go from walking your dog on a leash to running the dog behind a machine full out for 20 miles!


Be smart and have fun.

I find that having the dog along while using snowmobile/ATV for WORK in the country is often better than when using snowmobile/ATV for long distance travel. Snowmobiles on groomed trails are way too fast for dogs to keep up with for any distance. The potential exists to run the dogs well beyond their usual conditioning.

Also groomed trails are a risky place for dogs due to high speed and high traffic, blind turns, etc. It is best to be off the major routes.

My cattle dog will ride in front on ATV or snowmobile. My Beauceron: not! I have only done this on easy trail with no traffic. You can't react fast. You have to be ready to control the dog by collar. This is a limited application activity.

I do see dogs with snowmobilers frequently. Therefore, when meeting oncoming snowmobilers you have to be ready not just for those going too fast, but for those with a dog tucked in the luggage, that your pup may want to lunge at, or with a dog running loose: predator or prey object, depending on size differential.

This winter I'll be recovering some bark beetled spruce for lumber in an untraveled area of private land. The dogs will come for the work. They have been trained to stay clear of chain saw. When trees are falling I have them downstayed far away or another person controlling them.

This work makes for a nice day with the dogs. even though supervision can be a little lax, I find that when working with machines and noisy saws, the dogs tend toward the submissive, which is a good thing. Some of it is the noise, some of it is the deliberate controlled violence of the pack leader downing trees, and then battling with 8' logs in deep snow. the dogs are either watching with respect, or caution concerning their masters mental state, I'm not sure which!!!

rgds andrew may

Andrew's entire post is great and brings up some awesome points I did not think of due to my application for the snowmobile.

It IS difficult to drive/react with a dog on your sled. I am used to doing this at work and it is hard on the hills, I travel slowly when there is public on the mountain. If I run the dog, I go very slowly and try to run him up hill or on flats only and generally when public is not on the mountain.

One thing that works better is if you are a passenger on the back of the sled and someone else drives, then you can hold on to the dog with both hands and the driver is free to drive.

This works well if the handler and dog's combinded weight is still less than that of a regular dude Not sure how big your dog is now.

Outside of the ski hill we do not really have groomed snowmobile trails here, and the likely hood of meeting another snowmobiler around the bend is WAY less of an issue.

Think of your application, the risks you may encounter and if it is better to leave the dog at home...

Thank you all for your responses. Leave him home never ... just means he gets to stay in his crate in the lodge while we are out.

But I'm glad I asked, as you mentioned many great things to consider!