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Skijoring

Discussion in 'Dog Discussion' started by Box Bulldog, Dec 25, 2018.

  1. Box Bulldog

    Box Bulldog Top Dog

    Was wondering if anyone has tried skijoring behind there dogs? I compete in weight pull with my dog and thought this may be a fun way of conditioning a dog in the cold snowy winter months up here. I briefly spoke to a guy that was doing it behind a husky looked like a lot of fun. Just would like to know about hardware set ups and any tips and tricks. The guy i saw with the husky had a belt with a shock absorbing spring lead off it attached to what looked like a working harness. Would appreciate any advise. Hope all are having a merry Christmas and best wishes to all of you, your family's and your bull dogs.
     
    sherif2017, david63 and AGK like this.
  2. GK1

    GK1 Big Dog

    Nothing formal just for fun, I just improvised with equipment I already had, but I’ve harnessed my dogs (or wide flat collar) and snap linked their leads into a large tractor tire tube and have them tow the kid (or just the tube) thru snow, across ice. Pit bulls kind of suck in the cold tho, just not designed for it and will cur out well before the husky or shepherd. They will need an insulating coat or fleece if they are to remain in the elements for extended periods.
     
    Box Bulldog likes this.
  3. Box Bulldog

    Box Bulldog Top Dog

    My pulling dog is a little stocky blue hippo. He does alright in the cold down to about 5F. Must be because he is such a stocky little bugger because he doesn't have much for coat. I have pulled my friends son several times in a sleigh with a working harness. Dog seems to not freeze up as bad if he is working. I got a set of cross country ski's for Christmas so that's what got me into thinking of trying this. Good conditioning for dog and owner. img_2018-02_Du-Nord_Outdoors_Skijoring_rotate.jpg
    download.jpeg
     
  4. Steeldog

    Steeldog Big Dog

    I have a Canicross rig setup for my Patterdale Terrier. We've won 2nd Place twice in 5k Canicross races. Pretty fun.
     
  5. Box Bulldog

    Box Bulldog Top Dog

    I had to google what it is. Same idea without ski's. My brother has lakeland terriers I should tell him to get into that with them. They are similar to a ruff coat patterdale. They are real good ground dogs.
     
  6. Steeldog

    Steeldog Big Dog

    I use the Non Stop Free Motion Harness, Non Stop Running Belt and Bungee Leash. It helps running hands free and with the dogs pulling force coming from your hips vs you lower back or from your hands. Definitely run faster when you’re in unison with your dog. He’d enjoy it.
     
    Box Bulldog likes this.
  7. Box Bulldog

    Box Bulldog Top Dog

    So I tried skijoring. used a working harness attached to a rope and swivel attached to a spring then to a belt I made out of rope wrapped in styrofoam pipe insulation to cushion my lower back. All in all worked pretty good. Was cruising along pretty good until my dog stopped after flying down a hill to piss on a tree things got a little hairy to say the least. Anyhow I will try again tomorrow trying to be patient and not discourage me or the dog.
     
    Steeldog likes this.
  8. Steeldog

    Steeldog Big Dog

    Nice. Lol. Things will get better. It took a while for my Patterdale to understand I didn't want him pissing when we were on the move. It's gotta get scary since you are on ski's. Lol. Before I got my Canicross rig I used to use a similar setup to yours. The constant pulling started hurting my lower back. Once I got the specialized belt it felt like I was on turbo because I was being propelled forward from the rear end ass area. lol. If I had a bigger dog I could cut my mile run by a couple minutes. Makes me want to try a Greyster.(Greyhound/German Shorthair Pointer Cross)
     
    Box Bulldog likes this.
  9. Box Bulldog

    Box Bulldog Top Dog

    That will make a good cross. You going to use it for a hunting/bird/gun dog? There's a lot of german shorthair pointers around here there damn fine bird dogs. My brothers friend has a well trained one he uses for pheasants. They move pretty quick without greyhound in them. They are real fast at moving in the woods over logs under trees ec. I have seen it first hand.
     
  10. interesting post,well done..
     

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