Winter is showing off in all its glory. And winter sports fans are setting off for the mountains. They're often accompanied by their four-legged friends. Especially more and more popular is becoming ski mountaineering. Furry companion's presence is becoming more common also on cross-country trails. We asked Katarina Vigodová, a Slovak musher, how to prepare before setting off skiing with your dog. She advises owners not to overestimate their abilities.
What would you advise someone who is preparing to set off with their dog for the first time?
It's definitely better to have previous experience in ski mountaineering and therefore be aware of what's to come. This way we can concentrate on enjoying spending time with the dog, rather than fighting to survive. A small practice beforehand or a more careful start is definitely recommended. The trail should be chosen based on our abilities, and its profile and difficulty adapted accordingly.
I presume a classic lead isn't enough. What equipment is required?
For skijoring, it's good to have skating cross-country skis and a hipbelt that offers freedom of movement. Also a long bungee rope to ensure a sufficient distance between the end of the skis and the dog's back paws. Usually a classic 2.8 m log bungee rope, used also for scooters or bikejoring, is enough. A suitable dog harness goes without saying. It should be the length of the dog's back.
What shouldn't the owner forget to pack for the dog?
It's important not to forget about the unpredictability of the weather and pack a warm layer for ourselves as well as for the dog. Having dog shoes in our pocket is alpha and omega whether we're planning to do a 5 km long loop on cross-country skis or an all-day trip. The change in snow conditions or an unexpected injury can always surprise us. It's good to be prepared and have shoes for all 4 paws, which will save the dog in case of an injury or prevent an injury on hard, frozen snow.
You've mentioned injured paws from the snow. What if the dog cuts itself on the edge of the ski?
It's recommended to take a small first aid box on longer trips. Take at least Coban - which is an elastic dressing that can stop bleeding in case the dog, despite all the precautions, cuts itself on the side of the skis.
Should the dog's nutrition be changed before, during or after the workout? And how?
It's a training or a trip like any other, so just keep feeding them like you're used to during training or when going for a trip. Don't underestimate hydration and always take a snack with you on longer trips. Ideally it should be small in size but high in energy value. Nobody likes running with a full stomach.
Thank you very much, Katka, for today's introduction to how to get ready for skiing with a dog. Next time, we're going to continue with how to move with your dog when you get out there.
tradiční dárky pro psy .jpg/30x20/FIT)
tradiční dárky pro psy .jpg/600x400/FIT)
Christmas is coming and it’s the time we are thinking of how we can please our loved ones. Besides family and friends, we should also not forget about our loyal companions that have stood by our side through our highs and lows during the whole year....
In this article, we’ll introduce you to another discipline of Disc Dog – our focus will be on Parallel Time Trial. The most important thing in it is the time within which a dog catches a flying disc. What does this discipline look like, in what...
Coronavirus pandemic has had an impact on the lives of most people. Our travelling has been limited, we started spending most of our time at home – with our furry friends in many cases. However, it has also been a change for them. They suddenly had...
Most of us dream about having a long and happy life, and ways to ensure it have been sought for centuries. Recent scientific studies, however, suggest that the answer has been right before us all along: Our cats, in addition to being nice companions,...
Defence Training is a process in which we try to encourage and develop the predatory instinct. We differentiate between practical and sports defence. In the case of sports defence, the dog is controllable and it isn’t headless stimulation of...
This animal is a wild predator that also likes to just relax on the couch. We are, of course, talking about the American shorthair cat, which can be considered similar to its European counterpart, just on the American continent. What makes this breed...
Wolves belong to the Carnivora order, and the thought of meeting them in the wild scares many of us. It is therefore quite surprising that wolves are very shy and wary animals that will try to avoid human contact at all costs. All the more if the...
Like humans, our pets may experience adverse reactions to some food or ingredients. Whether we give them dry food or raw meat, there is always a risk that the food will not suit our pets, perhaps simply because they cannot digest it. How to recognize...
On our blog, we have already written about dogfrisbee, a sport where dogs catch flying discs. Its advantage is that both the dog and the owner play sports together. Dogfrisbee is also a great sport for its diversity – it includes various disciplines...
Sport cynology is sometimes also called the royal discipline. It is mainly because of its difficulty – very versatile skills are needed for it both from the dog handler as well as the dog. What aspects are the most difficult and what is its...
The Vizsla comes from Hungary where it arrived with nomadic tribes. The written references about this breed can be traced back to 14th century, but it started to be more significant in 18th and 19th centuries, mainly in association with races just...
As well as people, dogs are unique living beings which differ in their nature and in what they like and don’t like. A significant part of it depends on upbringing of course, but owners need to accept some characteristic features of a dog and learn...
