As winter keeps moving along, we’re hitting that time of year when people and dogs start to get a little depressed. Fortunately, there’s a new sport that’ll get you and your pup through those late-winter blues.
It’s called skijoring, and it hails from Scandinavia. Simply put, skijoring is dog-powered cross-country skiing—also called Nordic skiing. Amazingly, the indigenous Sami of northern Europe have used reindeer to travel long distances across the snow for centuries. Interestingly, using dogs seems to originate from China, where the practice was first documented during the Ming dynasty, covering the 14th-17th centuries.
Skijoring Is a Great Way for Dogs and People To Get Out During the Winter
According to the Seattle Times, since then skijoring has exploded in popularity around the world. In Europe and North America, equine skijoring dominates, although snowmobiles and ATVs are also common. However, dogs offer an accessible and relatively safe alternative for dog parents. Specifically, high-energy working breeds and herding dogs take very well to skijoring; a gift to overwhelmed dog parents.
However, before you take to the woods, there are a few safety guidelines to be aware of. Firstly, it’s important to already know how to ski, since skijoring speeds can reach up to 30 mph. Karen Behm, a skijoring advocate and member of the Northwest Sled Dog Association said: “In my experience teaching clinics, many skiers are very beginner”. Not surprisingly, Behm also said, “that is not a good time to tether a dog to you who wants to run and usually is not adept at commands.”
Safety Is Paramount for Winter Sports
In fact, entering the world of dog skijoring is pretty involved. Besides having the right gear for you and your dog to spend hours outside in the cold, aspiring skijor-ers need to learn a lot of technical information.
However, the investment seems to be worth it. In 2016, the American Kennel Club called skijoring “The Best Winter Dog Sport Ever”. Also, skijoring seems to be a more ethically-sound and accessible alternative to sled dog racing. For dog parents, having a way to get their pup outdoors in the winter is important to both parties’ well-being.
