Quote: Anyone on this board skijor with their dog(s)?

I tried that with my dog once, but everytime I tried to put the Skoal under his gums he bit me. I gave up on it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

One thing to consider here - you need to be a pretty competent cross-country skier for this to work.

I *thought* I could ski well, so we hooked up one of my male Rotties to a sled dog harness ( this was when I lived in snowy Ohio many years ago and I had a good friend who raced Husky's during the winter ) and away I went.

Until I fell.

And discovered that my dog thought that dragging me in a prone position was just fine also. Not too much fun...... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

 Quote:

One thing to consider here - you need to be a pretty competent cross-country skier for this to work.

Oh Will,
Thanks for that visual! It's just the pick-me-up I needed this morning! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
T

on Will's comments:

for those beginning this sport one must acknowledge from the outset that skijor is a form of comedy, that may involve laughing at yourself while sat in snow. Will, you are not alone in your experience being dragged!

1) it is a good idea to start on an uphill if your skiing talents are weak.

2) the old gang-line around the ski tip makes for interesting one ski ballet, if you can keep it gliding.

I had this experience while skijorring behind a gsd and acd, playing catch up with a group of skiers on a narrow snowmobile trail going into the backcountry toward the steeps.

All watched in amazement as I was pulled by at a gallop downhill on one ski, the other pulled taut in the air by the gang-line wrapped around the tip.

a good reason to go with a shortish gangline.

At the time I was on heavy steel edged telemark skis, and have a background in alpine ski racing, including exercises carving inside and outside edges on one ski. For most the good old downsit is the way to go!

For those with truly fast sled dogs and good technique, skijor allows Bjorn Dhallie like speed over the snow. Quite a rush.

rgds andrew may

 Quote:

.

we hooked up one of my male Rotties to a sled dog harness

Good grief, what were you thinking!!? LOL

My mom had Rotts years ago and I wasnt' capable of walking one on a prong from Point A to Point B without some difficulty if the mood struck them to take a 'detour'. I can't imagine putting them in a harness and then putting on skis!!

Thanks for sharing that Will... I needed that this morning. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Update...got the skijoring stuff delivered here on Friday. For once I am glad I haven't done any heeling with Raine..lol..she seemed to get the hang of leaning into the harness with me holding the line and jogging behind her. I did two training sessions yesterday and she is getting the idea of "line out" and keeping it tight even when we are standing still.

The problem I am facing is that when I praise her for doing well, she feels the overwhelming need to bite something cause she gets so happy! She grabbed a limb off of a tree as we were passing by and grabs anything sticking out of the snow (i.e. grass, weeds, clumps of ice)

I am considering just letting her carry a toy with her while she pulls along, I had to do this years ago with a Mink son I had.. he would attack my bike or the 4 wheeler when I tried to exercise him so I gave him a bumper to carry and he did great.

Today she pulled Andrew on a sled with me running behind and did pretty well...here are a few pictures...scroll down the page a bit to see them Raine and Andrew sledding

I don't know when I will have the nerve to actually ski behind her, she can get pretty fast with me just running behind her...and I don't consider her under control yet so we will just have to keep training. It is fun though and great exercise!

Thanks to everyone here for all their help! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Lookin' good Cindy!!

You have more snow than we do at the moment. Hopefully by the week-end, I'll be able to get out the skis.

Don't worry, once she gets the hang of pulling and becomes obsessed about it, she will stop biting at things. Alika ignores deer when we are skijoring, she loves it that much.

If you are a decent skier, you will be able to ski behind her. You can always snowplow to slow her down if she's going too fast. What I do with Alika is that I start our tour in a flat straight area where she can run and get the "ya-yas" out. After she's had a good run for a few minutes she settles down into a trot. They will learn to pace themselves if you force them to <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Keep at it and have fun!

Natalie

One comment I have is that for skiers worried about control using NNN or salomon backcountry bindings with above ankle boots is a very good idea.

if trails used are suitable for skate skiing, then skating gear also provides excellent control.

I use Salomon Raid 4 boots and touring skis for skijorring on low use snowmobile trails.

rgds andrew may

Cindy, just a thought but would giving a bumper to carry create any breathing restrictions while the dog was running?
Now, if ya used the bumper off of a Hummer, you could probably keep the speed way down. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Cindy,
Great pictures!!!
I'm going to give skijoring another try just as soon as we get a heavy enough base of snow down here at the Georgia/ Florida state line.
That should happen right around, say.....about the time of the next ice age.....
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />


Ed's comments edited ion:

Will you need to look into a team of Grey Hounds if you want to do this - a team of 6 that is :-)