The snow has finally fallen in Wisconsin and that means winter fun! I have read up a bit on skijoring and am interested in doing that with Aspen. He is 8 months old and almost 31 kg/70 lbs. I haven't read up on doing this with labs specifically, but I think it would be really fun for us to get out and cross country ski like that together. I would go with him off leash, but he is just not that reliable off leash at this age and I wouldn't want to lose him on a trail in the woods. I was just wondering if any of you have had any experience skijoring with your labs and what age they started doing it at. I know that your pups are not supposed to put much pressure on their developing bones, so that is why I will push myself along (like normal cross country skiing) rather than be pulled by Aspen.
I have done some of it with all my dogs, one Malamute and three Labs. Labs do fine at it, but it takes some practice. You don't want to run over your dog on a down hill. He will probably pull you on the flats, just because he can. You will be lucky to keep up with him if the snow isn't too soft. The sooner you can get a really good recall the better. I usually let mine run free if we are on downhill trails, partly because my skis have steel edges and it is easy to cut a dog badly if you hit them. You will need some sort of rear attaching harness, and some way to clip to your pack or belt.
@Ski-Patroller Got it, thanks! I don't think we could get to do it this winter because it seems to require a good amount of training and Aspen just isn't there yet.
Seeing your mention of snow reminded me of Christmas. So Alicia, Aspen and boyfriend have a merry Christmas!! From me and Pearl
Google it up, there are groups that will teach you. Next year maybe, Aspen is too young right now. You could not ski with him off leash? Oban (and previous dogs) is my favourite ski buddy. I actually ski faster than I walk so I find the dog stays pretty close. Downhills on narrow bush trails can be tricky. Snowmobiles are tricky too. OH met 9 of them this morning. Oban is good but we don't get much of an outing when we are getting off the trail to let so many of them go by. OH (I'm still in an air cast) said only one was an idiot, racing. I should note: We only walk or ski on shared trails. Too bad too many snomo are bad at sharing.
I would just say be VERY careful when skiing with your dog. A friend of mine's dog got a horrible leg injury from running across her as she was moving and the edge of the ski ripped into him. It needed surgery and physiotherapy. I don't ski with mine, I stick to snowshoeing.
@snowbunny was that a downhill ski? Most cross country skiis don't have such sharp edges. Telemark skiis maybe do. I see people allowing their dog to run around with them on outdoor ice skating rinks and that gives me the heebie jeebies. not to mention tripping over a dog while going downhill could break your own neck.
It was touring - so alpine skis with skins. Yes, much sharper edges than cross country. There isn't really any cross-country skiing in our area, that's all in another ski area at the other end of the (admittedly small) country. There's a lot of touring here, though.
