Dog Days of Winter? Get Outside and Try Skijoring
Skijoring, a Scandinavian winter sport, combines cross-country skiing with dog walking
Everyone knows snow was made for dogs. And skijoring, the simple Scandinavian winter sport where you cross-country ski with your dog towing you along really gets tails wagging.
The good news: You don't have to travel to Norway to try skijoring, there are solid opportunities right in the United States' wintry woods from coast to coast.
The beauty of a skijoring experience is that anybody can do it. You just need a pair of cross-country skis, a harness and a dog that loves to run and play and leap in the snow. If you've got a dog that gets a thrill out of tugging the leash in a hurry on walks, you've got a skijoring contender. But even dogs that aren't type A will give you their paw for a chance to get out on snowy trails with their favorite human. (Some versions of skijoring feature horses instead of dogs.)
"Skijoring is such a cool sport; I tried it once while visiting friends in Minnesota, and it's an adrenaline rush like no other."
"Skijoring is such a cool sport; I tried it once while visiting friends in Minnesota, and it's an adrenaline rush like no other," says Wayne Kask of Tampa, Florida. "Imagine gliding through snowy trails with your dog leading the way; it's such a fun way to connect with them and the outdoors."
Kask recommends Elm Creek Park Reserve in Maple Grove, Minnesota. "The trails around the Elm Creek Park Reserve are beginner-friendly," Kask says, "which made it a great spot to try skijoring for the first time. When I was researching places, I saw a ton of great reviews from people who loved how well-maintained the trails were."
Kask and his black lab, Bruno, went skijoring there last winter. "The timing was perfect — the snow conditions were great, and the park had a solid base for all kinds of winter activities," he says.
The learning curve wasn't too bad, Kask says. "I took my time getting used to it, but Bruno picked it up super fast, so I had to catch up to him. Once I got the hang of balancing and moving with him, it all started to feel really natural, and we found our rhythm pretty quickly."
As for gear, it's straightforward to get started, Kask says. "You'll need a proper harness for your dog, a bungee line to absorb the pull, and a belt for yourself so you're not holding the leash in your hands. I remember someone recommending paw wax or booties for their dog to prevent ice buildup, which I though was a great tip," he says. "It kept ice from building up in his paws and helped him stay comfortable on the trails. Definitely something I'd recommend to anyone getting into skijoring."
"Bruno is super energetic and has the perfect build for pulling, so he took to it right away."
Many spots will rent skijoring gear. "I bought my gear before heading there, but I noticed they had rentals available, which is awesome for anyone wanting to try it without committing to buying everything upfront," he says. "Places like that usually have gear shops or rental spots nearby, so it's pretty easy to get set up if you don't have your own."
On making new friends: "Bruno is super energetic and has the perfect build for pulling, so he took to it right away," Kask explains. "Labradors are also very friendly, so we had the chance to socialize with other people who had dogs as well. Honestly, he probably had more fun than I did."
Skijoring Skills
About a 40-minute drive from downtown Spokane, Washington, Mount Spokane is home to one of the most expansive sets of Nordic trails in the country. Here, the Spokane Nordic Ski Association offers classes. "The skijoring classes at Mount Spokane are open to everyone who has basic Nordic skiing skills and is interested in learning more about the sport," says Kate Burns, skijoring program director with Spokane Nordic.
Skijoring is becoming more popular because people want to include their dog with them in outdoor exercise, Burns says. "Skijoring is the perfect blend of training, exercise and the outdoors for both dog and human."
The classes are two hours long — the first 15 minutes are spent fitting the dog and its owner with the proper equipment, which includes a human harness, a dog harness and a lead (the lead is a 6-to-10-foot bungee leash that connects the human to their dog).
"For the next 45 minutes we're in the lodge, learning about the sport: trail etiquette, dog handling, equipment, cold weather care, commands," Burns says. For the last hour, participants are on the snow, learning first-hand how to skijor.
"The dogs who are natural pullers are led out by experienced skijorers," Burns says. "Dogs usually love to chase, so trained skijoring dogs and their owners are out front, leading and showing other dogs how it's done."
"There's always a surprise dog or two who takes to skijoring like a pro."
Instructors on foot on the snow without their dogs are also there to assist with everybody else who needs a bit more help getting started: How do you put on your gear while attached to your dog? What do you do if your dog doesn't want to pull? How do you get your dog to run in front of you and not veer side to side?
"Clinic participants go out as far as they feel comfortable, and then return," Burns says. "At last week's clinic, the new-to-skijoring dog who went the farthest was a whippet! There's always a surprise dog or two who takes to skijoring like a pro."
Famous Races
The Barkerbeiner is a skijor race that has been held at Mount Spokane State Park's Nordic ski area for the last 10 years and is one of the largest skijor races in the western United States, says Burns. Barkerbeiner is a play on words after the famous Nordic ski race the American Birkebeiner or Birkie, which has been held in Wisconsin for the past 51 years. This year's events are Feb. 19-23.
"The race attracts all levels of skijoring enthusiasts, from skijoring professionals who race internationally to people who are new to the sport," Burns says. "Everyone and every breed of dog is welcome. At the race, you will see all different kinds of dog breeds, including highly trained Eurohounds (a mix of pointer, greyhound and husky, bred specifically for skijoring), Doodles, who think greeting course marshals is the main point of the event, and herding dogs, who prefer to bark at ski tips instead of pulling."
Other Locations
After a slow snowy start, Gunstock Mountain Resort in Gilford, New Hampshire, is off to the races. Winter has finally kicked into gear with seasonable temps and natural snowfall and skijoring, always popular here, is in full swing with groomed trails.
"Any dog that likes a good run can learn some basic commands that will make the experience a great one."
"Skijoring is a great collaboration that enhances the bond between human and canine, but the focus has to be on the dog," says Bonnie MacPherson, director of marketing. "It's not about having your dog tugging along a snowy path, and any dog that likes a good run can learn some basic commands that will make the experience a great one."
Private lessons are available with Gunstock's skijoring team of educators to learn the techniques, calls and skills. The outdoor center at Gunstock has a full range of harnesses for dogs and humans to try out.
And Marquette County in Michigan has bragging rights to being one of the snowiest cities east of the Rockies, ripe for skijoring. The Noquemanon Trail Network (NTN) is a necklace of dog-friendly trails and groomed paths. The Noquemanon Skijor Club is ideal for beginners to learn and meets every Monday to give advice. Loaner equipment is also available.
