Skijoring What is it and How It Got Its Start

Skijoring is a unique sport indeed. The idea behind skijoring (Norwegian for ski-driving) is that if you have a dog and you own a set of skis, grab some rope and you have a new sport! Is the image becoming clear? Think of being pulled in a dogsled, now minus the sled and insert skis and you have skijoring! Skijoring began in Scandinavia (can you think of a better place?) where they would hook themselves to horses and reindeer to get to their destinations. Eventually dogs proved to be more manageable and some even had three dogs at a time connected. In the 19th century Scandinavian immigrants are believed to be the ones who brought skijoring to the United States. Minnesota has proved quite popular to the skijoring community. While you are enjoying the thrill of being pulled by your dogs, remember that small breed dogs do not fit the bill here. You have to also have to remember that you do not control the speed, direction, or the breaks and you could reach 15 miles per hour or more. The breed that works the best for this sport are dogs that weigh at least 35 pounds and love to run in the snow. Yes, you have your poles, and most likely you have enrolled in a course to show both you and your dogs how it is done. Many ski areas are beginning to allow both the skiing enthusiast and their beloved dogs to join them on their winter vacations. Although you do not have to go to a ski resort to enjoy skijoring, this sport can also be done in public parks, golf courses, snowmobile areas, and most any cross-country trails. The type of skiing you do is called “skate skiing” which is more of a side-to-side motion rather than a forward motion. If you are familiar with sled dog races, you know that sled dogs are known for moving at fast speeds over a large portion of the snow (15 or 20 miles is easy) and enjoy doing so. If you were to fall, your dog may or may not feel like stopping-- just as when you are playing fetch with them they may or may not feel like bringing the ball back to you, remember they are having fun! How can you tell if your dog is right for skijoring? Most dogs love to run, even when you are walking them with a leash. Even if you dog have never pulled you before but love pulling things, all you have to do is put them in with a lead sled dog and they will learn by example. If you are seriously considering the thought of trying skijoring, you do not want to cause injury to yourself or your beloved pet, therefore, invest in the proper equipment. The harnesses you use to walk your dog are not adequate for skijoring, as the force of pulling is not adequately distributed over their body and could cause injury and never use only a collar. Choking can be a problem if this is done and can injure your beloved pet. They make harnesses specifically for skijoring. It is also a good idea to buy a harness for yourself that has a quick release in case you fall and your beloved dog thinks this is just another way for them to pull you. Getting started in the sport of skijoring may set you back about $70. If you have never used your dog for skijoring before, please remember that they will get tired as we do and do not expect them to react as if they have been pulling a sled or you all their life. Start slowly and build up that in turn will give you a chance to recover also. Can you imagine the delight you dog must experience for being allowed to pull you and not get yelled at? Training your dog to walk with a leash is a task in itself and if you are a proud owner of a dog who thinks it is their life purpose to pull you while they are taking their walk then grab a pair of skis because your pet has the temperament for skijoring. For more articles related to this subject and others please visit ExtremeSports Info